Everyday Life in Revelation: Part 5 The PeopleSample

In this passage, we don’t get a sense that John was trying to record a chronological telling of future events. In today’s reading, the “after this” found in 7:1 is not a chronological place holder, instead it is telling us there is a new vision granted to John.

Revelation 7 helps us to understand who will be standing at the end of chapter 6. To be certain, there will be a great day of judgment that the Lamb executes on a world that refuses to submit to His rule and leadership. Who can endure that great day of wrath? The answer is the people found in chapter 7. God will pass over these people and spare them from His judgment, just like He bypassed the Hebrew slaves in Egypt when He was delivering judgment to the Egyptians.

The protected have a seal placed on their forehead. Seals in the ancient world were signs of ownership. The people in Revelation 7:1-8 are quite literally the property of God. They belong to Him. These people will be safe in the day of wrath to come.

More than likely, John is not only talking about Jewish believers. The list provided of the 12 tribes do not correspond to any list of the tribes in the Old Testament. This 144,000 is not literal, but represents all believers found in Christ. Twelve tribes times twelve is a numerical way of expressing the complete number of believers, the people of God. Here is seems, the entire church, God’s complete New Testament community is set apart for protection in that day of terrible wrath.

What an important message to carry in today’s world. A terrible judgment is coming to Earth one day. No one will be spared, except those who put their hope, their faith, their trust in Jesus Christ. What a message to bring to those who are open to hearing the gospel of Jesus. Never shy away from this truth. Have you put your trust in King Jesus? If not, you can do it right now by calling on Him, asking Him to forgive you, inviting Him to enter your life and choosing to follow His leadership from today on.