Big Idea: Before God pours out his wrath on a wicked world, he will give his people spiritual protection.

Understanding the Text

The interlude of Revelation 7 stands between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. (There is another dramatic interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets in Revelation 10:1–11:14, but no interlude at the end of the bowl judgments.) Interludes in Revelation often shed light on the current situation of God’s people and offer insight into their present responsibilities and future hope. The interlude of chapter 7 consists of two visions: the protective sealing of the 144,000 on earth (7:1–8) and the celebration of the great multitude in heaven (7:9–17). These two visions likely depict the same group of people, the people of God, but do so from two different …