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About one hundred and forty-four thousand people who did not suffer harm from the plague of the four Angels Rev.7:1. And after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that the wind would not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. Understanding by the four Angels that those exposed to disasters cannot in any way escape the wrath of God, either on land or at sea, some attribute this to the persecution of the Jews by the Romans that happened before. But we think that all this should happen to the greatest extent at the coming of the Antichrist, and not in the Jewish country in particular, but in the whole earth, at the four corners of which, as he says, there will be angels, performers of the ministry appointed to them by God and unknown to us. The retention of the winds serves as evidence of the destruction of the subordination of the creature and the inevitability of evil, since everything growing on the earth grows and is fed by the winds; With the help of them they swim in the sea. Rev.7:2. And I saw another angel rising from the east of the sun and having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying: “And I saw another angel... having the seal of the living God.” What was once revealed to Ezekiel about a man dressed in a subir, a long linen robe, who set a seal “on the faces of those who groan” (Ezekiel 9:4), so as not to destroy the righteous along with sinners (for even the Angels do not know the secret virtues of the saints), the same thing is now revealed to the blessed one, when the main holy powers are commanded not to harm those who have sinned until they know servants of truth, marked with the seal. This partly happened already when many thousands of those who believed in Christ, as the great James tells Blessed Paul, escaped the devastation of Jerusalem by the Romans, but with special force this will come true, as has already been said, during the coming of the Antichrist, when the faithful, bearing the sign of Christ unashamedly and boldly before the unbelievers, will be distinguished from them by the seal of the Life-giving Cross, which is why the angel said: Rev.7:3. Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. The creation, as created for our sake, participates in disasters during the times of our punishment, just as it rejoices with the saints during their glorification. It follows from this that even those adorned with virtues during adversity need angelic help according to the power of the seal of the Spirit given to us, which, however, manifests its power only insofar as we ourselves reveal our activity, and if someone does not receive help from it, it is only because of his reluctance. Rev.7:4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed: those who were sealed were one hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel. Rev.7:5. Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; THE MEANING OF THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE PATRIARCHES Judas is translated by the word confession, which distinguishes those who are saved by confessing Christ, who came from Judas. Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; Reuben means son of vision; This means those who, through purity of heart, have acquired spiritual vision. of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; Gad is a temptation. They signify those who have received glory for enduring temptations, like Job. Rev.7:6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; Asir is bliss. It refers to those who received the Master's blessedness for a worthy life, who were deemed worthy to become at the right hand of Christ and who turned out to be sons of day and light. of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; Naphtali - prayer. It refers to those who cling to God through unceasing prayer. of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; Manasseh - oblivion. It refers to those who left everything behind them and their father’s house for the sake of pleasing God. Rev.7:7. from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; Simeon - obedience. It refers to those who are justified for obedience to the Divine commandments. of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; Levi is nice. Indicates those accepted by Christ for a life worthy of a priest. Levi stands eighth, for the true priesthood is revealed after the eighth day of resurrection. of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; Issachar is a reward. Those who receive a reward from God for a virtuous life are indicated. Rev.7:8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; Zebulun is a dwelling place of power or fragrance. This denotes those strengthened through Christ’s dwelling in suffering and made, according to the Apostle, His fragrance (2 Cor. 2:15). of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; Joseph - application. It refers to those who, according to the word of the Lord, together with the Heavenly Kingdom will receive, as if in addition, everything they need in earthly life. Of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. Benjamin is the son of sickness, or the son of the day, or the son of the morning star. It refers to those who replenish the number of those being saved due to sorrow of heart, or to the Jews who escaped Roman captivity, or, most likely, to the Jews who are saved through faith at the end of the world. Just as the apostle says: “until the fulfillment of tongues will come, and thus all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:25, 26). But one or the other interpretation can be accepted. The same number of those saved from each tribe, I think, indicates the fertility of the apostolic seed, because the number twelve, taken twelve times and multiplied by a thousand, gives this number of saved who were disciples of the seed that fell to the earth out of love for mankind and produced such a varied fruit of universal salvation. But let it be known that the tribe of Dan is not mentioned with the others because the Antichrist will come from it. Instead, the tribe of Levi is mentioned, since ancient times priestly, not included in the number of tribes. The meaning of the names makes it possible to apply some reasoning to each of them, which is what was done above. Joseph is mentioned instead of his son Ephraim. The given number is considered equal in number to the number of ancient Jewish commanders and the twelve apostles appointed in their place, as was said, as princes of the whole earth (Ps. 44:17), through whom the Jews scattered throughout the earth will be saved. About the countless people from the languages, wearing bright clothes Rev.7:9. After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands. Rev.7:10. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” These are those about whom David says: “I will count them, and they will multiply more than the sand” (Ps. 139:18), who suffered as martyrs for Christ from every tribe and tribe and in recent times have courageously accepted suffering. Some of them have already whitened, others will whiten their clothes with their blood shed for Christ, and now, having in their hands as a sign of victory the branches of useful, right and pure dates of the heart, they triumph, rejoicing around the throne of Divine peace, and, being grateful slaves, attribute their victory over the demons to the one Giver. Rev.7:11. And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, Rev.7:12. saying: Amen! blessing and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and strength and strength to our God forever and ever! Amen. Here is one Church of people and Angels! For then Angels will co-serve people, who previously seemed terrible even to people equal to the angels, as we know about Daniel. Because, according to some holy fathers, they are visible in the bodies characteristic of them, or, as others think, they are not subject to threefold measurement in length, breadth and height, as is characteristic of bodies in general, and therefore they do not appear to us in their nature, but taking on the image and form according to the will of God. Standing around the cherubim and elders signifies the height of honor for those who are glorified under the number of elders. And to God for His Divine care for all creation for our sake, thanks are offered with all our existing powers. Rev.7:13. And, having begun his speech, one of the elders asked me: who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from? Rev.7:14. I told him: you know, sir. The one who appears prompts the blessed one with his questions to investigate what he has seen, but he, prudently aware of his ignorance, receives instruction from the one who appears. And he said to me: these are they who came out of great tribulation; they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev.7:15. For this reason they now remain before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His church, and He who sits on the throne will dwell in them. Blessed are those who, for temporary labors, will inherit eternal peace, who, for suffering with Christ, will reign with Him and serve Him. The words “day and night” indicate the continuity of this service. There will be no night there, but eternal day, illuminated by the sun, not sensual, but spiritual, the Sun of righteousness - Christ. But by night we can also mean hidden deep secrets; then by day we must understand clear and intelligible. The church of God is every creation renewed by the spirit. But most surely, those who have kept the pledge of the Spirit intact and unquenched. God promised to live and walk in them (2 Cor. 6:16). Rev.7:16. They will neither hunger nor thirst anymore. And rightly so! They will have the bread of heaven and the water of life. and the sun and no heat will burn them: They will not get sick and endure disasters depicted under the guise of the sun and heat, for the time of suffering is over. Rev.7:17. for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and lead them to living springs of water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. The words “I will feed” indicate that those flocked by Christ will not then be afraid of the attacks of wolves thrown into unquenchable fire, but will graze on the pure and vast springs of the Divine understanding, as indicated by the word water, by which, in addition, we must understand the abundant outpouring of the Divine Spirit. For the Lord says about the believer that “rivers from his belly will flow out of living waters” (John 7:38). Then the saints, nourished abundantly by this water, after the cessation of private knowledge, will acquire perfect knowledge and, freed from corruption and change, will enjoy endless joy and joy. You might be interested in: