THE 144,00 WHO WERE SEALED REVELATION 7 (PART I)

THE 144,000 WHO WERE SEALED

REVELATION 7

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   And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

   2) And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea,

   3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

   4) And I heard the number of them which were sealed:  and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

   5) Of the tribe of Judah 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 Asher were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Manasseh 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 Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.  (King James Version, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   We all know the names of our siblings, our parent's siblings, the names of siblings of television show families; but how many of us know the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob)? Let's review:  Jacob was a twin son of Isaac.  His brother's name was Esau.  Jacob's mother, Rebekah, talked Jacob into tricking his dad to give him the "birthright blessing" instead of giving it to the firstborn twin, Esau.  Rebekah was afraid that Esau would kill Jacob because of it, so she talked Jacob into running away to her uncle, Laban.  (The story was, so he could find a wife.)

   So, Jacob works 7 years to marry the "love of his life", Rachel, only to be tricked by Laban and ends up married to Leah, Rachel's older sister.  Then, Jacob has to work another 7 years to take Rachel as his wife, leaving him with 2 wives, who are sisters.

   Leah bore Jacob 6 sons:  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.  Rachel bore him two sons:  Joseph and Benjamin.  That accounts for 8 sons of Israel by his two wives. However, he also had sons by Rachel's servant, Bilhah:  Dan and Naphtali; and by Leah's servant, Zilpah:  Gad and Asher.  He had a total of 12 sons.

   Between the destruction of the opening of the sixth seal and the opening of the seventh seal, there is a "time out" in the narrative.  This is a parenthetical chapter so John can see some of the activities going on away from the ceremony of opening the seals. 

   John calls out the tribes in the order he sees them being sealed by God.  The tribe of Judah is first.  In Genesis 49:10, Judah was given the scepter.  From this tribe came our Lord and Savior, as well as all of the apostles, as far as is known.

   The tribe of Reuben is next.  Although he was the firstborn of Jacob, he lost his birthright when he defiled his father's bed.  That birthright and a double portion of inheritance was given to Joseph, the firstborn from Rachel, the second wife.

   The tribe of Gad is third.  Jacob's blessing for Gad was, "Gad a troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last."  (Genesis 49:19)  Moses' blessing for him was "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad." (Deuteronomy 33:20)  Gad was the firstborn from Leah's servant, Zilpah.

   Let me point out here, that Rachel's servant, Bilhah's firstborn, Dan is not mentioned in Revelation 7 as having his tribe sealed by God.  I have researched 3 different commentaries.  Not one has a concrete answer as to why this is.  One has speculated from folk lore, saying that the rabbis used to say that the false Messiah would arise from Dan. They use Genesis 49:17 to support this:  "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward."  We know that the Antichrist will be Jewish.  Also, Dan was the first tribe to go into idolatry according to the book of Judges.  There is no greater idolatry than to worship the Antichrist!  One of the commentaries say that the tribe of Dan will be delivered and shall turn away from ungodliness, so that all of Israel shall be saved.  However, they will not be protected by the "seal of the living God" during the time of the tribulation.

   When the tribes of Israel separated and formed the northern kingdom of Israel,  the tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed in the kingdom of Judah. So, we see Judah listed first during the sealing, and Benjamin listed last.

   Refer back to where Joseph was given a double portion of inheritance forfeited by Reuben.  Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's sons.  Here, we see Manasseh and Joseph listed in the twelve sons of Israel being sealed.

   In any case, the names on the gates of Jerusalem will be of the twelve original tribes, which means that God redeemed them all.



 
   Dear friend, now is a good time to accept the priceless gift of salvation!  Please click this link to go to our "Pathway to Salvation" page:  http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html


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