Revelation 7:1-17

REVELATION—NOTE ON Revelation 7:1 There are three “interludes” in Revelation 1:1 (vv. Revelation 7:1; Revelation 10:1; Revelation 20:1) that explain the place of the saints in the events of the book. (The seals, trumpets, and bowls relate only to sinners.) There are various proposals for interpreting the vision of the “144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4) and its relation to the next vision of a countless crowd “from every nation” (v. Revelation 7:9). Many think the 144,000 represents Jewish believers. They are brought to faith immediately after Jesus returns and removes the church from the earth before (or during) a seven-year tribulation (this is a “pretribulation rapture” view; see note on 3:10). Others understand “Israel” as the church, the new covenant people of God. Thus the 144,000 are believers from every nation, including ethnic Israel.