Rev 7, The sealing of the Jewish tribulation saints prior to the breaking of the seventh seal

• Chapter 7 is a short prelude. One suggested structure
• Chapters 6-9 is the first half
• Chapters 10-14 is the middle
• Chapters 15-19 is the second half


Rev 7:1-8 (ESV) 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 ascending 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, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
   12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
   12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
   12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
   12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
   12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
   12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
   12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
   12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.



• There are two ways to view the phrase "after this" in this context
• One, it is chronological. But that would not make sense with the fifth seal
• Two, this vision merely follows the preceding vision of the seals (Fruchtenbaum' s position)
• Also, what are we not discussing, that you would expect to be discussing? The seventh seal
• Who are these four angels? These angels are to judge the earth (vs 3-4)
• They are told to wait or hold off, why? Until the sealing of the 144,000
• The four corners suggest that these Jews are called from all over the earth
• The word "seal" is mentioned twice here
• In the first case, an angel from the east possesses a seal of the living God (there are a number of cases in scripture where divine salvation comes from the East)
• A seal had three uses
• A symbol of ownership -- 2 Cor 1:22
• Authentication -- John 16:27
• Protection leading to final salvation -- Eph 1:14; 4:30
• Fruchtenbaum argues that a seal is used for two purposes: service and protection
• Interestingly that there is no mention of the HS. An angel seals them but there is no mention of the Spirit's indwelling through his baptizing ministry. It could be the Spirit acts as it did in the OT and comes upon the saints
• The placement could indicate the last of the 144K come to Christ near the end of the seal judgments with the later picture (7:9-12), the photograph of the results of their ministry at the end of the tribulation period
• The 144K are clearly delineated. Who are they?
• They are Jewish (this is not about the church, this is not about Gentiles, this is a specific program for the Jews)
• The Jews are finally taking the gospel to the world as they were originally intended
• There are twelve tribes listed but one is missing
• The missing tribe is Dan which could be a negative thing (outgrowth of actions in Judges)
• They were to the first to establish idolatry in Israel (Judges 18:30)
• Although they do receive a portion of the land in the Millennium (Ezek 48:1-2)
• Or the author could merely be maintaining the symmetry of 12
• Ephraim falls under Joseph (as does Manasseh, but it is still mentioned -- possibly Manasseh faithfulness is honored in contrast to Ephraim's unfaithfulness)
• There are other examples where the symmetry of 12 is maintained and a group is left off
• How do these Jews come to Christ?
• Right now, there is a worldwide messianic movement ongoing
• More Jews than ever are coming to Christ -- but since today's Jews are part of the church and would be removed during the rapture, these Jews are not them -- so who are they?
• These are Jews who have been witnessed to and understand the gospel but did not respond until after the rapture
• APPLICATION: You may be witnessing to a future 144K even if that person does not respond


Rev 7:9-12 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, 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 on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around 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 forever and ever! Amen."



• "After this" also has the same probable meanings
• One, a new vision is starting, but that would leave the previous vision unexplained or hanging, so then this one is integral to understanding the earlier one
• Two, this one follows the other, chronologically, and then it would be a "cause and effect" relationship
• Assuming a causal effect, as a result of the witnessing, there is an innumerable number of new believers
• Included in this group are some from the fifth seal who faced martyrdom for their faith
• In the next section, God specifically speaks to their comfort since these were people who came to Christ and lived through part of the tribulation
• So here is another purpose of the tribulation: a worldwide revival (I believe the other purpose is judgment for sin)
• This is a photograph of the result, a multitude who come to Christ by the end of the tribulation period
• We can assume this because in 7:14 they are identified as the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation (which would be the whole period of time)
• Also, the doxology is a sevenfold ascription to God
• Blessing (ESV) / praise (NIV) -- Grk, eulogia, meaning blessing or praise
• Glory -- Grk, doxa, meaning the honor due him because of his good reputation (delivered them)
• Wisdom -- Grk, sophia, means wisdom; root is rendered wise and similar to saphes meaning clear
• Thanks -- Grk, eucharistia, meaning "well" and "to give freely"
• Honor -- Grk, timee, meaning a value, i.e., money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem
• Power -- Grk, dunamis, reflecting God's omnipotence
• Strength -- Grk, ischus, meaning might or strength


Rev 7:13-17 (ESV) Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming 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  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
 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."



• In scripture, when God asks a question, it is not because he is in need of information. In this case, one of the elders asks a question and yet knows the answer, why?
• Not immediately clear, but apparently is trying to make a distinction or he knows what is on John's mind
• They look like anyone who has been saved, white robes and palm branches, but they are not church saints but tribulation saints. They have specifically lived through the tribulation
• If the church is intended to go through the tribulation, then why make a distinction on these as opposed to any who have suffered under the name of Jesus?
• The fact is that the church is already translated and in heaven. They have already been purified, and are not with the groom. The next major event will be the marriage supper of the lamb
• Another interesting idea is the progression
• Six seals broken
• Wait until breaking the last seal
• Seal the Jewish saints
• Show a picture of martyrdom of the tribulation saints (in which case the sealing for protection may not extend to the whole period)
• Share a unique promise to them
• Continue the story
• There is also a sevenfold promise to this group, the tribulation saints (some of these rewards are also promised to church believers in other places, 21:1-5)
• Before the throne
• Serve him
• Never again hunger
• Never again thirst
• Not experience scorching heat
• Will be led to the spring of living water
• Every tear will be wiped away from their eyes
• APPLICATION: So how do we apply this?
• One, our impact in this time can extend into the next age
• Two, while the intent of God is judgment, it is also revival. Even in discipline, God is showing his mercy
• Three, people are important to God. He doesn't need to any of this, but he chooses to do it some that some might be saved