"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea.Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." - Rev 7:1-3

In article #13, we took the position (based on the Christs message to his disciples at the mount of Olives) that at least 5 of the seal opening events we see in Revelation 6 have already occurred . Before we move forward, it will be helpful- like surveyors do- to ground our thinking and journey by defining clear and unmistakable points of reference that will help us process the information in the rest of the book.

We should be looking for Reference points - points 1-5 (below) - in prophecy prior to the book of Revelation and then in the Book of Revelation itself - to be able to understand the sequence laid out. Our God has laid it out in plain sight but it requires His Spirit and diligent study to see it.

1. Reference point 1 - the birth of the Messiah. Well we can definitely say this has already happened! Prophesied as early as Genesis 3, and a substantial subject of amazingly fulfilled prophecy in the OT, we are clear that this is done! The birth of Christ is definitely referenced in the book of Revelation(!) in Chap 12: v5 - “And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.” This passage definitely is not talking about the future but the past- and the passage chapter itself (12) is introduced with the word "sign" in the first verse-indicating that this passage is symbolic - addressing past AND future, and it will help us understand it better when we get to that point.

2. Reference point 2... the date of the work of Christ on the cross. Though we might place this date through the testimony of the Gospel accounts, this is given to us v accurately by the prophet Daniel in Daniel 9:24-27 (a.k.a 70 weeks of Daniel prophecy). 69x7 years are counted from the time Cyrus gives the decree to rebuild Jerusalem till the Messiah dies. This has been most amazingly fulfilled. The clock now STOPS for Israel at 69x7 only to resume at 3 below, for the last 1x7 years (after the period of the church) - that make up the 70 sevens that are decreed to put an end to transgression. Once Christ died and was resurrected, the Church Age began, and it continues till we come to a final 7 year period where God resumes His dealings with the nation Israel.

3. Reference point 3 - the desolation of the temple/revelation of the man of sin. In the Olivet discourse, Christ points His disciples back to Daniel , and Matthew and Mark add - He that reads let him understand - Daniel 9:27,11:31 are the verses that most directly apply. The Apostle Paul adds emphasis here “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Th 2:3,4.

Here is another marker. This marker kicks off the last 7 years (or 3.5 years of the 7) we discussed above. Mysteriously though - we do not find this event linked to a seal, trumpet or bowl. We DO find it first mentioned AFTER the seventh trumpet has been blown in Revelation 11:5. Prior to the 7th trumpet the apostle sees 2 witnesses testifying for 1260 days before the angel released at the 5th trumpet (Revelation 9:1) kills them (Rev 11:7). This angel is not the man of sin but Apollyon or Abaddon - mentioned in Rev 9:11 - called the angel of the bottomless pit. The man of sin is mentioned in Rev Chap 13 - after the seventh trumpet has been blown!! This makes sense only if we understand Chaps 12 and 13 as part of one symbolic interlude introducing us to this character, and the interlude concludes by showing us ...

4. Reference point 4 - Rev 14 -The desolation/revelation kicks off a period of tribulation unlike anything ever experienced on earth till this time. There is a group of elect that go through this period - some seen with the Lamb on Mount Zion, others warned by the preaching of the gospel and explicit instructions not to accept the mark of the beast (Rev 14:6-7 & 9-11). The book says “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”, indicating tribulation saints that go through this trial by fire but do not break. We see them resurrected in Rev 20:4 and it is sobering to read of their martyrdom there...

It is important to realize that there are 3 periods (aligned with seals, trumpets and bowl judgements we see in revelation):
Period 1- General Tribulation and Judgement on the whole world (including the church) - Seals 
Period 2. Great Tribulation unlike anything we have ever seen on the whole world (including the church) - Trumpets 
Period 3. Wrath poured out on the world (excluding the church) - Bowls.

We may wonder why the return of Christ is not ushered in with rose petals, unicorns, rainbows, fluffy kittens, and cotton candy raining from the clouds - instead we see things getting progressively worse.... things are bad already, but Christ warns His 7 churches that they are going to get worse and says 7 times - we must overcome. Here is the reason -

- Period 1(Seals) is BOTH - a time of judgement on the nations, and a trial of the faith of the elect. Christ says, "In this world you will have tribulation" (in general) "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) & " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" 2 Tim 3:12. It also judges Jerusalem and the nations - Ezekiel 6:11,12:16,14:21 lets us know that the sword, famine, death by wild beasts, and pestilence are instruments of judgement from the hand of the Lord - we see them used against Jerusalem in Ezekiel, and all the world once Christ has ascended and has opened the seals.

- Period 2 (Trumpets) is - "an hour of temptation, that shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth " (Rev 3:10). Daniel 11:31-35 very clearly states that this trial is upon the elect as well... even the wise among the elect will fall - to try them, to purge and make them white- but the people that know their God will be strong and do exploits even though they are given over to sword, captivity, flame and spoil.

If you look at what happens in this period it is scary to say the least.... yet like the plagues in Egypt, the people of God are sheltered from the calamities in this period, except for being persecuted by the beast. This is THE GREAT TRIBULATION and we are encouraged by knowing it lasts only 3.5 years! Why would the Lord give us this information if not to encourage those that are going through it? (BTW only the Church of Philadelphia is promised to be kept from this hour of trial in Christs message to the seven churches...)

Now this weeks text should be clear... prior to THE GREAT TRIBULATION, the servants of God are being sealed so that they can minister in what is the second most awful period in human history - (the wrath of the bowl judgements being the most truly terrible).

- Period 3 (Bowls) is the unadulterated wrath of God poured out on the nations that have accepted the mark of the beast,have been unrepentant in the face of the gospel, and that have killed His saints.The elect have been removed from the planet, and nothing restrains God arm anymore - for He is done with enduring sinners.

5. At the end of Period 2.....we have Reference point 5... Christ returns in the clouds of heaven, at the the sound of a last trumpet and snatches up ( harpazo ) His elect. Some are caught up, some are left. ”And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” - Rev 14:14-16 Here it is!!! The Seventh Trump has been blown, He comes on the cloud, and reaps!! Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares - Matthew 13:25-30... the angels catch us up or we are caught up, and the dead rise with us. It is HARVEST TIME, the earth is ripe, and the Son empties it of the elect!!!! Here is how we should understand that some are caught up, and others left. The wheat are taken up, and the tares left.

Once we are done...

6. Reference point 6 Revelation 15 Bowl judgements and onwards...: -God pours out His wrath on the earth, the enemy is defeated and the rule of His Christ begins. The elect do not go through the wrath period. We have been careful to use the term elect and not ‘church’. What would you call a Jewish Christian? Israel or Church? :-) In Period 2, because we see Jewish saints having the testimony of Jesus - it means that both Israel and the Church are going through tribulation! However, they do not go through the wrath period - Period 3.

The other passages in the book of Revelation (symbolism of Babylon) pull back the spiritual curtain for us, showing us the true powers behind the evil we have seen in the world. False religion, and the love of Money and power that have wreaked such havoc on this planet (think greed of Wall street, and Arms manufacturers fomenting wars for the sake of selling weapons). And thereafter we shall see the reign of Christ as well.

We have laid down these reference points so that we are clear as to where we are as we look to study the book in more detail over the coming weeks, God willing. We encourage you to read this passage with your Bible and go through the scripture references to verify that these things are indeed as we have laid them out.

It is amazing to contemplate Gods plan being worked out over the centuries, and His patience in restraining His hand! Just as Christ is resting till His enemies are being made His footstool, let us also rest in the sure Word of God, that though trials may come, our victory is sure - and we have been shown all these things in order that our FAITH FAIL NOT..... and we receive the crown of the VICTOR. Halleluljah!