Commentary on Revelation

Chapter 7

Interlude before the seventh seal

Notes regarding Chapter 7: This chapter is a deviation which is intended to provide comfort and to reinforce the theme of the book which is Victory in Jesus. Chapter 7 answers the question which appeared at the end of Chapter 6: Who can stand the wrath of God?

  1. Chapter 7 is modeled after Ezekiel 9 which describes a judgment which was to come against Judah from Babylon.

  2. Sometimes the innocent suffer with the guilty without being punished with the guilty. Suffering and punishment are not synonyms. Two people affected by a famine might be such that one is suffering and being punished and one is just suffering. For example, children died in the flood but certainly were not being punished by the flood. Ezekiel 18 forbids the idea that God punishes one for another person's guilt.

  3. One may be exempt from a judgment yet still suffer during it. In Ezekiel 9 God's people are marked so that they would be untouched when judgment came yet in Ezekiel 21:3-4 we see that the righteous died as well as the guilty when that judgment came. The exemption was not a promise that they would be spared physical death. There is a vast difference between suffering with the guilty and suffering because you are guilty even though at the time there may not appear to be any difference.

The sealing of God's servants

Rev. 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."

The number 4 is often associated with the earth or the universe: [4 seasons, 4 corners of the earth, 4 great elements (earth, air, fire, water)]. A wind is often used to indicate the activity of God. Gen. 1:2 (NRSV) - a wind from God swept over the waters. A wind is powerful and invisible. It is often translated as Spirit. See also Isaiah 57:13, Jer. 18:17, Ps. 104:4, Heb. 1:7, Ps. 18:10, and John 3:7,8. The four angels depict a judgment which was about to come from God. The other angel appeared on an errand of mercy. The sun is often used to represent the goodness of God. Ps. 84:11 - God is a sun and shield. Mal. 4:2 - The sun of righteousness shall rise. Light banishes darkness and dread. We are the light of this world. This angel is bringing good news. A call for delay is given until the righteous are marked or sealed. Compare Ezekiel 9 again. Is the seal the Holy Spirit? No. They were sealed because they were righteous and hence they already had the Holy Spirit. Recall Rom. 8:9 - "The spirit of God dwells in you." This seal is simply God's way of marking his possessions. Note that this seal, as in Ezekiel 9, does not assure physical protection.

4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad, 6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh, 7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar, 8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin.

How many of God's people were sealed? All of them. The number 12 symbolizes the people of God (12 patriarchs, 12 apostles, 12 tribes). The number 144,000 (= 12 times 12 times 1000) is God's way of emphasizing that all of his people are under his care and protection. The 144,000 are mentioned again in 14:1-5 where they are described as virgins and said to be those redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb. Who does this describe? God's people. In 2 Cor. 11:2 Paul said he wanted to present the Corinthian church as a chaste virgin to Christ. James 1:18 says that we are "a kind of first fruits of his creatures." The church is comprised of those who have been redeemed from mankind (Recall our comments on 5:9,10). The 144,000 are sealed with the name of God and the Lamb. The church bears the same mark for preservation in the face of great trial (3:10,12; 22:4). Why are they called Israelites? Israel is an established name for God's people. The name literally means "he who prevailed with God." Recall our earlier comments on what it means to be a true Jew. In Rev. 3:9 Jesus spoke of those who said they were Jews but were not. They were correct from a physical standpoint but not from a spiritual standpoint. See Appendix B. Note that the tribe of Dan is excluded. See Deut. 29:18-21 and 1 Kings 12:29-30. Similarly for Ephraim. See Hos. 4:17.

The white-robed tribulation saints

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."

This section is modeled after the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a feast of thanksgiving for the harvest. It lasted 7 days and then ended on an 8th great day. The people dressed in festive robes and sang, danced, prayed, offered sacrifices, and poured water from a golden basin around the altar. The water recalled the water Moses obtained from the rock and was a petition for God to give more water. The priest would lead a large crowd singing Psalms and waving palm branches. At the end of one of these feasts Jesus announced that he was the real source of living water. (See John 7:37-38 and Isaiah 12:3.) The group pictured here is full of joy, also. The Feast of Tabernacles followed four days after the Great Day of Atonement in which the national guilt was removed by innocent blood. The Jews said that one who had not seen the "joy of the drawing water" did not know what joy meant. Salvation belongs to our God means the salvation is from God.

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "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 are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Who are these? They are survivors of and victors of the Great Tribulation. Great Tribulation: Chapter 6 predicts it. The saints are sealed in Chapter 7 in anticipation of it. The Great Tribulation was a judgment on the ungodly from which the righteous were exempt. Did that mean they wouldn't suffer during it? No. Recall our earlier discussion regarding Ezekiel 9. Who are "those before the throne"? The 144,000 (all of God's people) looked at from a different perspective. Many things are Revelation are symbolized by different things at different points in the book. Jesus is seen as a Lamb and a rider on a white horse. Rome is seen as a beast from the earth, a beast from the sea, and as a harlot. It all depends on the throne's perspective. It is wrong to argue that they cannot be the same group because the symbol is different. The symbol might have changed because God wants to point out something different.

  1. The 144,000 were sealed to preserve them through the Great Tribulation and this group consists of those who came out of the tribulation.

  2. Both groups are before the throne (7:15 and 14:3).

  3. Both groups are led by the Lamb and redeemed from the earth (7:17 and 14:3).

This group serves in his temple: This temple was the inner sanctuary where only priests had access. All Christians are now priests and thus have this access. He will shelter them: At the Feast of the Tabernacles the poor, the stranger, and the homeless were welcome guests at the meal. They won't thirst, hunger, or be scorched by the sun: This is used elsewhere to symbolize security and prosperity. The picture is one of a well cared for and well guided flock. (See Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 49:8-10, Isaiah 40:11, and Psalm 121:5-6.) Are these people martyrs? People could have survived the great tribulation without dying. In fact, tradition tells us that John did. Further, one may be before the throne of God in John's vision without actually dwelling there literally. In fact, the phrase "those that dwell on the earth" is used in Revelation to depict the ungodly. But doesn't this describe a Christian's condition in Heaven? (No hunger, no thirst, no tears, etc.) Not necessarily. No hunger or thirst is a promise to those saved by Jesus: Isaiah 49:8,10 - they shall not hunger or thirst. 2 Cor. 6:2 tells us that this prophecy pointed to the salvation which came through Jesus. John 7:37 - Let anyone who is thirsty come to me. Similar symbols have been used elsewhere to describe God's victorious people: Israel was told in Isaiah 25:8 and Isaiah 30:18-33 they would weep no more when they were being persecuted by Assyria. Isaiah 25:8 - Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces. Isaiah 30:19 - You shall weep no more.