Revelation 7:3-8 commentary



3: Saying Hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads[1] 4: And I heard the number of them which were sealed and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four-thousand[2] of all the tribes of the children of Israel[3] 5: Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve-thousand Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand 6: Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand 7: Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand 8: Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Joseph[4] were sealed twelve thousand Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand




[1] During the Accepted Time, the Time of **“Christ in You,” [which as of this writing, we are living in right now] Christians do not have Seals placed on them by angels. All believers already have God’s Seal placed in them by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.  Yet in The Revelation, John sees that only some of God’s servants have his seal placed on their foreheads by an angel.

Later on in the book, we read of those who will receive the mark [seal] of God’s enemy on their foreheads.

There is an example of this seal [mark] under the Old  Covenant in the book of Ezekiel [9:3-7]. Where God’s servants have a mark placed on their foreheads as a seal of protection just before His judgement is poured out and great destruction takes place. In Ezekiel, the destructive angels are forbidden to touch those who are marked with God’s seal of protection, and it is the same for the 144,000 in the Revelation.

** By the time the servants of God are sealed in Revelation seven, the time of “Christ in You” is over. This epoch (also known as the “Church Age”) that began on Shavuot [the second harvest Feast of the Lord—the Day of Pentecost] when the Holy Spirit descended and made the bodies of all believers the temple of God, will be consummated at the Resurrection and Catching Up of the Bride/Body of Christ Acts 2:1-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 during Rosh Hashanah, which is the final harvest Feast of the Lord—a two-day Feast featuring trumpets and foreshadowing the two-part event of the Resurrection of the dead [in Christ] and the catching up [and changing] of the living. At this event, only the Ekklesia [Body/Bride of Christ] is resurrected and caught up 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

[2] The 144,000 is a literal number. We know this, because John breaks it down into groups of 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. There are disputes that physical Israel is not referenced here because there is “no Tribe of Joseph,” and two tribes seem to be missing, those of Dan and Ephraim. 

We will show that there is a Tribe a of Joseph and that only one tribe is missing from the Revelation seven list. 

Dan is missing. But Ephraim is not. Ephraim is referred to, in The Revelation seven, as “Joseph.” Although there are scriptural instances of the half-tribes [of Ephraim and Manasseh combined] being called “Joseph,” the reference in The Revelation can only be speaking of Ephraim, because Manasseh is already listed among the tribes, and no one but Manasseh or Ephraim can be called the “Tribe of Joseph.” There is also scriptural precedent for calling Ephraim alone “Joseph.”

What is of note in this instance, is that the ½ Tribe of Ephraim is not named personally among the tribes [as Manasseh is] in receiving the seal of protection but rather is receiving protection only because of who the tribe is descended from. In The Revelation, it is Joseph who is being honored. Ephraim is included with Manasseh under the umbrella of Joseph’s protection. 

As it is written, “the righteous are blessed…and their seed.” The best thing any parent can do for their children is to live a righteous life before God.

The tribe of Dan [bereft of protection such as Joseph provided to the ½ tribes bearing his name] is missing in John’s list, because it was predicted that Dan would not be included in the number of those marked with God’s supernatural seal of protection. 

Dan and Ephraim’s sin: Judges 18:29-31 Dan, 1 Kings 12:25-30 Dan & Ephraim. Dan and Ephraim were both separated from the Tribes based on 29:18-21 (vs :21 shows God is speaking to tribes as well as individuals). But Ephraim did not lose his place among the tribes in the sealing of The Revelation, although Ephraim was not honored by being called by his own name—he was called by the name of his ancestor, Joseph. 

The half-tribe of Ephraim, being called “Joseph” is consistent with other scriptures which do the same. Some Old Testament references to the Tribe of Joseph and to Ephraim being referred to as Joseph are as follows: Deuteronomy 27:11 Ephraim and Manasseh, Ezekiel 47:13 Ephraim and Manasseh, Zechariah 10:6-7 Ephraim only (not a comprehensive list).

Dan and Ephraim both remain tribes, but there is a reason that Dan is missing and Ephraim is not called by name among the tribes listed in The Revelation. The reason was foretold by the prophets that it would be so. It must be noted before moving on, that not everyone from the listed tribes will be sealed, only 12,000 from each tribe will receive this seal of protection, but there will be many devout Jews during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble that will not receive this seal.

The seal will protect the 144,000 during the first 3 ½ years of THE DAY OF REBUKE, THE INDIGNATION / TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE / THE GREAT TRIBULATION (all of these are synonymous). 

Not a one of the 144,000 will die or be harmed in any way after the opening of The Seventh Seal. We know this because in Revelation chapter fourteen, every one of the 144,000 is still alive to be “Redeemed from the earth.” In other words, they will be “Caught Up/Raptured” to Heaven. This is not to be confused with the Resurrection / Harpazo 1 Thessalonians 4:17 of the Church [Bride / Body of Christ], which is composed of both Jew and Gentile believers and is never broken down into “tribes.”

As stated, not everyone from the protected tribes will be sealed—only 12,000 from each tribe—but it was foretold that not a single person from the tribe Dan will be included among the protected during THE DAY OF REBUKE. Even so, individuals from this tribe will survive. Both Dan and Ephraim (called Joseph in Revelation 7:8) are listed as receiving land distribution among the Tribes in Messiah’s Kingdom Ezekiel 48:1-6. We know from this, that God will preserve individuals from every tribe of Israel, which will become the preeminent nation in Christ’s earthly Kingdom Isaiah 2:1-3, 60:12

Although members of the ½ tribe of Ephraim will be among the 144,000 (called the Tribe of Joseph), it appears that, among the tribes, it appears that Ephraim will experience a greater degree of devastation during THE DAY OF REBUKE Hosea 5:9.
Many belonging to Ephraim, will not only be devout through the horrific TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE, but will show themselves valiant [along with those from the tribe of Judah] on the Day Christ Returns Zechariah 9:13-17. A study of the ancient rivalry between the tribes of Judah and Ephraim is fascinating and gives insight into the marvelous reconciliation between these two, who become staunch allies fighting together on THE DAY CHRIST RETURNS Zechariah 10:6-7.

Zechariah 9:13-17 is a companion passage with Zechariah 10:6-7, Zechariah 12:7-8 [along with the sacred writings of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others]. These passages all reference events that will take place on **THE DAY CHRIST RETURNS. One feature of that day is that it will also be the day Ephraim is restored back into the good graces of God [Dan will as well, “… Zechariah 12:10-14, Ezekiel 48:6 (a Kingdom verse), “…and I will save the House of Joseph Ephraim and I will return them to their place For I have mercy upon them And they shall be as though I had not cast them off For I Am YHWH Elohiym and will hear them and Ephraim shall be like the mighty….” These prophecies will be fulfilled after the events described in Revelation chapter seven.

More insight is given into the 144,000 in Revelation chapter fourteen where we are told they will consist of a group of men and [possibly] women who will have lived holy honest lives before the Lord, not marrying and keeping themselves sexually pure. “They are not defiled with women (males). They are virgins (females) Revelation 14:1-5

[3] These are literal Tribes of Israel—Jews—not The Church (Body/Bride of Christ). We see The Church being caught out in chapter four, responding to the voice shouting, **”COME UP HERE!”

**Recommended Reading

After chapter three of The Revelation, The Church is never seen on earth again, only in Heaven, and then returning with Jesus to the Battle of Armageddon. The Resurrection/Rapture truly is our BLESSED HOPE.

[4] More on the Tribe of Joseph: The millennial Jerusalem will have 12 gates (not 11 gates plus two half-gates). These awe-inspiring gates will represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They will be called after the 12 Tribes of Israel. And one of those gates is called Joseph –Ezekiel 48:31-34/Revelation 21:1.

Other references to the Tribe of Joseph include: Numbers 13:11, Deuteronomy 33:1-16, Psalm 77:15, Psalm 80:1. 
 

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