My question concerns Revelation 9, where the locusts ascend from the pit to torment those who do not have the Seal of God. I understand the 144,000 bond servants of God will have a seal, but what about other Christians on earth? Will they also have a seal to avoid this judgment of God, or does this chapter imply that there are no Christians on earth at this particular time due to martyrdom?
Rev. 7:3 describes the sealing of the 144,000 using the phrase “seal on their foreheads”. I believe only the 144,000 have this seal. Rev. 9:4 says the locusts can only harm those people who do not have the “seal of God on their foreheads”. Therefore I believe only the 144,000 will be protected.
Rev. 9 precedes Rev. 13 where everyone will be forced to take the mark, and Rev 20:4 describes the resurrection of believers who had been beheaded for refusing to take the mark. From that, I think it’s reasonable to conclude that there will be other believers in the world besides the 144,000 when the locusts attack and that they will not be protected.