Laws Publishing

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 here on earth as well as in heaven along with the work of the enemies of God in opposing the church of the Lord. By the time we get to chapter seven there is an interlude between the opening of the sixth seal and the opening of the seventh. In this interlude John sees two visions. Perhaps these visions are designed to answer the question, which was posed in the concluding portion of chapter six, "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 of 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 this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the lamb clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." As they are clothed with white robes having palm branches in their hands, they cry out, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (v. 10). Joining in with this praise are the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures. John is told that 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, which the children of God will receive, is found in verse 17. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears form their eyes."

What do these two visions mean? The 144,000 have to do with the church still here on earth at any given time. John heard that the number of those sealed (a symbol of God's protection of those that are His) were 12, 000 each of the tribes of Israel. The number 144,000 is a symbolic number, not a literal one; it symbolizes the redeemed in their earthly state. In the list of tribes it is interesting to note that both the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are left out. Then there are two tribes that are mentioned that are not usually listed among the twelve tribes of Israel, those being, Levi, the priestly tribe which did not receive a land inheritance, and Joseph, the father of Manasseh and Ephraim, whose two sons made up two tribes. The changing of the listing of tribes causes one, along with other considerations of course, to say that this is but a figurative number being given to represent the faithful church of the Lord still 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 due to their faithfulness and obedience to God and His word. Though they will suffer due to the work of Satan and his persecution of them, still they belong to the Lord.

It is sad to realize that the popular view of passages just such as this, that is, the dispensation premillennial view, misses the point of the passage so greatly. The passage does no say that the 144,000 are in heaven; they are on earth. The premillennialist has this reversed. On earth they are represented as 144,000, but in describing this same group in their heavenly state, they are a number no one could number. Premillennialists say that only 144,000 will be saved in heaven, but this is false, God's eternal purpose was that all men be redeemed. This is found in God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 13 and 15. Galatians 3:7 speaks of those who are of the faith; they are the children of Abraham (v. 29). All who are in Christ are the spiritual seed of Abraham and the Israel described here.

The second vision is enlarged to include more than those on the earth who are God's servants 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 being 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 done? When we are baptized. It is not the water that washes away our sins but the blood of Christ. 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 teach that the righteous are taken to heaven while the wicked face the tribulation here on earth. The truth of the matter is that the righteous have successfully faced tribulation and are now pictured as being before the throne of God and serving Him day and night in His temple.

Closely associated with this are the blessings that are to be received by this numberless multitude which is 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 one faces the troubles on earth, the saints of God are sealed, that is, protected. What is the final destiny of the saints of God? They are cared for in heaven. With this before us we can now better come to understand the thrust of chapters eight and nine as God brings His divine chastisement upon the earth, such a chastisement having the primary purpose of reformation of life. However, the earth following its worldly mind set refuses to repent. Revelation 9:21 states, "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

 REVELATION continued

HOME