Revelation 7:1-8
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. 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 Nephthalim [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [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 Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
By the way, when the winds are released, that’s the tribulation, the period of the plagues, the time of trouble such as never seen in the history of the world. Now the reason for the sealing is to identify those that are going to go through with the tribulation so that their lives are preserved or are spared. That’s the reason why it says before the winds are released seal my servants on their foreheads. In other words it is a mark of protection for God’s people who will go through tribulation when the winds of strife are released. Now who are they who are sealed? Verse 4
Now, the is a critical question we must ask before we go on to talk about the 144,000, and that is when will the 144,000 live in the history of the world. There is no doubt that the 144,000 are those who will be alive when Jesus comes.