Who will suffer privations during the seven-year period?
Indeed, the 144,000 sealed servants of God and believers will suffer privations during the seven-year period. They are sealed so no one can take their life, and they endure hunger and other hardships while proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.
Les teaches that the 144,000 will suffer privation all through their ministry. He points to Revelation chapter 7, where the angel commands that the earth, sea, and trees not be hurt until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. This sealing is like the mark God put on Cain so no one could take his life. The 144,000, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes, are sealed and then go out to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. Les also connects this with Matthew 25, explaining that these are the privations that believers, as well as these 144,000, will suffer during the seven-year period. He reminds us of the mark of the beast in the forehead or palm of the hand, noting that those who have that mark will never succumb to the gospel of the kingdom.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.