Revelation Study 12. Revelation 7:1-17.

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 9. What happens in ...
7:1-8 The 144000 are sealed 
7:9-17 The great multitude worships 
 
The 144000 have been identified with
  • Believing Jews, perhaps saved out of the great tribulation (while Gentile believers have been raptured before the tribulation)
  • All believers during the tribulation
  • All believers for all time 
 144000 = 12x 12 for completeness, 10x10x10 to represent the presence of God, like the new Jerusalem and the Holy of Holies.
 
 Note that the lists of the tribes of Israel differ markedly throughout the Bible. The tribes of Dan and Ephraim are omitted here whereas Joseph is mentioned together with his son Manasseh. The promoaion of tribes descended from Bilhah and ZIlpah (Gad, Asher, Napthali) suggest those once excluded from privilegare are now included. The southern tribes begin and end the list with the symmetrical "were sealed".
 
John first 'heard' the number of the sealed (v.7) then he sees (v.9) The 'great multitude that no one could number' have come out of the great tribulation. 
These may be the NT fulfillment of the OT picture of the 12 tribes.
 
 The sealed (cf. Ez 9:4-6 are those who can 'stand' (cf. 6:17) before the judgment of God, which is witheld in fullness untill all marked by His name receive the seal (14:1)
 
 
10. Why is it important for us to know that...
  • God's servants will be sealed before God afflicts the land and the sea with the final judgments (7:3)?
 He knows those who are His and takes care to distinguish them from those who dwell on the earth. They are treated differently becayse they belong to Him. cf. Ez 9:3-6)
  • the robes of the great multitude will be made white in the blood of the Lamb as they come through and out of the tribulation (7:14)?
 They are pure because of Christ's sacrifical death on their behalf. Regardless of physical suffering, their status in God's eyes is assured. They wear the robes of victorious martyrs. Something that should be unclean and shameful now brings purity and honour - this captures the paradox of the Cross.
  • the multitude will serve God day and night in His temple (7:15)?
They will always be in God's immediate presence.
They will have the privilege of constantly ministering in worship, 
knowing God's protective prsence. They shall lack nothing and 
be safe and untroubled, comfortable
They will have the life-giving guidance of Christ, and  (living water cf. Is 49:10)
there will be no more grief.

These promises are ours in the present in the Psalms - 23, 91, 121. 
The palms recall Jn 12:13 at the triumphal entry 
 
For Thought and Discussion: Why do you think the opening of the last seal is interrupted by the two visions of chapter 7? What purpose do they serve at this point In the story?
There is a dramatic pause. The scene shifts from earthly sufferring and the cry of the martyrs to the spiritual reality and status of God's people. They are known, protected and will be forever happy. There is assurance of ultimate deliverance through what will be seen next.

11. What personal relevance and encouragement do you find in 7:16-17? 
 Age and experience brings more and more instances of grief and disappointment. We are meant to have our desire for heaven whetted and our attachements to earth weakened with time.
 
 

 
 
 
 

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