Studies In Revelation - Chapter Seven
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

Studies In Revelation
Chapter Seven


Revelation 7:1 “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.”

  • After the pleas for vengeance (Revelation 6:9-10) and the signs of God’s wrath coming (Revelation 6:12-17), in addition to all he had seen up to this point, this is what John saw next.
  • Four angels (Revelation 9:14-15).
  • The four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12 and Ezekiel 7:1-3).
  • The four winds of earth or heaven (Jeremiah 49:36, Daniel 7:1-2, Daniel 8:8, Daniel 11:4, Zechariah 2:6, and Matthew 24:31).
  • These four angels were holding the wind from blowing. Think of the might and power in this (Matthew 8:23-27).
  • There is also the imagery of wind bringing life (Ezekiel 37:9).

Revelation 7:2-3 “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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

  • This other angel has the seal of the living God (cf. Revelation 9:3-4).
  • Before hurt came to the earth, the servants of God were to be sealed (Revelation 14:1).
  • There is also the mark of the beast, a seal, given to the others (Revelation 13:11-18).
  • Think about a seal from outside of the figures of Revelation (Ezekiel 9:1-11). Consider the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; cf. Acts 19:1-7). The same as in Ephesus was in Corinth (II Corinthians 1:22; cf. I Corinthians 12:1-13). How that signified something in visible ways (Galatians 3:1-5). Or, consider the seal of circumcision of old (Romans 4:11; cf. Genesis 17:1-14). A seal was not a guarantee of salvation or of some impossibility of apostasy. As we noted Ephesus had a seal, but what have we read in this letter about Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)?
  • Don’t make too much of the process of sealing the servants of God. Similarly in concept, we see Moses gave instructions for such a process during the Passover (Exodus 12:1-13).
  • Is a seal upon the forehead anything more or less than the Lord upon the mind (Romans 12:1-2; cf. Revelation 22:1-4)?

Revelation 7:4-8 “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. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.”

  • First, let’s understand that what John saw was not an indicator that only Jews were going to get through the tribulation to come (Revelation 7:9-14).
  • Secondly, this is not about eternal salvation only being for the Jews either (Isaiah 49:1-7; cf. [Luke 2:22-32], Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 9:10-15, Acts 11:1-18, Acts 13:42-48, Acts 14:26-27, Acts 26:18-20, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:24-30, Romans 9:24, Romans 15:9-13, Galatians 3:14, Ephesians 2:1-17, Ephesians 3:1-11, and I John 2:1-2).
  • Looking forward, John heard a number of who was sealed. The text then states twelve thousand from the tribes of Israel (cf. Genesis 49:1-28 and I Chronicles 2:1-2).
  • It is interesting to note that Levi is mentioned here (Revelation 7:7; cf. Deuteronomy 10:9 and Joshua 13:14) and Joseph is mentioned (Revelation 7:8) though one of his sons [Ephraim; cf. Genesis 48:1)] is not. Dan is also excluded.
  • Consider the later description of this figurative number (Revelation 14:1-5).
  • Now, understand that in the first century Jewish saints [Christians] were referred to as the twelve tribes (James 1:1).

Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

  • We are in a context of sealing the servants of God (Revelation 7:1-2).
  • These are those who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes to be made white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).
  • As noted in our study of verses four through eight, God is not only the God of the Jews (Acts 10:34-36 and Revelation 5:11).
  • This is yet another evidence in Revelation that nothing here is about the final return of Christ (Luke 18:8).
  • This part of John’s vision is to indicate the thankfulness towards God from all who made it through the tribulation (Revelation 19:1). That tribulation was short (Revelation 2:10).
  • Remember, all these things were at hand; shortly to come to pass (Revelation 1:1-3 and Revelation 22:6-10).
  • In regard to Salvation… Biblically this does not just mean eternal life. Study contexts to see what type of salvation we are talking about. Sometimes such is about eternal salvation (I Thessalonians 4:13-5:9 and I Peter 1:3-9). In other cases, salvation is being saved from physical harm (Exodus 14:13-31).

Revelation 7:11-12 “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

  • The angels around the throne responded to the children of Israel and the great multitude from all nations being sealed by worshipping God (Psalms 148:1-2).
  • Remember that the angels are very interested in and joyous over man’s relationship with God (Luke 15:10 and I Peter 1:3-12).
  • Consider how the angel that appeared to the shepherds spoke about Jesus (Luke 2:8-11).

Revelation 7:13-14 “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

  • One of the elders (Revelation 4:4; 4:10).
  • One of the elders asked John about those arrayed in white robes. This is interesting. John is “in the spirit” (Revelation 1:10, Revelation 4:2, and Revelation 21:10). He is conversing with one of the elders from around the throne in Heaven (II Corinthians 12:1-4).
  • In chapter six we talked of some who had been given white robes (Revelation 6:9-11).
  • Those here in white robes are those who, in the near future (Revelation 1:1-3 and Revelation 22:6-10), will come out of the great tribulation having been might white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5; cf. Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:11-10:18, Hebrews 13:12, and I Peter 1:18-21).

Revelation 7:15-17 “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

  • This is NOT about eternal life; the final judgment (Revelation 7:14).
  • The no more tears is about deliverance from the tribulation. We see similar language in other physical salvation times (Psalms 116:1-9, Psalms 126:1-6, Isaiah 25:1-12, and Revelation 21:1-10).
  • But wait, this is before God’s throne. That has to be a literal time in Heaven, right? WRONG (Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 10:19-22)!
  • What about “His temple?” See: I Corinthians 3:16-17 and II Corinthians 6:14-18
  • What about the ceasing of hungering and thirsting, etc.? See: Isaiah 49:1-26