Principles of Interpretation: There are patterns to Revelation which should be considered when trying to understand it. One pattern is that each new section is introduced by a scene from the temple. There is significance to these introductions. Do not ignore them. They are a key to understanding the section. Another pattern is that the book is written in symbolic language. The King James Version translates verse 1 as “he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” To signify is to show in signs, i.e., symbols. Those symbols are based in the rest of the Bible, both Old and New Testament. As such, look to the rest of the Bible to interpret Revelation rather than using Revelation to interpret the rest of the Bible. This also means that you need to let the Bible interpret itself rather than attempting to have it fit into today’s headlines. In short, do not treat Revelation as separate from the rest of the Bible. Instead, expect that the events described in Revelation have been presented in other parts of the Bible. A third pattern in Revelation is the idea of judgement. There are courtroom scenes and wrath and complaints about God not bringing justice. In fact, humans are not the only ones under judgment. God Himself is on trial, and the repeated verdict is that God is just, holy, and worthy. From the beginning claim that this is the Revelation of Jesus to the promise in the last chapter that we shall see God’s face, Revelation is an examination of who our Creator is and whether He is worthy of our loyalty.

Disclaimer: There are four basic methodologies used to interpret the book of Revelation in modern society: futurism, historicism, idealism, and preterism. Many modern churches have embraced the idea of the secret rapture, which is a form of futurism. On the other hand, some churches say that Revelation deals solely with events that were happening in the apostolic era. This is called preterism. Other churches teach that Revelation does not describe any specific time period. Instead, the symbols are philosophical and/or spiritual ideas. The series of studies that I am posting is based on historicism, which says that the Bible teaches that Revelation begins with the time of John and describes the interactions of the church with a hostile world throughout history culminating in the final future eradication of sin from the universe. This view denies a secret rapture. I do not want you to be in confusion about the basic premises of this series of lessons. If you disagree with the historicist viewpoint, please study for yourself to be certain that the interpretations that you have been told by others and simply accepted make sense with the whole Bible. As you study, first ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit; then study the verses, and let the Bible interpret itself. Even if you disagree with my comments, you may find the verses and background information that I provide useful. Finally, I want to emphasize that I myself am still studying Revelation and my understanding is deepening each time I open the book and read. Revelation is a distillation of the whole Bible; as such, the limited space of this blog and my limited understanding means that these lessons are not nearly as in-depth as they could (and maybe should) be.

References: See the end of this post for sources and references.

Introduction: The sixth seal ends with a question. Chapter 7 is an interlude that answers the question before the last seal is taken off of the book.

Revelation 6:17 (17)  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

• Notice that the question is: ‘Who shall be able to stand?”  Revelation 7 answers this question two times. The first time is in Revelation 7:3 where the angels are told not to harm anyone until the “servants of God” are sealed. Then in Revelation 7:9, John says that he saw a great multitude standing before the Lamb. Who will stand in the day of wrath? a great multitude of God’s servants.
• CONTEXT—The sixth seal describes what will happen at the second coming of Christ. The second coming is not simply marked by a bright group of angels with Jesus coming in the clouds. There will also be natural reactions on earth including islands and mountains being shaken and moved. The powerful men of the world will be terrified, and all the wicked will want to hide from the wrath of the Lamb, but there will be people who stand and look up with joy at the approach of their Savior.

Revelation 7:1-4

(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. (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.”

• The angels are standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth—This event is worldwide. The four corners of the earth are the four directions: north, south, east, west. This is not a localized situation.
• Angel/Messenger coming from the rising of the sun (the east)—Coming from the east symbolizes that this message is from God.  Isaiah 41:1-20 and Matthew 24:27 are two passages that support this idea. The significance of the messenger coming from God is that he is delivering God’s orders.
  • Ezekiel 43:1-2  (1)  Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east.  (2)  And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
• The servants of God are sealed on their foreheads
  • Seal of God in the forehead is the same as the name of God in the forehead 
    • Revelation 14:1  (1)  Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
  • “This word name in both the Old Testament and the New Testament means ‘character.’ It describes those who have developed, through the Spirit of God, the attributes of His character; they have the mind of Christ” (Plain Revelation).
  • We are sealed by the Holy Spirit for salvation.
    • Ephesians 4:30  (30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
  • The sealing has to do with our minds. That is why it is in our foreheads. It is about our characters. We are sanctified and made into the image of God.
    • Philippians 2:5  (5)  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
    • 2 Corinthians 3:18  (18)  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
• Seal = mark = sign: This seal or mark infers ownership and dedication.
  • Abraham was to circumcise his house as a ‘sign’ or ‘seal’ that he belonged to God (see Romans 4:11; Genesis 17:9-12).
    • Romans 4:11  (11)  He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
  • “The high priest was to bear the engraving, ‘Holiness to the Lord’ on his ‘forehead’ as a sign of his dedication to God (see Exodus 28:36-38)” (Plain Revelation).
• Restrain the harm until God’s servants are sealed
  • “The Bible also speaks of the concept of a seal or mark as offering protection (see Revelation 9:4; Genesis 4:15; Ezekiel 9:1-11). In Revelation God’s people are ‘sealed’ to protect them against the seven last plagues or four winds that ‘hurt’ the earth (see Revelation 7:1-3; 16:2). At the same time, they are not protected from the persecution of the beast (see Revelation 13:15-17; 20:4). Likewise, the ‘mark’ of the beast gives protection to its worshipers from the beast’s persecution. Yet they are not protected from the plagues of God (see Revelation 15:1; 16:1-11)” (Plain Revelation).
  • This sealing process to protect God’s people from destruction is based on imagery from the Old Testament.
    • Ezekiel 9:1-5  (1)  Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.”  (2)  And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.  (3)  Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.  (4)  And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”  (5)  And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
• “Another aspect of sealing that gives insight to this chapter is that of genuineness. Documents are ‘sealed’ up to protect them from change or alteration. Thus God’s servants are sealed as a guarantee that they will remain righteous and loyal to God (see Revelation 3:12; 22:11)” (Plain Revelation).
  • Revelation 3:12  (12)  The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
• “And finally the sealing of God’s people denotes their obedience to Him as faithful ‘servants’ (Revelation 7:3; Romans 6:16). They are to be sealed by the Holy Spirit which is ‘given to them that obey Him’ (Acts 5:32; see also Ephesians 4:30; Revelation 14:12)” (Plain Revelation).

Revelation 7:4-8

(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, 12,000 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.

• Number—144,000
  • “In describing God’s end-time people standing on the threshold of the great tribulation, Revelation uses the language of war.  The 144,000 are portrayed as an army modeled after ancient Israel going to war.  Their number is made of twelve times twelve times one thousand.  In the Old Testament war scenes, one thousand (Hebrew ‘eleph) is a basic military unit (Num. 31:3-6; 1 Sam. 8:12; 22:7).  The 144,000 consist of 12 tribes each having 12 military units of 1,000 and a total of 12,000 soldiers.  The 12 tribes, thus, give a total of 144,000 soldiers.  So the symbolic number 144,000 symbolizes an army of 144 military units ready to go to battle against Satan and his army of 200 million (Rev. 9:16).  Revelation 19:18 shows that Satan’s army is also organized into military units of one thousand (the Greek word chiliarchos denotes a commander of 1,000 soldiers;  also 6:15)” (Plain Revelation by Ranko Stefonovic, page 97)
• The Bible uses the tribes of the children of Israel in two ways.  One is the genetic descendants of Abraham.  The other is the Church of Jesus, i.e. the spiritual descendants of Abraham.
  • Acts 26:6-7  (6)  And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,  (7)  to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
  • James 1:1  (1)  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
  • Galatians 3:29  (29)  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
  • Galatians 6:15-16  (15)  For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.(16)  And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
  • Matthew 21:43  (43)  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
  • Romans 2:28-29  (28)  For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.  (29)  But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
  • 1 Peter 2:9-10  (9)  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (10)  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
• 12,000 from 12 tribes (sons of Israel)–The list is different from the original sons of Genesis and the prophetic list in Ezekiel.
  • (Revelation 7)  Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
  • (Genesis 49:2-28)  Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father. .. Reuben. . . Simeon. . . Levi. . . Judah. . . Zebulun. . . Issachar Dan. . . Gad. . . Asher. . . Naphtali. . . Joseph. . . Benjamin . . . All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.
  • (Ezekiel 48:1-29) “These are the names of the tribes: . . . Dan. . . Asher. . . Naphtali. . . Manasseh, . . . Ephraim. . . Reuben. . .Judah . . . Levi. . . Benjamin. . . Simeon. . . Issachar. . . Zebulun
• The twelve tribes cannot be literal Jews because none of the tribes exist today.  The ten tribes that made up Israel were taken into captivity by Assyria and dispersed so that they no longer existed as a group (2 Kings 17:6-23).  Judah and Benjamin were scattered throughout the Roman Empire after A.D. 70.  The Jews of today do not have a tribal identity.  Thus, the fact of the differences in the lists, Revelation’s symbolic characteristics, and the reality of the lack of tribes all indicate that these are symbolic.  In addition, the New Testament passages about the Church being Israel indicate that this is not referring to the nation of Israel or the ethnic Jewish groups of today.
• “The number 144,000 (12 x 12 x 1,000) is based upon the kingdom number 12. The number suggests perfect symmetry and completeness as well as the vastness of the multitude of the sealed. Twelve is the number of ancient Israel, based upon the twelve tribes. It is also the number of the church, built upon the 12 apostles. The New Jerusalem, structured to represent both Old and New Testament Israel, has 12 gates with the names of the 12 patriarchs, and 12 foundations containing the names of the 12 apostles (Rev 21:12-14; Eph 2:20-21). The dimensions of the city are in multiples of 12 (21:16-17). “The great square city is designed to accommodate the ‘hollow square’ of saints who will enter its gates by the names of their respective tribes, 12,000 through each gate. This suggests that all who enter the gates of pearl will be assigned to a tribe, perhaps on the basis of character (see Gen 49 for a preliminary description of their traits). The blending of the tribes and the apostles in the structure of the city suggest the unity of God’s church, Jews and Gentiles united into the one (Eph 2:14, 18-22). The number 144,000 should thus be understood as a symbol of the unity, perfection, and completion of God’s church—complete because the number has been made up (Rev 6:11)” (Symposium on Revelation, Book 1, p. 262).
  

Revelation 7:9-10

(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, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10)  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

• Some believe that the 144,000 and the multitude are the same.  Others believe that the 144,000 are a different group from the multitude.
• One group thinks that the 144,000 have gone through the great tribulation of the last days and the seven last plagues while the great multitude contains those risen from the dead of all ages.  “John’s vision is consistent with the rest of the Bible which pictures two groups of people who shall be able to stand before “Him that sitteth on the throne,” and the “Lamb” at the Second Coming: (1) Those whose hope is in Christ and are “alive” when He comes, (2) those who “sleep in Jesus” and are resurrected at His second coming (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; see also 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 51-52)” (Unlocking Revelation).
• The other group thinks that the 144,000 and the great multitude are different aspects of the same people.  I personally think that the context bears this out for the following reasons, but I am still studying, and I am open to being persuaded otherwise.
  • First, this description is in answer to the question asked in Revelation 6:16-17 (16)  calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, (17)  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
    • The great day of God’s wrath is the 7 last plagues: Revelation 15:1  (1)  Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. In Revelation 14 & 15 the 144,000 are seen again in the context of the last plagues, which confirms that the wrath is the plagues.
  • In addition, there is a pattern in Revelation of hearing and then seeing the same thing.  The 144,000 and the multitude follow this pattern.
    • Revelation 1:10-13 (10)  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet (11)  saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (12)  Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, (13)  and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
    • Revelation 5:5-6  (5)  And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”  (6)  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
    • Revelation 9:16-17  (16)  The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.  (17)  And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.
    • Revelation 17:1 & 3  (1)  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters . . . (3)  And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
    • Revelation 7:4 & 9  (4)  And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: . . . (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, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
  • Third, in verses 13-14 of Revelation 7, the great multitude are described as having coming out of great tribulation.  Not all of God’s people throughout the ages have experienced great tribulation.  On the other hand, the 144,000 are being sealed so that they are not harmed during the seven last plagues when God’s wrath is poured out, so it would be reasonable for the multitude who have come out of tribulation to be the same as the 144,000.
  • Finally, the two groups are special servants who are close to God. In Revelation 7:15 the great multitude stand before the throne and serve God day and night.  In Revelation 14 the 144,000 are before God and have the names of the Lamb and Father on their foreheads.  Revelation 14:1  (1)  “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

SUMMARY:  As the 144,000, God’s people are the church militant staying on guard and being attacked by Satan.  As the Great Multitude, God’s people are the church victorious mingling and celebrating Jesus’ victory over their enemies.

Revelation 7:11-12

(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.”

• Angels standing around the throne, Elders, Four living Creatures—This is the Court scene again—They pronounce the verdict:  God deserves our blessings, His glory and wisdom are right, We give our thanksgiving, His honor is intact, He is right in His use of power and might. 
• Amen = So be it.  The judgement of God is finished and true

Revelation 7:13-14

(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.

• White Robes—Righteousness of Christ
• Who are they?  They come out of great tribulation
• Washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb—They have followed the counsel given to the last-day church of Laodicea:  Revelation 3:18  (18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Revelation 7:15-17

(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.”

• Here, we are given a promise if we endure to the end:
  • We will serve God day and night in temple
  • The one on the throne shelters us with His presence
  • We will no longer hunger or thirst, either physically or spiritually
  • The sun & heat will not scorch us. In other words, we will stand in the presence of God’s glory and be filled with joy, and we will live.
  • Because the Lamb is our Shepherd. We know that all of these promises are only fulfilled because of our Savior. It is by Jesus’ sacrifice and leadership that we live and have joy.
  • The Lamb is king/in the midst of the throne. This reminds us that Jesus rules, and we are with Him.
  • Guides them to springs of living water. In other words, Jesus provides our needs. The springs of living water come from Him.  Through Him, we have eternal life.
  • Wipes all tears from our eyes. This action is performed by God. He comforts us, and we have joy.

Revelation 8:1

(1)  When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

• The sixth seal asked the question, “Who can stand?”  The response was that the 144,000 could stand as the wicked panic and flee from Jesus.  There is chaos among the wicked on earth, but in heaven there is silence at the seventh and last seal.
• Why is there silence in heaven? Zechariah tells us the answer:
  • Zechariah 2:10-13 (10)  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. (11)  And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (12)  And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” (13)  Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

• Seventh Seal–the 2^nd coming empties out heaven.  Jesus has left the heavenly temple.  The angels have left the heavenly temple.  All the action is taking place on earth.
  • Luke 9:26  (26)  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (7)  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels (8)  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

• Half an hour indicates that this is a relatively short time. I do not believe that this is a place to apply the day-year principle.

Conclusion: Revelation 7 is a reassurance to the followers of Jesus that God will protect them. Jesus will finish what he started and seal them to Himself. They have nothing to fear when God’s wrath and judgment come upon the earth.

References:

• Andrews Study Bible–In some lessons, I refer to study comments from this Bible.
• Plain Revelation–A book by Ranko Stefanovic that summarizes the meaning of various sections of Revelation
• Revelation of Jesus Christ–A book by Ranko Stefonovic that comments on each verse of Revelation.
• Salvation in Signs and Symbols–a series of shows where two pastors and two others study through the books of Revelation and Daniel. These programs can be accessed at 3abnplus.tv . Scroll down to 3ABN Dare to Dream Network and choose Salvation in Signs and Symbols from the list there.
• Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary (Volume 7) (Copywrite 1957)–This is the old green set of commentaries, not the new commentary series that is in the process of being published and should be released after 2022. (Boy, I would love to get my hands on that set when it comes out!)
• Table Talk–A series of shows where four pastors discuss various topics. These programs can be accessed at tabletalk.online . Season 4 focuses on Revelation.
• Unlocking Revelation–A series of pamphlets that can be downloaded for free from lightbearers.org by clicking on Resources