As we look at the seals being opened, it is intriguing that before the last seal is opened there will be humans sealed on the earth. Seals are signets that protect something from misappropriation, no one can tamper with the thing that is sealed. While the books or scrolls are sealed, there will also be people sealed so that they are not tampered with. Today those who believe on Jesus as Lord and Savior are sealed for the day of our release by ransom. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. After the change in dispensations, there will be 144,000 people sealed, similar to the sealed scrolls. These people are servants of the Living God.
To review what we have learned; when the harpazo occurs, Jesus is not seated at the right hand of the Father. He returns to the throne room to stand between the Father and the living creatures and he is holding seven animal horns that are similar to Joshua’s horns. Jesus takes the books and starts opening the seals. With the first seal, an angel who is wearing a cloth bow and a crown of royalty goes out as a conqueror to show the change in administrations. At the second seal, an angel takes peace off the earth. At the third seal, a third angel brings food shortages and price gouging. The fourth seal allows Death and Hades to kill one fourth of the population by war, famine, plague, and wild animals. When the fifth seal opens, people are killed under the altar. And at the time of the sixth seal, people are hoping to die so as not to have to look at the Living God on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb.
With this in mind, we have never asked the question as to how fast these things may take place. The chaos on the earth happens rather suddenly, as there are about two billon people taken off the earth at once. Some people have proposed the seals are an overview of the entire tribulation period, but that does conflict with a timeline of events. The first four seals bring a lot of political wrangling, where the majority of those left will take over the weakened nations that are missing 75 to 90 percent of their populations. What kind of confusion would a nation be in if a majority of its people and its political leaders disappear? What if presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, and royals all leave at the harpazo? Who is going to run these nations? This is why we see men killing men. This is why there is hunger. There is so much sin on the earth after the children of the Living God are harpazo’d. This is why Death and Hades can collect one fourth of the population. This is also why Israel can expand it’s borders, build an altar of sacrifice, and start sacrificing animals.
With this understanding in mind, we see that the horns Jesus is holding when he is about to take the scrolls are just about ready to be used. But before the seventh seal is opened and the horns are blown, one angel calls out to four other angels.
Revelation 7:1-4 (KJV)
1 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.
2 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,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 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.
We all know the earth is a sphere, there are no corners on a round ball. However, if the earth is divided into four parts, there could be four corners where the divisions meet.
Revelation 7:1 G2532 And G3326 after G3778 this, G1492 I saw G5064 four G32 angels G2476 standing G1909 upon G3588 the G5064 four G1137 corners G3588 of the G1093 earth, …..
1137LSJ Gloss:γωνία a corner, angle
Dodson:γωνία a corner, a secret place a corner; met: a secret place.
Thayer:
1) corner
1a) an external angle, a corner
1b) internal corner, i.e. a secret place
γωνία
gōnia go-nee'-ah Probably akin to G1119; an angle KJV Usage: corner, quarter.
Imagine that the earth is divided around the equator, and around the north and south poles. There is a division of four places and at one of the places where those two dividing lines cross we see four corners. There is one angel speaking to the four angels. Four angels are in charge of the four winds. Remember we saw last week angels with assignments in the heavens, so that when the stars fall it is angels prostrating and alighting. We also saw a few weeks ago the four angels, the four winds, keeping peace on the earth. These same four angels are ready to do what they are assigned to do, but they have to wait.
Revelation 7:1......G2902 holding G3588 the G5064 four G417 winds G3588 of the G1093 earth, G2443 that G3361 they should not G4154 blow G417 wind G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 earth, G3383 nor G1909 upon G3588 the G2281 sea, G3383 nor G1909 upon G3956 any G1186 tree.
Jeremiah tells us what the four winds are going to do during the tribulation time. Note that the Septuagint is not altered as the Masoretic Text, so the chapter and verse numbering is different.
Jeremias 24:34 THE PROPHECIES OF JEREMIAS AGAINST THE NATIONS OF ÆLAM.
35 Thus saith the Lord, The bow of Ælam is broken, even the chief of their power. 36 And I will bring upon Ælam the four winds from the four corners of heaven, and I will disperse them toward all these winds; and there shall be no nation to which they shall not come—even the outcasts of Ælam. 37 And I will put them in fear before their enemies that seek their life; and I will bring evils upon them according to my great anger; and I will send forth my sword after them, until I have utterly destroyed them. 38 And I will set my throne in Ælam, and will send forth thence king and rulers. 39 But it shall come to pass at the end of days, that I will turn the captivity of Ælam, saith the Lord. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Jeremias/index.htm
See Jeremiah 49:36 in other versions.
In the day of vengeance, the Lord will send the four winds from the four corners of heaven and disperse Elam. Today, the region of Elam is eastern Iraq and western Iran. After the tribulation, Jesus will gather the dispersed from the four corners.
Isaiah 11:11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root: 2 and the Spirit of God shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill him;……………
11 And it shall be in that day, that the Lord shall again shew his hand, to be zealous for the remnant that is left of the people, which shall be left by the Assyrians, and that from Egypt, and from the country of Babylon, and from Ethiopia, and from the Elamites, and from the rising of the sun, and out of Arabia. 12 And he shall lift up a standard for the nations, and he shall gather the lost ones of Israel, and he shall gather the dispersed of Juda from the four corners of the earth. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Esaias/index.htm
Jesus said this:
Matthew 24:31 (KJV) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
After Jesus comes with his saints on the Day of the Lord (the Apocalypse), he will then gather the elect (the heirs of Jacob) from two places; heaven and earth. Moses prophesied of the Lord bringing the heirs of Jacob back as well.
If we remember Jesus and his disciples on the boat, the wind has always obeyed him.
Mark 4:35-41 (KJV)
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
The four angels who were holding the four winds are going to hear from another angel. This tells us that there are angels in charge of other angels; ranks or regiments. This angel ascends from the rising sun.
Revelation7:2 G2532 And G1492 I saw G243 another G32 angel G305 having ascended G575 from G395 the rising G2246 of the sun, ….
305LSJ Gloss:ἀναβαίνω to go up, mount, to go up to
Dodson:ἀναβαίνω I go up, mount, ascend I go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up.
Thayer:
1) ascend
1a) to go up
1b) to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up
ἀναβαίνω
anabainō an-ab-ah'ee-no From G303 and the base of G939; to go up (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: arise, ascend (up), climb (go, grow, rise, spring) up, come (up).
575
ἀπό
apo apo' A primary particle; “off” , that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
395 LSJ Gloss:ἀνατολήa rising, rise
Dodson:ἀνατολή rising of the sun, the East
(a) rising of the sun, hence (b) (sing. and plur.) the quarter whence the sun rises, the East.
Thayer:
1) a rising (of the sun and stars)
2) the east (the direction of the sun's rising)
ἀνατολή
anatolē an-at-ol-ay' From G393; a rising of light, that is, dawn (figuratively); by implication the east (also in plural) KJV Usage: dayspring, east, rising.
2246 LSJ Gloss:ἥλιος the sun
Dodson:ἥλιος the sun, sunlight.
Thayer:
1) the sun
2) the rays of the sun
3) the light of day
ἥλιος
hēlios hay'-lee-os From ἕλη helē (a ray; perhaps akin to the alternate of G138); the sun; by implication light KJV Usage: + east, sun.
This angel is coming from the east where the sun rises. He has the seal of the Living God. This tells us that this angel just came from the Heavenly Father and has been commissioned with His seal.
4973LSJ Gloss:σφραγίς a seal, signet, seal-ring
Dodson:σφραγίς a signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
a seal, signet ring, the impression of a seal, that which the seal attests, the proof.
Thayer:
1) a seal
1a) the seal placed upon books
1b) a signet ring
1c) the inscription or impression made by a seal
1c1) of the name of God and Christ stamped upon their foreheads
1d) that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal (a token or proof)
σφραγίς
sphragis sfrag-ece' Probably strengthened from G5420; a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: seal.
2316
θεός
theos theh'-os Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very KJV Usage: X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].
2198 LSJ Gloss:ζάω to live
Dodson:ζάωI live I live, am alive.
Thayer:
1) to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
2) to enjoy real life
2a) to have true life and worthy of the name
2b) active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
3) to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting
3a) of mortals or character
4) living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
5) metaph. to be in full vigour
5a) to be fresh, strong, efficient,
5b) as adj. active, powerful, efficacious
ζάω
zaō dzah'-o A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: life (-time), (a-) live (-ly), quick.
This is a seal from the God who is alive. The angel, and maybe other angels, are going to seal people. Today, those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are sealed. Our seal is for our ransom.
Ephesians 4:30 G2532 And G3361 do not G3076 fret G3588 the G4151 [2spirit G3588 G39 1holy] G3588 G2316 of God, G1722 in G3739 which G4972 you were sealed G1519 for G2250 the day G629 of release by ransom!
4972LSJ Gloss:σφραγίζω to seal
Dodson:σφραγίζω I set a seal upon I seal, set a seal upon.
Thayer:
1) to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal
1a) for security: from Satan
1b) since things sealed up are concealed (as the contents of a letter), to hide, keep in silence, keep secret
1c) in order to mark a person or a thing
1c1) to set a mark upon by the impress of a seal or a stamp
1c2) angels are said to be sealed by God
1d) in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing
1d1) to confirm authenticate, place beyond doubt
1d1a) of a written document
1d1b) to prove one's testimony to a person that he is what he professes to be
σφραγίζω
sphragizō sfrag-id'-zo From G4973; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication to keep secret, to attest KJV Usage: (set a, set to) seal up, stop.
We have a seal that marks us for the day of redemption, the day of our release by Jesus redeeming us as ransom. It is the day of the harpazo that we are sealed for. Our seal is for our age and dispensation. We have the Holy Spirit with this seal.
2 Corinthians 1:21 G3588 And the one G1161 G950 firming G1473 us G4862 with G1473 you G1519 unto G5547 Christ, G2532 and G5548 having anointed G1473 us, G2316 is God;
22 G3588 even the one G2532 G4972 setting a seal upon G1473 us, G2532 and G1325 having given G3588 the G728 deposit G3588 of the G4151 spirit G1722 in G3588 G2588 our hearts. G1473
The we have the Holy Spirit as a deposit of our inheritance. There is a benefit to receiving Jesus now before the day of redemption; the Holy Spirit is living within us.
Ephesians 1:13 G1722 In G3739 whom G2532 also G1473 you, G191 having heard G3588 the G3056 word G3588 of the G225 truth G3588 the G2098 good news G3588 G4991 of your deliverance -- G1473 G1722 in G3739 whom G2532 also G4100 having trusted, G4972 you were sealed G3588 by the G4151 spirit G3588 of the G1860 promise G3588 in the G39 holy;
14 G3739 who G1510.2.3 is G728 the deposit G3588 G2817 of our inheritance, G1473 G1519 in G629 a release by ransom G3588 of the G4047 procurement G1519 in G1868 high praise G3588 G1391 of his glory. G1473
We are sealed for the harpazo; the 144,000 are sealed for the gathering midway through the tribulation, but there were people once marked on their foreheads who mourned for the sins in Jerusalem. This is not the same seal, however this mark was put on by angels and protected those who were marked.
Ezekiel 9:3 9:1 And he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, The judgment of the city has drawn nigh; and each had the weapons of destruction in his hand. 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the high gate that looks toward the north, and each one’s axe was in his hand; and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with a long robe down to the feet, and a sapphire girdle was on his loins: and they came in and stood near the brazen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel, that was upon them, went up from the cherubs to the porch of the house.
And he called the man that was clothed with the long robe, who had the girdle on his loins; 4 And said to him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that groan and that grieve for all the iniquities that are done in the midst of them. 5 And he said to the first in my hearing, Go after him into the city, and smite: and let not your eyes spare, and have no mercy. 6 Slay utterly old man and youth, and virgin, and infants, and women: but go ye not nigh any on whom is the mark: begin at my sanctuary.
So they began with the elder men who were within in the house. 7 And he said to them, Defile the house, and go out and fill the ways with dead bodies, and smite. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Jezekiel/index.htm
At this time, the glory had just left the temple. Some of Judah had gone into captivity in Babylon, and the rest of Judah was about to be overcome. As we can see, the angels were to mark the people who were grieved over the iniquities happening around them. What these people didn’t know was how awful the iniquities were inside the temple. They were mourning the depravity of society while the Living God saw the depravity of the spiritual leaders within the House of the Lord. The marked people were spared from death, but still brought into captivity. We see that angels were charged with this task at the time of the captivity, and now they are tasked with it again at the tribulation.
Revelation7:2…And G2896 he cried out G5456 [2voice G3173 1with a great] G3588 to the G5064 four G32 angels, G3739 to the ones whom G1325 it was given G1473 to them G91 to injure G3588 the G1093 earth G2532 and G3588 the G2281 sea,
91 LSJ Gloss:ἀδικέω to do wrong
Dodson:ἀδικέωI act unjustly towardsI act unjustly towards, injure, harm.
Thayer:
1) absolutely
1a) to act unjustly or wickedly, to sin,
1b) to be a criminal, to have violated the laws in some way
1c) to do wrong
1d) to do hurt
2) transitively
2a) to do some wrong or sin in some respect
2b) to wrong some one, act wickedly towards him
2c) to hurt, damage, harm
ἀδικέω
adikeō ad-ee-keh'-o
From G94; to be unjust, that is, (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) KJV Usage: hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong.
The four angels were ready to hurt the earth, but the angel stops them so they can seal the servants of God.
Revelation 7:3 G3004 saying, G3361 Injure not G91 G3588 the G1093 earth, G3383 nor G3588 the G2281 sea, G3383 nor G3588 the G1186 trees, G891 until G3739 G4972 we seal G3588 the G1401 bondmen G3588 G2316 of our God G1473 G1909 upon G3588 G3359 their foreheads. G1473
1401 LSJ Gloss:δοῦλος a born bondman
Dodson:δοῦλος a male slave
(a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave.
Thayer:
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1a) a slave
1b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men
1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
2) a servant, attendant
δοῦλος
doulos doo'-los From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) KJV Usage: bond (-man), servant.
3359 LSJ Gloss:μέτωπον the space between the eyes, the brow, forehead
Dodson:μέτωπον the forehead the forehead, front.
Thayer:
1) the space between the eyes, the forehead
μέτοπον
metopon met'-o-pon From G3326 and ὤψ ōps (the face); the forehead (as opposite the countenance) KJV Usage: forehead.
These people are servants of the Living God. These young men are dedicating their lives in service to the Living God, and the Living God’s seal is upon them.
Revelation 7:4 G2532 And G191 I heard G3588 the G706 numbers G3588 of the ones G4972 having been sealed -- G1540 a hundred G2532 and G5062 forty G5064 four G5505 thousand G4972 having been sealed, G1537 from out of G3956 every G5443 tribe G5207 of the sons G* of Israel.
5443 LSJ Gloss:φυλή a race
Dodson:φυλή a tribe, race a tribe or race of people.
Thayer:
1) a tribe
1a) in the NT all the persons descending from one of the twelve sons of the patriarch, Jacob
2) a nation, people
φυλή
phulē foo-lay' From G5453 (compare G5444); an offshoot, that is, race or clanKJV Usage: kindred, tribe.
5207 LSJ Gloss:υἱός A son
Dodson:υἱός a son, descendent.
Thayer:
1) a son
1a) rarely used for the young of animals
1b) generally used of the offspring of men
1c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
1d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1d1) the
υἱός
uihos hwee-os' Apparently a primary word; a “son” (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship KJV Usage: child, foal, son.
Twelve thousand young men are sealed from every tribe of the sons of Jacob. How do we know that they are young men? We will see this shortly.
Revelation 7:5-8 (KJV)
5 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.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 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.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
We want to skip ahead to Revelation chapter 14 so that we can learn a bit more about these people and who they are. The timing here in chapter 14 is after Jesus is coronated and the ‘kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ and he shall reign forever’. After Jesus gives rewards to the saints, he comes to mount Zion.
Revelation 14:1 G2532 And G1492 I saw, G2532 and G2400 behold, G721 a lamb G2476 standing G1909 upon G3588 G3735 mount G* Zion, G2532 and G3326 with G1473 him G1540 a hundred G5062 forty G5064 four G5505 thousand, G2192 having G3588 G3686 his name G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G3686 name G3588 G3962 of his father G1473 G1125 being written G1909 upon G3588 G3359 their foreheads. G1473
Jesus is standing with the 144,000 sealed servants of God on mount Zion. Jesus gathered these servants to Zion, and then John hears a thundering sound from heaven. Who are these servants? If we think about what just transpired, the harpazo left the world in chaos with a lot of political jockeying for position between Islam, atheists, and Jews. Jews probably left the countries that they were in to go to Israel, and Israel increases her borders in the Psalm 83 war, while Islam increases in power in other nations. The sacrifices start in Israel, and when they are forced to stop people recognize who the son of perdition is, they confess Jesus as Lord and are killed under the altar. The whole world sees the Father on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. These 144,000 are not martyred, but they are servants and they are sealed. They may not live in Israel at first, but they will be purchased from there later. They may not have been Jews, they certainly have not confessed Christ Jesus as Lord up to this point. If they had confessed Jesus as Lord they would have been redeemed in the harpazo. If they were Jews sacrificing at the altar they would have been martyred. These are people who saw what the whole world saw when the sixth seal was opened, and then they believed on Jesus. While some wanted to hide and die, there were others who now want to serve the Lord and they are from the lineage of one of the twelve tribes.
Revelation 14:2 G2532 And G191 I heard G5456 a sound G1537 from out of G3588 the G3772 heaven, G5613 as G5456 a sound G5204 [2waters G4183 1of many], G2532 and G5613 as G5456 a sound G1027 [2thunder G3173 1of great]; G2532 and G3588 G5456 [2 the sound G3739 3which G191 1I heard] G5613 was as G2790 harpists G2789 harping G1722 with G3588 G2788 their harps. G1473
If we think about numbers again, we realize that 144,000 is not that many people. Today, there are just over 7 billion people on the earth. Two billion are harpazo’d at the start of the tribulation. That leaves 5 billion people on the earth. At least one fourth of those people are killed during the fourth seal, or about 1.25 billion, and that leaves roughly 3.75 billion people on the earth. This means that the 144,000 are only a small fraction of one percent of the living humans on the earth (.00384%)
These servants who were sealed were probably witnessing to others on the earth. Remember that the two witnesses are on the earth as well. We don’t know where these people live, but they are gathered to Zion when their time to be bought by Jesus is done. The next thing that John sees is the 144,000 singing around the throne. Obviously they all left mount Zion and went to heaven. This takes place midway through the tribulation.
Revelation 14:3 G2532 And G103 they sing G5603 [2ode G2537 1a new] G1799 before G3588 the G2362 throne, G2532 and G1799 before G3588 the G5064 four G2226 living creatures, G2532 and G3588 the G4245 elders. G2532 And G3762 no one G1410 is able G3129 to learn G3588 the G5603 ode, G1508 except G3588 the G1540 hundred G5062 forty G5064 four G5505 thousand, G3588 the ones G59 being bought G575 from G3588 the G1093 earth.
59 LSJ Gloss:ἀγοράζω to be in the a)gora/
Dodson:ἀγοράζω I buy.
Thayer:
1) to be in the market place, to attend it
2) to do business there, buy or sell
3) of idle people: to haunt the market place, lounge there
ἀγοράζω
agorazō ag-or-ad'-zo From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem KJV Usage: buy, redeem.
58LSJ Gloss:ἀγορά an assembly of the people
Dodson:ἀγορά market-place market-place, forum, public place of assembly.
Thayer:
1) any assembly, especially of the people
2) the place of assembly
2a) for public debating,
2b) for elections
2c) for trials
2d) for buying and selling
2e) for all kinds of business
3) market place, street
ἀγορά
agora ag-or-ah' From ἀγείρω “ageiro” (to gather; probably akin to G1453); properly the town square (as a place of public resort); by implication a market or thoroughfare KJV Usage: market (-place), street.
575 LSJ Gloss:ἀπό from, away from. c. gen.
Dodson:ἀπό from, away from.
Thayer:
1) of separation
1a) of local separation, after verbs of motion from a place i.e. of departing, of fleeing, ...
1b) of separation of a part from the whole
1b1) where of a whole some part is taken
1c) of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
1d) of a state of separation, that is of distance
1d1) physical, of distance of place
1d2) temporal, of distance of time
2) of origin
2a) of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
2b) of origin of a cause
ἀπό
apo apo' A primary particle; “off” , that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
In Greek culture the agora is an open air market. Literally it means “the gathering place or assembly”. It was a place for people to speak in public, for the armies to gather, and for people to sell goods and services. We see Paul preaching in the agora’s and Jesus talking about the agora’s.
These people were bought as if they were being sold at a market. They were bought off the earth. Today, the sealed have already been bought by Jesus’ blood, and he is coming to redeem us when the number is fulfilled, Romans 11. For example, Jesus purchased 125 boxes of cookies, but the store only had 25 boxes of cookies. The store gave Jesus a raincheck so that when they received the other 100 boxes of cookies in, he could redeem them all at the same time. The 144,000 are being bought all at once. No waiting, no raincheck, they are all in stock at this time.
Now we come to a few details about the 144,000. They are virgins and males.
Revelation 14:4 G3778 These G1510.2.6 are G3739 the ones G3326 [3with G1135 4women G3756 1not G3435 2tainted]; G3933 [3virgins G1063 1for G1510.2.6 2they are]. G3778 These G1510.2.6 are G3588 the ones G190 following G3588 the G721 lamb G3699 where G302 ever G5217 he should go. G3778 These G5259 [2by G* 3Jesus G59 1were bought] G575 from G3588 G444 men G536 as first-fruit G3588 G2316 to God, G2532 and G3588 to the G721 lamb.
3435 LSJ Gloss:μολύνω to stain, sully, defile
Dodson:μολύνω I soil, stain, pollute, defile I soil, stain, pollute, defile, lit. and met.
Thayer:
1) to pollute, stain, contaminate, defile
1a) used in NT of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilements of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery
For Synonyms see entry G5864
μολύνω
molunō mol-oo'-no Probably from G3189; to soil (figuratively) KJV Usage: defile.
3933 LSJ Gloss:παρθένος a maid, maiden, virgin, girl
Dodson:παρθένος a virgin
a maiden, virgin; extended to men who have not known women.
Thayer:
1) a virgin
1a) a marriageable maiden
1b) a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man
1c) one's marriageable daughter
2) a man who has abstained from all uncleanness and whoredom attendant on idolatry, and so has kept his chastity
2a) one who has never had intercourse with women
παρθένος
parthenos par-then'-os Of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication an unmarried daughter KJV Usage: virgin.
536 LSJ Gloss:ἀπαρχή the beginning of a sacrifice, the primal offering
Dodson:ἀπαρχή the first-fruits the first-fruits, the earliest crop of the year, hence also met., for example, of the earliest converts in a district; there is evidence in favor of rendering in some passages merely by: sacrifice, gift.
Thayer:
1) to offer firstlings or firstfruits
2) to take away the firstfruits of the productions of the earth which was offered to God. The first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared. Hence term used of persons consecrated to God for all time.
3) persons superior in excellence to others of the same class
ἀπαρχή
aparchē ap-ar-khay' From a compound of G575 and G756; a beginning of sacrifice, that is, the (Jewish) first fruit (figuratively) KJV Usage: first-fruits.
If we are speaking about people who have not had sexual relations with a woman, then they are males. Are they old virgins? How many old virgin males are really on the earth at this time? Probably not many. These are probably young virgin males. and they were bought by Jesus as first fruits to both the Living God the Father and the Lamb. This tells us that at this time period these male virgins are clean, pure, and wholesome. They are the best fruits at the market, they are the first ones picked, and then offered to God. What’s more, these men have never lied.
Revelation 14:5 G2532 And G1722 in G3588 G4750 their mouth G1473 G3756 was not G2147 found G5579 a lie, G299 [3unblemished G1063 1for G1510.2.6 2they are]
5579 LSJ Gloss:ψεῦδος a falsehood, untruth, lie
Dodson:ψεῦδος a lie a lie, falsehood, untruth; false religion.
Thayer:
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be
3a) of perverse, impious, deceitful precepts
ψεῦδος
pseudos psyoo'-dos From G5574; a falsehood KJV Usage: lie, lying.
299 LSJ Gloss:ἄμωμος without blame, blameless
Dodson:ἄμωμος blameless blameless, without blemish, unblemished, faultless.
Thayer:
1) without blemish
1a) as a sacrifice without spot or blemish
2) morally: without blemish, faultless, unblameable
ἄμωμος
amōmos am'-o-mos From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3470; unblemished (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: without blame (blemish, fault, spot), faultless, unblameable.
This is a very strong requirement that not many adults can fulfill. That may be cynical, but humans become morally tarnished as they age. Some religions of today teach that they will be of the 144,000. Simply put, that is impossible. If those religions teach people to believe on Jesus now, they will be harpazo’d by this time. The people teaching a “mid-tribulation” philosophy are only partly correct. There is a pre- tribulation event, the harpazo, then the martyred under the altar, then the 144,000 sealed and purchased after Jesus is coronated. One cannot be of the 144,000 unless they do not confess Jesus as Lord today, nor at the time of the martyring under the altar. The other requirements of being a male virgin who has never lied pretty much disqualify almost all of those people who believe they are of the 144,000. Not to sound harsh or anything, but these details are all written here, we simply need to read and not make up our own religious philosophies.
If we put this together, there are virgin men who have never lied, they are unblemished. This tells us these people are probably not old, but young. They are sealed by angels, right after the whole world sees the Father on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. They are servants of the Living God, and they are not martyred. Jesus buys them in an agora so that all will see them. They are then bought off the earth, brought to the throne where they sing a new song that no one else can sing. This is the only group of “mid-trib” people ascending to heaven. They only ascend after Jesus is coronated in Revelation 11. Revelation 7 simply announces that there are sealed servants from all the tribes of Jacob, and Revelation 14 tells us when they leave the earth with Jesus.
