Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Revelation 7

• Notice the three patterns of six and one between the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls, where the seventh is separated and holy.
  • It happens that this “seventh” is shared between them and unites all three, like the Trinity.

The Sealed of Israel

• STILLNESS AND SILENCE
• 144,000 YOUNG JEWISH VIRGIN MEN SEALED
  • Revelation 14:4 NET These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,

Revelation 7:1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

• Stillness: Nothing is changing anywhere.
• Wind is symbolic of change. The four corners of the earth means, “everywhere”.
• Jesus, the Angels, and the Saints are preparing for Jesus’ return.
• Revelation 8:1 Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets – When He opens the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Revelation 7:2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

Revelation 7:3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

• THE SEAL OF GOD
  • What is the “seal of God”? it is having the “Father’s” Name Written on their Forehead” (Rev 14:1)
    • The Antichrist “marks” but God “seals” (Rev 13:17)
  • The 144,000 have NOT taken the Mark of the Beast.
  • You CANNOT have both the Mark of the Beast AND the Seal of God!.
    
• THE REMNANT
  • These are those who have not taken the mark of the Antichrist beast but are still alive at the end of the tribulation. They are a remnant.
    
  • Zephaniah 3:8 A Faithful Remnant – “Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to
    Gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms,
    To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger;
    All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.
    
  • THE FIRST GATHERING OF MULTITUDES: WHICH LEADS TO DEATH.
    
  • The meaning of “Armageddon” is “God’s assembly of nations”
    
    • Rev 16:16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, “Armageddon”.
      
    • Root Word (Etymology): Of Hebrew origin H2022 and H4023
    • “mound” plus “place of crowds”
      The word Armageddon is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew “har məgiddô”. Megiddo refers to a fortification made by King Ahab that dominated the Plain of Jezreel. Its name means “place of crowds” or “multitudes”.
      
• Today there are ~ 14,000,000 Jews in the world. Half in Israel and half in the USA. The rest of the world is basically empty since the Jews began returning to Israel. For 144,000 to be left, that would be 10% of the original 14,000,000 then another 10% of the remaining 1,400,000 to end up with 144,000.

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

• There are no “lost tribes of Israel”

• (These 144,000 will be alive to take part in the cleansing and re-dedication of the Jewish Temple resembling Hanukkah – This is the 1,335 days in Daniel 12:12 “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days”. For these young men they have lived for 1,260 days from the abomination of desolation to the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns plus another 75 days to the celebration of Hanukkah when the temple is cleansed and rededicated.)

• Matthew 24:¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be (physically) saved.

Revelation 7:5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;

Revelation 7:6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh (the son of Joseph) twelve thousand were sealed;

Revelation 7:7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;

Revelation 7:8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim) twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

• The tribe of Dan is missing.
• Although Dan is not mentioned among those sealed due to the tribes intense idolatry, the apostle Paul gives assurance that all Israel will be saved. Manasseh’s name was added in the place of Dan.
• 12,000 x 12 tribes is 144,000.

• Although the 144,000 are sealed just before end: They will still be alive at the end of the tribulation and reign with Jesus on Mount Zion.
  
  • Revelation 14:1 – The Lamb and the 144,000 – Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand (alive), having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. ³ They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits (a tithe) to God and to the Lamb. ⁵ And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 7:9 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,

• PLACE: LAMB’S THRONE
• Reminiscent of Jesus entering Jerusalem:
  • John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

• Palm branches have the history of acknowledging and honoring a conqueror as Lord and King.

• “The Persian Army conquered the outlying areas of the city’s interior while a majority of Babylonians at the city center were oblivious to the breach. When the upper city gates were opened, General Gubaru’s troops poured into the city without any resistance from the Babylonian army.On October 29th 539 BC history would have its most peaceful military conquest of a major imperial city. Cyrus himself did not actually enter the gates of the city for over a month. On November 9, 539 BC,he rode through the Ishtar Gate while the masses of the city layered a pathway of green twigs welcoming him with their sign of peace and honor, acknowledgment and acceptance that he is king.”
  http://www.specialtyinterests.net/babylon.html#koldewey

• Side Note: Jesus is God’s “Branch”:
  • Isaiah 4:2 The Renewal of Zion – In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.

Revelation 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

Angels (Messengers)

Elders

Four Living Creatures

Revelation 7:12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

• Note: the spiritual number of perfection: Seven types of Worship

1. Blessing
2. Glory
3. Wisdom
4. Thanksgiving
5. Honor
6. Power
7. Might

Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

• TIMING: AFTER JESUS’ RETURN

Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (the last 3-1/2 years), and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

• An enormous revival of saved souls during the tribulation!

• The last 3-1/2 years of the tribulation is called the “great” tribulation.

• No one wears a proper wedding garment to enter the kingdom of God unless it is washed in the blood of Jesus.
  
  • Matthew 22:11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Revelation 7:15 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 dwell among them.

Revelation 7:16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

• Their suffering was intense.
  • Isaiah 21:14 Bring water to him (the remnant) who is thirsty; with their bread they met him who fled.
  • Matthew 25:40 Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren (the Jews), you did it to Me.’

Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters (fountains of the waters of life). And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

• An striking picture: a Lamb shepherding the flock.
• A lamb has no horns (power). It is meek. It is Jesus at His first advent to earth.
  • A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.
• The Living Water is Jesus. Living Water is eternal life.