Revelation 7:1-17

In addition to the occurrences recorded in Revelation chapter 6 following the opening of the sixth (6) seal with its continued effects on the earth, and the question posed in 6:17 (who is able to be caused to stand?) - John continues with the answer that he receives as to whom God and the Lord Jesus Christ will cause to stand during the time of the opening of the seventh (7) seal (refer to Revelation 8:1).

Revelation 7:1-8:

^7:1After this I saw four angels having stood² on the four corners of the earth, strongly-holding the four winds of the earth in order that a wind may not blow on the earth neither on the sea nor on every tree. ^.2And I saw another angel ascending from (the) rising sun having (the) seal of (the) living God, and he shouted with a great sound to the four angels to whom it was given to them to treat-unrighteously the earth and the sea, ^.3saying, "You must not treat-unrighteously the earth neither the sea nor the trees continuously-until we may seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads."

^.4And I heard the number of the (slaves) having been sealed² - hundred forty four thousands having been sealed² out-from every tribe of (the) sons of Israel: ^.5out-from (the) tribe of Judah - twelve thousands having been sealed², out-from (the) tribe of Reuben - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Gad - twelve thousands, ^.6out-from (the) tribe of Asher - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Naphtali - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Manasseh - twelve thousands, ^.7out-from (the) tribe of Simeon - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Levi - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Issachar - twelve thousands, ^.8out-from (the) tribe of Zebulon - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Joseph - twelve thousands, out-from (the) tribe of Benjamin - twelve thousands having been sealed².

John writes: After this (after seeing the effects of the opening of the sixth seal recorded in Revelation 6:12-17) I perceived (knew with my mind) four angels...

• having stood and continuing to stand
  • on the four corners of the earth (the 4 angles or quarters of the earth referring to the directions of east, west, north, and south to reach the extremities of the earth),
• strongly holding (exerting their forceful-strength holding)
  • the four winds of the earth (all winds originate, come, or move from the 4 directions)
• for the purpose and result that a wind would not presently and actively blow (breath from the different sides, as blowing streams of air which may force the motion of an object that a wind would hit or come in contact with/against, but of course the response of an object to the force of a wind depends on the stability or instability of that object)
  • on the earth
  • neither on the sea
  • nor on all/every tree
    • (it was extremely calm, very still everywhere).

And I perceived (knew with my mind) another angel ascending (mounting, going upwards) away from the rising sun (moving from the east where the sun rises)...

• having the seal (holding that-which is used to seal something else by placing on it the mark of authentication, approval, ratification, that-which makes fast, as when using a seal such as a signet-ring to ensure that a letter is secure by impressing the mark on the object to show its authenticity)
  • of/from the living God (pertaining to God Who is living, Who is presently and actively alive - as opposed to idols),

...and the angel shouted with a great sound (a large voice or uttered-tone, he cried out loudly)...

• to the four angels to whom it was given to/for them (these 4 angels had received an assignment from the devil/satan and were about to obey him instead of remaining obedient to the only true God)
  • to treat unrighteously (to wrong, to act unjustly towards)
    • the earth and the sea,

...saying...

• "You must not treat unrighteously
  • the earth
  • neither the sea
  • nor the trees
• for the whole duration of time up to the point when we would seal (securely fasten, put on the mark of authentication and approval, ratification, make fast)
  • the slaves of our God (the bond-servants, those who are bound to serve our God, the people being slaves in the working or service category, who live their lives to/for the only true God Who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ)
    • on their foreheads (the area between/above the eyes - visible to everyone looking at the face; refer to Revelation 2:17, 14:1, and 22:4)."

And I (John) heard the number (the total count, arithmetic, quantity) of the slaves who have been sealed and continue sealed - hundred forty four thousands (144,000) remaining sealed originating from all/every tribe of the sons of Israel (marking the selected or elect people from every clan from among the descendants of Israel/Jacob):

1. out-from the tribe of Judah - twelve thousands (12,000) sealed,
2. out-from the tribe of Reuben - twelve thousands (12,000),
3. out-from the tribe of Gad - twelve thousands (12,000),
4. out-from the tribe of Asher - twelve thousands (12,000),
5. out-from the tribe of Naphtali - twelve thousands (12,000),
6. out-from the tribe of Manasseh - twelve thousands (12,000),
7. out-from the tribe of Simeon - twelve thousands (12,000),
8. out-from the tribe of Levi - twelve thousands (12,000),
9. out-from the tribe of Issachar - twelve thousands (12,000),
10. out-from the tribe of Zebulon - twelve thousands (12,000),
11. out-from the tribe of Joseph - twelve thousands (12,000),
12. out-from the tribe of Benjamin - twelve thousands (12,000) sealed (by repeating this word added emphasis is given - emphatically sealed).

This list covers the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob) via his 12 sons. The definite and literal number of 144,000 of Israel's true biological descendants all together will be saved during this time from the effects on the earth which result from the opening of the seventh (7) seal. The tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not listed, and Levi and Joseph are listed instead of them. During this time, the people from the tribes of Dan and Ephraim will be unprotected (not sealed) because of their worshipping of idols instead of the only true God. Refer to Leviticus 24:10-16; Deuteronomy 29:10-28; Judges 18:1-31; I Kings 11:26, 12:25-33; Jeremiah 4:15; Hosea 4:17.

This list is not referring to future inheritance on earth which God has promised to all those who believed and obeyed God from among all of the 12 tribes of Israel (including Dan and Ephraim) - God continues to keep this promise (refer to Ezekiel chapter 48; Romans 11:29; Revelation chapters 20-22).

During the present age today - which is between the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2 and the moment when the Lord Jesus Christ will gather all holy-people together with him in the air - the seal that all holy-people have (true Christians who constitute today's church of God) is the gift of holy spirit - and all the holy-people will be with the Lord Jesus Christ during the time when the wrath of God will be in the process of implementation (refer to Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 15:23-28 and 51-58; II Corinthians 1:21 and 22, 3:3; Ephesians 1:13 and 14, 4:30; I Thessalonians 1:9 and 10, 4:13-18, 5:1-3; II Timothy 2:19).

[Reference: Genesis 32:29, 35:10 and 22-26, 48:5 and 6; Exodus 12:7, 12 and 13, 21:2-6, 28:36-38; Deuteronomy 15:12-18; I Kings 19:18; Psalm 105:10-15; Jeremiah 10:1-15, 49:36; Ezekiel 9:3-6; Daniel 7:2, 12:1; Joel 2:32; Matthew 24:15-22 and 31; Mark 13:27; John 3:33 and 34; Acts 7:53; Romans 11:4; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 1:7 and 14; Revelation 2:17, 3:12, 5:1, 9:4, 14:1-5; 20:8. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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