Rev. David Holwick Study notes on Revelation 7
Ledgewood Baptist Church
September 14, 1991
Revelation 7
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I. Difficulties of Revelation 7: [Johnson]
A. Are the 144,000 symbolic, representative, or literal?
B. Does the Jewish terminology refer to Jews or the New Israel, the Church?
C. What is the "great tribulation" in 7:14?
D. Are those in 7:9ff (great multitude) martyrs?
E. What relation does the 144,000 have with the "great multitude"?
II. Identification of 144,000.
A. Literal: Jews. [Bloom,Gundry,Hodge,Hendrikson,LaH,Mich,Walv]
1) In favor:
a) In NT, "Israel" refers to physical descendants of Jacob.
1> Galatians 6:16 doesn't equate church with Israel.
2> The church wasn't identified with Israel until 160 A.D.
3> Therefore Jewish references should be applied to the Jewish people.
b) John is symbolically portraying Paul's prediction of the salvation of Israel
in Romans 11:25-29.
2) Against:
a) Would imply that Jews alone receive the seal, and that Gentile Christians have to get along without it. [BM]
b) In Rev 9:4 it is assumed the Church as a whole has been sealed against the
assaults of the demonic forces. [BM]
1> In Rev 13:16ff an effort is made to compel all to receive the beast's mark.
2> Therefore it appears that John sees mankind divided under two allegiances.
B. Symbolic: Church.
1) In favor:
a) The NT applies Jewish terminology to the whole Church, Jew and Gentile:
1> By middle of first century, Paul distinguished between true [Christian] Jews and the physical descendants of Abraham. Romans 2:28-29; 9:8
A> Even Jewish groups like the Qumran community restricted the use of "the true Israel" to their own followers.
2> Peter describes the church in terms drawn from the OT that historically describe the true people of God among the Jewish descendants. 1 Peter 2:4,9
3> Gentile Christians are considered "Abraham's seed" (Gal 3:29) and the "true circumcision" (Phil 3:3).
4> Although "the Israel of God" in Galatians 6:16 probably refers to physical Israel as the term does elsewhere in the NT (see above), by John's time (96 A.D.) it may have been applied to the Church. [Jo]
b) John also applies Jewish terminology to the whole church. [BM,Jo,Mor,Wil]
1> He makes a distinction between the true Jew and the false. 2:9; 3:9
2> The OT image of the people of Israel as a kingdom and priests to God is used of followers of Jesus. 1:6 [Jo,BM]
3> Many of the promises to the victors in the churches in the 7 letters are fulfillments of OT promises given to the true people of Israel. Rev 2-3
4> In the rebukes to the churches, the OT imagery of "Balaam" and "Jezebel" describe error that has influenced not the OT Israel but the NT church.
5> In the conclusion of Revelation (21:9-12) the church is called the "bride, the wife of the Lamb"; she is identified with the New Jerusalem, and on its twelve gates are inscribed the "names of the twelve tribes of Israel."
6> John does not negate the teaching that Israel will be converted (Rom 11) but he is not presenting it here. (John may do so at 11:2f)
c) The "tribes of Israel" are called "the servants of our God", a phrase which
elsewhere applies to all Christians regardless of race. Rev 2:20; 11:18;
19:2,5; 22:3,6 [BM]
d) The actual list of the twelve Jewish tribes is unique and may indicate it is
meant symbolically. [Ladd]
2) Against:
a) The Jewish symbolism is detailed and seems to contrast with the vision of
redeemed Gentiles in Rev 7:9-17. (See arguments in favor of Jewish
identification.)
C. Cultic applications.
1) Jehovah Witnesses.
a) Originally they thought that all Witnesses were the 144,000 and would be
the only humans to go to heaven.
b) As the sect increased, the 144,000 was limited to a select group of Witnesses.
2) Mormons see them as representative of their church elders. [Lind]
3) Seventh Day Adventists see them as faithful Adventists who are observing the
Jewish Sabbath when Christ returns. [LaH]
III. The number 144,000: literal, representative, or symbolic?
A. Literal.
1) Usually those who see exact number identify them as Jewish Christian
evangelists. [Lindsey, LaH]
B. Representative. Maybe not 144,000 exactly, but not the entire group.
1) Jewish:
a) An unconverted remnant of Israel. [Gundry]
b) The converted remnant of Israel. [Walv]
2) Church:
a) A portion of the Church chosen for special service. [Caird]
C. Symbolic of perfect, complete number of saved. [Jo,Wil]
1) "Twelve" appears repeatedly in the final chapters. [Jo]
a) 12,000 describes the dimensions of the perfect city of God. 21:16
2) Therefore 12 times 12,000 would describe the perfect people of God.
IV. The Great Multitude. Rev 7:9-17
A. Identification.
1) Gentiles saved in the Tribulation, in contrast to Jews. [LaH,Lind,Walv]
2) Martyrs. [Bloom,Caird,Jo;Most commentators-BM]
3) The last generation of the church. [BM]
4) The whole company of the redeemed in Christ as seen in glory. [Wil]
B. Relationship with 144,000.
1) Groups are different and deliberately contrasted. [Gundry,81,Walv]
2) Groups are the same. [BM,Jo,Wil]
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