William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 7:2

Observe here, 1. The special and distinguishing care which God took of his church and faithful people before he suffered the approaching storm to come upon the world: he did by another angel cry to the four angels that were ready, as God's executioners, to hurt the earth, that they should hurt nothing until the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads; and his crying with. loud voice intimates his great care to preserve his faithful ones.

Quest. What was this sealing?

Ans. Some understand it of an external visible sealing, by setting. mark upon their foreheads for preservation, according to Ezekiel 9:4 the letter Tau; doubtless there was some notification made by Almighty God to the destroying angels, of every one whom he would have preserved.

Others do understand this seal to be internal, by sanctification; and from whence we may gather, that inward holiness is the best guard against temporal or spiritual judgments.

But take this sealing in either sense, either for an outward or inward sealing, the notion doth imply,

1. That the persons sealed are of precious and excellent esteem with God.

2. It imports preservation and security from danger: God sealeth his people, that the destruction coming upon others may escape them: thus here God's servants were sealed, that they might be preserved: that they are kept either from sin and error, or from judgment and danger,is not from themselves, but from God's care and love towards them in the sealing of them, the angel said, Hurt not the earth, &c. till we have sealed the servants of our God, &c.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 7:2

Old Testament

New Testament