Revelation 7 1-3

1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the fourcorners 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.2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the fourangels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.




In ancient times, it was thought the Earth was flat and that there were angles at each corner holding and regulating the weather. It was generally considered that God controlled all the weather, God sent rain, God thundered, God cast down lightening and God made the wind to blow. It was thought that the winds that blew diagonal were the most harmful and that is what the angels are about to allow to happen. 
 However, we read that there is an angel from the east giving a "wait" warning until all of Gods faithful are sealed.  Before the final beast can be let loose, there are persons, chosen by God, a piece of Israel, to be servants of God.  These are the 144,000 that did not serve God before the rapture took place and will be chosen and sealed  to survive the remaining destruction of the Antichrist.
These 144.000 are to come from 12 of the 13 tribes of Israel, not to be Gentiles.


Really...A literal Mark?
yes..
1. It is plainly stated in v3; 14:1.
2. The angels are told to wait until the 144,000 are sealed on the foreheads.
3.  In Chapter 9 we will find that special instruction will be given not to hurt those who are sealed.
4.  The mark of the beast is a literal mark (that will come in later chapters).
5.  Verse 3 said it will be the name of God in the forehead.
6.  We will see that names will be branded on the persons who make it through this horrible time.  It was mentioned in Chapter 3 :12 and in future chapter 22:4.


It is thought that the four angels at the corners are the first 4 trumpet judgment angels who are told not to blow their trumpets until the 144,000 are sealed to protect from the judgments.




More soon,


Blessings on all,


Calabash