Dr. Couch, in Revelation 7:3 and in 9:4 it is mentioned that the
servants of the Lord are sealed with a seal on their foreheads. My
question, if the 144,000 Jewish witnesses are sealed, what about those
who hear and believe their message? Are they sealed also? What’s your
answer?
ANSWER: The sealing of the 144,000 mentioned in chapter 7 were to be protected
during their period of witnessing to the earth. But the protection over
them is but temporary. In 14:1 we see the 144,000 in glory standing
together in the heavenly Mt. Zion with the Lord Jesus. They had a
special protection (v.3) but were finally “purchased” from the earth,
probably martyred, as mentioned in vs. 3-4. There were considered
special “first fruits” (the first crops) of the tribulation and were
especially dedicated to God the Father and Christ the Lamb.
Chapter 9 is about the release of the demonic
horde from the “shaft of the abyss.” For a period the demons were
permitted to harm all men except those who had received “the seal of God
on their foreheads” (v. 4). Since the passage does not refer to the
144,000 I take it that “the men” referred to would be new believers
coming to Christ during the witness of the blessed 144,000 Jewish
evangelists. Many, many who are saved during the tribulation, i.e. the
tribulation (not church) saints, will towards the end by martyred. The
martyred are vividly pictured in chapter 15 and in 16:4-7.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
