The process of “sealing the servants of God in their foreheads,” (ch. vii. 4-8,) took place under the sixth seal before the opening of the seventh, (ch. viii. 1,) which introduced the trumpets,—­the harbingers of the visible organization of Antichrist.  For this purpose the “four winds,”—­all winds, emblematical of popular commotions, were by four angels restrained from blowing upon the earth etc., during the peaceful reign of Constantine and his successors.  Under the patronage of those nominally Christian emperors, as history informs us, multitudes flocked into the church; “the number of immoral and unworthy Christians began so to increase, that the examples of real piety and virtue became extremely rare....  The virtuous few were oppressed and overwhelmed with the superior numbers of the wicked and licentious."[6] Thus the way was prepared for the visible appearing of the “man of sin,”—­the papacy.  So soon as the confederate hosts of the dragon are completely organized, the two witnesses take their position with the Lamb.

1.  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

V. 1.—­While “all the world wonders after the beast,” (xiii. 3,) and the gross senses of the multitude are preoccupied with that object; here is another presented more worthy of our contemplation.  Often has the Lord Jesus appeared in vision to John while viewing the grand panorama passing before him in Patmos.  Here he appears as the “captain of the Lord’s host” at the head of his army; not indeed in active military enterprise, but rather as leader in acts of solemn worship during a temporary recess from sanguinary warfare.  He and his associates are on the “Mount Zion.”  “In Zion is his seat.” ...  “The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (Is. xiv. 32.) This select company maintain fellowship with Christ, being “really and inseparably united to him as their Head,” by the bond of the Spirit, on his part, and faith on theirs.  Christ’s “Father’s name in their foreheads” indicates that they are the property and voluntary servants of God in Christ.  Of this covenant relation baptism is the visible sign; but while Simon Magus may bear the sign, none but those who are “sealed unto the day of redemption,” are honored to “stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.”  To him their number is as accurately known, as one hundred and forty-four thousand is to us; and “truly their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”  The votaries of the beast may either glory in bearing his mark in their foreheads, or conceal the mark in their right hand; but the followers of the Lamb will “confess him and his word before men,” at the hazard of all that is dear to men,—­even life itself. (Mark viii. 38.)

2.  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder:  and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: