REVELATION: AN OVERVIEW (Part V)

(Chapter 7)

Jim Laws

In chapter six John saw the opening of six seals, which revealed the work of God on earth and in heaven.  The work of the enemies of God in opposing the church of the Lord was disclosed, too. In chapter seven an interlude begins between the opening of the sixth and the seventh seals.  John sees two visions, which, perhaps, were designed to answer this question, "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17).

In the first vision of chapter seven John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds from blowing on the earth, sea, or on any tree. Another angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God cries out to the other four angels not to harm the earth, until the servants of God have been sealed on their foreheads. Those who are sealed are 144,000 from all the tribes of the children of Israel with 12,000 from each tribe (1-8).

The second vision reveals a large, innumerable multitude of all nations standing before the throne and the Lamb. Revelation 7:9 states, "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."   They cry out,
"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (v. 10)!" Joining this praise are the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures. John is told those who are arrayed in white robes have come out of great tribulation, with their robes washed and made white in the blood of the lamb. They are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in his temple. Future blessings are then described: God will dwell among them, they shall be free from hunger, thirst, and the heat of the sun; the lamb will lead them to fountains of living waters; and God will wipe all tears from their eyes (v. 9-17). Perhaps one of the more tender verses in the entire Bible expressing the loving care to be received by the children of God is found in verse 17, "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." 

What do these two visions mean? The 144,000 symbolizes the church on earth at any given time. John heard the number of those sealed were 12,000 from each tribe of Israel (sealed: a symbol of God's protection for those belonging to Him). The number 144,000 is a symbolic number, not a literal one; it symbolizes the redeemed in their earthly state. In the listing of tribes it is interesting to note both the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are left out.  Two tribes are mentioned not usually listed among the twelve tribes of Israel, i.e., Levi, the priestly tribe, which did not receive a land inheritance, and Joseph, the father of Manasseh and Ephraim, from whom came two tribes. The unusual listing of tribes causes us, along with other considerations, to say this is a figurative number to represent the faithful church of the Lord on earth. The characteristics of the 144,000 are the same as those of the church: they are redeemed (Rev. 14:4); they are without blemish (Rev. 14:5). They are those on earth, who belong to the Lord because of their faithfulness and obedience to God and His word. Though they will suffer from the persecution of Satan, still they belong to the Lord.

It is sad the popular doctrine of dispensational premillennialism has arisen from these passages, which misses the point of these verses so greatly. The passage does not say the 144,000 are in heaven, but, rather, they are on earth. The premillennialist has this reversed. On earth the sealed are represented as 144,000, but describing this same group in their heavenly state, they are a number no one could number. Premillennialists say only a 144,000 will be saved in heaven. This is false, since God's eternal purpose was for all men to be redeemed.  God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 13 , 15, and Galatians 3:7 speaks of those who are of the faith are children of Abraham (v. 29). All, who are in Christ, are the spiritual seed of Abraham and the Israel described in this chapter.

The second vision is enlarged to include more than those, who are God's servants on earth and in need of His providential protection during the anticipated troubles. This vision views a multitude of God's servants, who stand before the throne in heaven itself. This group stand secure with God, having stood faithfully through the troubled times in which they lived. Therefore, the multitude in the vision before the throne of God is the church triumphant. They are clothed in robes of white, palms in their hands, a symbol of triumph and victory. Who are these; this multitude which no man could number? The elder (vv. 13-14) identifies them as those who came out of great tribulation, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are faithful Christians, all those who have been baptized into Christ and received the atoning benefits of His cleansing blood. Revelation 1:5 states, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." When we are obedient to the gospel by being baptized, we have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16). The blood of Christ washes us. Our robes are washed and made white in the blood of the lamb. When is this accomplished?  When we are baptized into His death.  The water does not wash away our sins, but the blood of Christ, which He shed in His death. Therefore, this number, which no one could number, have come through great tribulation and are in heaven. Once again, premillennialism has the matter reversed. They erroneously teach the righteous are taken to heaven, while the wicked face the tribulation on earth. The truth of the matter is the righteous have successfully faced tribulation and are now pictured before the throne of God; serving Him day and night in His temple.

Closely associated with this truth are the blessings to be received by this numberless multitude in heaven. The One on the throne will dwell with them: they shall not hunger nor thirst anymore; neither the sun nor any heat shall strike them; the lamb will lead them to living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. The message is an obvious one: when a faithful Christian faces trouble on earth, he is sealed by God, that is, protected. What is the final destiny of the saints of God? They are cared for in heaven. With these veracities in mind, we are better able to understand the thrust of chapters eight and nine--the divine chastisement of God upon the earth, which are designed for a restoration of  spiritual life between man and God.  However, the worldly minded earth following refuses to repent. Revelation 9:21 states, "And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts."
 REVELATION continued

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