May 1, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Revelation? Here’s today’s reading:
Revelation 7 (NIV)
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” ...........Continue Reading
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
No matter what is to come the Lamb has come before it and will wipe the tears from our eyes! There is such hope to know we are protected by Christ.
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!
Rev.7:11-12
Perplexing that there were EXACTLY [EMPHASIS MINE] 144,000 from the listed tribes. Odd to comprehend exact enumeration, census results. Nevertheless, it is. It surprises me not, to learn of Jews accepting Jesus as the Messiah. They are saints! No need to discuss Dan and Joseph…. Additionally, to see multitude of others saved, of all nations, represented for all the world to see, christians of every color, creed, gender. Astonishing sight! These came out of/ experienced/ endured great tribulation (not necessarily lived to the end). Vss 17-19 almost verbatim from Rev 21 & 22. “Thou knowest” response reminds me of Ezekiel 37. Can these dry bones live? How would I hold up under such terrible times today?
Chapter 7. Gods protection upon his own. Do not harm anything until a seal has been put on the forehead of those that belong to God. Reminds me of the Holy Spirit. a mark with him a seal, a deposit guaranteeing eternal life 144,000. This includes all Gods followers no one overlooked or forgotten. No need to have a blood transfusion. Love verse 10! Salvation comes from our God. Not from anything we think we can earn. Vs 14. The great tribulation. Is that a specific time or the suffering of Gods people throughout the ages? Either way the children of God have nothing to fear. John the Baptist. You can do whatever you want to this body. But you cannot touch my soul. It is intact and God will wipe every tear from their eyes
The great tribulation is a specific time frame….some say it is the whole 7 year period..others say it is the last 3 1/2 years after the antiChrist breaks his covenant with the Jews.
Revelation 7
The number that was sealed will be the 144, 000 . They are the Jewish people from all the tribes of Israel. 12, 000 from each tribe. I have a question though. For some reason the tribe of Dan is not in this list but instead the tribe of Manasseh is included even though Joseph is included. As many of you know that Joseph had two sons. they were Manasseh and Ephraim. Pastor can you answer this/ It would seem to be translation error. Both the KJV and NIV have this. Of course they are not the original translation. After there was a great multitude, which had no number. They were from all nations, kindreds, and people, and tongues and they stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands. [ verse 9 ]. Those that went through the great tribulation are these that have the white robes. [ verse 14b. It goes on to say in 14c that they have washed their robes , and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These will serve God in the temple day and night. They will never hunger or thirst no more. The Lamb will feed them and lead them in living waters and wipe away every tear from their eyes. Thank the Lord that we can come to him with all our problems. He sees us.
Hey Dennis, I will investigate this further after I get back from the Pastor’s prayer summit. But one source suggests it has to do with Dan’s actions at the end of the book of Judges (17-21). They rejected their original land inheritance and sought “greener pastures”. On a recon mission a handful of them stopped at an Ephraimites house who had made some graven images. Later an entourage from Dan came and stole the graven images and were the first to engage in idol worship. Both this Ephraimite and the Danites were at fault in these days in Judges where everyone did what was right in their own eyes. And it is Ephraim and Dan who are missing from this list. In the time of Tribulation the Jews are far from God again, and so those sealed to be a witness to them might just remind them of a time of disobedience that they should learn not to replicate.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7
After the destruction and trouble that came in the six seals, it is hard to imagine it could get worse. But before the angels who are sent to bring God’s wrath on the earth are permitted to act, 144,000 Jews are set aside and protected for what many believe is to be a witness to the Jews. If we remember from Daniel 9 that God “owes” the Jews 7 years, and so these 7 years begun when antichrist is revealed are about them. Of all the peoples on the earth, they would understand God bringing the Day of the Lord on the earth and God wants them to have those proclaiming Jesus in the midst of it. And yet God’s ministry to and care for the Jews does not exclude others, and that is seen in this multitude that is before His throne. They are from every tongue and tribe and they have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. And how privileged and blessed to serve before the throne of God and receive His protection and comfort. How God cares for all HIs people and rewards those who are faithful in following Him.
The servants of God who are sealed are Jews so are there no believing Gentiles on the earth at this time? All the worship taking place is before the throne of God and Jesus. Salvation belongs to our God, not by works. Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen! The people who have come out of the great tribulation will be sheltered by God. They will not hunger or thirst or be exposed to the elements and never again will they shed a tear. God loves us and he will take good care of us.
No need to assume there are no believing Gentiles on the earth at that time. It is just God setting aside a portion of His people for His service and with His protection.
144,000 are marked from the 12 Tribes.
A multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, stands before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
It is unclear whether these are believers taken out of the Tribulation or perhaps martyred during the tribulation. Some think that the 144,000 Jews are evangelists during the Tribulation time and these would be people who became believers during the tribulation.
I like the ultimate destination, martyred or taken (although I prefer the latter) of worshiping before God’s throne in heaven. I know we will all be there eventually.
I had a dream a few weeks ago, before we started reading in Revelation. Steve and I were standing in a line. I’m not sure what we were waiting for or who else individually was in line with us. We didn’t seem to care what we were waiting for. When I asked what we were doing, Steve just said, “we all need to wear these” and handed me a white robe. Not like a bathrobe, but a nice cotton or linen robe, like a baptismal gown (but not made of polyester).
wow, Amy…that is interesting!