Chapter 7 forms a parenthesis or interlude between the sixth seal and the seventh seal and seeks to answer the question posed at the end of chapter 6, “who can stand?” There is much debate and controversy surrounding the “Great Tribulation” and the identity of the 144,000. But regardless of how you interpret these two things, the underlying message is that no matter how much suffering we endure, there is an extremely large number of people that God is going to seal/ mark with his presence, purify and cleanse by his blood, clothe with righteousness, wipe away every tear, fulfill every desire for and welcome into his wonderful presence.