The Book of Revelation

Chapter 7

144,000 Sealed - Revelation 7:1-8

Rev. 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (KJV)
Now John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds from blowing upon the Earth. Not a leaf moved in the trees, the sea was as smooth as glass.

Chapter 7 is a ‘parenthetical’ chapter, meaning that it gives us additional information. After these things refers to the Seal judgments in chapter 6. After the 6th seal has been opened, the people of the Earth have tried to hide from God, saying “Who can stand?” (Rev.6:12-17). When all hope seems gone, four angels appear and hold back the four winds of the Earth until God seals His own. The angels stand on the four corners of the Earth, simply meaning the north, south, east and west. In the symbolic language of Scripture, the blowing of the four winds together, means a general and terrible destruction. But the destruction (judgment) is delayed. Consider that not a leaf rustled in the trees, and the sea became as smooth as glass. What a tremendous and awesome God we have! He has TOTAL and COMPLETE control of ALL things! He can cause horrific damage with the winds; or He can make it still and serene! Awesome!

Rev. 7:2-3 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (KJV) John now sees another angel coming from the east, carrying the seal of the eternal God. He shouted out to those four angels who had been given power to cause damage, "Wait! Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of His servants."

Yet another angel ascends from the east, and in his hand was the seal of the Almighty living God. When a scroll or document was sealed, it was identified, and its contents were protected. God places His seal on His people, thus showing that they belonged to Him, and also guaranteeing His protection over their souls. God considers us valuable, NOT because of anything we do on our own, but because of His grace and our faith (believing in Him). Our physical bodies may possibly be beaten, maimed, or even killed; but NOTHING or NO ONE can harm our souls when we have been sealed by God. Ephes. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (KJV) If you have trusted Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, you are sealed by God! You belong to Him! You are His child . . . forever! What an awesome privilege! What a tremendous responsibility! We must live our lives accordingly (walk as Jesus walked, talk as Jesus talked), and we must try to win others to Christ.

Just exactly what is this seal or mark that will be placed on the foreheads of God’s servants? I do not know. I truthfully do not think it matters all that much what the mark looks like, but it matters a great deal that they carry this seal or mark. The four angels holding back judgment (the winds) will continue to hold them back until the last servant of God has received the seal on their forehead. And God will NOT miss a one! God would not allow any more judgment until they all are marked. This seal will be on the forehead so that it can plainly be seen, by friends and foes alike.

Rev. 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (KJV) Now John hears how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel.

NOTICE: This 144,000 is from the nation of Israel! How any cult could say it is them is beyond me! I don’t think there is a more clear portion of Scripture anywhere, than this verse and the following ones! This is ISRAEL! Not the church! Not Gentiles! Not ANY cult! It is Israel and Israel alone!

Rev. 7:5-8 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. [6] Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. [7] Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. [8] Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. (KJV) There will be 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of ISRAEL, totalling 144,000.

ALL those sealed shall be brought to God safely; not even one will be overlooked or forgotten, now or then! If you go to Rev.14:1-5, you will see that the 144,000 are all there, safe and secure with the Lamb! When God seals believers, He will either withdraw them from the Earth (Rapture) or give them special strength, boldness and courage to make it through the Great Tribulation. Many believers will have to undergo some persecution (some severe). The seal does NOT guarantee protection from physical harm, for many shall die (see Rev.6:11). But God will protect them from spiritual harm. No matter what happens, they will receive their reward of eternal life. Their destiny is secure! These believers will NOT fall away from God even though they may undergo intense persecution.

The list of tribes is different from the usual listing of the 12 tribes in the Old Testament.

• (1) Judah is mentioned first because Judah is both the tribe of David, and Jesus the Messiah (Gen.49:8-12; Mat.1:1)
• (2) The tribe of Levi had no tribal allotment because of the Levites work for God in the Temple (Deut.18:1), but here the tribe of Levi is given a place as a reward for faithfulness.
• (3) Dan is not mentioned because it was known for rebellion and idolatry, traits unacceptable for God’s followers (Gen.49:17).
• (4) The two tribes representing Joseph (usually called Ephraim and Manasseh, after Joseph’s sons) are here called Joseph and Manasseh because of Ephraim’s rebellion. See Genesis 49 for the history of the beginning of these 12 tribes.

Even though the tribe of Dan is not mentioned here, it is named first in Ezekiel 48:1, so it had to be among the multitude (Rev.7:9), that was saved during the Great Tribulation. God’s grace can reach to one and all. The tribe of Dan will not be chosen (sealed) to witness during the Great Tribulation period. The tribe of Levi will stand in for Dan at this time.

Even with Ephraim’s rebellion and idolatry, God will not give up on it. Hosea 11:8-A How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? . . . (KJV) God cannot and will not give up on them! He loves them, in spite of all their rebellion against Him, but He has chosen the tribe of Joseph to be His witnesses at the time of the Great Tribulation. Do they miss out on the blessings of God? Do we miss out on God’s blessings when we rebel? YES! The reason these particular 144,000 Israelites are sealed is to witness during the Great Tribulation. Many will turn to God during this time, as we shall see.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

Revelation 7:9-17

Rev. 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (KJV) After the sealing, John saw a huge crowd, too many to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands.

Who is this great multitude? Where did they come from? Some scholars (which I am not) say it is the martyrs described in Rev.6:9, some say it could be the 144,000 just mentioned (Rev.7:4-8); some others say it is all those who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. No TRUE believer ever need worry about which group he or she will be in. God protects each and every one of His children, and we are guaranteed a place in His Presence! When we worship, we come nigh unto God, and we must come by Christ! The Throne of God CANNOT be approached by sinners (unbelievers, John 9:31; 16:9). If it were not for our Mediator, Jesus the Lamb, NO ONE could access God’s Throne.

They were clothed with white robes, meaning they were justified by the righteousness of Christ (Rom.5:1; 1 Cor.1:30), and they had palm branches (symbol of victory) in their hands. No man could number the multitude! The size of this crowd was enormous! No person could possibly count the people. This multitude comes from ALL nations, ALL peoples, ALL tribes, and ALL languages! God is NOT a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Rom.2:11; Jam.2:9). Does this not leave out the racist’s theory that God is white? God is NOT a racist! He made ALL people, He loves ALL people! Red, yellow, black or white . . . He loves ALL people.

Rev. 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (KJV) This vast multitude was shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!"

People try in so many ways to remove the guilt of their sin: good deeds, church rites, rituals and ordinances, some try to cast the blame on others, etc. The multitude before the Throne of God in Heaven, praises God, knowing and shouting that their salvation comes from Him and the Lamb! Salvation from the penalty of sin (Hell) is available ONLY through Christ Jesus. With a loud voice they praised God and the Lamb for their wondrous salvation! We must honor and praise both the Father and the Son for our salvation, and we must do it publicly and with fervor. From this verse, we can well see what our work will be in Heaven . . . to worship, honor and glorify God! So, don’t you think we should start now?

Rev. 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, [12] Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV) And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living beings. They fell face down before the throne and worshiped God. saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength
belong to our God forever and forever. Amen!"

Can you possibly picture this fantastic scene in Heaven? I cannot! John showed us the elders and the four beasts in Rev.4. What were they doing? Worshipping the one and only Almighty Creator God! The angels and the four living beings (beasts) are sinless creatures, the elders represent redeemed sinners along with the humongous multitude, ALL of which are praising God! WHY do you want to go to Heaven? ALL who go to Heaven will worship, honor and praise our awesome God. NOTICE: verse 12 . . . blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might! A total of 7 things! 7 is the number of perfection and completion. ALL these things belong to our wondrous God! Praise Him always! Amen!

Rev. 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? [14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (KJV) Then one of the twenty-four elders asked John, "Who are these that are clothed in white? Where do they come from?" John humbly stated: "Sir, you know, I do not." Then the elder answered, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb and made them white."

None of us should ever be ashamed to ask advice from any who are qualified to give it. John, the writer, did not know who or where the vast multitude came from, so he asked! This is how we learn. The multitude clothed in white were the ones saved during the Great Tribulation period, when they accepted the testimony of the 144,000 who gave witness of Jesus, the Lamb. The “way” to Heaven is through many trials and troubles, even in today’s time, but no matter how great the tribulation we suffer, the more it will make Heaven be more welcome and more glorious.

We had a paradox in Rev.6:16. How we have another in this verse. A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself, yet in reality is true. Verse 14 states that the multitude washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb and made them white. “How can this be?” you might ask. It is ONLY the precious Blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 1:18-19) that can wash away sin and purify the soul in the sight of God, both today and in the Great Tribulation. ONLY the precious Blood of Jesus cleanses the robes of saints white and clean. IF you do not have a white robe (the righteousness of Jesus, 1 Cor.1:30; Rom.5:1), you CANNOT enter the gates of Heaven! Only by accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord will God the Father ever accept you. Jesus paid the entrance fee! He paid it all! I must make one other comment here: ONLY God can make a person a “saint.” NO Person, no matter their earthly power, can ever do that! NO where in the Bible does it say that a person or persons can make another person a saint.

Rev. 7:15-17 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. [16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. [17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (KJV) That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God, serving Him day and night in His Temple. And He who sits on the throne will live among them. They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will be protected from the scorching sun. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears."

We know that this multitude is not the church. The church is never associated with the Temple. Most of this multitude (I think) were probably martyrs for the cause of Christ. They went through a lot. Now they stand before the Throne of God and God has promised that He will provide for His children’s needs in their eternal home. There will be no more hunger, thirst, or pain, and He will wipe away all their tears. When you are suffering or have sorrow, take comfort in this Promise of complete protection and relief. All who have been faithful through the ages will one day stand singing before the Throne of God. All trials, tribulations, pain and sorrows shall be over! There will be no more tears for sin, for displeasing God, for all our sins are forgiven; no more tears for any kind of suffering, for ALL suffering is over. No more tears for losing a loved one in death, for all believers have been resurrected to die no more. Heaven is a state of service, but also a state of rest . . . blissful rest! All laziness will be gone and it will be a delightful rest. We will work and worship God our Saviour. His Presence will complete our happiness; and it will be joy beyond belief! He will be available to all His people, and from Him we will receive every thing needed. Let us offer to Him all praise and glory, now and forever more. Amen!

Book of Revelation

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