Twelve, in the OT commonly refers to the 12 sons or tribes of Jacob (Israel), and 12 of the NT commonly refers to the 12 Apostles. That’s the final separation of God’s people from the rest of the world. Dan's small numbers are joined here to Naphtali's, whose brother he was by the same mother [BENGEL]. Salvation--literally, "THE salvation"; all the praise of our salvation be ascribed to our God. 15. But A, C, Vulgate, and Coptic omit "and." There it was "many angels," here it is "all the angels." It’s a seal of belonging, a seal that identifies and separates the people of God from everyone else, just as we see the seal of those who are identified with the beast (Rev 13:16-17). All pain and hardship and suffering will be forever behind us. As now a regeneration goes on here and there of individuals, so there shall then be a regeneration of nations universally, and this in connection with Christ's coming. As I’ve already discussed, this is a future scene in Heaven, when all of the redeemed are present. (Rev 7:5-8) – 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. Revelation 7:1 (1) After this I saw (2) four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back (3) the four winds of the earth, (4) so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. . . John speaks of this very thing in verses 16 and 17. The quarter from which God's glory oftenest manifests itself. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”a. When once He tabernacled among us as the Word made flesh, He was in great lowliness; then He shall be in great glory. John’s apocalyptic visions in Revelation 7:9-17 present challenges in two different ways. 12. Thus this seventh chapter is a recapitulation of the vision of the six seals, Revelation 6:1-17 , to fill up the outline there given in that part of it which affects the faithful of that day. Together they make up, When we multiply 12 x 12, we get 144. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to seek instruction from any who can give it. Chicago: Moody, 1995. It’s a sealing of distinction among all other people. The palm branch is the symbol of joy and triumph. NASB – “will shelter them with his presence.”. Judah (meaning praise) stands first, as Jesus' tribe. . In verse 9 we see that John “saw” a “great multitude” – “out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues.” He first hears the number, and then sees those who are represented by that number, which, of course, this passage reveals to be every believer from all over the world throughout history. The sealing of the 144,000 sees them both in eternity and in this life, because we exist in both. What, &c.--Greek order, "These which are arrayed in white robes, WHO are they?". Revelation 3:12 , 21:12 , are no objection, as ALFORD thinks, to the literal Israel being meant; for, in consummated glory, still the Church will be that "built on the foundation of the (Twelve) apostles (Israelites), Jesus Christ (an Israelite) being the chief corner-stone." 7. of all nations--Greek, "OUT OF every nation." The upper and the lower congregation, though distinct, are intimately associated. A student abruptly stood up and replied, “Protestants don’t have saints!” 17. in the midst of the throne--that is, in the middle point in front of the throne ( Revelation 5:6 ). by Don Koenig . When we multiply that number by 1000, we get 144,000. . The four angels are instructed not to hurt the earth, sea, or trees until the servants of God (all believers) are identified. The two visions in this chapter come in as an episode after the sixth seal, and before the seventh seal. . Reuben, as originally first-born, comes next after Judah, to whom it gave place, having by sin lost its primogeniture right. This book encourages Christians, that, though things be tough now in this life, we’re to live with eternity in view; we’re to keep our eyes on Christ and all the glories that await us. The 12 tribes of the OT represent all believers under the Old Covenant, and the 12 Apostles of the NT represent all believers under the New Covenant. thirst any more--( John 4:13 ). It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius [Tacitus, Annals, 2.47]. . It is their continuing, ceaseless employment. Revelation 19:1-5 . stood--"were standing" [ALFORD]. There, however, their number was waiting to be completed, but here it is completed, and they are seen taken out of the earth before the judgments on the Antichristian apostasy; with their Lord, they, and all His faithful witnesses and disciples of past ages, wait for His coming and their coming to be glorified and reign together with Him. Matthew 5:8 , 1 Corinthians 13:12 , "face to face." However, when we see revelations of the redeemed in this book, it’s the redeemed of all time that we’re seeing, since we are all one in Christ. 4. Bible commentary on the Book of Revelation 6:1-7:17, by Dr. Bob Utley, retired professor of hermeneutics. His dwelling among them is to be understood as a secondary truth, besides what is expressed, namely, His being their covert. SEALING OF THE ELECT OF ISRAEL. . Previously to the Lord's judgments on Antichrist and his hosts, these latter shall destroy two-thirds of the nation, one-third escaping, and, by the Spirit's operation through affliction, turning to the Lord, which remnant shall form the nucleus on earth of the Israelite nation that is from this time to stand at the head of the millennial nations of the world. Lamb--( Revelation 1:5 , Isaiah 1:18 , Hebrews 9:14 , 1 John 1:7 ; compare Isaiah 61:10 , Zechariah 3:3-5 ). Also, it had been now for long almost extinct. Revelation 11:7 Commentaries: When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. . A omits "My," as English Version. In the last chapter, we saw that everyone was hiding in the rocks and caves because they correctly saw that wrath or judgment was coming upon the earth from the Lamb. Aagin, this describes Heaven — the Eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and New Earth, which is confirmed by Rev 21:1-7. . . on any tree--Greek, "against any tree" (Greek, "epi ti dendron": but "on the earth," Greek, "epi tees gees"). the sun--literally, scorching in the East. When we multiply that number by 1000, we get 144,000. light" (fall). neither . of all the tribes--literally, "out of every tribe"; not 144,000 of each tribe, but the aggregate of the twelve thousand from every tribe. after these things--A, B, C, and Coptic read, "after this." 1. . To him that overcometh, to … But also because we see in verse 4 that John said that he, The number 12 is significant in both Old and New Testaments. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Such an approach to Revelation blinds us from seeing the true intent of what’s being described in this book. And--so B and Syriac. But also because we see in verse 4 that John said that he “heard” this number of 144,000. 1. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. He worshipped God every Lord’s day because that is what Christians do on Sundays. Revelation 2:1-7: Commentary “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the … The great tribulation is, Here we see that glorified believers will be, As we can see, this chapter is significant in determining the time period of this book, which has to be the, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). After this I saw = a popular formula used by John to introduce a new unit of material. CategoriesCommentary on Revelation, Eschatology/Prophecy, Israel and the Church. The "first-fruits unto the Lamb," the 144,000 ( Revelation 14:1-4 ) of Israel, are followed by a copious harvest of all nations, an election out of the Gentiles, as the 144,000 are an election out of Israel also Revelation 3:5 Revelation 3:18 , 4:4 ). We don’t know what our service to God entails, but we do know that we will be busy serving Him in some way. Ten complete sets of 100 is 1000. These seals would be made of wax or clay, attached in such a way as to prevent the document from being opened without breaking the seal. Hence it is omitted in the fourth through eighth chapters of First Chronicles. Revelation 7 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary ranks among the most important on the Greek text of the New Testament from the 19th century In other words, it’s a sealing of identification of God’s people in the world. white in the blood of . In regard to the “sea,” this probably has all bodies of water in view [rivers, streams, lakes], since much water flows into the sea from other bodies of water (Rev 8:10-11; 14:7; 16:4). David Guzik commentary on Revelation 10, where a mighty angels comes down from heaven and seven thunders utter their voices. That’s a complete set. Hosanna means "save us now"; taken from Psalms 118:25 , in which Psalm ( Psalms 118:14 Psalms 118:15 Psalms 118:21 Psalms 118:26 ) the same connection occurs between salvation, the tabernacles of the righteous, and the Jews' cry to be repeated by the whole nation at Christ's coming, "Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord.". Out of these tribes a believing remnant will be preserved from the judgments which shall destroy all the Antichristian confederacy ( Revelation 6:12-17 ), and shall be transfigured with the elect Church of all nations, namely, 144,000 (or whatever number is meant by this symbolical number), who shall faithfully resist the seductions of Antichrist, while the rest of the nation, restored to Palestine in unbelief, are his dupes, and at last his victims. 16:33). Twelve by twelve implies fixity and completeness, which is taken a thousandfold in 144,000. day and night--that is, perpetually; as those approved of as priests by the Sanhedrim were clothed in white, and kept by turns a perpetual watch in the temple at Jerusalem; compare as to the singers, 1 Chronicles 9:33 , "day and night"; Psalms 134:1 . We have ten basic numbers, 1-10. living fountains of water--A, B, Vulgate, and CYPRIAN read, (eternal) "life's fountains of waters." Comparatively ignorant ourselves of divine things, it is well for us to look upward for divinely communicated knowledge. Together they make up true Israel, spiritual Israel, which is the Church. Also, symbolically, the sun of persecution. 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