ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Revelation 7

Rev. 7:1–17 There are three “interludes” in Revelation (vv. 1–17; 10:1–11:14; 20:1–6) that explain the place of the saints in the events of the book. (The seals, trumpets, and bowls relate only to sinners.) There are various proposals for interpreting the vision of the “144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (7:4) and its relation to the next vision of a countless crowd “from every nation” (v. 9). Many think the 144,000 represents Jewish believers. They are brought to faith immediately after Jesus returns and removes the church from the earth before (or during) a seven-year tribulation (this is a “pretribulation rapture” view; see note on 3:10). Others understand “Israel” as the church, the new covenant people of God. Thus the 144,000 are believers from every nation, including ethnic Israel.

Rev. 7:1–3 The terrors released by the sixth seal (6:12–17) lead God’s fearful enemies to ask, “Who can stand?” (6:17). The answer is, those “sealed” (7:4) with the seal of the living God (see note on John 6:27; compare Ezek. 9:4–6). This seal is promised to all who conquer by faith (Rev. 3:12). Circumcision functioned as such a seal under the old covenant (Rom. 4:11), and God’s Holy Spirit seals God’s people as his property under the new (Eph. 1:13–14).

Rev. 7:4–8 The selection and order of the 12 tribes suggest that the 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel represent the church (see note on vv. 1–17 for a different view). These are not Jacob’s sons, because Dan is left out and Manasseh is included. They are also not the tribes that inherited land in Canaan, for Dan is left out, Levi (the priestly tribe) is included, and Joseph is listed instead of his son Ephraim. Judah, the tribe of the Messiah (5:5), appears first rather than Reuben, the firstborn. The promotion of tribes descended from concubines Bilhah and Zilpah (Gad, Asher, Naphtali) over the sons of Leah and Rachel suggests that those once excluded from privilege are now included.

Rev. 7:9 John hears (v. 4) the names of the sealed sons of Israel and then sees the NT fulfillment. He sees a countless multitude from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. God has rescued them from wrath through the blood of the Lamb (v. 14). They wear the white robes of victorious martyrs (see note on 6:9–11). Many who hold to a pretribulation rapture of the church think that the two groups of 7:1–8 and vv. 9–17 are different. They see converted Jewish people still suffering on earth in vv. 1–8, and the raptured church rejoicing in heaven in vv. 9–17. Those who do not hold to a pretribulation rapture usually see vv. 1–8 and vv. 9–17 as the same group.

Rev. 7:13–14 An elder identifies the great crowd as the ones coming out of the great tribulation. Some understand “the” to refer to one great final period of suffering. Others take this to represent the sufferings of the church throughout history.

Rev. 7:15–17 The people mentioned in vv. 13–14 no longer suffer. As priests, they serve God in his temple. There he will feed them and shelter them from sun and scorching heat (compare Isa. 49:10). Under the protective care of the Lamb, their shepherd, they find refreshment in springs of living water (compare Rev. 22:1). God dries their every tear (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4).