The four corners of the earth – north, south, east and west, to use the commonplace meaning of the text – global trouble is being constrained by God, but it is about to be unleashed. Ultimate trouble, but with the ultimate solution already known, already realized now and forevermore.
So many questions. Patience! Lord please guide your children! Thank You, Lord God Almighty! For Your love and protection, Your presence are true.
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
It appears to me, unsurprisingly, the people of Israel have a distinct place in God’s plan and His work in these last days, and we see that the elect (the faithful, who love God) of Israel are set apart, imbued with a supernatural standing and ministry in the time that remains. This seal distinguishes each from the rest of humanity – including from other persons within the first covenant of Israel. The ‘stage is set’ – now on to God’s judgment passed upon the adversary, and upon the people of humanity who rejected the merciful Christ.
9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
The ‘rapture‘ is thus recorded in chapter seven of the apocalypse of Christ – but please understand that the events and other details surrounding the theophany introduced and summarized here will be provided, within the text itself, subsequently. Fundamental to understanding this arrangement is the appreciation that John is sharing, as a first century Christian, simply what he witnessed. He thus presents to the reader as a human witness to the future – not for the reader to change it but to decide, each one, who you are and whom you believe. All are welcome, all who believe and love Almighty God, and His son, the eternal saviour and Lord of humanity.
So now we see the essentials: the rapture, the harvest completed. What follows is revealing of details, of outcomes and consequences, and this point serves to help believers and seekers to trust the message. Rather than becoming confused by impossible arrangements and interpretations of events that follow textually, know that the rendering of events is firstly thematic, and then temporal. Above all else, may Jesus Christ be praised!
13 Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied,
“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ 17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
‘Every tear.’ Oh my – what awaits us, dear Lord God?
Come to the cross while you can! No delay. No delay…
End Times Prophecy 