Revelation 7:2 kjv

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,

Revelation 7:2 nkjv

Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea,

Revelation 7:2 niv

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:

Revelation 7:2 esv

Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,

Revelation 7:2 nlt

And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea,

Revelation 7 verses

Revelation 7 2 Meaning

Revelation 7:2 reveals a pivotal moment where an angel, empowered by God, intervenes in the sequence of divine judgments. Ascending from the east with God's very own seal, this angel commands the four destructive angels to temporarily withhold their appointed power to harm the earth and sea. This intervention signifies God's sovereign control over judgment, His profound care for His people, and the necessity of marking them for divine protection before the full outpouring of His wrath upon the ungodly world. It acts as an assurance of preservation for God's servants amidst impending tribulation.

Revelation 7 2 Context

Revelation chapter 7 is an important interlude between the opening of the sixth seal in chapter 6, which revealed cosmic disturbances and great fear, and the seventh seal in chapter 8, which introduces the seven trumpets of judgment. Chapter 6 ends with the terrified question, "Who is able to stand?" Revelation 7 answers this by showing God's people protected and preserved. Verse 2 initiates this pause in judgment. It signifies that even as devastating judgments loom, God's priority is the safety and sealing of His chosen servants (the 144,000 in the following verses). This specific verse sets the scene for a divine delay, demonstrating God's sovereign control over destructive forces and His protective providence over those who belong to Him.

Revelation 7 2 Word analysis

• And I saw: (Greek: kai eidon) Typical of John's visionary experience in Revelation, emphasizing direct divine revelation. It signals the introduction of a new, distinct aspect of the vision.

• another angel: (Greek: allon angelon) Distinct from the four angels mentioned in Rev 7:1 who are holding the winds. This angel possesses a higher, intervening authority and a different mission than those tasked with simply restraining. This indicates a divine hierarchy and purposeful delegation.

• ascending: (Greek: anabainonta) Means "going up" or "rising." It denotes movement upwards, often from earth to heaven or from a lower to a higher place of authority. Here, it suggests divine origin and purpose for his descent into the earthly realm to deliver his message.

• from the east: (Greek: apo anatolōn) Lit. "from the risings" (of the sun). This is profoundly symbolic. In biblical prophecy, the east often signifies God's presence (Ezek 43:2), the place of divine glory and light, new beginnings, or the direction from which Messiah would return in judgment or deliverance (Zech 14:4; Mt 24:27). It links this angel directly to God's own glory and authoritative will.

• having the seal: (Greek: echonta sphragida) The "seal" (sphragis) was a mark of ownership, authentication, security, or authority. It could be pressed onto documents or property. Here, it signifies the angel carries divine authority, not his own, but as an emissary, bearing the very mark of God's authorization.

• of the living God: (Greek: tou Theou zōntos) Emphasizes the unique and eternal nature of God, distinct from dead idols or false gods. It speaks to His active power, ongoing existence, and ability to give life and protect. This attribute reinforces the supreme authority and validity of the seal the angel carries.

• and he cried: (Greek: kai ekraxen) Signifies a loud, urgent cry or shout. It conveys the immense importance and immediacy of the command being issued. This is not a whisper but a powerful, unignorable decree.

• with a loud voice: (Greek: en phōnē megalē) Reinforces the urgency and public, authoritative nature of the message. Such a voice in Revelation often accompanies significant divine pronouncements or actions.

• to the four angels: These are the same angels from Rev 7:1, already standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds. The command is specifically directed at them, underscoring their power over global elements of judgment.

• to whom it was given: (Greek: hois edothē) The passive voice "it was given" indicates divine permission or authorization. These four angels do not act on their own volition but are granted specific power by God to inflict harm. This highlights God's ultimate sovereignty and control over all judgment.

• to hurt: (Greek: adikēsai) Meaning "to harm," "to injure," or "to wrong." It implies a destructive action.

• the earth and the sea: (Greek: tēn gēn kai tēn thalassan) Represents a comprehensive scope, encompassing all the physical terrestrial and marine environments, thereby all the unsealed inhabitants of the world. It signifies a universal judgment, yet one that God maintains sovereign control over.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God": This phrase combines powerful imagery. The upward movement suggests a direct mandate from heaven, the east ties the angel to divine glory and presence, and "the seal of the living God" unequivocally establishes his authority as stemming from the ultimate sovereign and active Creator, authenticating his mission.
  • "he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt": This group of words emphasizes a direct, authoritative, and urgent command from a higher celestial being to subordinate angels already vested with immense power of destruction. It sets up the critical pause in the unfolding judgments, showing that even these powerful destructive forces operate only under divine permission and can be halted by a superior divine decree.

Revelation 7 2 Bonus section

The "sealing" described here in Revelation can be understood in a few dimensions:

• Ownership and Identification: It identifies those who truly belong to God, contrasting with the "mark of the beast" later in Revelation which identifies those who pledge allegiance to antichristian powers.
• Security and Preservation: While it doesn't necessarily grant immunity from all suffering or tribulation (God's people throughout history have faced persecution), it signifies divine protection through judgment. They are protected from God's wrath, especially those specific judgments intended for the ungodly.
• Divine Empowerment: In a broader sense, New Testament theology teaches that believers are "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (Eph 1:13), who acts as a down payment or guarantee of future inheritance and resurrection. While the sealing in Rev 7 appears to be more for specific end-time protection, it echoes this concept of God supernaturally marking and empowering His people.
• Christological Link: The angel "from the east" having "the seal" bears subtle echoes of Christ himself, who is "the Sun of Righteousness" (Mal 4:2) rising with healing, and the One upon whom "God the Father has set His seal" (Jn 6:27). This underscores the divine nature of the command being issued.

Revelation 7 2 Commentary

Revelation 7:2 unveils God's compassionate pause in judgment. After the terrifying events of the six seals, the scene shifts from impending global disaster to a divine intervention focused on protection. The angel's appearance from the "east" carries deep biblical resonance, pointing to divine glory, God's very presence, and even foreshadowing the Second Coming of Christ. The "seal of the living God" is crucial; it symbolizes divine ownership, security, and an identifier for those who belong to Him. This is God's active, undeniable mark of protection upon His faithful amidst the global turmoil.

The command issued to the four angels, who possess the power to "hurt the earth and the sea," highlights God's absolute sovereignty over even the most devastating events. These destructive forces are not random but operate under divine authorization ("it was given to hurt"). This verse assures that God orchestrates every aspect of judgment, including its timing and scope, always providing for His own. Before the wrath against the unrighteous escalates, the emphasis is placed on securing and distinguishing God's servants. It teaches that even in the height of tribulation, God remembers and preserves His elect, ensuring their spiritual and, in this specific context, a form of physical preservation from the worst of the plagues directed at the unsealed.