May 19, 2020 (Tuesday)
“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.”
[Revelation 7:1 ESV]
“He said, “Don’t
damage the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads
of those who serve our God.” [Revelation 7:3 CEB]
Chapter seven details the preparation for opening the 7th
seal. The “after this” signifies a sequence in events. It is a “break in the
action” that allows God to set apart a certain number of people, presumably
witnesses, from Israel. It is debatable
whether the number 144,000 is literal or symbolic. Twelve thousand from 12 of Israel’s 13 tribes
are sealed (Ephraim becomes Joseph and Dan is omitted, while Levi is included).
The symbol of the seal may come from the Old Testament image
of the Passover where the blood sealed the faithful from the final plague. It
may come from Paul’s use of circumcision as a seal of righteousness (Romans
4:11) or of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22). Notice that all these images are signs of a
covenant God makes with His people. According to Clarke: “By sealing we are to
understand consecrating the persons in a more special manner to God.”
The tribe of Dan is listed in Ezekiel 48:1 as receiving a share in what
some think is the millennial kingdom. One idea is that the Anti-Christ will come from Dan. Genesis 49:17
states, “Dan will be a snake by the
roadside, a viper along the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider
tumbles backward.” Or it may be as simple as no one faithful from the tribe
of Dan will be found/sealed.
In verse one there are four angelic beings (“probably evil
ones” – Wesley). They are commanded to
not harm the land or sea until God’s servants are sealed. What we see, between
this and the last seal, seems to be a huge environmental shift. The sky
changes, mountains are leveled, and the islands are moved from their place. One
idea that has been proposed is that the earth will be returned to its pre-flood
environment in preparation for the millennial period.
Is there a conflict between honest biblical interpretation
and honest science? In verse one there is reference to the “four corners of the
earth.” Through history we have suffered two equal problems. We have imposed
bad biblical interpretation on science and have allowed presupposition to
impose itself on science. An example is Galileo, a Christian, who claimed the
earth revolved around the sun. The church, believing an Egyptian earth myth,
forced him to recant. The presupposition of evolution, a common natural source
that excludes God, imposed on science is a repeat of that history.
What does the Bible mean by “the four corners of the earth?” First, we need to understand when there is an expression of speech (“points of a compass”). Second, we need to understand the historical context of the writer, the book, and the audience. “Four corners” is a Hebrew image believing the world and elements are controlled by angels/spirits. The Romans believed in the four winds: Zephyrus, Boreas, Notus, Eurus. The Greeks believed the world was flat until about 600 years before Christ; about 400 years after Solomon identified the spherical shape of the earth in Proverbs 8:27, “When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep” [ESV]).
Several suggestions exist to the meaning of these four
angels: Zechariah 6:5 mentions four chariots: red (east), black (north), white
(west), dappled-gray (south). Daniel 8:8 mentions “the four winds of heaven.” Barns suggests the four winds are
Babylon, Persia, Greek, and Roman empires.
Bottom line: this is anyone’s guess. Flat-footed certainty is unwise when dealing with the book of Revelation. It really is anyone’s guess how to understand the symbols and numbers in Revelation. Those guesses are based on where the person stands in history and culture. I’m trying to give that sense mentioning various historical references. Let me say this again. It’s not that simple.
I am certain beyond the shadow of a doubt of one thing. Jesus
wins. The question for you today, is do you stand with Jesus or against Him?
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