The 144,000 faithful Israelites in Revelation 7:1–8 are protected on earth with a seal of God from the impending wrath that will be poured out on the world through the trumpet and bowl judgments when the seventh seal is opened. The likely thematic background for this sealing from impending divine wrath is found in Ezekiel 9 (see below).
In addition, there is a thematic link to the Passover where blood over the doors functioned to protect the Hebrew faithful from divine wrath. Interestingly, the trumpet and bowl judgements (not the seals!) are generally patterned after the Exodus judgment-plagues, which makes sense because the 144,000 are sealed just before the seventh seal is opened containing the trumpets and bowls. In this way, it is an eschatological second exodus for the faithful of Israel (see also their resultant victory in Rev 14:1–3!)
“Then he shouted in my ears, “Approach, you who are to visit destruction on the city, each with his destructive weapon in his hand!” Next, I noticed six men coming from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his war club in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his side. They came and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. The LORD said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.” While I listened, he said to the others, “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do no let your eye pity nor spare anyone! Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women–wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!” So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple. He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went out and struck people down throughout the city. While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I threw myself face down and cried out, “Ah, sovereign LORD! Will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?” He said to me, “The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption, for they say, ‘The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see!’ But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.” Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.”” (Ezek 9:1–11)
“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, so that when I see the blood I will pass over you, and this plague will not fall on you to destroy you when I attack the land of Egypt. . . . Take a branch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply to the top of the doorframe and the two side posts some of the blood that is in the basin. Not one of you is to go out the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the LORD will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” (Exod 12:13, 22–23)
