Revelation 7:1-10

1 After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding [the] four winds of the earth, that they blew not on the earth [that they blow not on the earth], neither on the sea, neither on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending up from the rising of the sun, that had a sign of the living God [And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having a sign of quick God]. And he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to which it was given [to whom it is given] to harm the earth, and the sea,

3 and said [saying], Do not ye harm the earth, and the sea, neither [to] trees, till we mark [till we sign, or mark] the servants of our God in the foreheads of them.

4 And I heard the number of men that were marked, an hundred thousand and four and forty thousand marked [And I heard the number of them signed, or marked, an hundred and four and forty thousand signed], of every lineage of the sons of Israel;

5 of the lineage of Juda, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Reuben, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Gad, twelve thousand marked [signed];

6 of the lineage of Aser, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Nephthalim, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Manasses, twelve thousand marked [signed];

7 of the lineage of Simeon, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Levi, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Issachar, twelve thousand marked [signed];

8 of the lineage of Zabulon, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Joseph, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Benjamin, twelve thousand marked [signed].

9 After these things I saw a great people, whom no man might number, of all folks, and lineages, and peoples, and languages, standing before the throne, in the sight of the lamb; and they were clothed with white stoles, and palms were in the hands of them. [After these things I saw a great company, whom no man might number, of all folks and lineages, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, in the sight of the lamb, covered, or clothed, with white stoles, and palms in the hands of them.]

10 And they cried with a great voice, and said [saying], Health to our God, that sitteth on the throne, and to the lamb.

Revelation 7:1-10 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.