Rev 7

Revelation Chapter 7

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

These Things

            This is referring to 6th seal, this answers the question who can stand? And how they are able to stand, the seal of God

Four angels

            Not the same as those who are around the throne

Four Corners

            The whole earth N, E, S, W

Four winds

God controls all of nature and uses nature to judge.  Wind is also used as a term meaning destruction. 

Winds should not blow

Here we see lull before the storm.  Destruction is being paused

From the east

            The rising sun, this is used many times on reference to the Glory of God coming

To harm

            Letting lose the destructive power of the winds

The seal

            Rev 14:1, Gods name on the forehead

Till we have

            God protects his own

All the tribes

            Nothing super spiritual, 12 tribes, 144,000 people set apart by God, all Israelites

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

great multitude- Rev 7:14  This also means that this is happening after the

Standing- They died in the tribulation and the reward for their faith is seen, eternal life, praising God

White Robes- They overcame, they have their sins washed away, they are safe, pure, and holy

Palm Branches- Righteous victory  Triumphal entry John 12:13

All the Angels- Everyone is worshiping God

Serve Him- Note that only the tribulation saints serve God, not every believer, there is a special relationship between them.  They serve him and he cares for them.  This is also where we get the notion that there is no crying in heaven.