War and the Sealing by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 25, 1865

War and the Sealing.

By James White

THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND.

The entire seventh chapter of the book of Revelation, which speaks of the sealing of the 144,000, is brought in parenthetically between the sixth and seventh seals—the sixth chapter closing with the specifications of the sixth seal, and the eighth opening with the seventh—hence the chronology of the sealing is fixed in our day.

Chap. vii, 1-3. "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."

On these verses we briefly comment as follows:

1. The four angels we understand to be four of those heavenly messengers which excel in strength, into whose hands God has given the control of the four winds.

2. The four corners of the earth may refer to the four points of the compass, embracing the whole.

3. The four winds represent the elements of political strife and war. See Dan. vii, 2; Jer. xxv, 32, 33.

4. To the four angels it is given to hurt, as well as to hold.

5. The hurting by the blowing of the four winds relates only to the results of war. The seven last plagues constitute no part of it, as the plagues are given into the hands of seven angels, chap. xv, 1, 6, 7; xvi, 1; xxi, 9, but this work is in the hands of four angels.

6. The ascending angel represents a special message; and as his work comes in after the signs of the second advent of Christ, mentioned under the sixth seal, we conclude that the sealing is identical with the work of the third message of chap. xiv, 9-12.

7. The seal of the living God, as shown in our publications, is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

8. The angel bearing the seal ascends from the rising of the sun. Whiting's translation. We do not suppose that locality is here meant; but that the message, represented by the ascending angel, would come up like the rising sun. The morning sun seems powerless. As it rises, its rays increase in strength, until it reaches the heat and dazzling power of the noon-day sun. The third message, bearing on its front the Sabbath of the Lord, arose in obscurity, its first teachers being penniless, uneducated men, and the positions taken by them were exceedingly unpopular and crossing. But the work has gradually moved on, gaining strength by every effort put forth by its true friends, and its future power, light, and glory, are symbolized in chap. xviii, 1-5.

9. Let it be observed that the sealing is in the same territory as, and in close connection with, the hurting by the blowing of the four winds. This is seen in the fact that the four angels are invoked not to hurt till the servants of God are sealed. This scene at present applies to our own country. To apply the hurting to the French Revolution of 1848, and the Crimean war of 1854, and then locate the sealing work in North America, is absurd. Here, in our own land, the hands of the four angels are loosening, and the winds of war and strife are blowing. Should this war continue and increase, the proclamation of the third message would be seriously hindered. Already [summer of 1862] our brethren in several States have been forced to suspend that labor in consequence of the military excitement.

10. The blowing of the four winds hurts the earth, the sea, and the trees. The present war threatens to seriously affect the agricultural interests of our country, Joel iii, 9, 10, also the commercial.

Again we see the hurting of the earth, the sea, and the trees, in the destruction of property by the land forces, and by the navy. While this work goes on, thousands are called into the army who would otherwise listen, at least, to the voice of truth; and those who remain at home are to such a degree excited as to the welfare of their sons, husbands, and brothers, in the service, and their country, that they are unprepared to listen to, and investigate, the great facts of the message.

11. There must be a time of comparative peace in which the sealing work will be accomplished. How soon that will be—how far the Southern rebellion will be pushed in fury, and the North rise in its strength and greatness—to what extent military movements are to hinder the proclamation of the message in this and other countries—is known only to Him who has the destiny of nations in his hands. It may be the purpose of God to bring the nation, stained with the crime of slavery, low in the dust, and greatly humble his people, that in the time of peace many may readily receive the message, and in unity and love obey it. The hurting angels hold the four winds that the servants of God may be sealed. When a time of comparative peace shall come, then will the sealing work move on in earnest. The message will forget its feebleness and will swell into the loud cry.

Verses 4-8. And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalm were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manesses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabolon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Some do not see how those of the twelve tribes can be sealed in our time. But is it not as difficult for them to see why the apostle should address his epistle to the twelve tribes? "James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." James i, 1, 2. This Christian minister is addressing his Christian brethren, and not the Jewish tribes. How is this?

Again, the names of the twelve tribes are on the twelve gates of the new-earth city. "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Rev. xxi, 10-14. This is not a Jewish city, but Christian, for in its foundations are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; yet on each one of its twelve gates is written the name of some one of the twelve tribes. How can this be?

Paul's figure of grafting may assist to a correct understanding of this matter. Rom. xi. The tame olive tree represents believing Israel. The twelve branches were broken off because of unbelief. Through faith in Christ the wild olive cions are grafted into the tame olive stocks, and thus the twelve tribes are perpetuated in the Christian age.

There is nothing on the earth to show the distinct tribes of the Israel of God. We cannot point to twelve denominations as constituting the twelve tribes; neither to any geographical divisions where they are located. Let us look to the heavenly sanctuary,

where the work of organizing the army of Heaven is going on. Under the former dispensation the sanctuary and ministration of the priests were at Old Jerusalem. There the tribes of the Lord assembled. There were their records. The Christian sanctuary, and priestly service of Jesus Christ are in Heaven. And there are the records of all who are grafted into the great olive-tree of the faithful, in twelve grand divisions. A soldier belongs to company A of such a regiment, of such a division, of such an army. Here is but a faint representation of the order of the organization of the great army of Heaven during the present dispensation, which in the immortal state will stand upon the sea of glass, and in twelve vast columns march through the twelve gates into the city of God.

Verses 9-12. After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.

This vast company are probably the saved from every nation, kindred, people and tongue, raised from the dead at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Verses 13-17. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Here we think, attention is again called to the 144,000. It is said of these that they came out of great tribulation, which, probably could not be said of all who will have part in the resurrection of the just at the second coming of Christ. Those who suffer with Christ will reign with him. All true Christians will suffer on account of their faith either mental or physical agony; but this falls below the great tribulation of the 144,000. These live in the midst of the perils of the last days, in the time of the blowing of the four winds, and when "evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth; and the slain of the Lord shall be in that day from one end of the earth, even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered nor buried." Jer. xxv, 32, 33. The 144,000 live on the earth in the time of trouble such as never was, and their deliverance is from out of it. Dan. xii, 1; Jer. xxx, 7. In battling for truth against the errors and spiritual wickedness of the times, in the work of overcoming the world, the flesh and the Devil, that they may be sealed with the seal of the living God, they become worn with care, anxiety and mental agony. Add to this the fact that they are to be on the earth to witness the result of the seven last plagues on those who have not the seal of the living God, Eze. ix, 2-6; Ps. xci, and we have the sum of great tribulation.

The 144,000 will know most by experience of the sufferings of Christ, hence are represented in the immortal state as being nearest to the slain Lamb. They will be to him a special treasure. They will be next to the throne, and the Lamb shall lead them. In chap. xiv, 4, they are spoken of after their redemption, as following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

J. W.