Page 99 - Heavenly Signs II by Mel Gable

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CHAPTER 10: THE 144,000 SEALED

The 144,000 who are sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel is described in Revelation 7.

Revelation 7:4 “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand
sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:”
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What are the 144,000 being sealed for? It is from the Wrath of the Lamb, which will come at the First Trumpet
Judgment. We see in Revelation a parallel statement to that effect in both chapter 7 and 8.

Revelation 7:3 “saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-
servants of our God on their foreheads.”
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Revelation 8:7 “The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown
to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the
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green grass was burned up”
Likewise, the second trumpet sounded and the sea became blood. Why is it necessary for the bond-servants of
the tribes of Israel to get a seal on their foreheads? Remember, a seal is made for protection and ownership. The
saved in Christ received the Holy Spirit as a seal.

Ephesians 4:30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
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redemption.”
The seal of 144.000 is for protection against both Satan and God’s Wrath to come. We will later see that God
protects them in the wilderness from Satan’s destruction by a flood. This shows God’s love and grace for His
children even during this time of Tribulation on the earth. He will protect His own. We will soon see this symbol
of “love” in the heavenly sign for the woman, Israel. We now find out from the Apostle Paul that the Holy Spirit
is what restrains him. His Spirit will be taken out of the way. This occurred during the Rapture of the saved in
Christ and those who were alive and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Paul in the passage is speaking about the man of
lawlessness or the Antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be
revealed.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is
taken out of the way.”
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What do the commentaries of McNaughton, Matthew Henry, and Walvoord have to say about whom “the
restrainer” is and who is taken out of the way? This may reveal the reason for the 144,000 to be sealed in a new
way. The seal of the believer in Christ is with His Holy Spirit. Already His Bride has been gathered from this
earth. The sealing of the 144,000 occurs prior to the First Trumpet Judgments by God.

148 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Re 7:4, Re 7:3). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

149 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Re 8:7). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

150 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Eph 4:30). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

151 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (2 Th 2:6–7). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.