One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand (Rev. 7:4–8)
One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand
(Rev. 7:4–8)
The seal
of the living God, in (Rev. 7:3), denotes the indwelling of God’s Spirit in the
believers (1 Cor. 3:16). The seal of God is not exclusive to the disciples at
the Pentecost. Instead, it is for all believers in Christ. God seals His
people, making them as one body of the new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
According to the Spirit, they are Israel of God (Gal. 6:16; Gal. 3:26–29; Rom.
2:28–29).
7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One
hundred and forty-four thousands of all the tribes of the children of Israel
were sealed:
The
identity of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, in (Rev. 7), is heavily debated.
However, many commentators see them, and their number one hundred and
forty-four thousand, as symbolic. Most of the numbers in the Book of Revelation
have symbolic significance.
John
identifies the sealed people and their origins as a symbol of the
characteristics of the new creation in Christ. The irregular listing of the
tribes confirms that Ethnic Israel is not in consideration (1 Cor. 10:18). John
placed Judah first as the Messiah’s tribe. He omitted Dan, included Levi as an
ordinary tribe, and replaced Ephraim with Joseph.[1]
Their Number
The
number one hundred and forty-four thousand equals 12 x 12 x 1000, and the
number twelve indicates the fullness of the number. In the Old Testament, the
people of God are twelve tribes (Gen. 35:22; Deut. 27:12–13; Ezek. 48:1). The
apostles in the New Testament are also twelve apostles (Matt. 10:2; John 6:70).
After the apostles lost one of the twelve, Judas, the remaining eleven apostles
chose Matthias to replace him and keep the number twelve (Acts 1:26).
The
number 1000 refers to this group reigning in the Kingdom of God with Christ (Rev.
20:4,6). With the
Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day (2 Pet.
3:8). Therefore, these people must have a spiritual nature.
The one
hundred and forty-four thousand are those whom God “redeemed from the earth” (Rev.
14:4) and sealed them in Christ by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). God gave them
the grace to follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4). They “have been
redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth
no lie was found, for they are blameless (Rev. 14:4-5,
ESV).
Their Names
7:5 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;
God made
them new creations. They are members in the one body of the Lord Jesus Christ,
for He pleased that, in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might
gather all together in Christ (Eph. 1:9–10).
A name is
much more than an identifier in the Bible as it tends to be in our culture.
Personal names and even names of places had their meaning. Thus, the people of
the Bible were very conscious of the meanings of names. They believed there was
a vital connection between the name and the person who has the name. A name
somehow represented the nature of the person.[2]
In (Rev.
7), the names mentioned reveal our new natures’ characteristics in the kingdom
of God. They also refer to how God has regenerated and transformed people by
His Holy Spirit to become members of the one new man in Christ.
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Judah, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Judah” is from the Hebrew word for “praise,” indicating that God created the
believers for His glory and His praise (Isa. 43:7).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Reuben, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Reuben” means “behold a son,” indicating that the believers are members
of the church of the firstborn, registered in heaven (Heb. 12:23).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Gad, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Gad” means “fortune” or “gift,” indicating that the believers are
offerings, sacrifices to God for a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph. 5:2).
7:6 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;
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Asher. The name “Asher” means “happy,”
indicating that the believers are a great multitude, rejoicing over the
Eucharistic table as they are in the wedding banquet of the Lamb of God (Rev.
19:9).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Naphtali, by His Spirit, in Christ.
The name “Naphtali” means “my wrestling” (Gen. 30:8), indicating that the
believers are the outcome of Christ’s suffering and death. Because of what
Christ did, they are no longer wrestling with their old man and with memories
of sin. Through Christ, they entered into God’s rest (Heb. 4:9).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Manasseh, by His Spirit, in Christ.
The name “Manasseh” means “causing to forget,” indicating that God made the
believers forget their misery and turned their wailing into dancing. He removed
their sackcloth and clothed them with joy. As a result, their hearts sing to God,
“O Lord [Yahweh] my God, I will give you thanks forever” (Ps.30:11–12, NIV).
7:7 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;
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Simeon, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Simeon” means “God hears,” indicating that the believers are dear to God.
He listens to them for the sake of Christ (John 16:23).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Levi, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Levi” means “joined,” indicating that the believers are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s people in Christ (Rev. 1:6, 5:10; 1 Pet. 2:9).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Issachar, by His Spirit, in Christ.
The name “Issachar” means “there is hire or reward,” indicating that Christ has
borne the grief of the believers and carried their sorrows. Thus, they became
the reward of Christ’s righteousness (Isa. 53:4–11).
7:8 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.
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Zebulun, by His Spirit, in Christ.
The name “Zebulun” means “dwelling,” indicating that the believers enjoy
dwelling with God. They are before the throne of God and serve Him in His
temple day and night. God, who sits on the throne, will dwell among them (Rev.
7:15).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Joseph, by His Spirit, in Christ. The
name “Joseph” means “may God add or increase,”
indicating that the believers enjoy the heavenly blessings of God in
Christ (Eph. 1:3).
God
sealed the 12,000 members of the tribe of Benjamin, by His Spirit, in Christ.
The name “Benjamin” means “son of the right hand,” indicating that the
believers became children of God by His mighty power through the suffering and
death of Christ (John 1:12–13).
Living Under the Grace
John
omitted the tribe of Dan from the list because Dan represents the Old Serpent,
Satan. Jacob prophesied that Dan would be a serpent by the way, a viper by the
path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward (Gen.
49:17).
The name “Dan”
means “judgment.” The judgment seat for the believers was on Golgotha, at the cross,
where every believer must come to receive a complete revelation of the death of
Christ. Once we have done that, God has acquitted us from judgment, and the
Holy Spirit seals us. Now we live under the grace of God (Rom. 5:17; 8:1).
John also
omitted the tribe of Ephraim, as he was the leader of the northern tribes,
became a tribe of disgrace, as it became the seat of Israel’s idolatry. John
dropped the infamous name of Ephraim and substituted it with Joseph for that
half-tribe (Rev. 7:8). Ephraim was Joseph’s younger son, yet he took precedence
over his elder brother (Gen. 48:17–19).
God
circumcised the hearts of those He sealed by His Holy Spirit in Christ (Deut.
30:6). They love the Lord God with all their hearts, with all their souls, and
with all their strength (Deut. 6:5).
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[1] Nelson, Thomas. Revelation (p.
179). Thomas Nelson.
[2] Nelson’s Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
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