revelation 7

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==revelation 7:1:

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. 

​​Here are four angels standing in the four corners of the earth. And the word "corners" is probably a poor translation. The Greek word is translated in the present time into quadrants. And we talked about the four quadrants of the earth, which is the north, east, south and west. So you have your north wind, east wind, south wind and west winds, the four quadrants of the earth. - Chuck Smith

​The truth, which was being withheld from Earth, is represented by “the four winds”. The “trees” represent humankind. The wind does not blow “on the sea.” The “sea” represents waters.
The “wind” represents an understanding of truth, regardless of whether that understanding comes from an outside source, such as when a prophet speaks, or from within, as when one has an epiphany of realization and understanding. The term “Holy Spirit” represents truth.
The “east wind” represents the destruction which comes upon the wicked, not to the physical destruction of the people, but rather the spiritual carnage that occurs when True Messengers confound the false doctrines and precepts of men.
“Wind” is symbolic of the words we speak, wherein a person attempts to communicate thoughts to those whom he or she wishes to feel the “wind” of the mind. The “wind” the angels are holding is the true knowledge and understanding of God that will destroy the false doctrine and precepts of men. Falsehoods have also been referred to throughout scripture as wind coming forth to destroy righteousness.
Those “sealed in their foreheads” seek to do the “work of the Father” and abide by the Royal Law of treating others as they would want to be treated.

==revelation 7:2-12:

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.
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.”​

​Revelation 7:2-12 describes an angel preventing judgment on earth so God's servants can be sealed, followed by visions of the 144,000 Israelites from every tribe and a countless, innumerable multitude in white robes worshipping God and the Lamb. The sealing of the 144,000 is a sign of divine protection during a time of judgment. The great multitude, who are described as coming from the great tribulation, are seen in heaven clothed in white, praising God and the Lamb, and are promised comfort, guidance, and eternal life by God. 
     An angel with the seal of the living God instructs four other angels to withhold their judgment of the land, sea, and trees until the 144,000 servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. The passage then lists these individuals by their tribal affiliation and specifies 12,000 from each tribe of Israel.  Following this vision, John sees a great multitude of people from "all nations, kindreds, and people, and tongues". They are distinguished by their white robes and palm branches, symbolizing victory.  This multitude cries out, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb". All the angels, elders, and living creatures fall before the throne and worship God, attributing to Him "blessing, and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might" forever and ever. 
    The sealing is a mark of God's protection for His people during times of tribulation and judgment. 
The 144,000: While the list of tribes is specific to the children of Israel, the interpretation of this number varies. Some understand it as a literal group of Messianic Jews, while others see it as a symbolic representation of the complete number of God's people. 
The Multitude in White is a larger, uncountable group is later identified by an elder as those who "have come out of the great tribulation" and have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". 

==revelation 7:13-17:

​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.”

​Revelation 7:13-17 describes the vision of a vast multitude of redeemed people in heaven, praising God. The passage explains who these people are and the blessed, eternal state they enjoy before God's throne. 
    The apostle John sees a countless number of people from every nation, tribe, and language, all standing before God's throne. An elder reveals to John that this multitude are those who have endured and come out of the "great tribulation". Their white robes symbolize their purification and salvation, made clean through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. They perpetually serve God in his temple, and God himself will "shelter them with his presence". This symbolizes their eternal security and intimacy with God.
     They are promised an end to all hunger, thirst, and scorching heat. All the hardships and persecutions they endured on earth are over.  Jesus, the Lamb, will personally shepherd them, leading them to "springs of living water". The vision culminates in the promise that God will personally wipe every tear from their eyes, signifying the complete and final end of all sorrow and grief. 
    This passage follows the sealing of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel. The great multitude is often understood as the larger body of believers from all nations who are saved, either at the same time or as the result of the tribulation. The overall message is one of hope and reassurance for Christians undergoing suffering and persecution. It promises that their suffering is temporary and that a glorious, secure, and comforting reward awaits them in God's presence.