Before the seventh seal is opened, and the judgement is brought to its climax, something very important is done. What we see happen at this point is something very similar to what happened during the time of Moses when the Israelites were told to put the blood of the Passover lamb over their doorposts so that the judgement would ‘pass them over’. In Revelation 7 the people of God are sealed so this judgement would pass over them in the same way. At first John hears the number 144,000 (12 x 12,000), and, when he looks, he sees a countless multitude. Many commentators see this as the same group representing the full number of God’s chosen people. But, whatever the case, the emphasis here is on the marking and clothing of God’s people. This is the first of two marks that we will see in Revelation. In chapter 13 we read about ‘the mark of the beast’. Both marks signify ownership. In Revelation there is no neutral group. On the one hand there are those who bear the mark of the beast and on the other those who are sealed as servants of God. People often fool themselves thinking that they can be autonomous, that is, ruling their own lives. This is impossible; we do not have the power in ourselves to control our lives or resist every influence. True freedom has to do with who we are ruled by. If it is not the God who loves you then it is a rabble of influences, ultimately at the bidding of Satan. Let God be the ruler of your life today.
Ask God to guide you in all that you do today.
Read Revelation 7:1-8.
