Reading for April 25th

Read Revelation 7.1-17 In 7.1-17: The sealing of the servants of God. Four is the number of the earth. Seal is the same word as the seven seals. The forehead was symbolic of human will and worship; see 13.16; Ezek 9.4. In verse 4: One hundred forty-four thousand is a symbolic number built on 12 (God's people) and 10 (all). In verses 5-8: The regathering of the twelve tribes was expected in the end time (Isa 43), but this list is unique is substituing Joseph and Levi for Dan and Ephraim. In verse 9: The great mulitude is either a second group of gentiles or another image for the same group. In verses 9-12: The scene of Rev 4-5 is repeated and central theme of this story, whorshipping God, is emphasized. In verse 14: The grat ordeal was the time of suffering that would inaugurate the messianic age; not that John's story is already underway. Although sealed from God's wrath, they still suffer. In verse 15-17: This remarkable vision of divine protection is the antithesis of this scene in seal five, Comments or Questions..