Jan
10
Revelation 7:1-8
Filed Under Book of Revelation
v1-3 “The 4 angels standing on the 4 corners of the earth…, holding the 4 winds…, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea” Corners of the earth are interesting. A very common symbol is a square inside a circle with all the corners touching the line of the circle. This powerful symbol represents the Earth (square) inscribed (surrounded) by Heaven (circle). Thus, when the angels are given the 4 corners they are here to harvest the earth and gather together those that will be “sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” These angels are to gather the elect from the 4 corners of the earth. The other angel ascending from the east (typical of the Lord’s resurrection) held the seal with which those righteous will be sealed. After all are sealed it is implied that the earth will then be hurt by the 4 angels.
v3 The 144,000 which are sealed. Some have supposed that these are the only ones to be saved, although possible, these apparently lived at the same time and well, Noah and Moses will both make it in my opinion so that can’t be exactly right. Also since there are 12,000 from each tribe, which tribe do those that lived before Jacob get assigned to for example Abraham, we know he received his reward but is part of no tribe. I base my beliefs on the symbol of the number 12. I believe 12 to be an organizational number, note 12 tribes- maybe the most fundamental breakdown of the covenant people in all the scriptures. Then you have the 12 apostles another seemingly random number dealing exclusively with the church organization and governing body. It is so important that there are 12 that they immediately replace Judas to get back to the correct number. Thus the 12,000 x 12 Tribes gives us the sealing of the covenant righteous, in an orderly way, meant, in my opinion to give us the idea that this is more organized than angels flying around stamping seals in random heads.
v5-8 The tribes are here listed in no apparent order (see the correct orders of the tribes in my other post entitled 12 tribes). A couple of important points of note. When it says Joseph they mean the tribe of Ephraim (because Ephraim succeeded Joseph as the birthright son of Jacob, as Joseph passed it to his 2 children Ephraim and Manassah Genesis 48:5). Since Manasseh (Mansses in Greek) is mentioned in v6 and Ephraim was before Manasseh Genesis 48:14-19, we can only assume that Joseph = Ephraim here in this instance. Secondly, there is no mention of Dan, the tribe of Levi which is commonly left out because they received no land for inheritance due to their service in the temple, is included. Reuben and Simeon who have been considered to be removed due to wickedness are also included. Why no Danites are mentioned is curious to say the least.
