New Testament Commentary - Revelation 7

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 7 John also sees in the sixth seal: The restoration of the gospel foreseen; the sealing of the 144,000; and the hosts of the exalted from all nations.
1 AND after these things I saw four ^aangels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four ^bwinds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ^aascending from the east, having the ^bseal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, ^aHurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have ^bsealed the ^cservants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an ^ahundred and forty and four thousand of all the ^btribes of the children of ^cIsrael. 5 Of the tribe of ^aJuda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ^bReuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. *Of the tribe of ^aJoseph were* sealed twelve thousand^a*. Of the tribe of Benjamin were* sealed twelve thousand.	*8^a Of the tribe of Joseph were* sealed twelve thousand** Now in verse 6 there were 12,000 of the tribe of Manasses already sealed, which is one of the two sons of Joseph. Thus we are left to understand that the heir-ship tribe of Joseph is the same as the heir-ship tribe of Ephraim. They are one and the same, the tribe of the covenant birthright.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number^a, of all nations, and ^akindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and ^bpalms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.	9^a a great multitude, which no man could number Some elitest would have some believe for their own purposes in it that only the 144,000, 12,000 per tribe, are to be hiers of the kingdom of God. This is obviously not the case. Those 144,000 are but assigned 'ushers', 'caretakers', or administrating 'aids' who are to help in the processing of the vast greater congregation of the Lord's people, which are as stated here a multitude which no man could number. But they are accounted and number unto the Lord.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four ^abeasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came ^aout of great ^btribulation, and have ^cwashed their robes, and made them ^dwhite in the ^eblood of the ^fLamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his ^atemple: and he that ^bsitteth on the throne shall ^cdwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither ^athirst any more; neither shall the ^bsun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of ^awaters: and God shall wipe away all ^btears from their eyes.