Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. In Revelation 7:1 (printed below) what does John tell us that he saw?
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 against any tree. (Revelation 7:1)
In verse one we learn that the apostle John saw “four angels…holding back the four winds of the earth.” Note: The wind and the whirlwind are used in Scripture to depict God’s judgment as it sweeps away the ungodly out of His presence (cp. Psalm 1:4; Jeremiah 49:36). The angels restrain the four winds “to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea, or against any tree.” The mention of “the land, sea, and trees” corresponds to Genesis 1:9-11, representing the various natural elements of this present creation. Thus, the four angels restraining the four winds represent God momentarily restraining His final judgment upon this present creation.
2. Describe what John relates to us in verses 2-3 (printed below).
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 were given authority to harm the land and the sea, (3) “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees, until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:2-3)
In verse two we are told that John next saw another angel “coming from the east,” or, “ascending from the rising of the sun.” This great angel may represent the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: His presence brings comfort, assurance and protection to God’s people. This angel has “the seal of the living God;” a seal was the mark of ownership that a master imprinted upon his bondservants. When this angel applies the seal it indicates that those who are sealed belong to the Lord and are, therefore, spared from His judgment (note Ezekiel 9:3-6a). Now John hears this angel cry out in a loud voice to the four angels, commanding them to refrain from carrying out their work of judgment, “until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
3. How many persons were spared from God’s judgment by receiving “the seal?” See Revelation 7:4 (printed below) Would you say that this number is literal or symbolic? Why do you suppose that only the twelve tribes of Israel are mentioned (note verses 5-8 printed below?)
I heard the number of those who were sealed. Coming from every tribe of the children of Israel, the total number of those who were sealed was one hundred and forty-four thousand. (5) From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, (6) from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, (7) from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, (8) from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. (Revelation 7:4-8)
The message of verses 1-8 is the assurance that the total number of God’s people shall be saved. Note that John “hears” the number of those who have been sealed, he is not left to count (and perchance miscount) the number for himself. The number is “four hundred and forty-four thousand,” the symbolic number for completeness: 12x12x1000. But why are only the twelve tribes of Israel listed? Where are the Gentile believers? The answer: To say that the complete number of God’s Israel have been sealed is the most certain way of speaking about the salvation of all God’s people, Jewish and Gentile believer alike. Christ initially came to call Israel (note Matthew 10:5-6). Following His resurrection and ascension, Christ, by His apostles, brings the gospel to all the nations (note Matthew 28:19). At the end of the age, when the full number of God’s elect from the Gentiles have been brought to Christ, then God shall bring His people Israel to Christ (note Romans 11:25-27).
4. Describe what John relates to us in verses 9-10 (printed below).
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were dressed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. (10) They cry out with a loud voice, “We attribute our salvation to our God—the one who sits on the throne—and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)
John now sees a great multitude “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Contrast this to Revelation 6:16-17, a passage in which the world of unrepentant mankind is heard to cry out to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, (17) for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” This multitude has been clothed with “white robes;” signifying their justification and glorification in Christ. The multitude is also seen holding ““palm branches;” the palm branch is the symbol of peace and victory and rejoicing (cp. Leviticus 23:40). This multitude, depicting the redeemed, attribute their salvation to God and to the Lamb: God the Father is seen to be the Author of our salvation and Jesus Christ His Son is seen to be the One who has accomplished this great salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30).
5. How does the elder identify this multitude that John saw? See Revelation 7:13-14 (printed below)
Then one of the elders addressed me, asking, “These who are dressed in white robes—who are they, and from where have they come?” (14) I said to him, “My lord, you know.” Then he said to me, “They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white by the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:13-14)
The elder identifies this great multitude is defined as being “the ones who have come out of the great tribulation.” In one sense, “the great tribulation” is descriptive of the Christian’s encounter with the world in any age (note John 15:18-21 and John 16:33). However, “the great tribulation’ is intensified into a period of severe, worldwide persecution at the close of the New Testament age (cp. Matthew 24:9). This multitude is further described as having “washed their robes and made them white by the blood of the Lamb.” ‘Therefore,” because of both their justification and their perseverance, they are found standing before the throne of God (note Matthew 24:13).
