Revelation 7:1-8
Please read your Bible text: Rev 7:1-8.
In between the sixth and seventh seals, John was diverted to seeing three visions in which he saw:
1) four angels being held back from destroying the land and sea
2) another angel sealing the 144,000 Jewish remnants and
3) the countless multitudes before the throne of God.
Here is an important piece of information about God’s plan or dealing specifically with two distinct kinds of people in two different places: the 144,000 Jewish remnants protected on earth during the tribulation and an innumerous multitude of Gentile Believers protected in heaven.
There is no way for the Jews to be annihilated in the Great Tribulation. They are a chosen people of God. God has not forgotten the Jews (Roman 11:1, 11). He has made an unconditional covenant that they would never be wiped out from the face of the earth (Jeremiah 31:34-38). That is why the 144,000 Jewish remnants were sealed so that they would be protected from harm or possible death in the Great Tribulation. A remnant of the Jews must be preserved to usher in the promised Messiah (Jesus Christ) to establish His kingdom on earth.
God’s hands must act in justice, but His heart is Faithful.
Herein is God’s heart. He must act justifiably to bring judgment on Satan and the sins of the world, but He is faithful to His covenanted love to Israel. He will not allow the Jewish people to be destroyed. That is why He protected the 144,000 Jews to continue to be the covenanted people of His love.
God is Capable to Protect His People Amid the Tribulation – vv.1-3
The 4 angels were told to withhold the 4 winds of destruction until the 144,000 Jews were sealed from harm and death. This is very comforting that all the forces of the cosmic must bow to the mandate of eternal love. In an impending danger or any catastrophic destruction, God will always prepare for the safety of His people. They were sealed on their forehead, but we are sealed within our hearts with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:3) as His children! So, take heart, nothing befalls us without the foreknowledge of the heavenly Father. If we must go through the Great Tribulation, I am certain that Father God is capable to keep His children safe.
Perfectness of the number, 144,000 – vv.4-8
The 144,000 were from the 12 tribes of Israel. This indicates that the 10 tribes taken exile into Assyria were not lost. God can single out the survivors of each tribe. In Gen. 29-30 – the tribe of Dan is listed as among the 12, but however, here in Rev. 7 – the tribe of Dan is omitted and replaced by Manasseh (who is the younger son of Joseph). This is worthy to note that Dan in biblical history fell into idolatry on many occasions (Lev 24:11; Judg. 18; 1Kings 12:28-29), so is the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph’s older son) was joined to idolatry (Hosea 4:17). Perhaps therefore the tribe of Dan is omitted in Rev. 7 here and replaced by the tribe of Manasseh. God’s work cannot be thwarted, when one tribe fails – God will replace it to fill up! In biblical numerology – the number 12000 speaks of government. the number 12000 means government. Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes would be 144,000. Hence, the total – 144,000, would mean perfect government.
Here is my devotional thought: If there is a task at hand, and if one fails the Lord, He will find another. It befits us, therefore, to remain pliable in His hands for whatever task He has for us. God’s perfect plan for 144,000 must stay even though He had to replace Dan. The imperfection of man cannot thwart the perfect plan of God.
Think: God is Capable to Keep His Children Safe in times of Danger.
Prayer: Father God, prepare our heart to be strong so that in time of Great Tribulation we will have no fear but faith to believe you can keep us safe, even if we must die for our faith in Christ.
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