Revelation 7

Commentary

God's People will Be Preserved

1And 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. 2And 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, 3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

144,000 Sealed

4And 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.

5Of 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. 6Of 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. 7Of 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. 8Of 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.

Praise from the Great Multitude

9After 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; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11And 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, 12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And 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. 15Therefore 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. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17For 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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

144,000 Sealed

1 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. 2 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, 3 saying, “Don’t harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!”

4 I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:

5 of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand, of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Praise from the Great Multitude

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, 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. 10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 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, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?” 14 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. 15 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. 16 They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

144,000 Sealed

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

Praise from the Great Multitude

9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb!”

11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”

14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.”

So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason,

they are before the throne of God

and serve Him day and night in His temple;

and the One seated on the throne

will spread His tabernacle over them.

16 ‘Never again will they hunger,

and never will they thirst;

nor will the sun beat down upon them,

nor any scorching heat.’ a

17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne

will be their shepherd. b

‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ c

and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ d”

 

Footnotes:

16 a Isaiah 49:10
17 b See Psalm 23:1.
17 c Isaiah 49:10
17 d Isaiah 25:8

God's People will Be Preserved

1And after these things I saw four messengers, standing upon the four corners of the land, holding the four winds of the land, that the wind may not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree; 2and I saw another messenger going up from the rising of the sun, having a seal of the living God, and he did cry with a great voice to the four messengers, to whom it was given to injure the land and the sea, saying, 3'Do not injure the land, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we may seal the servants of our God upon their foreheads.'

144,000 Sealed

4And I heard the number of those sealed, (one hundred and forty four thousands were sealed out of all the tribes of the sons of Israel):

5of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

Praise from the Great Multitude

9After these things I saw, and lo, a great multitude, which to number no one was able, out of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands, 10and crying with a great voice, saying, 'The salvation is to Him who is sitting upon the throne -- to our God, and to the Lamb!' 11And all the messengers stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell upon their face, and bowed before God, 12saying, 'Amen! the blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving, and the honour, and the power, and the strength, are to our God -- to the ages of the ages! Amen!'

13And answer did one of the elders, saying to me, 'These, who have been arrayed with the white robes -- who are they, and whence came they?' 14and I have said to him, 'Sir, thou hast known;' and he said to me, 'These are those who are coming out of the great tribulation, and they did wash their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb; 15because of this are they before the throne of God, and they do service to Him day and night in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne shall tabernacle over them; 16they shall not hunger any more, nor may the sun fall upon them, nor any heat, 17because the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and wipe away shall God every tear from their eyes.'

The Favor of God paraphrase

The 144,000 Sealed

¹ After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or the sea or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea, ³ “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” ⁴ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

⁵ From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

⁶ from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

⁷ from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

⁸ from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

‘they are before the throne of God

and serve Him day and night in His temple;

and He who sits on the throne

will shelter them with His presence.

¹⁶ Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’

nor any scorching heat.

¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

‘He will lead them to springs of living water.’

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Footnotes:

1.The “four corners of the earth” (verse 1) is a symbolic phrase referring to the whole world. The winds being held back signify that God is pausing judgment until His servants are sealed for protection.

2.The “seal of the living God” (verse 2) represents divine ownership and protection. In ancient times, seals marked identity and authority, and here it signifies that the people of God are marked for preservation amid coming trials.

3.The 144,000 (verse 4) is often interpreted symbolically, representing the fullness of God’s people—12,000 from each tribe, emphasizing completeness. Some see this as a literal number of Jewish believers, while others see it as representative of the entire church.

4.The “great multitude” (verse 9) contrasts with the specific number of the 144,000. This group includes believers from all nations, demonstrating the global scope of salvation and the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all peoples.

5.The palm branches (verse 9) are a symbol of victory and peace, reminiscent of the way people celebrated Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:13).

6.“The great tribulation” (verse 14) refers to a time of intense suffering and persecution, possibly the end times or an ongoing reality for believers throughout history. Those in white robes have come through this ordeal with faith intact.

7.The promise that “God will wipe away every tear” (verse 17) is a powerful expression of God’s comfort and care for His people, found in both Old and New Testament prophecies (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:4), symbolizing the end of all suffering in His presence.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Revelation 7?
2Introduction to Revelation 7
3Context of Revelation 7
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Revelation 7 Unique Insights
7Revelation 7 Connections to Yeshua
8Revelation 7 Scriptural Echoes
9Revelation 7 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Revelation 7?

Introduction to Revelation 7

Revelation 7 stands as a powerful interlude between the sixth and seventh seals, offering a magnificent vision of hope and divine protection amidst tribulation. This chapter presents two extraordinary visions: the sealing of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel and an innumerable multitude from every nation worshiping before the throne of God. These visions provide crucial insight into God’s faithfulness to both His covenant people Israel and His grace extended to the nations through the Messiah.

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The chapter serves as a dramatic pause in the unfolding of divine judgment, reminding readers that even in times of great distress, the Lord preserves His people. This preservation theme echoes throughout Scripture, from Noah’s ark to the blood on the doorposts during Passover, demonstrating God’s consistent character in protecting His faithful ones.

Context of Revelation 7

Within the immediate context, Revelation 7 follows the opening of six seals that unleash various judgments upon the earth. The sixth seal concludes with the ominous question, “Who can stand?” (Revelation 6:17). Chapter 7 answers this question by revealing those who will indeed stand: the sealed servants of God and the great multitude who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter connects to several major theological themes. It fulfills prophetic promises about Israel’s restoration, as seen in Ezekiel 9:4-6, where the faithful are marked for preservation. It also demonstrates the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). The imagery of the great multitude worshiping before the throne presents the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, where people from every nation, tribe, and tongue are united in worship.

The chapter also serves as a bridge between the judgments of the seals and the coming trumpet judgments, providing assurance that God’s people will be preserved through the coming tribulation, just as Israel was preserved through the plagues of Egypt.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Sealed (σφραγίζω/sphragizō): This term carries profound significance in ancient culture, where seals represented ownership, protection, and authentication. In Hebrew thought, the word חָתַם (chatam) conveyed similar meaning. The seal in Revelation 7 marks God’s ownership and guarantee of protection, much like the ancient king’s signet ring authorized and protected official documents.
  • Servants (δούλους/doulous): While often translated simply as “servants,” this word specifically denotes bond-servants or slaves who have willingly committed themselves to their master. In Hebrew, עֶבֶד (ebed) carried similar connotations of complete devotion and submission to authority.
  • Four corners (τέσσαρας γωνίας/tessaras gōnias): This phrase reflects the ancient Jewish cosmological understanding of the earth’s entirety. Rather than suggesting a flat earth, it represents the concept of completeness and universality in both Greek and Hebrew thought.
  • Tribes (φυλῆς/phylēs): In Greek, this word specifically relates to a people united by common descent and destiny. The Hebrew שֵׁבֶט (shevet) carries similar meaning but with added covenantal significance in relation to Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people.
  • Great multitude (ὄχλος πολύς/ochlos polys): This phrase emphasizes both the vastness and diversity of the redeemed. The Greek term ὄχλος suggests a gathering so large it cannot be counted, contrasting with the precise numbering of the 144,000.
  • White robes (στολὰς λευκὰς/stolas leukas): In ancient culture, white garments symbolized victory, purity, and festive joy. The Hebrew concept of לָבָן (lavan) similarly represented cleansing and righteousness.
  • Palm branches (φοίνικες/phoinikes): These were symbols of victory and celebration in both Greek and Jewish culture, particularly associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). They represent triumph and joy in God’s presence.
  • Salvation (ἡ σωτηρία/hē sōtēria): This comprehensive term encompasses physical deliverance and spiritual salvation. In Hebrew, יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah) carries similar meaning and is the root of Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1: The phrase “four angels standing at the four corners of the earth” employs cosmic imagery familiar to ancient readers. The text could have used “ends of the earth” (as in Isaiah 11:12) but chose “corners” (γωνίας) to emphasize divine control over creation’s entirety.
  • Verse 3: The sealing of servants on their foreheads deliberately echoes Ezekiel 9:4. The Greek σφραγίζω was chosen over other marking terms to emphasize divine ownership and protection rather than mere identification.
  • Verse 4: The specific number 144,000 (12x12x1000) was chosen over a general “large number” to emphasize completeness and perfection in Jewish numerical symbolism.
  • Verse 9: The phrase “no one could count” (οὐδεὶς ἀριθμῆσαι) contrasts deliberately with the counted 144,000, emphasizing the vast scope of God’s redemptive plan.
  • Verse 14: The phrase “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” employs paradoxical imagery – blood typically stains rather than whitens – to emphasize the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice.
  • Verse 15: The use of “serve” (λατρεύουσιν) rather than general “worship” emphasizes active, priestly service in God’s presence.
  • Verse 17: The shepherd imagery deliberately echoes Psalm 23, but adds the element of wiping away tears, combining pastoral care with eschatological hope.

Revelation 7 Unique Insights

The sealing of the 144,000 presents a fascinating parallel to ancient Jewish practices of marking or sealing. In rabbinic literature, the concept of divine marking for protection is extensively discussed. The Talmud (Shabbat 55a) speaks of the Hebrew letter ת (tav) being marked on the foreheads of the righteous, protecting them from judgment – a clear parallel to the sealing in Revelation 7.

The numbering system used in this chapter carries profound significance in Jewish mystical thought. The number 144,000 combines several important numerical symbols: 12 (representing perfect governance), squared (representing completeness), multiplied by 1,000 (representing vastness or divine completeness). Early church father Irenaeus saw this number as representing the restoration of creation to its perfect order.

The great multitude scene presents a fascinating merger of Jewish and Gentile worship practices. The palm branches (φοίνικες) reference both the Roman triumphal procession and the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, suggesting a divine celebration that transcends cultural boundaries. The early church father Victorinus noted that this imagery deliberately combines elements from various cultural backgrounds to show the unity of all believers in Christ.

The description of the multitude’s worship incorporates elements from both the Jerusalem Temple service and heavenly worship described in Jewish apocalyptic literature, particularly in the Dead Sea Scrolls’ Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice. This suggests a fulfillment and transformation of earthly worship patterns into their heavenly reality.

Revelation 7 Connections to Yeshua

The central figure of this chapter is the Lamb, a title that connects directly to Yeshua’s sacrificial death. The imagery of white robes made clean in the blood of the Lamb presents a powerful picture of the Messiah’s atoning work. This paradoxical imagery – blood that cleanses rather than stains – points to the transformative power of His sacrifice on the cross.

The chapter presents Yeshua in multiple roles: as the Lamb who was slain, as the shepherd who leads His people to living waters (echoing Psalm 23), and as the one seated on the throne receiving worship. This multifaceted presentation demonstrates His complete fulfillment of messianic prophecies and His divine nature. The description of Him wiping away tears shows His role not just as sovereign Lord but as compassionate Redeemer, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 25:8.

Revelation 7 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected themes:

  • The sealing of God’s servants echoes Ezekiel 9:4-6, where the faithful are marked for preservation before judgment.
  • The numbering of tribes recalls the census accounts in Numbers 1 and various tribal listings throughout Scripture.
  • The great multitude scene fulfills prophecies from Isaiah 49:6 about salvation extending to the ends of the earth.
  • The shepherd imagery connects to Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34.
  • The promise of no more hunger or thirst fulfills prophecies from Isaiah 49:10.

Revelation 7 Devotional

In a world often marked by uncertainty and fear, Revelation 7 reminds us that God knows and protects His own. The sealing of the 144,000 demonstrates His faithful care for His covenant people, while the great multitude shows His heart for all nations. This should encourage us to trust in His protection and participate in His global mission.

The white robes made clean in the blood of the Lamb remind us that our standing before God depends not on our own righteousness but on Christ’s sacrifice. This should inspire both humility and confidence – humility because we need cleansing, confidence because that cleansing is complete through the Messiah’s work.

Just as the multitude carries palm branches and sings praises, we too are called to join in worship that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. This vision of unified worship should shape how we view and treat fellow believers from different backgrounds.

Did You Know

  • The phrase “four angels standing at the four corners” uses the Greek word γωνίας (gōnias), which was also used in ancient architecture to describe the cornerstones that held buildings together, suggesting these angels are holding the world together.
  • The sealing described in verse 3 uses language similar to ancient commercial practices where goods were marked with wax seals to show ownership and prevent tampering.
  • The list of tribes in verses 5-8 notably omits the tribe of Dan and includes Joseph’s son Manasseh instead, a detail that generated much discussion in early Jewish-Christian dialogue.
  • The palm branches mentioned in verse 9 were particularly associated with the Feast of Tabernacles, suggesting this heavenly scene might correspond to the ultimate fulfillment of this festival.
  • The white robes described were similar to the Greek στολή (stole), a garment of honor worn by priests and officials, indicating the royal priesthood status of believers.
  • The phrase “serve him day and night” uses temple service language, suggesting the great multitude functions as a royal priesthood in God’s presence.
  • The description of the Lamb as shepherd combines two seemingly contradictory images (sheep and shepherd) to show Christ’s dual nature as both sacrifice and guardian.
  • The four angels holding back the winds echoes ancient Near Eastern cosmology where winds were seen as forces of chaos that needed divine control.
  • The sealing of 144,000 uses the perfect number 12 squared then multiplied by 1,000, a number pattern found in other apocalyptic literature to represent completeness.
  • The absence of the tribe of Dan led some early church fathers to speculate about connections to end-time prophecies and the antichrist.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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