THE 144,000 OF ISRAEL SEALED
At this point in our study of the book of Revelations it should be pointed out that the words “I saw” (past tense) appear thirty four times in the text. The words “I saw” are translated from the Greek word “eido” {i'-do} or oida {oy'-da} the root word, and means literally to see or to perceive with the eyes. What John was recording is not a vision, a dream; they are the interpretation of a visual observation in real time. These are observations of historical events that have not yet taken place.
REV 7:1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
The sixth seal has been opened, and the people of the earth have tried to hide from God, saying, "Who can stand?" (6:12-17). Just when all hope seems lost, four angels hold back the four winds of judgment until God's people are sealed as his own. Only then will God open the seventh seal (8:1).
THE JUDGMENTS OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.
7:1-9:21.
7:1-8. The second series of judgments is far more severe and extensive than those introduced by the opening of the seals.
Before any of the seven angels sound these seven trumpets, two great multitudes are introduced, one on earth (7:1-8) and the other certainly in heaven, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (7:9-17).
The first group is identified as 144,000 sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel (v. 4). They are not said to be martyrs. The seal implies that this particular group will be divinely as the result of the rapture of the church.
2TH 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
There has been much disagreement as to who these people are, resulting in four major interpretations of the passage. One is that they should be looked upon in a general way as "representing a continuous process of preservation under the trials and afflictions of all times down to the end." There seems to be nothing in the text to justify such an indefinite designation of these tribal groups. Another view, somewhat similar, identifies these as Christians, the Church - and here many names speak with authority, as Bengel, Alford, Lenski, David Brown, Milligan, etc. Among minor interpretations is the ridiculous one of Albert Barnes that this refers to the ten divisions of the Christian Church. Some sects have claimed identity with these groups, such as the Jezreelites of a former generation.
Finally, there is the literal interpretation, that this is a prophecy concerning the children of Israel at the end of the age. The great prophetic scholar of the nineteenth century, J. H. Todd, summarizes this view in saying: "In strict accordance with the fact revealed in many prophecies, this tells us that at the period referred to in the vision, the Jewish people shall be in existence as a nation and still be still in their unbelief." This is the view held by Godet, Fausset, Nathaniel West, and Weidner.
Fausset adds: "Out of these tribes a believing remnant will be preserved from the judgments that shall destroy the entire anti-Christian Confederacy" (JFB). It is significant that the tribe of Dan is here omitted - for which omission many reasons have been suggested-and Levi is included. "Since the Levitical ceremonies have been abandoned, Levi is again found on an equal footing with his brethren" (Albert Bengel, Introduction to the Exposition of the Apocalypse, in loco). Instead of Ephraim, the name Joseph is used. This I consider the second passage of unusual difficulty in the Apocalypse.
(Not supported by Scripture) Mat 24-51, Mark 13:-27, Luke 21:5-33
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,
A seal on a scroll or document identified and protected its contents. God places his own seal on his followers, identifying them as his own and guaranteeing his protection over their souls. This shows how valuable we are to him. Our physical bodies may be beaten, maimed, or even destroyed, but nothing can harm our souls when we have been sealed by God. See Eph 1:13 for the seal of the Holy Spirit.
3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
God's seal is placed on the foreheads of his servants. This seal is the exact opposite of the mark of the beast explained in 13:16. These two marks place the people in two distinct categories--those owned by God and those owned by Satan.
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
The number 144,000 is 12 x 12 x 1,000, God seals these believers by withdrawing them from the earth (this is called the Rapture) and by giving them special strength and courage to make it through this time of great persecution. Even though many believers have undergone
persecution, for the seal does not necessarily guarantee protection from physical harm; everyone’s body will die (Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it”) These believers will not fall away from God even though they may undergo intense persecution.
- The true church has always undergone persecution.
1TH 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1TH 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
1TH 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
This is not saying that 144,000 individuals must be sealed before the persecution comes, but that when persecution begins, the faithful will have already been sealed (marked by God) and they will remain true to him until the end.
7:4-8
This is a different list from the usual listing of the 12 tribes in the Old Testament, because it is a symbolic list of God's true followers.
(1) Judah is mentioned first because Judah is both the tribe of David and of Jesus the Messiah (Gen 49:8-12; Mat 1:1).
(2) Levi had no tribal allotment because of the Levites' work for God in the temple (Deu 18:1), but here the tribe is given a place as a reward for faithfulness.
(3) Dan is not mentioned because it was known for rebellion and idolatry, traits unacceptable for God's followers (Gen 49:17).
(4) The two tribes representing Joseph (usually called Ephraim and Manasseh, after Joseph's sons) are here called Joseph and Manasseh because of Ephraim's rebellion. (See Gen 49 for the story of the beginning of these 12 tribes.)
5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
A GREAT MULTITUDE FROM EVERY NATION
REV 7:9 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,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Who is this great multitude? While some interpreters identify it as the martyrs described in 6:9, it may also be the same group as the 144,000 just mentioned (7:4-8) but not likely. The 144,000 were sealed by God before the great time of persecution; the great multitude is identified In verse 7:14.
(9-17.) The other multitude is of a universal nature-certainly not confined to Israel, but from all tribes and peoples now in glory-singing the great hymn to God and the Lamb, together with the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures. These, John is told, are they that have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (v. 14). The great tribulation can be none other than referred to in the Olivet Discourse (Mat 24:9,21,29).
THE ENTIRE SCENE IS A HEAVENLY ONE
The Lamb is presented as their shepherd or ruler; the promise is made that he shall guide them to fountains of waters of life; and, anticipating the detailed later description of the Holy City, they are told that God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes (Rev 21:4).
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Just as the Holy Spirit is seen symbolically in the seven lighted lamps, so the "four living creatures" represent the attributes (the qualities and character) of God. These creatures were not real animals, but symbols. Like the cherubim (the highest order of the angels), they guard God's throne, lead others in worship, and proclaim God's holiness. God's attributes symbolized in the animal-like appearance of these four creatures are majesty and power (the lion), faithfulness (the ox), intelligence (the man), and sovereignty (the eagle). The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel saw four similar creatures in one of his visions (Eze 1:5-10).
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
REV 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
Endurance:
The deaths of Christian martyrs are precious enough to be likened to holy sacrifices. That a person has to die for faith in Christ is an evil caused by wicked persons who do not know the truth and who oppose God. They face eternal punishment, but the faithful martyrs will be rewarded.
God's Future Help:
Martyrs are assured their suffering will be eliminated in the new world. See note on 6:9-11.
16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
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."
God will provide for his children's needs in their eternal home where there will be no hunger, thirst, or pain, and he will wipe away all tears. When you are suffering or torn apart by sorrow, take comfort in this promise of complete protection and relief.
Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
THE SEVENTH SEAL AND THE GOLDEN CENSER
8:1-6. The trumpet judgments are unfolded in chapters 8 and 9, and, as with the seven seals, the first four belong together. Before any trumpet is blown by one of the angels, we have statements regarding the prayers of the saints (vv. 3,4). Perhaps Todd is right in thinking we can infer from this "that the judgments foretold in this prophecy will be the consequence, in some remarkable manner, of the prayers of saints crying to God to accomplish speedily the number of His elect and to hasten His kingdom". There is no reference here to the Roman Catholic doctrine of intercession by angels or saints. The thunder, voices, lightning’s, and earthquakes are the symbolic precursors of the divine judgments about to fall upon the earth.
Before considering the judgments themselves, we do well to recall the significance of trumpets in the Holy Scriptures. All these phenomena (except the earthquake) are found in the account of God's descending at Mount Sinai to meet Moses, where we have the first reference to trumpet in the Bible (Exo 19:16). The blowing of trumpets called the Israelites together for instruction (Num 10:3,4) or for marching (Num 10:3-7); it summoned them to assemble for war (Jer 4:19; 42:14, etc.), and to return from dispersion (Isa 27:13); it announced release in the year of jubilee (Lev 25:8-10), and here it announces judgment. The trumpet judgments are quite similar to the plagues which God sent upon Egypt at the time of the deliverance of Israel, though they do not occur in the same order.
REV 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
When the seventh seal is opened, the seven trumpet judgments are revealed. In the same way, the seventh trumpet will announce the seven bowl judgments in 11:15 and 16:1-21. The trumpet judgments, like the seal judgments, are only partial. God's final and complete judgment has not yet come.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
A censer filled with live coals was used in temple worship. Incense was poured on the coals, and the sweet-smelling smoke drifted upwards, symbolizing believers' prayers ascending to God (see Exo 30:7-9).
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Since only one-third of the earth is destroyed by these trumpet judgments, this is only a partial judgment from God. His full wrath is yet to be unleashed.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
In 6:10, the martyrs call out to God, "How long . . . until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" As we see the world's wickedness, we too may cry out to God, "How long before the rapture of the church?" In the following chapters, the judgment comes at last. We may be distressed and impatient, but God has his plan and his timing, and we must learn to trust him to know what is best. Judgment is coming--be sure of that. Thank God for the Salvation believers have received through the blood of Christ by which their sins have been forgiven and have been delivered from the wrath of God.
THE FIFTH ANGEL SOUNDED
REV 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. And to him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
9:1,2. To the judgment of the fifth trumpet, which is called the first Woe (v. 12), John devotes more space than to all the preceding judgments combined. It is probable that, apart from the exact identification of Babylon in chapters 17 and 18, the meaning of the two judgments in this chapter presents the most difficult major problem in the Revelation. Possibly the star falling from heaven, to whom was given the key of the pit of the abyss, is, as Weidner says, "an evil angel, (see Rev 9:11) the instrument of carrying out God's purpose with reference to the ungodly world" (p. 114; so also Alford, and others). The abyss is not hell, but the present abode of the devil and his angels, including Hades, where the souls of the ungodly dead awaiting the last judgment. So dense is the smoke rising from the pit that it darkens the sun and the air (see 6:12; 8:12).
3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
The prophet Joel described a locust plague as a foreshadowing of the "day of the LORD," meaning God's coming judgment (Joe 2:1-10). In the Old Testament, locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed vegetation. Here, however, they symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The limitations placed on the demons (they could only torment people for five months) show that they are under God's authority.
Most likely these locusts are demons--evil spirits ruled by Satan who tempt people to sin. They were not created by Satan, because God is the Creator of all; rather, they are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion. God limits what they can do; they can do nothing without his permission. Their main purpose on earth is to prevent, distort, or destroy people's relationship with God. Because they are corrupt and degenerate, their appearance reflects the distortion of their spirits. While it is important to recognize their evil activity so we can stay away from them, we must avoid any curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or with the occult.
4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, (see Rev 6:6) but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Jesus Christ.
On the opening of the bottomless pit, there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm of locusts, emblems of the devil's agents, who promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty.
The trees and the grass represent the true believers, whether young or more advanced, should be untouched. But a secret poison and infection in the soul, should rob many others of purity, and afterwards of peace. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. (EPH 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.)
God's all-powerful, distinguishing grace will keep his people from total and final apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition) The power is limited to a short season; but it would be very sharp.
6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. (6:16-17 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!)"For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
- Johns description of the locus he observed
7 And the shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth.
9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. And their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
Vase 11. The description concludes with the word that over these creatures is the angel of the abyss, called in Hebrew, Abaddon, and in the Greek, Apollyon, the latter meaning "destroyer." In the Septuagint the word carries this idea in Job 26:2; 28:22; Pro 15:11, etc.; another form is the word translated "destruction" in Mat 7:13 and "destroy" in 2Th 2:8.
12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
THEN THE SIXTH ANGEL SOUNDED
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
The altar in the temple had four projections, one at each corner, and these were called the horns of the altar (see Exo 27:2).
13-21. The blowing of the sixth trumpet is identified with the second Woe (11:14). We are now taken to a known geographical area on this earth, to the river Euphrates (v. 14), which here probably should be taken literally.
Four angels bound somewhere along this river are now loosed, that they should kill the third part of men (v. 15). This fearful destruction will be brought about by armies of horsemen. Surely we here have come to the days of the beginning of Antichrist. Todd has said, and Weidner and others agree, that "we are probably to look to this region as the scene of this great judgment, which is in exact conformity with the inferences to which we are led by the prophecies of Daniel, where those countries in the region of the Euphrates, once the stage of such mighty empires, are destined to become the scene of the last great struggle between the princes of the world and the people of God."
The result of all this is not a turning to God, or repentance, but a stubborn continuation in the sins that have brought about this judgment, the worship of demons, idolatry, murder, sorceries, fornication, and thefts. In fact, I cannot find any evidence in the Revelation that there will be any great turning to God during the time that these fearful judgments are falling upon men.
14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
The word "angels" here means fallen angels or demons. These four unidentified demons will be exceedingly evil and destructive. But note that they do not have the power to release themselves and do their evil work on earth. Instead, they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time; doing only what he allows them to do.
15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
Here one-third of all people are killed. In 6:7, 8, one-fourth of mankind was killed. Thus, over one-half of the people in the world will have been killed by God's great judgments. Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction.
16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million, and I heard the number of them.
In John's day, this number of mounted troops in an army was inconceivable, but today there are countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers. This huge army, led by the four demons, will be sent out to destroy one-third of the earth's population. But the judgment is still not complete.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: [horasis {hor'-as-is} (1) the act of seeing, (1.a) the sense of sight, the eyes] those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.
18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed -- by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
The observance of John in this verse denotes a description of what was taking place in real time. Riders garbed in battle attire and horses bent on delivering them to final destruction. There is no reason to doubt that this vision of John is literal.
20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
21 and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
- The Unbelief of the People
JOH 12:36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,
38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart, lest they should turn, so that I should heal them."
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
