Revelation 7 - 144,000 And A Great Multitude -

“After 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.”  – Revelation 7:1-3

“After this” in Revelation shows the chronological order of the events that John saw in his vision. This takes place after John saw Jesus, the Lamb, open the first 6 of 7 seals of the scroll that God gave Him. The scroll represents God’s will and the deed or title of the universe.

Revelation 7 is a break in between Jesus, the Lamb, opening 6 seals in Revelation 6, and opening the 7th seal in Revelation 8.

John saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth. According to verses 2 and 3 these 4 angels were given the power and authority to harm the earth and sea and trees. They are a part of God’s plan to bring His wrath and punishment to those who rebel against God and refuse to bow down to Jesus, repent, and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Four Winds of the Earth

John mentions that the 4 angels were “holding back the four winds of the earth “. Daniel spoke of the 4 winds in his vision in Daniel 7.

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.” – Daniel 7:1-3

Jeremiah mentions four winds from heaven when God sends him to prophesy of God’s judgement of Elam in Jeremiah 49.

“The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. 35 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come.” – Jeremiah 49:36

The four winds have to do with God’s judgement. This time in Revelation 7 the four winds are for the final judgement and punishment of the whole world. Otherwise known as the “day of the Lord”. This begins in Revelation 8 with the opening of the 7th and final seal.

Another angel appears, with the seal of the living God. He tells the other 4 angels to not harm the earth and sea and trees until the “servants of God” are sealed.

The “servants of God” the angel is talking about are the 144,000 that appear in the next verses.

“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”.  – Revelation 7:4-8

Long ago it was prophesied that God would pour out His mercy and grace upon Israel, and many Jews would have a change of heart and come to Christ in the “latter days” or in the tribulation.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” – Ezekiel 12:10

“In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.” – Isaiah 10:20-22

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion,he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” – Romans 11:25-27

The 144,000 are “sealed”, and from every tribe of Israel, with 12,000 coming from each of Israel’s 12 tribes.

Interestingly, the list of the tribes of Israel in Revelation 7 is not the same as the list of tribes in the Old Testament. The original tribe of Dan is not mentioned, and the tribe of Joseph is mentioned. Originally there was no tribe of Joseph, but 2 of the tribes were named for his 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim.

One possible reason for the exclusion of the tribe of Dan from the list in Revelation 7 is it’s history of idolatry and apostasy. In Judges 18 for example, the tribe of Dan is shown to be engaging in idolatrous practices, stealing Micah’s idols. And setting up their own shrine for worship. This departure from true worship and faithful obedience of God may have led to Dan being considered unworthy among the tribes in Revelation 7.

Also, the tribe of Dan left their portion of the land that God gave them in the Promised Land. And they took and occupied differentland in Judges 18. Thereby again turning their backs on God.

Also of note is that the tribe of Ephraim is not mentioned, and the tribe of Levi is included. When the Promised Land of Israel was divided, the tribe of Levi did not receive an inheritance of the land. Because they were priests.

The Mission of the 144,000

The mission of the 144,000 Jews, who are in Ezekiel’s prophecy, and who are “the remnant” in Isaiah’s prophecy, is to spread the Gospel during the Great Tribulation, which is the final half of the 7 year tribulation.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” – Ezekiel 12:10

“In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.” – Isaiah 10:20-22

The results of their coming to Christ in the Great Tribulation and then faithfully fulfilling the mission to spread the Gospel is shown in Revelation 7:9-10

We see the 144,000 again in heaven Revelation 14, after they were martyred in the Great Tribulation.

“Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.” – Revelation 14:1-5

Revelation 7 – John’s Vision of 144,000 & A Great Multitude

The Results of the Faithfulness of the 144,000

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”  – Revelation 7:9-10

After John saw the 4 angels at the 4 corners of the earth being told by another angel to not harm the earth and sea and trees yet, and after John saw the 144,000, he next sees a great multitude in heaven standing before God’s throne.

John had seen God’s throne and described the throne, who was on the throne, and those around the throne in Revelation 4. Now John sees 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, and a great multitude of people standing before God’s throne.

Revelation 7:9 tells us that the multitude is so great that it could not be counted. And it tells us that the great multitude comes from every nation, and from every tribe and peoples and languages.

Who are these people that make up the great multitude? One clue is that they are dressed with white robes. Remember from previous chapters in Revelation that white robes or garments represent true followers and witnesses of Jesus that have been given salvation and Jesus’ righteousness through repentance and faith in Jesus.

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” – Revelation 3:4

“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” – Revelation 3:5

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” – Revelation 19:6-8

John also sees the great multitude with palm branches in their hands. This refers to when Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, before His death on the cross, on what is now celebrated as Palm Sunday. The great multitude has made their triumphant entry into God’s kingdom and heaven.

And they are triumphantly crying out in a loud voice “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:13-14 will reveal the identity of the great multitude.

Angels, Elders, and Living Creatures Join the Multitude in Worship of God

“All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen!

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”  – Revelation 7:11-12

John’s vision in Revelation 7 continues as he sees all of the angels, and the 24 elders (which represent the raptured true believers and followers of God and Jesus from the Old and New Testament times), and 4 living creatures he saw in Revelation 4 joining the 144,000 and the great multitude in worshiping God.

The Identity of the Great Multitude

After John saw the 144,000, and the great multitude joined by all of the angels and 24 elders and 4 living creatures worshipping God, one of the elders asked John who the great multitude is.

And then the elder proceeds to tell John who they are.

“And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” – Revelation 7:14

The 144,000 were Jews from all 12 tribes of Israel that repented and came to faith in Christ during the great tribulation. And they were commanded and called by Jesus (as all believers are in Matthew 4:19 and Mark 16:15 and Acts 1:8) to go and be faithful witnesses and take the Gospel to all other tribes, peoples, and nations.

And the great multitude are the fruit and results of their faithful obedience to Jesus’ call and command. There will be a great spiritual awakening and harvest during the great tribulation. A great number of Jews from Israel, as per previous prophecies, will repent and believe, as a result of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses’ faithfulness and mission. And people from all other tribes, peoples, and nations will also repent and believe. And then the antichrist will kill and martyr them, especially in the 2nd half of the 7 year period, known as the Great Tribulation.

But then they are seen in heaven in Revelation 7. Dressed in white and triumphantly worshiping God.

The Rewards For Faithfully Following Jesus

“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 shelter them with his presence.”  – Revelation 7:15

Faithful followers and witnesses of Jesus will not only be given the reward of eternal life in heaven. They will be given the great honor and privilege of serving God forever. And reigning with Jesus in God’s kingdom, and helping Him to administer and shepherd in the kingdom.

No More Hunger, Thirst, Tears…

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  – Revelation 7:16-17

In God’s eternal kingdom faithful followers and witnesses of Jesus will never again go through hunger, or thirst, or tears and hurts and pains, or persecution, or suffering, or tribulation.

Trials, Persecution, and Suffering On Earth For Christ Followers

While living on earth, Jesus’ faithful followers and witnesses will face spiritual warfare and persecution and trials and suffering.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. ” – John 15:18-20

Jesus’ Faithful Servant Paul

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” – 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Paul suffered more for faithfully serving and following Jesus than most. Here is what he said about suffering for Christ.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:18

Paul knew about what comes next after a life of faithful service and witnessing for Jesus. He had a vision or visited heaven, and writes about it in 2 Corinthians 12. He knew what was coming after this life, so he lived a life passionately devoted to Jesus.