THE REVELATION
OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE
CHAPTER 7
John also sees in the sixth seal: The restoration of the gospel foreseen; the sealing of the 144,000; and the hosts of the exalted from all nations.
[ The purpose of the ch. 7 is that of an interlude between chapter 6 and 8 where the theme introduced in chapter 6 continues. So this interlude serves 2 purposes.First, it that the Lord will keep the covenants he made with Abraham by selecting the righteous out from among the wicked.Second, it explains why the harsh judgements visited upon the wicked in the first four seals are held until the very end for the last three seals.
Special emphasis is placed on the gathering of Israel (vs 4-8), and that every nation and people can enjoy the blessings from the atonement (v 9-12).
This chapter also explains that God has purposely chosen to forestall the rest of the seals of judgement and punishment in order to gather out the elect. Thus, a
shift in covenant theology is revealed.Where God was more willing to punish the wicked immediately in during the first set of four seals, the complete scattering of Israel results in a change in how divine judgement will be pursued.Rather than the policy of worldwide intervention from God's level as was seen in the first four seals, the last three seals are were God provides for the covenant at the individual level, allows the saints to be tested so to speak to refine themselves and saves judgement for the end. ]
1 AND after these things I saw four angels [ After the seventh seal is opened, the first four angels receive their assignments to cleanse certain portions of the earth. D&C 77:8 Q. What are we to understand by the four angels, spoken of in the 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation? A. We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness. ] standing on the four corners of the earth, [ Or the entire earth. ]holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [ These angels are under the direction of God to the point that nothing happens that they do not control, nothing is destroyed without their permission, no wind, pestilence, or death transpire in order to make sure that the righteous are preserved, these are those who hold the ability to bring forth Gods power on the earth. Now we are also taught that "there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it" (D&C 130:5) ]
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, [ Something to understand about the 4 cardinal directions in prophetic language.Like numbers, it represents quality, not direction. Facing East is always the "correct" way to face. It is covenant-keeping. Example: the Garden was placed Eastward in Eden. Christ will come from the East when He comes again. The sun/son rises in the East. Because you face East, that is what is in your future.Thus, what is in the West is in your past. It is your history, your anchor. It is the words and the prophets.When you face East, the North is on your left hand. This is not a good place to be from. This is covenant-breaking. Israel was taken captive into the North countries, or the covenant-breaking countries of the world. And it is out of them that Israel must return. North is also the only direction in which, if you face it, you will never see the sun/son. The south shares the same word in Hebrew as "parched", probably because the world's largest desert lay to the south of Israel. Though it is sparsely populated, the peoples are cared for by the Lord. It is a land of "milk and honey". It is Egypt, a place of refuge. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, even the Child Jesus sought refuge in the south in Egypt. But they did not stay there. It is the only direction which, if you face it, you will always see the sun/son, and view its highest point in the sky.D&C 77:9 comments on this angel from the East, see also D&C 77:14.D&C 77:10 informs us the events from v. 1-2 take place during the sixth thousand years. D&C 77:9 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse? A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.10 Q. What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished? A. They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousand years, or the opening of the sixth seal. “As previously stated, the restoration of the Gospel did not come through just one messenger, but there are several who came and bestowed their keys of authority and power. The name Elias is a title. This we have been taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. (Teachings, p. 335.) Is it not possible, therefore, since so many ancient prophets had a hand in the restoration, that in speaking of the Elias who was to come and restore all things, do we not have a composite picture of several Eliases, rather than one single individual? The angel with the seal directs the four angels holding the destiny of the world in their hands, not to hurt the earth until the servants of the Lord have been sealed. This could not be accomplished until the Gospel was restored and proclaimed to the nations of the earth.” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:301–2.). ] having the seal of the living God:[ John is just showing us that the righteous are being taken care of, but the righteous is not the main audience. He is just confirming that he is taking care of them, and goes back to his main message. Elias whose mission was to gather together nd to restore all things. This is the same mission as John the beloved has. ]and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [ “Can you tell me where the people are who will be shielded and protected from these calamities and judgments which are even now at our doors? I’ll tell you. The Priesthood of God who honor their priesthood, and who are worthy of their blessings are the only ones who shall have this safety and protection. No other people have a right to be shielded from these judgments. They are at our very doors; not even this people will escape them entirely. They will come down like the judgments of sodom and Gomorrah. And none but the priesthood will be safe from their fury. God has held the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. But I want to tell you now, that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out. Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. Remember this, and reflect upon these matters. If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we’ll have the protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety. Read the scriptures and the revelations. They will tell you about these things.” (Wilford Woodruff in The Young Woman’s Journal, 5:512–13.) ]
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, [This is a conversation, here we have four destroying angels, at least symbolic individuals who are positioned there to bring to pass God's judgments, and then a fifth angel shows up. This is a really mysterious passage, but fortunately, Doctrine and Covenants 77 breaks it down. If we go to verse eight, what are we to understand by the four angels spoken of in the seventh chapter and first verse of Revelation. Answer, "We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth to save life and to destroy. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred tongue and people having power to shut up the heavens to seal up unto life or to cast down to the regions of darkness." I like that, there's something going on here earlier. They're not just destroying
angels. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. They're important. We don't know the identity of these four angels, but we do know the identity of this fifth angel. What are we to understand the angel ascending from the East?
Revelation 7:2, "We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the 12 tribes of Israel. Wherefore, he cried from the four angels having the everlasting gospel saying, hurt not the earth until we've sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." If you go down to the next verse, "You'll receive it. This is the Elias who's going to restore all things." this angel is actually John. At the end of chapter 10, John has a special ordinance performed for him in this vision beginning in verse eight of chapter 10, John is going
to do something that the prophet Isaiah has done before. He's going to be beckoned to eat a book and it's a bittersweet book. Verse eight, "And the voice, which I heard from heaven spake unto me again and said, 'Go and take the little book,' which is open the hand of the angel, which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth, and I went unto the angel, said unto him, 'Give me the little book.' And he said unto me, 'Take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth, sweet as honey.' And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it up and it was in my mouth sweet as honey and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." I
wonder if this is John's translation. Translation, it sounds really
great to be immortal, but it's probably really rough to bear the suffering of the world as we read about the three Nephites. "And he said unto me, 'Thou must prophesy again before many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.'" So here John is getting his commission. It's not just going to be for your life here on earth. This is going to be something you're going to do again. Joseph describes this chapter, when the Divine describes this chapter in 77:14. It's the question, what is this little book? And the answer is we are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him to gather the tribes of Israel. "Behold, this is Elias," remember right before we were told Elias was a name for that ascending angel from the east who as it is written, "must come and restore all things." We don't really understand all of John the Revelator's role, what he's doing, but there's a moment here that says he's going to be in charge of making sure people are safe, the righteous are safe during this calamities that's going to happen, so stop the judgment before it happens. Let's take care of those that the Father needs to do his work during this time. ]neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. [ Or give us time in order to annoint the righteous (think temple context here) see Rev 9:4. In Semitic fashion the symbolism derived from the forehead would suggest both the thoughts and determination of the individual, or their intended behavior. If the angels are to be able to mark the foreheads of the righteous them they must be able to discern the thoughts and desires of men. For similar imagery see Ezek. 9:4; Exod 28:38, Jer 3:3, Ezek 3:8. It was a common practice in John’s day for devotees of the various heathen gods to mark their foreheads with the name or symbol of their god. Thus followers of Zeus would mark their foreheads with the thunderbolt; those of Poseidon, the trident, and so on. John’s imagery would have had a powerful impact on the readers of his day. Being sealed or marked in the forehead would be a vivid metaphor of devotion and servitude to God—whether that god was the true God or the evil beast worshipped as a god. (See Revelation 13.)
As to the actual meaning of the sealing itself, Joseph Smith said: “Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure. When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother.” (Smith, Teachings, p. 321.)
"What for? To prepare them to stand forth in the midst of these desolations and plagues, and not be overcome. When they are prepared, when they have received a renewal of their bodies in the Lord’s Temple, and have been filled with the Holy Ghost and purified as gold and silver in a furnace of fire, then they will be prepared to stand before the nations of the earth and preach glad tidings of salvation in the midst of judgments that are to come like a whirlwind upon the wicked.” (Journal of Discourses, Orson Pratt 15:45) ]
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. [ The 144,000 is anumerical value which in Hebrew means those who have ascended. D&C 77:11 informs us these 144,000 are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel who are called as high priests to go and preach the gospel to all the nations of the earth, as follows:11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel--twelve thousand out of every tribe? A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn. Note the comment in D&C indicates “they who are ordained out of every nation” are those who are among the 144,000.These people are associated with the tribes of Israel, but are not necessarily of that literal lineage.At least some of them are there by adoption. "In Doctrine and Covenants 77:11 the Lord explained to Joseph Smith that the number 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:4–8 is the number of representatives out of the twelve tribes of Israel who will be ordained to assist others in their quest for exaltation (see the commentary for Revelation 14:1–5). It is not, as some people believe, the total number of people who will be exalted. “The church of the Firstborn” refers to those who will be exalted and become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (D&C 77:11). Members of the Lord’s earthly Church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—who live righteously and receive the ordinances of exaltation will become members of the Lord’s heavenly Church—the Church of the Firstborn (see D&C 93:20–22)." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/new-testament-student-manual/revelation/chapter-54-revelation-4-11?lang=eng According to W. Cleon Skousen We have reason to believe that the first reference to the 144,000 during the sixth seal is referring to the selection and sealing up of these choice servants IN THE SPIRIT WORLD before they came into the earth. That there were such foreordinations in the spirit world is described by Alma:
“And this is the manner after which they were ordained – being called and prepared from the FOUNDATION OF TUE WORLD according to the FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD. “ see Alma 13:3 "The number of those called to service in the last days, 144,000, is instructive. As noted, they are high priests called as missionaries in the last days. The message, however, is not in the quantity, for again the number need not be taken literally, but in the quality. Twelve represents priesthood. Multiplying the number by itself adds wholeness (as would multiplying it by seven). Thus, the number denotes the quality of priesthood held by those who are God’s servants in the last days. For this reason, one need not worry that chapter 7 leaves out the tribe of Dan from the list of those called to God’s service. It is all symbolic. There will be many Danites in God’s kingdom, but John may have left the tribe out because, according to popular Jewish myth, the anti-Christ was to arise from that tribe, and John worked to put down any form of idolatry." https://rsc.byu.edu/shedding-light-new-testament/understanding-images-symbols-book-revelation ]
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. [ "Manasses", this tribe replaces Dan.Why Dan is omitted and replaced by Manasseh is unclear.The traditional interpretation is the beast comes from this tribe, or the tribe is somehow affiliated with the beast.There is nothing in the present text suggesting this idea, and so the proponents of this reading use the external proof text of Gen. 49:17, which is not particularly persuasive.Another explanation might be that John is omitting Dan to hold them up as an a bad example.History indicates the tribe turned idolatrous quite early in Israel's history, cf. Judg. 18:30-31.They apparently had open dealings with their Gentile neighbors in Tyre, cf. 2 Chr. 2:14.And later on, the city of Dan became the center of idolatry in the Northern Kingdom, cf. 1 Kings 12:27-31.Thus, those of natural Israel who are idolatrous are not part of this elect group of high priests.Or, in other 7.3words, lineage is less important than personal righteousness. While the Lord wants to gather out Natural Israel, if they are rebellious and wicked like Dan historically was then they are not elect.Regardless of John's intentions in omitting Dan, it is unlikely the tribe of Dan was altogether banished or excluded from Israel.Ezekiel's eschatological vision of the restored Jerusalem has the tribe of Dan being apportioned land (cf. Ezek. 48:2) and a (gate cf. Ezek. 48:32) the same as all of the other tribes.Curiously enough, Dan is also omitted from the genealogy appearing in 1 Chr. 2-8.The original Dan is mentioned as a son of Jacob in 1 Chr. 2:2, but no genealogy.It is not because the tribe is extinct, because in 1 Chr. 12:35 we learn they have 28,600 trained soldiers, and later in 1 Chr. 27:22 the prince of Dan is mentioned.The reason for this may be 1 Kings 12:27-31. The city Dan, which was established by the tribe of Dan, was one of the two cities Jeroboam established golden calves in an effort to politically divorce the Northern ten tribes from Judah's control by eliminating their need to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.From the passage it appears the idol located at Dan became the more popular and priests were established, ones not of the lineage of Levi.As the book of Chronicles is a priestly history, the priests may have deliberately omitted or subsequently removed the genealogy of Dan in retaliation for setting up an alternate worship site and encroaching upon the Priesthood.After this, all we have is references to the city Dan (cf. 1 Ki. 15:20 [2 Chr. 16:4], 2 Chr. 30:5, Jer. 4:15, Jer. 8:16, Ezek. 27:19, Amos 8:14), and no more references to Dan as a tribe. ]
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
[ So we are looking for an event that has or will happen around the year 2000 AD, the beginning of the seventh seal. The sealing of twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes was explained by the Prophet Joseph, that these are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.
Apparently these high priests are leaders to administer the everlasting gospel and that they will have a part to play in the temple work of as many as will come to the ‘church of the Firstborn’. To become a member of the church of the Firstborn, a person must receive the ordinances of the Firstborn, and inherit ‘all that the father hath’ and become an heir and joint heir with Jesus Christ the Firstborn of the spirit and the only begotten in the flesh. These ordinances can only come in the House of the Lord where one can receivethe endowment of power and the blessings of the firstborn. These one hundred and forty-four thousand high priests will be with the savior at the beginning of the millennium when he comes to the Mount of Olives.
For some reason the list of the twelve tribes, unlike the traditional list, adds Joseph, and Levi, and excludes Ephraim, and Dan. ]
9 After this I beheld, [ John sees the result of this gathering out as described in verse 3, 13-14. ] and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, [ So many that they cannot be numbered. ] of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, [ See Isa. 1:15-17, Jer. 2:22. See also Rev 6:2,11. ] and palms in their hands; [ The predicted events of John 12:13 are finally realized.Palm fronds are a symbol of victory and triumph representing the Davidic King.Anciently, those at Jerusalem saw Jesus as a physical deliverer rather than a spiritual one.Here, the righteous in heaven hail him as both. The “Hosannah Shout” which was given at the Palmyra Temple dedication. President Hinckley described it as thus at the October 2000 Conference: "I will now demonstrate the shout. Each one takes a clean white handkerchief, holding it by one corner, and waves it while saying in unison, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb,” repeated three times, followed by “Amen, Amen, and Amen.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/11/this-great-millennial-year?lang=engPerformed at Temple dedications, and the word "Hosanna" means "Come save Us" or "Please save us". Interesting note the Palmrya Temple was Dedicated on April 6th 2000 AD. some interesting facts here. It was exactly 170 years from the organization of the church. 1st Temple dedication that was broadcast via satellite to every nation. Over 1,300 stake sites over the world, They were dressed in white. Waved white handkerchiefs. The Hosanna Shout was then repeated again in General Conference 2020 during the broadcast of conference to the entire church. ]
9 After this I beheld, [ John sees the result of this gathering out as described in verse 3, 13-14. ] and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, [ So many that they cannot be numbered. ] of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, [ See Isa. 1:15-17, Jer. 2:22. See also Rev 6:2,11. ] and palms in their hands; [ The predicted events of John 12:13 are finally realized.Palm fronds are a symbol of victory and triumph representing the Davidic King.Anciently, those at Jerusalem saw Jesus as a physical deliverer rather than a spiritual one.Here, the righteous in heaven hail him as both. The “Hosannah Shout” which was given at the Palmyra Temple dedication. President Hinckley described it as thus at the October 2000 Conference: "I will now demonstrate the shout. Each one takes a clean white handkerchief, holding it by one corner, and waves it while saying in unison, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb,” repeated three times, followed by “Amen, Amen, and Amen.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/11/this-great-millennial-year?lang=engPerformed at Temple dedications, and the word "Hosanna" means "Come save Us" or "Please save us". Interesting note the Palmrya Temple was Dedicated on April 6th 2000 AD. some interesting facts here. It was exactly 170 years from the organization of the church. 1st Temple dedication that was broadcast via satellite to every nation. Over 1,300 stake sites over the world, They were dressed in white. Waved white handkerchiefs. The Hosanna Shout was then repeated again in General Conference 2020 during the broadcast of conference to the entire church. ]
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?and whence came they? [ John is seeing in vision the last days and in that vision he is asked by one of the “elders” these questions. Good tactic for the Elders tp ask questions to see if what they are teaching is being understood. ]
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. [ So John defers the question back to the Elders to explain or provide the answer. ] And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [ These are some people that have dedicated their lives to God and have had the atonement of Christ become active in their lives. Dressed in white suggesting that they have overcome, they are victorious over sin and temptation. See Rev 6:2,11. That is as one accepts the atonement of Christ and keeps his commandments, thus cleansing himself through divine power from the sins of the world (Alma 13:11, 12). ]
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: [ The elder continues telling John about these people. These people are in God’s house and they “serve him day and night in his temple”. What other religion comes close to fulfilling this scripture? ] and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
[ Verses 16 & 17 imply covenant blessings see Lev. 26:3-12, Deut. 28:1-13. ]
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; [They have the truth, they are following the master who suggested that if they did they would no long hunger or thirst. ]neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. [ For protection from the sun, cp. Isa. 4:6, Isa. 25:4, Isa. 51:16.For the Messianic banquet, cp. Isa. 55:1.Those who enter in God’s presence enjoy all of the promised blessings. ]