Revelation 7

An Interlude

1 After this I saw ¹four angels standing at the ²four corners of the earth, holding back ³the four winds of the earth, ⁴so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending ⁵from the rising of the sun, having the ⁶seal of ⁷the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the ⁸four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

3 saying, "⁹Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have ¹⁰sealed the bond-servants of our God on their ¹¹foreheads."

The 144,000

4 And I heard the ¹²number of those who were sealed, ¹³one hundred and forty-four * thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5 the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,

6 the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,

7 the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,

8 the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from ¹⁴every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing ¹⁵before the throne and ¹⁶before the Lamb, clothed in ¹⁷white robes, and ¹⁸palm branches were in their hands;

10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "¹⁹ Salvation to our God²⁰ who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

11 And all the angels were standing ²¹around the throne and around ²²the elders and the ²³four living creatures; and they ²⁴fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12 saying, "²⁵ Amen, ²⁶blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. ²⁷ Amen."

13 Then one of the elders ²⁸answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the ²⁹white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?"

14 I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the ³⁰great tribulation, and they have ³¹washed their robes and made them ³²white in the ³³blood of the Lamb.

15 "For this reason, they are ³⁴before the throne of God; and they ³⁵serve Him day and night in His ³⁶temple; and ³⁷He who sits on the throne will spread His ³⁸tabernacle over them.

16 "³⁹They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their ⁴⁰shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the ⁴¹water of life; and ⁴²God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

A pause between two great periods. (1-3) The peace, happiness, and safety of the saints, as signified by an angel's sealing 144,000. (4-8) A song of praise. (9-12) The blessedness and glory of those that suffered martyrdom for Christ. (13-17)

Verses 1-8 In the figurative language of Scripture, the blowing of the four winds together, means a dreadful and general destruction. But the destruction is delayed. Seals were used to mark for each person his own possessions. This mark is the witness of the Holy Ghost, printed in the hearts of believers. And the Lord would not suffer his people to be afflicted before they were marked, that they might be prepared against all conflicts. And, observe, of those who are thus sealed by the Spirit, the seal must be on the forehead, plainly to be seen alike by friends and foes, but not by the believer himself, except as he looks stedfastly in the glass of God's word. The number of those who were sealed, may be understood to stand for the remnant of people which God reserved. Though the church of God is but a little flock, in comparison with the wicked world, yet it is a society really large, and to be still more enlarged. Here the universal church is figured under the type of Israel.

Verses 9-12 The first fruits of Christ having led the way, the Gentiles converted later follow, and ascribe their salvation to God and the Redeemer, with triumph. In acts of religious worship we come nigh to God, and must come by Christ; the throne of God could not be approached by sinners, were it not for a Mediator. They were clothed with the robes of justification, holiness, and victory; and they had palms in their hands, as conquerors used to appear in their triumphs. Such a glorious appearance will the faithful servants of God make at last, when they have fought the good fight of faith, and finished their course. With a loud voice they gave to God and the Lamb the praise of the great salvation. Those who enjoy eternal happiness must and will bless both the Father and the Son; they will do it publicly, and with fervour. We see what is the work of heaven, and we ought to begin it now, to have our hearts much in it, and to long for that world where our praises, as well as our happiness, will be made perfect.

Verses 13-17 Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to seek instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through many tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate us from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and more glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the Lamb, that can wash away sin, and make the soul pure and clean in the sight of God; other blood stains, this is the only blood that makes the robes of the saints white and clean. They are happy in their employment; heaven is a state of service, though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth; it isa praising, delightful rest. They have had sorrows, and shed many tears on account of sin and affliction; but God himself, with his own gracious hand, will wipe those tears away. He deals with them as a tender father. This should support the Christian under all his troubles. As all the redeemed owe their happiness wholly to sovereign mercy; so the work and worship of God their Saviour is their element; his presence and favour complete their happiness, nor can they conceive of any other joy. To Him may all his people come; from him they receive every needed grace; and to him let them offer all praise and glory.

Cross References

• 1. Revelation 9:14
• 2. Isaiah 11:12; Ezekiel 7:2; Revelation 20:8
• 3. Jeremiah 49:36; Daniel 7:2; Zechariah 6:5; Matthew 24:31
• 4. Revelation 7:3; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 9:4
• 5. Isaiah 41:2
• 6. Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4
• 7. Matthew 16:16
• 8. Revelation 9:14
• 9. Revelation 6:6
• 10. John 3:33; Revelation 7:3-8
• 11. Ezekiel 9:4, 6; Revelation 13:16; Revelation 14:1, 9; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 22:4
• 12. Revelation 9:16
• 13. Revelation 14:1, 3
• 14. Revelation 5:9
• 15. Revelation 7:15
• 16. Revelation 22:3
• 17. Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:14
• 18. Leviticus 23:40
• 19. Psalms 3:8; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 19:1
• 20. Revelation 22:3
• 21. Revelation 4:4
• 22. Revelation 4:4
• 23. Revelation 4:6
• 24. Revelation 4:10
• 25. Revelation 5:14
• 26. Revelation 5:12
• 27. Revelation 5:14
• 28. Acts 3:12
• 29. Revelation 7:9
• 30. Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19
• 31. Zechariah 3:3-5; Revelation 22:14
• 32. Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9
• 33. Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7
• 34. Revelation 7:9
• 35. Revelation 4:8; Revelation 22:3
• 36. Revelation 11:19; Revelation 21:22
• 37. Revelation 4:9
• 38. Leviticus 26:11; Ezekiel 37:27; John 1:14; Revelation 21:3
• 39. Psalms 121:5; Isaiah 49:10
• 40. Psalms 23:1; Matthew 2:6; John 10:11
• 41. John 4:14; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1
• 42. Isaiah 25:8; Matthew 5:4; Revelation 21:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "have said"
• [b]. Or "sanctuary"
• [c]. Lit "fall"
• [d]. Lit "waters"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 7

This chapter contains a vision seen at the end of the sixth, and at the opening of the seventh seal, which expresses the security of the saints in all ages following, the praises of angels and men on that account, and the happiness of all the people of God in the millennium state. First, a vision of four angels is seen restraining the winds from blowing on the earth, sea, and trees, Re 7:1; then of another angel, described by the place from whence he came, the east; by what he had, the seal of the living God, and by his cry to the four angels not to hurt the earth, sea, and trees, until the servants of God were sealed, Re 7:2,3, and then follows the number of the sealed ones in general, Re 7:4, and the particular number of them out of each tribe of Israel, Re 7:5-8. After which is another vision of all the elect of God together, described by the numberless multitude of them; by their descent from all nations; by their position and situation before the throne, and the Lamb; by their habit and attire, and by their loud cry, ascribing salvation to God, and to the Lamb, Re 7:9,10, who are joined by all the angels around them, worshipping God, and ascribing glory to him, Re 7:11,12. And next is described the happiness of this numerous company, in the thousand years' reign, introduced by some discourse which passed between John, and one of the elders, Re 7:13,14, who are said to be before the throne, to serve God continually, and to have his presence, Re 7:15, to be free from everything troublesome and distressing, Re 7:16, and to be fed by the Lamb, and to be led by him to fountains of living water, and to have all their tears wiped away from them, Re 7:17.