This post first prepared for the Men’s Sunday School Lesson at WAMC 7/9/17.
Intro
This is probably the toughest passage yet in Revelation for me to process. Discussing the timing, but especially the identity of the 144,000 and the implications has required a lot of extra thought (and I still feel a bit bewildered).
A couple things I am certain of, one is that study and group discussion of Scripture is God’s plan for us. We should not be uncomfortable of honestly discussing and comparing Scripture and opinions.
Secondly, I very much do not want to get hung up on debate over interpretations when there is so much that is very clear that we don’t have to debate. Let’s not let the debate confuse us from the lesson God wants to teach us in this passage. I keep thinking about Aden’s discussion on interpreting Scripture. First, let’s not take the dogmatic approach where we come to a passage needing it to fit our pre-decided theology. Secondly, let us be sure we spend adequate time in observation before we obsess over interpretation and application.
Summary of passage:
It feels like I can’t begin to dissect this passage without making a couple big picture assumptions. So I’ll just get those out on the table and let the fireworks begin.
Chronologically speaking, I think, vs 1-8 probably happen before the seals start in Chapter 6. Possibly the angels are even now holding back the four winds. A major assumption I have is that God promises to keep us in spite of evil, not from evil (Romans 8:28). The sealing is a protection from the Lamb’s wrath, not from Satan’s wrath.
I think the best explanation of the 144,000 is a symbolic one, and that they represent the same group of people as in the second half of the chapter (e.g. overcomers, not necessarily literal Jews).
[Side note, I am currently leaning away from pretribulation rapture. Most of the rationale I have read leans on inferences, not from actual Scriptural statements. A major concern I have with taking this stance is that I must then accept some other position which is equally speculatory. As I read descriptions of common viewpoints (e.g. dispensational premillennialism, amillennialism, etc.), I find myself incredulous at the liberties taken with Scripture. All that to say, I am looking forward to engaging with all of you and hopefully deepening all of our understanding of Scripture and most of all of God’s plan for our lives. According to Ephesians 4, the church is God’s plan for keeping our doctrine straight. 2 Peter 1:20 states that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. Let us not shirk from open dialogue!
For example, here is a summary of the events of the wrath that I find compelling:
As God exerts his wrath upon the evil world in the form of the seals, trumpets, and bowls, the world retaliates with its own vengeance against Christ’s followers. God allows the dragon for this short period (Mark 13: 20) to “conquer” the saints (Rev.
13: 7), resulting in “days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now— and never to be equaled again” (Mark 13: 19, in which the destruction of Jerusalem is a proleptic anticipation of this period). However, these very tribulations are the victory of the church (Rev. 12: 11) and of God (7: 10). Osborne, Kindle Locations 7406-7408)]
Text
Revelation 7 is an interlude in the description of the pouring out of the Lamb’s wrath on the earth-dwellers. This middle section of Revelations seems to be a bit more thematically arranged then strictly chronologically. I think a very important question to answer before starting the lesson is to ask what is the main theme, or lesson, of this passage?
- I think the point is to take time to emphasize that God will deliver his own people. In spite of the doom and tribulation on the earth, God will protect them from His wrath. [What is not promised is deliverance from the wrath of the earth-dwellers, but instead a request for patience, e.g. 5th seal.]
- I think it’s telling that this is a distinct interlude in the description of pouring out of wrath
- Don’t forget overall context is John encouraging the 1st century churches who were facing persecution. This was meant to be an encouragement for them.
Revelation 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.
As I mentioned before, I believe this first half of the chapter occurred chronologically before the wrath started in chapter 6. Possibly this restraint is occurring even now?!
Four is a common number in Revelation…
Four corners is an idiom for the entire earth. The disaster would be coming from every direction.
Four point destruction is a common theme in the prophetic literature. (Jere 49:36, Dan 7:2, Zech 6:5).
Good possibility the four winds are the same as the four horseman (especially if you see the seals, the trumpets and bowl judgments as cycles not telescoping, as discussed last Sunday).
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.”
God is in full control of the destruction of the earth (he sent his angels to restrain the destruction until he was ready). This speaks of his tender care for Christians.
This sealing of the God’s slaves is very similar to the account in Ezekiel 9 where God sent his scribes to mark all the foreheads of those who mourn at the abominations in Israel. God then sent out servants to slaughter all who were not marked.
What is the significance of the sealing the servants of God?
This is a remarkable image. Most likely it pictures the angel carrying God’s royal signet ring, a ring used by kings, officials, and those in authority to authenticate documents. In the ancient world the seal meant ownership, protection, and privilege. As Fitzer (TDNT 7: 942– 43) points out, a seal in the ancient world was closely connected to the gods and provided a special power to the one wielding it: “The deity protects, and the same power is ascribed to the image.” A sacrifice was often sealed, guaranteeing its inviolability to the gods. In many Greco-Roman cults (e.g., Cybelle, Attis, and Mithras) the worshipers were sealed to indicate they belonged to the gods. The sealing of the saints here is all this and more. It is both a promise to the faithful overcomers and a warning to the Nicolaitan heretics (2: 14– 16, 20– 23) that they are following the wrong gods. In the OT “seals” are primarily royal (Gen. 41: 42; 1 Kings 21: 8; Esth. 3: 10; Dan. 6: 17), used to indicate that the bearer has the king’s authority to make decisions or to authenticate a royal decree. Moyise (1995: 71) argues that the primary background comes from Ezek. 9: 4– 6, where God required that a mark be placed on the forehead of the faithful to signify that they were his and to protect them from the coming destruction (more on this below).
And,
This angel who carries the seal of God then gives his orders to the other four angels as he ἔκραξεν ϕωνῇ μεγάλη (ekraxen phōnē megalē, cried out with a loud voice). This is exactly the form used for the martyred souls under the altar in 6: 10, and there is a definite connection. His cry is the divine response to their cry. Those “slaves of God” (7: 3) who are about to die will first be sealed by the “living God” who owns them and protects them from the judgment soon to be poured out on the persecutors. The juxtaposition of “sealed” with “slave” is significant. The seal indeed is the outward sign of the reality that we are God’s slaves, owned by him. Osborne, Kindle Locations 7028-7061.
Additionally, Osborne states that the seal was the letter Tav, which was like a cross. The seal signified both ownership and allegiance. The issue of allegiance comes into focus when the beast rolls out his own seal.
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,
k12,000 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.
Who are the 144,000? A primary debate is to whether this refers to Israel or the church. A closely connected debate is to whether both groups of people in Revelation 7 are the same or not.
- Why would John write so explicitly about all the tribes of Israel if that’s not what he meant?
- Osborne: However, there are many indications that John does mean the church, not the least of which is the centrality of the church throughout the book. Aside from this passage, there is no mention of Jewish believers apart from the Gentile church elsewhere in Revelation. In 21: 12– 14 the names of the twelve tribes are on the gates of the New Jerusalem, and the names of the twelve apostles are on the foundations. There it signifies the unity of the OT and the NT people of God in the New Jerusalem. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on one group, the faithful overcomers, and they are linked inextricably with the believers in the seven churches of chapters 2– 3, composed of Gentile (probably predominant) and Jewish Christians. Kindle Locations 7120-7125.
Osborne also states the point of this number is to emphasize the completeness of the group. 12x12x1000 is a symbol of completeness x 3. He believes the primary interpretation of the 144,000 are the overcomers of the tribulation period who remain true to Christ in the terrible persecution instigated by the beast. However, on the whole book level, it is a message to the seven churches (and us), that if we remain faithful to Christ, we will be part of the 144,000 as well (whether or not we are martyred). (Kindle Location 7139)
[I am probably exposing my ignorance, but I see no doctrinal necessity in affirming this is the literal Jewish remnant who turn to God during the tribulation. In my opinion, the exact number is obviously symbolic, so it makes more sense to go for the symbolic meaning of the terms used to describe the group. Also, related, does the description of the 144,000 from Revelation 14 also pertain to this group? Does it make sense that God would give special favors to (literal) male Jewish virgins?]
The list of tribes is funny, too. It follows no traditional order, and omits Dan and inserts Manassah. Judah is listed at the head. This is probably because the Lamb is from this tribe, and maybe symbolizes that this is the Lamb’s army, with him in the lead.
A Great Multitude from Every Nation
9 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,
Osborne sees this as the same group of overcomers from the first half of the chapter, but after the battle has been won. The multitude is an elaboration of the 144,000. The multitude is perhaps a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would be innumerable.
clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
White robes symbolize purity (they were washed in the blood of the lamb), but also triumph. This is reminiscent to the triumphal Roman processions. This picture also reminds us of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
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.”
I honestly don’t know what to say about this scene of worship. What a powerful scene of all the Lamb’s redeemed finally standing all together around the throne and praising Him! In this scene, even the angels (all of them!) are worshipping with the saints. Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!!!
13 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.”
This is a powerful picture of God calling his beloved people out of the sin and suffering on the earth (salvation both from personal sin, and from the suffering). Reminds me of the C.S. Lewis’ The Last Battle, where the last of the Narnian army were fighting desperately in a last stand, when they get thrown inside the stable. From a violent, dirty battle environment, they find themselves suddenly in a place of perfect peace.
The multitude serves God day and night. They are sheltered by his presence!! The Lamb himself will be their shepherd. What an astonishing picture of the peace and security of heaven and of being forever in the Lamb’s presence!!!!!!!!! (I don’t even know what to say about this!)