The First Intermission

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The First Intermission

The First IntermissionChapter 7 contains two visions:

1) The sealing of the 144,000

2) The heavenly reward for those who persevered

The purpose of these visions is to answer the question we were left with in 6:17: “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

The First Intermission – First VisionRevelation 7:1-8After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The First Intermission – First VisionRevelation 7:1-4After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

The First Intermission – First VisionRevelation 7:1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

Some identify the “four winds” with the four horsemen of chapter 6.

This comes from a reading of Zechariah 6:1-8I looked up again-- and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains-- mountains of bronze! 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3the third white, and the fourth dappled-- all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south." 7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, "Go throughout the earth!" So they went throughout the earth. 8 Then he called to me,

"Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north."


Some identify the “four winds” with the four horsemen of chapter 6.

This comes from a reading of Zechariah 6:5The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.

Recall back in Chapter 6 we identified this passage as being a possible inspiration for the four horsemen.

Connecting the four horsemen with the four winds requires that we translate

the Hebrew word tAxrU as “wind” rather than “spirit.” While not completely out of bounds, this variant finds little support in modern scholarship.


A more likely understanding is that these are winds of destruction.

Remember that Israel was bounded on the east and south by desert. A dry desert wind called a sirocco would arise and damage crops and trees.

Hosea 13:15 even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.

See also Zech. 9:14, Isa. 40:7, 24

The First Intermission – First VisionRevelation 7:2-3Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

The Old Testament background is probably Ezekiel 9:

Eze. 9:4 - and [the LORD] said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

Eze. 9:5-6a - As I listened, he said to the others, "Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter old

men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark.


The Old Testament background is probably Ezekiel 9:

Which finds its antecedent in the Passover story


Why would God want to seal his children?

1) To protect them from harm

2) To protect them from demons

3) To protect them from losing faith

This protective function becomes apparent in Rev. 9:4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.


Why would God want to seal his children?

1) To protect them from harm

2) To protect them from demons

3) To protect them from losing faith

The sealing allows the saints to respond to suffering and trials in faith.

See Rev. 9:4

This is the most important function

The First Intermission – First VisionRevelation 7:4

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

A lot of ink has been spilled trying to convincingly identify the 144,000.



A lot of ink has been spilled trying to convincingly identify the 144,000.

Five different hypotheses have been offered in various forms:

1) 144,000 is a literal number taken from the ethnic remnant of the Jews

2) The sealed are identified with the prophecy in Romans 11:24-25

3) A Christian remnant of ethnic Jews living in the 1st century

4) A figurative number representing all of God’s people

5) A figurative number of all of the redeemed formed as an army for a holy war



1) 144,000 is a literal number taken from the ethnic remnant of the Jews

A literal identification with individual tribes is highly unlikely.

Ten tribes lost their identity in the Assyrian dispersion of the 8th century BC

Benjamin and Judah suffered a similar fate in 70AD



2) The sealed are identified with the prophecy in Romans 11:24-26

Romans 11:24-26For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree [Gentiles], and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree [Jews], how much more shall these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The

Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.“

Italics mine



3) A Christian remnant of ethnic Jews living in the 1st century

This view is not completely outside the realm of possibility, but it has only been espoused by a single modern commentator – A. Feuillit



4) A figurative number representing all of God’s people

This is by far the most accepted view in modern scholarship.

144,000 = 12 x 12 x 1000

Symbolic representation of 12 tribes AND the 12 apostles with 1000 representing 103 or 10 x 10 x 10 signifying completion.

This view gains strength in chapter 21 with the description of the New Jerusalem having the foundation built upon both the tribes and the apostles.

The First Intermission – First Vision

Revelation 7:4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

5) A figurative number of all of the redeemed formed as an army for a holy war

Most censuses in the OT were for the purpose of determining the military strength of a nation.

In the context of Revelation, this military force conquers in the same manner as the Lamb – by remaining faithful in the midst of persecution.


Revelation 7:5-8An enumeration of the twelve tribes.

I wouldn’t make a big deal out of this. Once again, a lot of time, talent and treasure have been invested in studying the order in which the tribes are listed as well as the inclusion/omission of various tribes.

That Judah is mentioned first should come as no surprise. The Messiah was supposed to come from that tribe and we know that Jesus was from Judah (see Gen 49:10, Heb. 7:14).

Do not read too much into the order in which the tribes are listed as the OT has some 18 different orderings none of which concur with that in Revelation.


Revelation 7:5-8An enumeration of the twelve tribes.

The most widely speculated upon omission is that of Dan. Interestingly the list includes both Manasseh and Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph in Egypt). Some argue that Dan was omitted because of its connection with idolatry (Judges 18:30, 1 Kings 12:29).

Early Christian writers (Irenaeus) said that the omission of Dan was due to a tradition that the antichrist was supposed to come from the tribe. Probably an isogesis of Gen 49:17

Genesis 49:17 - Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

The First Intermission – Second Vision

Revelation 7:9-17After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."


Revelation 7:9-10After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!“

Who are these people?

Many would argue that they are a different group from the 144,000

- The first group was precisely numbered and this group is not

- The first group could be a subset of this group

- The 144K are sealed FROM tribulation whereas this group has passed through




Probably they are a single group seen from two different perspectives.1) the church is the redeemed remnant of Israel known only to God (2 Tim. 2:19).

2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."




Probably they are a single group seen from two different perspectives.1) The church are the redeemed remnant of Israel known only to God (2 Tim. 2:19).2) The same host just seen and understood from the viewpoint of the

actual vast number.




Think of the relationship between the Lion and the Lamb.John hears of the Lion of Judah (5:5) but sees its meaning in the symbolism of the Lamb of God (5:6)

John heard the enumeration of the twelve tribes but he saw the vast multitudes without number.


Revelation 7:13-1413 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Great Tribulation

It finds its inception in Daniel 12:1At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be delivered.

Same word in Greek (qli/yij,).

The First Intermission – Second VisionRevelation 7:13-14

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


Daniel’s tribulation was the eschatological opponent (anti-Christ) persecuting the saints because of their loyalty to God (Daniel 11:30-9; 44; 12:10).




In some sense the great tribulation is the pressure to compromise out faith:

From within the church via seductive teachings.

- This would have resonated with John’s audience.

- Remember from the 7 letters the condemnation of the Nicolaitans, and those who held to the teachings of Balaam and Jezebel.

- How many times did Paul condemn those who professed to be Christians yet practiced the morals of an alley cat?




In some sense the great tribulation is the pressure to compromise out faith:

From outside the church through outright overt oppression

- economic dislocation

- actual physical persecution (prison, beatings and even death).

The tribulation is also a period of time for punishment of unbelievers (see 2:22).




The definite article “THE” tells us this period is that which was foretold by Daniel and Christ.




Can be viewed in a couple of different ways – (1)

That specific period of distress and cruel persecution which will take place prior to the return of Christ. (Mounce, 164)

It was prophesied by Daniel, reflected on the stage of history in the fall of Jerusalem (70AD) and finds its fulfillment in the end times.

This reading looses contact with the original audience.




Can be viewed in a couple of different ways – (2)

It began with Jesus’ own sufferings and shedding of blood (Good Friday) and has been with us (in greater or lesser strength) since that time.

It is our corporate identification with all of those who suffer in the name of Christ.

This understanding maintains contact with the original audience.

Next Week

The Trumpet Series

Chapters 8-11

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The First Intermission