Revelation 7

Revelation 7:2

2.—[from the east.] Bringing light, or protection and deliverance, to the church. Daubus. Omens from the east were esteemed prosperous. Abp. Newcome.

—[having the seal of the living God.] As seals were in use with ancient nations to secure possessions, each person having his peculiar mark, by which he ascertained the property to be his own; hence “the seal of God” affords His mark by which He “knoweth them that are His.” Dean Woodhouse.

—[to hurt the earth and the sea.] It has much been doubted what particular judgments are meant by these figurative terms; but all agree that some dismal calamity is intended, from which these who were sealed were to escape; and that the purpose of sealing them was to mark them as exempt from that ruin, in which the greater number, not so marked, would be inevitably swallowed up. Dean Stanhope.

Revelation 7:3

3.—[till we have sealed the servants &c.] This is an expression in allusion to the ancient custom of marking servants in their foreheads, to distinguish what they were, and to whom they belonged. Now, among Christians, baptism, being the seal of the covenant between God and man, is therefore by ancient writers often called the seal, the sign, the mark and character of the Lord; and it was the practice in early times, as it is at present, to make the sign of the cross upon the foreheads of the persons baptised. The same sign of the cross was also made at confirmation; and, upon many other occasions, the Christians signed themselves with the sign of the cross in their foreheads, as a token that they were not ashamed of a crucified Master; that, on the contrary, they gloried in the cross of Christ, and triumphed in the symbol and representation of it. “The sealing,” therefore, “of the servants of God in their foreheads,” at this juncture, can imply no less than that many converts should be baptised, and that those, who before, in times of persecution, could only worship God in private, should now make a free, open, and publick profession of their religion. That such an accession was made to the church, every one knows who knows the history of those times. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 7:4

4.—[and there were sealed an hundred &c.] As the church of Christ was first formed out of the Jewish, so here, ver. 4—8, the spiritual Israel is first mentioned; and the number of the thousands of Israel, 144,000, is that of the twelve Patriarchs, multiplied by the twelve Apostles, which we shall find to be a sacred number throughout the Revelation. Bp. Newton.

As the heads of the twelve tribes of the Jewish nation represented the whole body of that people, so these good and faithful Christians are here styled the true Israel of God, who are built upon the foundation of the twelve Apostles of Christ, steadily adhering to the doctrine and worship taught by them. The number here mentioned, 144,000, is not intended to signify a precise and exact number; but, generally, to shew the number of sincere and virtuous Christians to be considerable, though small in comparison with the greater numbers of apostate and idolatrous Christians in the future times of the church. Pyle.

Revelation 7:6

6—7, &c. Of the tribe of Juda &c.] It is observable, that the twelve tribes are not here enumerated in the same method and order, in which they are mentioned in other places of Scripture. Judah has the first rank and precedence, because from Him descended the Messiah. Dan is entirely omitted, and Ephraim is not mentioned, because these were the principal promoters of idolatry; and therefore Levi is substituted in the room of the one, and Joseph is mentioned instead of the other. The children too of the bondwoman and of the freewoman are confounded together, there being, Gal. iii. 28, “in Christ Jesus neither bond nor free.” Bp. Newton.

Revelation 7:9

9.—[to, a great multitude, which no man could number.] The 144,000 of the sealed, the firstfruits to Christ, having led the way, the Gentiles afterwards converted follow, are incorporated with them, and are presented before the throne, clothed in white robes, washed pure from their sins, bearing palmbranches, the signals of joy and festivity and victory. They ascribe their salvation to God and their Redeemer. And the heavenly angels close around them; and, rejoicing at their redemption, unite in a chorus of praise. Dean Woodhouse.

—[clothed with white robes.] In token of their purity. Dr. S. Clarke. The angels, &c. worship God. The seventh seal opened. ASSO DOMINI 96.

Revelation 7:13

13. — What are these which are arrayed &c.] This question is not asked for want of knowledge, but to excite attention, that there may be occasion to shew who they are, and what they are to be. Dambus.

Revelation 7:14

14. — These are they which came out &c.] These persons were very lately in a state of great afflictions, and suffering for the sake of their faith and constancy; but, having kept the faith, they have received the blessings which Christ obtained by His blood, for His church and faithful people; they are now cleansed from all impurity, adorned with all perfection, and advanced to this state of glory and happiness, in which they now appear. Lowman.

Revelation 7:15

15. Therefore are they before the throne &c.] Here follows a very simple and interesting figurative description of the future happiness of this redeemed multitude. The figures which are here employed are such as frequently occur in the writings of the Old and New Testaments. Dean Woodhouse.

Chap. VIII. ver. 1. — the seventh seal.] The seventh seal or period is of much longer duration, and comprehends many more events, than any of the former seals. It comprehends indeed seven periods, distinguished by the sounding of seven trumpets. At the opening of this seal “there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” This silence of half an hour is a sign that the peace of the church would continue but for a short season. It is an interval and pause, as it were, between the foregoing and succeeding visions. It is a mark of solemnity to procure attention, and to prepare the mind for great and signal events. Perhaps there is also an allusion to a ceremony among the Jews. As Philo in-

forms us, the incense used to be offered before the morning, and after the evening sacrifice: and, while the sacrifices were made, 2 Chron. xxix. 25—28, the voices and instruments and trumpets sounded: while the priest went into the temple to burn incense, Luke i. 10, all were silent, and the people prayed without to themselves. Now this was the morning of the church, and therefore the silence precedes the sounding of the trumpet. Ep. Newton.