The picture of Judgment is revealed to the apostle from different points of view. Until now he has seen Judgment as it will...
The picture of Judgment is revealed to the apostle from different points of view. Until now he has seen Judgment as the world will have to see and experience it; now God shows him His Church and how Judgment is revealed to her. The four angels at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds (v. 1), apparently personify the power of God by which the world, despite its damage from sin, does not turn into chaos. In this way God fulfills the promise given long ago to Noah, and in him to all the righteous of all times and peoples, that the flood which destroyed the world and wiped out humanity would never again be repeated (Gen. 9:8-11). But now, at the end of time, everything changes: the world awaits transformation, and the old order of things comes to an end. Those who remain in the world see only the sky rolling up like a scroll and the earth slipping away from under their feet (Rev. 6:12-14); but those to whom spiritual reality is open, the reality of the Kingdom, see, like John, the Church prepared to meet the Savior returning in glory.
Her members receive a special sign, God's seal, which binds them to the One they await (vv. 2-3). The twelve tribes of which the people of God consist symbolically indicate here the fullness of the Church, as does the number 144,000, which implies 12,000 people from each of the twelve tribes (vv. 4-8). Here, of course, we are dealing with numerical symbolism: a thousand people was considered a full representation; if a tribe could field a thousand fighting men for war, it was regarded as independent and, in a certain sense, self-sufficient. By the time world history is completed, the Church, as the new people of God, represents exactly such fullness. There is nothing surprising in this: her history began on the day of Pentecost, and every century of Christianity added new members to the heavenly Church; and now, on the day of Judgment, the return of the Savior and the triumph of the Kingdom, she is ready to stand before her Head in all fullness.
But there are also others, those who came on the very day of Judgment, according to the word of one of the elders standing at the Throne, "out of the great tribulation" (v. 14). Before this, they may not have thought at all about God or the Kingdom; but when the decisive day came, the day of the final choice, their choice proved right, and now they sing the song of renewal together with the whole Church and await the One whom perhaps they had not known before, but now will surely know (vv. 9-12).
7
7:1 And after these things - What follows is a preparation for the seventh seal, which is the weightiest of all. It is connected with the sixth by the particle and; whereas what is added, Rev 6:9, stands free and unconnected. I saw four angels - Probably evil ones. They have their employ with the four first trumpets, as have other evil angels with the three last; namely, the angel of the abyss, the four bound in the Euphrates, and Satan himself. These four angels would willingly have brought on all the calamities that follow without delay.But they were restrained till the servants of God were sealed, and till the seven angels were ready to sound: even as the angel of the abyss was not let loose, nor the angels in the Euphrates unbound, neither Satan cast to the earth, till the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels severally sounded. Standing on the four corners of the earth - East, west, south, north. In this order proceed the four first trumpets. Holding the four winds - Which else might have softened the fiery heat, under the first, second, and third trumpet. That the wind should not blow upon the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree - It seems, that these expressions betoken the several quarters of the world; that the earth signifies that to the east of Patmos, Asia, which was nearest to St. John, and where the trumpet of the first angel had its accomplishment. Europe swims in the sea over against this; and is accordingly termed by the prophets, "the islands." The third part, Afric, seems to be meant, Rev 8:7, Rev 8:8, Rev 8:10, by "the streams of water," or "the trees,"which grow plentifully by them.
7:2 And I saw another (a good) angel ascending from the east - The plagues begin in the east; so does the sealing. Having the seal of the only living and true God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels - Who were hasting to execute their charge. To whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea - First, and afterwards "the trees."
7:3 Hurt not the earth, till we - Other angels were joined in commission with him. Have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads - Secured the servants of God of the twelve tribes from the impending calamities; whereby they shall be as clearly distinguished from the rest, as if they were visibly marked on their foreheads.
7:4 Of the children of Israel - To these will afterwards be joined a multitude out of all nations. But it may be observed, this is not the number of all the Israelites who are saved from Abraham or Moses to the end of all things; but only of those who were secured from the plagues which were then ready to fall on the earth. It seems as if this book had, in many places, a special view to the people of Israel.
7:5 Judah is mentioned first, in respect of the kingdom, and of the Messiah sprung therefrom.
7:7 After the Levitical ceremonies were abolished, Levi was again on a level with his brethren.
7:8 Of the tribe of Joseph - Or Ephraim; perhaps not mentioned by name, as having been, with Dan, the most idolatrous of all the tribes. It is farther observable of Dan, that it was very early reduced to a single family; which family itself seems to have been cut off in war, before the time of Ezra; for in the Chronicles, where the posterity of the patriarchs is recited, Dan is wholly omitted.
7:9 A great multitude - Of those who had happily finished their course. Such multitudes are afterwards described, and still higher degrees of glory which they attain after a sharp fight and magnificent victory, Rev 14:1; Rev 15:2; Rev 19:1; Rev 20:4. There is an inconceivable variety in the degrees of reward in the other world. Let not any slothful one say, "If I get to heaven at all, I will be content:" such an one may let heaven go altogether. In worldly things, men are ambitious to get as high as they can. Christians have a far more noble ambition.The difference between the very highest and the lowest state in the world is nothing to the smallest difference between the degrees of glory. But who has time to think of this? Who is at all concerned about it? Standing before the throne - In the full vision of God. And palms in their hands - Tokens of joy and victory.
7:10 Salvation to our God - Who hath saved us from all evil into all the happiness of heaven. The salvation for which they praise God is described, Rev 7:15; that for which they praise the Lamb, Rev 7:14; and both in the sixteenth and seventeenth Rev 7:16-17.
7:11 And all the angels stood - In waiting. Round about the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures - That is, the living creatures, next the throne; the elders, round these; and the angels, round them both. And they fell on their faces - So do the elders, once only, Rev 11:16. The heavenly ceremonial has its fixed order andmeasure.
7:12 Amen - With this word all the angels confirm the words of the "great multitude;" but they likewise carry the praise much higher. The blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving, and the honour, and the power, and the strength, be unto our God for ever and ever - Before the Lamb began to open the seven seals, a sevenfold hymn of praise was brought him by many angels, Rev 5:12. Now he is upon opening the last seal, and the seven angels are going to receive seven trumpets, in order to make the kingdoms of the world subject to God. All the angels give sevenfold praise to God.