Revelation 7

5. Rev 7 and the 144000 (12k x 12 tribes) answers the question of what happened to the holy ones (Old Testament) resurrected with Jesus and witnessed in Jerusalem (Mt 27:51/Jn 5:25/Dan 7:13, 12:1-4/Rev 1:7)). Are they the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that Jesus ascended into (Acts 1:9), who are now serving before the throne, and are the ‘clouds of heaven’ who return with Jesus when the heavens shake and the stars fall from the skies (MT 24): gravity overcoming the inflation of the first day of Creation. Rev 14 and 144000 may be a further description of them. Or it may be symbolic of the saints of the early church (NT) who spread the word and (the Lamb) overcame the Roman Empire. Rev 5 indicates the presence of the slain Lamb and 24 elders(?), and Rev 6:9 does cite a group ‘under the altar’, awaiting the 2nd rapture. The dead in Christ first, of course. And about Dan. 7, which I can see as more of a historical narrative, which includes what happened to the Roman Empire after Jesus’ Ascension and the early Church. Verse 10 speaks of ‘the books being opened’. Books of judgements I assume, and for all the Old Testament peoples waiting in ‘the graves’. Can’t have one without the other? Matthew 27 50. Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. 51. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52. and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53. and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. It is obvious that I did not work with the ‘sevens’ (or stages or overall judgements in time), until now, well somewhat. The later chapters of Revelation (10-20) and their historical significance seemed more important. Rev 7 appears to be maybe an interlude between Rev 6 (6 seals – to finality) and Rev 8 & 9 (last seal, trumpets, and woes – more finality) chapters. This interlude maybe the ½ hour of Rev 8:1. Not sure if ½ hour is heavenly time (on the hourglass?). My first guess would be that it is indicating ½ the time is gone (oh my) or this is just a dividing line in time?* And highlighting the Old Testament saints resurrection and ascension with Jesus would certainly mark a point. And I believe we must consider what happened to the Old Testament saints after they came ‘out of the ground’ with Jesus in Mt 27:51. If they witnessed, then they needed some sort of body? To put them back in the grave would be, well, somewhat ‘unscriptural’? Well my first guess, for now. Revelation 8:1. When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. * Everyone, including Strongs, translates Rev 8:1 as 1/2 hour. Who am I right? But why does God need ½ hour or John even measure it? I have to go with a contextual, historical, or common sense understanding. And maybe not a theological understanding. Newer Bible translations do this, why not an original? Why did KJV use ‘men’ when ‘mankind’ (ie) was more appropriate? Or Eph. 2:8-9 can certainly have a ‘theological reverse spin’. When I first looked up Strongs 2256, I mistakenly did the Hebrew: a measuring line or cord. Maybe not Greek 2256, but an interesting parallel. More later, I need an interlude… Revelation 7 1. After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2. Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.'' 4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5. of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6. of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7. of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8. of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. 9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'' 11. And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12. saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.'' 13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?'' 14. And I said to him, "Sir, you know.'' So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15. "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16. "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17. "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.''