An Interlude and the 7th Seal Revelation 7.1-8.1

A Word on Translation

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Recap:

Rev. 1 Inaugural Vision

Rev. 2-3 Letters to the churches

Rev. 4-5 Heavenly Throne vision

Rev. 6 Seals 1-6 Judgement Cycle

How does God deal with Evil?

Interlude Rev. 7.1-17

Revelation 7:1–17 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. 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, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. 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, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 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, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 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. “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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.”

An Interlude?

seals 1-6 have been opened, ending with a picture of cosmic destruction and judgment.

the final question was, who can stand the judgement?

the interlude will answer that question.

Here, we will take the recapitulation view regarding God’s people.

Two perspectives of seeing God’s people: Jewish and Gentile.

The Sealed 144,000 Rev. 7.1-8

Revelation 7:1–8 NASB95

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth - maybe corresponding to the horsemen

The angels are holding back the winds of the earth. They are withholding destruction for a time.

another angel appears from the east and he is sealed by the living God.

Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary i. The Sealing of the Servants of God (7:1–8)

The seal was basically a mark of ownership (important in an age when many could not read). Here it marks those sealed as God’s and thus preserves them from the destruction that will fall on others

the sealed/marked angel calls for the other angels to not harm earth, sea, or trees.

They are to withhold destruction until the servants are sealed.

doulos/servants or slave - emphasizes the utter devotion of those sealed.

Remember, the idea from Rev. 4-5 is the sovereignty over all things including the circumstances of the saints.

All things will come about to consummate God’s redemptive plan even though some think they are sovereign.

12 tribes of 12,000

the list omits the tribe of Dan, but not too much thought should be given to a major theological significance.

There are about 20 lists of the tribes with 18 different ones. Cf. Gen. 29-30; Exod. 1.1-5; Num. 1.5-15; and others.

There are different theories about who these people are.

The one we will look at is that the 144,000 represent a totality of God’s people.

Theologically the twelve tribes represent completeness possibly combing the twelve disciples of Jesus.

These 144,000 representing the totality of God’s people are sealed or marked under divine protection.

Who can stand the judgement? God’s people

If the Doubling of Israel represents the totality of God’s people, then it makes sense that all believing people are in mind.

This makes sense with the context we’ve seen so far - persecution, security, both Jewish and Gentile beleivers.

This is use of OT motifs is not outside of the NT reference to beleivers.

1 Peter 1.1-2

1 Peter 1:1–2 NASB95

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

1 peter 2.9

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The Great Multitude Rev. 7.9-17

Revelation 7:9–17 NASB95

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 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, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

The Multitude v. 9

We’ll see this as a recapitulation of vv. 1-8, but from a Gentile perspective.

This is most likely to invoke a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Gen 12.2-3; 28.14

No one could number the multitude - no one knows the full extant of the redeemed.

The multitude is made up of ever nation, tribe, peoples, and language - fourfold to correspond with the four corners of the earth

God’s redeeming work began not in the NT, but after the fall. It was always God’s plan to redeem all people through his people.

The redeemed clothed in white with palm branches - they have conquered by faithful witness and are now overjoyed.

Another Christological Hymn v. 10

the redeemed cry out a hymn of worship

salvation- saved by the Gospel not military might.

saved by the work of Sovereign God on his throne.

saved by the slain lamb.

Heaven Continues to Worship vv. 11-12

this is a call back to Rev. 5.12

Remember Rev. 4-5 are the theological basis for the Judgement Cycles.

Heaven worships the true sovereign.

The Identity of the Multitude vv. 13-14

“who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”

John tells the elder that he knows.

remember white is for those who conquer Rev. 3.5

The elder tells John and us that the multitude are the ones “coming” out of the great tribulation.

Let’s take a minute and remember the context:

Persecution for those who confess Christ.

Many would recant and sacrifice to the gods and the imperial cult (Pliny’s letter to Trajan)

Those who didn’t faced death in a variety of means.

Persecution is the context of Revelation, and to conquer is to maintain one’s witness in Christ through persecution.

...An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged...

You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians… They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance...

excerpts from Pliny to Trajan, and Trajan to Pliny https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/pliny.html

The Identity of the Multitude vv. 13-14 cont.

The multitude are those coming out of the great tribulation.

Note that “coming” is in the present tense both in English and Greek.

The text doesn’t define the great persecution, because its to be understood from the context. The original readers/listeners knew the persecution.

Contextually, we can understand the great tribulation to be a present and real experience of believers at the time of Revelation.

Rev 1.9;2.13

Revelation 1:9 NASB95

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 2:13 NASB95

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Despite their suffering, the slain lamb has made their robes white.

this is overtly symbolic. Jesus atones for the believers and establishes a precedent for the them. If Jesus suffered, they could expect the same.

God’s Redeeming Work and Security for Believers through Tribulation vv. 15-17

despite the present destruction, God is guiding all of history toward the close of his ultimate redemptive plan for creation.

Rome may think they save, but God truly does and he does so through his Lamb and in ways the world does not understand.

The suffering of the believers is not in vain, but contributes to God’s plan.

Here, believers are seen as being in worship of God, in his very presence.

They will not experience the woes of broken creation - hunger, thirst, harm from the sun.

The hurts, pains and tears will be ministered to by their creator and savior.

The Triune God has been seen as mighty, conquering, just, and truly sovereign. And now, This same God is caring to their hurts.

Seal 7 Rev. 8.1

an anti-climactic end, but seemingly intentional.

Seal 6 ended the judgement

Seal 7 seems to introduce the next series of 7 (trumpets).

Rev. 8.1 begins the next recapitulation.