Prophecy · Chapter 7 of 22

Revelation 7

Before further judgment falls, four angels hold back the winds until God's servants are sealed. John hears the number, a hundred forty-four thousand from Israel's tribes. Then he sees a countless multitude from every nation, robed in white with palms, crying salvation to God and the Lamb. These came out of great tribulation and washed their robes in the Lamb's blood. The Lamb leads them to living waters where God wipes away every tear.

What happens in Revelation 7

Between the sixth and seventh seals, John sees four angels restraining the four winds so that no harm comes to earth, sea, or trees. Another angel, bearing the seal of the living God, calls them to wait until God's servants are sealed on their foreheads. John hears the number sealed, a hundred forty-four thousand, twelve thousand from each tribe of Israel. Then he beholds a vast multitude from all nations, kindreds, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and the Lamb in white robes with palms, crying, Salvation to our God and to the Lamb.

All the angels, elders, and living creatures fall and worship. An elder asks John who these robed ones are, then answers his own question: they came out of great tribulation and washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they stand before God's throne, sheltered, hungering and thirsting no more, for the Lamb feeds them and God wipes away all tears.

Revelation 7 in context

Chapter seven forms an interlude answering the previous chapter's closing question, who shall be able to stand. The answer is the sealed people of God. The hundred forty-four thousand and the innumerable multitude are best understood as two views of one redeemed people, secured before judgment intensifies.

The sealing recalls Ezekiel's mark on the faithful. The scene assures John's persecuted readers that no true servant of God will be lost in the coming storm, and gives a breathtaking glimpse of their final rest.

Main themes of Revelation 7

Revelation 7 (KJV)

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. 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. 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. 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 Nephthalim 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. 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. 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. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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. 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.

Verses to carry from Revelation 7

“After 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;”Revelation 7:9

“And 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.”Revelation 7:14

“For 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.”Revelation 7:17

Reflection

They came out of great tribulation, and the Lamb wiped every tear. Revelation does not pretend suffering away; it promises an end to it in Christ. Whatever tribulation marks your life now, hold this picture: hunger and thirst gone, the Lamb as your shepherd, God's own hand drying your eyes. The story ends in comfort.

A prayer from Revelation 7