Disciples Global Network

According to the Psalmist, the anointed “ Son ” would reign “ on Mount Zion… my holy mount .” As attested by the New Testament, that king is Jesus of Nazareth. His reign over the Earth began following his Resurrection and Ascension. Ever since he has been extending his sovereignty by sending his envoys to the “ uttermost parts of the Earth ” to announce his Gospel to the nations.

One of the twenty-four “elders” interprets the vision of the innumerable saints that stand before the Lamb and the throne  - Revelation 7:13-17.  We have reached the point where the two questions have been answered - How long must the martyrs wait for vindication, and “ who is able to stand ” before the “ wrath of the Lamb ” and he “ who sits on the throne .” Having been sealed, numbered, and assembled, John now sees all the saints “ standing ” before Jesus and his Father in victorious worship.

John next sees an innumerable multitude of men from every nation standing before the Lamb and the Throne  – Revelation 7:9-12.  The saints are “ sealed ” before the unleashing of the “ four winds of the earth ,” then they are assembled for the sojourn to the Promised Land and John “ hears ” their “ number ,” 144,000 “ males ” from the “ twelve tribes of Israel .” Next, he “ sees ” the assembly of the saints as it arrives at its destination, a multitude so vast that “ no man could number them .”

The 144,000 males from the tribes of Israel are numbered and assembled for the journey to the city of New Jerusalem  – Revelation 7:4-8.  The “ servants of God ” have been “ sealed ” against the onslaught of the “ four winds of the earth ,” but now they must be “ numbered ” to ensure that no member of the covenant community is lost in the coming “ tribulation .” The full complement of “ witnesses ” must be assembled to witness the “ day of the wrath of the Lamb. ”

The 144,000 males on Mount Zion comprise the first fruit of the final harvest, the priestly company that follows the Lamb  – Revelation 14:1-5.  Previously, John saw the 144,000 “ males ” from the tribes of Israel encamped in the wilderness. Now, they appear together on “ Mount Zion ” as a priestly company, the “ first fruits ” of the greater harvest to come. They stand with the “ Lamb ” in contrast to the “ inhabitants of the earth ” who bow and give total allegiance to the “ Beast from the Sea .”

Next, John sees the sealed servants of God as an innumerable multitude from all nations standing before the Lamb .  In chapter 7, the “ servants of God ” are sealed, then portrayed with two different images - The “ twelve tribes of Israel ” assembled for travel, and the “ innumerable multitude standing ” before the “ Lamb .” The imagery is drawn from the story of ancient Israel in the wilderness sojourning from Egypt to the Promised Land.

SYNOPSIS  -  144,000 males from the tribes of Israel are numbered and assembled for the journey to the Promised Land  –  Revelation 7:4-8 .  The “ sealing of God’s servants ” follows a literary pattern set in the fifth chapter with the introduction of the “ lion of the tribe of Judah ,” the “ slain Lamb .” What John “ sees ” interprets what he first “ hears .” In the next two paragraphs, first, he “ hears ” the “ number ” of the “ sealed servants ,” 144,000 males from the “ twelve tribes of Israel ,” then he “ sees ” an assembly of men and women from every nation far too numerous to count.