What is Revelations chapter 7 talking about if it is not the Sealing of 144.000 of all the tribes of Israel?.?

Answer 1

Rev. 7:4: “I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” (But in the verses that follow, mention is made of “the tribe of Levi” and “the tribe of Joseph.” These were not included in lists of the 12 tribes of natural Israel. Interestingly, while it is said that people would be “sealed out of every tribe,” the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not mentioned. [Compare Numbers 1:4-16.] Reference must here be made to the spiritual Israel of God, to those whom Revelation 14:1-3 shows will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom.)

The 12 tribes mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 must refer to this spiritual Israel for several valid reasons. The listing does not match that of natural Israel at Numbers chapter 1. Also Jerusalem’s temple and priesthood and all the tribal records of natural Israel were permanently destroyed, lost forever, long before John had his vision in 96 C.E. But more important, John received his vision upon a background of the aforementioned developments from and after Pentecost 33 C.E. In the light of such events, John’s vision of those standing on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb (whom natural Israel had rejected) revealed the number of this spiritual Israel of God to be 144,000 “bought from among mankind.” Re 7:4; 14:1, 4.

Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing. (Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation, 12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.

The tribe of Levi is listed; to make room for Levi without increasing the number of tribes, no tribe of Dan is included in Revelation 7:4-8, but apparently not because of any unsuitability on Dan’s part. The inclusion of Levi would also serve to show that there is no special priestly tribe in spiritual Israel, the entire spiritual nation being “a royal priesthood.”

Answer 2

This is exactly what chapter 7 is talking about. During the Tribulation (after the Rapture of the church) two witnesses sent by God will preach in Jerusalem for 1, 260 days. They will convert 144,000 Jews (Jews from all over the world) to Christianity, and these are the 144,000 that the Bible talks about in chapter 7.

However, you are getting the word "seal" because this is the 5th seal of the 7-sealed scroll. The 7-sealed scroll is the first of 3 sets of Judgements passed by God on the world during the Tribulation.

Answer 3

Very good question. ...I wish I knew! In one way, it seems that it must be speaking of the tribes of Israel because otherwise, how do verses 5 through 8 make any sense? Is it literal or symbolic? For example, if you add 12 groups of 12,000 synthetic diamonds each, you have a total of 144,000 synthetic diamonds, not 144,000 genuine diamonds. So whatever verse 4 is, verses 5-8 must be also. Either 144,000 actual Jews made up of 12,000 of each tribe or else the 144,000 is a symbolic number and the tribes are symbolic of something....but what??

EDITED TO ADD: Bill, I appreciate your input. But if the tribes aren't literal, it's doubtful that the numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are either. Just my opinion. Great research, though!

Answer 4

It does speak of the sealing of the 144,000 chosen ones. These ones were chosen to be king-priests alongside Jesus. It also speaks of a different group, a great crowd that is standing before the throne praising God. Vs. 9 "After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands." These are not going to heaven, but will be subjects on earth of God's Kingdom with Jesus as King and the 144,000 as co-rulers.

Answer 5

It is talking about the church or remnant chosen out of old covenant Israel along with the elected Gentiles who were grafted into Israel. This election took place between 30-70AD.

Answer 6

I think the symbolic language is telling us that the complete number of God's chosen people - Jews and Gentiles - will be saved. I think the 144,000 is a symbol of completeness.

Answer 7

It is talking about the ones that God had chosen from when we were all angels, before men in the flesh.
Those that overcame in the first world age. The Elect.