Revelation 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
We seem to have a break from the judgments of God on earth here in Chapter 7. There is a holding back of the Angels who had the power to harm both the earth and the sea. they are held back for a specific reason, which seems to be an extension of God’s grace and mercy one more time on the people left behind and is going through the tribulation period. God is setting aside 144,000 servants, 12,000 from each of the tribes of the sons of Israel. Six of the seals of judgment have been opened so the effects of these and the continuation of them seem apparent. And yet, here is God’s grace and mercy displayed on those who previously gave no thought to the need for redemption, salvation, repentance, or forgiveness. For sure this time of tribulations will cause many to seek and turn to God. All hope and trust they had in things of this world, apart from God, has been taken away at the hands of the Creator. In Acts, we see a time when the presence of the Holy Spirit was released to make His presence on earth and the people heard and saw the need for redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and repentance. It says they were cut to the heart and asked: “what must we do”?
Truly, the heart that has been softened by whatever means will ask “what must I do?” It seems as though the 144,000 sealed servants of God are here to respond to those whose hearts are seeking redemption.
