Hisgalus 7:1-8

1 After this I saw arba’ah malachim (angels) taking their stand on the arbah pinot ha’aretz (the four corners of the earth), holding the four winds of ha’aretz (the earth) so that wind should not blow on ha’aretz (the earth) nor on the yam (sea) nor on any etz (tree). [YESHAYAH 11:12; YIRMEYAH 49:36; YECHEZKEL 37:9; DANIEL 7:2; ZECHARYAH 6:5]
2 And I saw another malach (angel) coming up from the rising of the shemesh (sun), having a chotam (seal) of the Elohim Chayyim (Living G-d), and he cried with a kol gadol (loud voice) to the four malachim (angels). These were the malachim to whom it was given to harm ha’aretz (the earth) and hayam (the sea),
3 Saying, Do not harm ha’aretz (the earth) nor hayam (the sea) nor haetzim (the trees), until we have marked with the chotam (seal) the avadim (servants) of Eloheinu upon their metsakhim (foreheads). [YECHEZKEL 9:4]
4 And I heard the mispar (number) of the ones having been sealed, 144,000, having been marked with the chotam (seal) from kol shivtei Bnei Yisroel (every tribe of the Sons of Israel),
5 Of the shevet of Yehudah, 12,000 having been sealed; of the shevet of Re’uven, 12,000, of the shevet of Gad, 12,000,
6 Of the shevet of Asher, 12,000, of the shevet of Naphtali, 12,000, of the shevet of M’nasheh, 12,000,
7 Of the shevet of Shim’on, 12,000, of the shevet of Levi, 12,000, of the shevet of Yissass’khar, 12,000,
8 Of the shevet of Z’vulun, 12,000, of the shevet of Yosef, 12,000, of the shevet of Binyamin, 12,000.

Hisgalus 7:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.

The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.