The Sealed and the Multitude

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on land or sea or against any tree.

NAB footnote:The four corners of the earth: the earth is seen as a table or rectangular surface.

Saul's insight:The number four was likely used as a criteria when selecting the number of Gospels to include in the canon of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 'A river rises in Eden to water the garden; beyond there it divides and becomes four branches.' (Genesis 2:10). This is why 4 accounts of Jesus were chosen to include in the New Testament canon. The number 4 is also symbolic of encompassing all of earth, all 4 corners.

Then I saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea,

NAB footnote:East: literally, 'rising of the sun.' The east was considered the source of light and the place of paradise (Genesis 2:8). Seal: whatever was marked by the impression of one's signet ring belonged to that person and was under his protection.

"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the Israelites:

NAB footnote:One hundred and forty-four thousand: the square of twelve (the number of Israel's tribes) multiplied by a thousand, symbolic of the new Israel that embraces people from every nation, race, people, and tongue.

Saul's insight:144,000 = (12 tribal heads) × (12 apostles) × 1,000 = a lot of people. These are the believers in Christ (i.e. servants of God). The seal is put on their foreheads which is symbolic of their belief in Christ. This could be taken further to mean believers in the Eucharist.

After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

NAB footnote:White robes and palm branches: symbols of joy and victory.

Saul's insight:All of the killing (converting) from earlier, led to this multitude of believers in Christ. It fits.

They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb."

I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows." He said to me, "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

NAB footnote:Time of great distress: fierce persecution by the Romans.

For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

NAB footnote:Life-giving water: literally, 'the water of life,' God's grace, which flows from Christ.