Revelation
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7
Commentary · verses 1-17
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.
1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Commentary · verse 1
John saw four angels holding back the wind.
2And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Another angel told the four angels to not hurt the earth, sea, or trees until they have sealed the foreheads of the servants of God. The four angels were waiting to bring destruction (hurt) to the earth, sea, and trees. This placed the following events prior to the judgment that would be brought, which would place these events somewhere during the first half of the Tribulation.
4And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:
4And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Commentary · verse 4
144,000 were sealed of all the tribes of Israel to be Jewish missionaries for Jesus.
5Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; 6Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; 7Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; 8Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
5Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
Commentary · verses 5-8
...12,000 from each tribe. Recall, there were twelve sons of Jacob. Joseph had two sons and when Israel came into the Promised Land, Levi was not named as a tribe, but Joseph's two sons took Joseph and Levi's place. Here, we see the tribes of Dan and Ephraim lost their inheritance due to idolatry. Levi and Joseph replaced them. Some scholars believe the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent from the tribe of Dan.
9After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.
9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Commentary · verses 9-10
The "great multitude" will be the converts of the 144,000. They were suddenly standing before the throne, which meant they were raptured. This was the Mid-Tribulation Rapture. There were many passages people used to justify a Mid-Tribulation Rapture. Here were some of them: Daniel 9:27, Daniel 12:7, and Matthew 24:9-13. Notice, these passages were focused on the Jews. Notice also that being raptured prior to the Antichrist's declaration could be viewed as a "pre-wrath" Rapture. The Christians avoid the spiritual wrath of losing the Holy Spirit with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. The Jews avoid the physical wrath of having to worship the Antichrist with the Mid-Tribulation Rapture. Once the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation, God can begin judging the earth.
The reality is, there were verses in the Bible that showed a Pre-Tribulation Rapture and a Mid-Tribulation Rapture. Where in the Bible did it state there was only one Rapture? The belief that there will only be one Rapture associated with the Tribulation was a man-made doctrine.
11And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Commentary · verses 11-12
The angels worshipped God, just like they did after John showed up with the crystal sea of Christians from the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they?
13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Commentary · verse 13
One elder asked who were these in white robes that had just appeared and where did they come from? Again, these people did not come from anywhere in heaven because they would have been involved in the events that had been previously described. Also, they did not show up over a period of time. Suddenly, a large number of people were present in heaven.
14And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Commentary · verse 14
They were those who came out of the great tribulation. This meant believers (Christians and Jews who were converted by the 144,000) who experienced the Mid-Tribulation Rapture.
15Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.
16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat: 17for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Commentary · verses 15-17
This chapter presented information prior to the releasing of the plagues on the earth which will occur during the last half of the Tribulation.
This chapter began the layering of John's presentation by returning to a specific perspective that will occur during the first half of the Tribulation. This would be denoted by the "7 (144,000)" (covering the first half of the Tribulation) which was layered on chapter 5 and part of chapter 6.
This chapter presented specific information from the perspective of the 144,000 witnesses.