7:1
And after these things I
saw four angels standing on the four corners 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.
7:2
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,
(7:1) "I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth."
The earth is flat and square-shaped, or at least quadrilateral in shape.
(7:2-3) "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees."
God tells his murderous angels to "hurt not
the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of
your God on their foreheads."
This verse is one that Christians like to use to show God's loving concern for the environment. But the previous verse (7:2) makes it
clear that it was the angel's God-given job to "hurt the earth and the sea" just as soon as they finished their forehead marking job.
(A friend of the family gave us a coffee cup that features this verse and the cute illustration shown below.)
7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of
our God in their foreheads.
7:4And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an
hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel.
7:5
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve
thousand.
7:6
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Manasses were sealed
twelve thousand.
7:7
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve
thousand.
7:8
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed
twelve thousand.
(7:4) "An hundred and forty and four thousand"
144,000 Jews will be going to heaven; everyone else is going to hell.
Few Christians take the 144,000 number seriously, of course. But the Jehovah's Witnesses do. Boy do they ever! They believe that there
are two distinct classes of believers: the 144,000 "Anointed" that are going to heaven and the "Great Crowd" that will remain here on earth.
The WatchTower teaches that heaven closed in 1935, and that everyone else will either be killed at Armageddon (if they are not JWs) or live
forever on earth.
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
(7:9) "A great multitude, which no man could number"
The "great multitude" is the WatchTower's "great crowd" that it claims will remain on earth
rather than going to heaven. Yet in this verse the "great crowd" stands "before the throne" and "before the lamb". Where else
would the thrown and lamb be besides heaven?
(7:11) "All the angels ... and the four beasts ... fell before the throne on their faces."
(FOF)
7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, ofall nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands;
7:10
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
7:11
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and
the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
7:13
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are
arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came
out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.
7:15
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night
in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
7:16
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat.
(7:14) "Washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"
Those that survive the great tribulation will
get to wash their clothes in the blood of the lamb.
7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes.
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144,000 Jews Saved 
Hurt not the earth, neither the
sea, nor the trees.