Revelation 7 describes the marking on the foreheads of the true servants of God. It is inserted between the breaking of the 6th and 7th seals. This is highly significant. While judgements are falling, and before there is a mention of the mark of the beast, it is made clear that genuine children of God were eternally marked or sealed by Him at conversion. Nothing of the wrath of God or the Lamb can ever touch them. This mark indicates ownership, care and protection and the guarantee of eternal salvation (Eph. 4:30). It is mentioned again in Rev. 9:4; 14:1; and 22:4. These servants are slaves of Jesus; utterly devoted to Him. They were rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God's Son; set free from Satan's prison to serve Jesus and can never again bear the mark of satanic ownership.

The wicked are also marked. In Rev. 13:16; 14:9; 16:2; 19:20; and 20:4 they bear the mark of the beast for having chosen to worship his image. However we interpret this, it amounts to devil worship for he inhabits every idol and every image. It is Satan's mark of ownership. We all bear this mark until Jesus removes it and seals us with his own mark of ownership when we put our trust in Him and receive Him into our hearts as Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit’s mark is indestructible.

The number permanently sealed as belonging to God is said to be 144,000. It is used here to describe those "from all the tribes of Israel". At first glance it would seem that a remnant of Jews is in view. However, this symbolic number is used again twice in Rev. 14:1-3 where it refers to the total number of those redeemed from the earth.

Throughout the New Testament, the Church is referred to as the true Israel (Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 5:15-16; Ph. 3:3). James even called the church "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (Jam. 1:1). For me that settles the matter. So Rev. 7:1-7 describes the church as James describes her and Rev. 7:8-17 sees her as "a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe people and language … wearing white robes". John is describing the same thing twice. Why? To show the continuity of the identity of the true people of God: the faithful remnant within Israel and the converted Gentiles all becoming one as complete equals in Christ (Eph. 2:11-22; Gal. 3:28). Abraham was told "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you". He is the father of all true believers, and he "was confidently looking forward to a [heavenly] city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God" (Heb. 11:10). For me it has never really been about the earthly nation of Israel or the physical promised land or the actual city of Jerusalem, but about the eternal purposes of God in preparing a bride for his Son; in forming a family of his own; about the kingdom of God being established throughout the world; and about the heavenly Jerusalem.