Revelation Chapter 7
(Rev 7:1-3) The Seal of the Living God
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!"
The phrase "four corners of the earth" is an ancient (and sometimes modern) equivalent to the idea of “the four points of the compass.” The idea is that these angels effect the entire earth.
These "winds" were a destructive force of God’s judgment, as they often are in the Old Testament.
The "four winds of the earth" may refer back to the four horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8, after the pattern of Zechariah 6:1-8. In that passage, four chariots with horses of the same colors of Revelation 6:1-8 go out to all the earth, and are called the four spirits of heaven. Spirits in that passage translates the Hebrew word ruach, which can also be translated winds. (David Guzik)
. . . "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!" (3)
In Scripture, a seal indicates ownership and protection. Today, God’s people are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13–14). This is God’s guarantee that we are saved and safe, and that He will one day take us to heaven. The 144,000 Jews will receive the Father’s name as their seal (Rev. 14:1), in contrast to the “mark of the beast” that Antichrist will give those who follow him (Rev. 13:17; 14:11; 16:2; 19:20). This seal will protect these chosen Jews from the judgments that will “hurt the earth and the sea” (Rev. 7:2), and occur when the first four angels blow their trumpets (Rev. 8). The judgments are intensified when the horrible locusts are released from the pit (Rev. 9:1–4). Protected from these awesome judgments, the 144,000 will be able to do their work and glorify the Lord. (Wiersbe)
(Rev 7:4-8) One hundred forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel
I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:
of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand,
of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
"One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed" This is their general identification. They are of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Ethnically, they are Jewish, and there are 144,000 of these chosen ones. (David Guzik)
Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed: This is their specific identification. The 144,000 are divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Though only God may know their tribal ancestry, there are 12,000 from each tribe.
In this listing of the tribes, the tribe of Dan is left out. Some think this is because Dan is the tribe of the Antichrist, based on Daniel 11:37 and Jeremiah 8:16. This may or may not be the case, but without doubt, Dan was the tribe that introduced idolatry into the nation of Israel (Genesis 49:17; Judges 18:30).
There is a wonderful redemption for the tribe of Dan. Dan is the first tribe listed in Ezekiel’s millennial role call of the tribes (Ezekiel 48).
This list is also interesting in the way that the tribe of Ephraim is referred to, but only indirectly. The tribe of Joseph is mentioned, but Joseph was represented by two tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh. Since the tribe of Manasseh is mentioned, by elimination, the tribe of Joseph must mean the tribe of Ephraim – who is listed, but not by name.
Perhaps Ephraim was slighted because the tribe of Ephraim was also associated with great idolatry (Hosea 4:17).
(David Guzik)
Some facts about the 144,000 from Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 give us insight regarding their identity.
i. They are called the children of Israel (Revelation 7:4).
ii. Their tribal affiliation is specific (Revelation 7:4-8).
iii. They seem to be protected and triumphant through the period of God’s wrath, meeting with Jesus at Mount Zion at His return (Revelation 14:1).
iv. They are celibate (Revelation 14:4).
v. They are the beginning of a greater harvest (Revelation 14:4).
vi. They are marked by integrity and faithfulness (Revelation 14:5). (David Guzik)
It is best to see the 144,000 as specifically chosen Jewish people who come to faith in Jesus, protectively sealed throughout the tribulation as a sign. (David Guzik)
(Rev 7:9-10) A great multitude dressed in white
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
The diversity here is evidence that the Great Commission will be fulfilled before the end, even as Jesus promised (Matthew 24:14).
Because John knew they came from different nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, we know that there will be differences among people in heaven, just as there is on earth. We will not all be the same. We will be individuals. (David Guzik)
These robes remind us not only of the covering righteousness of Jesus, but also of priestly service. “They are arrayed for holy service, and arrayed at once, for they wear white robes fitted for their priestly service.” (Spurgeon)
(Rev 7:11-12) Worshiping God before his throne
All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
The attention of everyone in heaven is upon God and upon Christ. There, nobody wants to speak proudly about themselves, their own importance or the things that they have achieved. Instead, their desire is to speak about God, and to declare the wonderful things that he has done.
So, when the Christians from every nation praise God (verses 9-10), all the angels praise God too. The angels do not praise God for the same things that the Christians do. Christians praise God because he saved them. Their salvation (rescue and safety) comes from him. They were formerly his enemies, and they deserved only his punishment. Then God sent Christ, who by his death made it possible for them to have a right relationship with God.
However, the angels (God’s special servants) cannot praise God for their salvation. They never lost their right relationship with God, so God never saved them. However, they still have many things for which to praise God. The angel reply to the Christians with the word ‘Amen’, which means, ‘It is true’. Salvation does belong to God (verse 10). So does blessing (good words to praise God). So does glory (greatness). So does wisdom, because all true wisdom comes from God (Job chapter 28). It is right that everyone should thank God for his goodness. Because of his greatness, he deserves all the honour that is in heaven and earth. All power and strength is his; God can do all things (Luke 1:37).
All these things belong to God, he deserves them all. They are his now, and they will be his always.
As the angels praise God, they place their faces on the ground. In other words, they show humble attitudes. They do not even consider that they have the right to look upon God (Isaiah 6:2). Although angels are great and wonderful, they want God to receive all the honour. (Keith Simons)
(Rev 7:13-14) Robes made white in the Lamb's blood
One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?" I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood.
In heaven a vast crowd from every nation was praising God because of his salvation (verse 10). Salvation means the rescue and safety that God gives to his people.
John had seen that, in heaven, 24 rulers have their thrones (royal seats) near to God’s throne (4:4). One of those rulers explained to John who the people in the crowd are.
The ruler first showed John that the people were wearing white clothes. The colour white is a word-picture for something that is pure and holy. A person’s clothes are a word-picture for the state of the person himself (compare Zechariah 3:3-5). So, these people are pure and holy because they have a right relationship with God.
That was not their former state, however. These people were sinners, in other words, they were guilty of many wrong and evil deeds. They had no right to go to heaven in that state. They deserved only death and punishment; however, God sent Christ to die on their behalf. Like the lambs (young sheep) in Exodus 12:1-13, Christ suffered death so that other people could live (Isaiah 53: 4-6; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-20). His blood means his death (Matthew 26:28). To wash means to accept the kindness of God when he forgives (Isaiah 1:18; Mark 1:4-5; Hebrews 9:22). His action to forgive is like when someone washes dirty clothes. As water washes away dirt, so the blood of Christ removes a person’s sins (evil deeds).
(Keith Simons)
(Rev 7:15-17) God will wipe away every tear from their eyes
Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of life-giving waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
The wonderful blessing of the martyred saints in the presence of the Lord is spelled out in these verses. They are described as being before the throne of God, that is, in a place of prominence and honor. Their special privilege is further defined as serving the Lord day and night in His temple. This expression is highly significant, for it indicates that heaven is not only a place of rest from earthly toil but also a place of privileged service. Those who have served well on earth will have a ministry in heaven. The fact that they are declared to serve “day and night” has been taken by some as an indication that this is a millennial scene rather than heaven since there is never any night in the temple of God in heaven. The expression, however, can be understood as meaning simply that they will continually serve the Lord, that is, they will not need sleep or restoration as is necessary in earthly toil. They are delivered from the limitations of this life. Their service is said to occur in the temple of God, a reference to the immediate presence of the Lord, not to any earthly temple. Further, they shall be honored by the fact that the One sitting on the throne will dwell among them; that is, they will be in wonderful fellowship with their blessed Lord.
Verse 16 reveals that they will be delivered from the afflictions of life such as hunger, thirst, and the heat of the sun. This may be an oblique reference to some of their sufferings which they endured in the tribulation. According to Revelation 13:17 it may be that they had gone hungry rather than buying food and submitting to the worship of the beast. Thirst is another form of suffering common in times of persecution. The glaring sun and burning heat and the trials which may have attended them as they fled from their enemies are far behind them in glory. Instead of such severe trials, verse 17 pictures the Lamb of God as feeding them and leading them to living fountains of water. The abundant provision of the heavenly scene is evident in this description.
The concluding statement in the chapter is that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” In other words they will have the tender comfort and care of the Saviour, and the tears that once were theirs shall be wiped away. Some have attempted to draw from this passage that there will be actual tears in heaven and have implied that saints will be shedding tears because of grief over wasted lives and unconfessed sin while on earth. This passage, however, does not even suggest such a situation. The point is that the grief and tears of the past, speaking of their trials in the tribulation, will be over when they get to heaven. The saints in glory will be occupied with the beauty and wonder of heaven and the worship of the Saviour. They will not have time for repentance of that which can no longer be changed. Instead, God will wipe away all tears resulting from their suffering on earth. In the glory of heaven whatever burdens and cares may have been laid upon the saints in earthly life, there will be no sorrow, no tears, and no death.
The juxtaposition of the 144,000 in the first half of this chapter immediately preceding the description of the multitude of martyred dead from among the Gentiles would seem to imply that there is a causal relationship between these two groups. The 144,000 on earth are preserved in safety through the tribulation, as a testimony to the power and grace of God and as a channel through which the gospel could come to the earth. The result of their ministry had its fruit among the Gentiles even as was true in the apostolic age with the result that great multitudes of the Gentiles were saved from whom the martyred throng in heaven were separated by death. The use of the 144,000 of Israel as a channel of witness to the earth is in keeping with the general purposes of God in relation to the Jewish nation.
Chapter 7 of the book of Revelation serves as a review of the situation described in the previous chapters and emphasizes two important facts. First, God is going to judge Israel in the period of great trial, and 12,000 from each tribe, totaling 144,000, will be protected and sealed from the judgments which will fall upon the world in general. Second, a great multitude of Gentiles will also be saved, but many of these will be martyred, and a multitude of the martyred dead are found in heaven rejoicing in the presence of the Lamb and representing every tongue and nation. It is an indication that even in the tragic closing hours prior to the second coming of Christ to the earth, countless souls will find Christ as Saviour and be saved by His grace. (John Walvoord)