Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses you through this material.
Stacey
Take a few minutes to savor Revelation Chapter 7. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations.
7:1-17 — interlude before the seventh seal.
7:1, 9 — after this — implies that this is a new vision.
Eerdmans' Concise Bible Handbook says that the four winds may be the same as the four horsemen mentioned in chapter 6 (see Zechariah 6:5). If this is the case, John is witnessing God holding back these destructive forces while He marks everyone who belongs to Him. That is too cool! If the word is literal, there will be no breeze to offer relief in the heat. Plant material won't blow to new locations to promote new growth. Can birds fly if there is no movement to the air? What other things might be effected by this?
See Zechariah 6:5 (AMP)
7:2 — angel... having the seal of the Living God — was this angel assigned to seal the foreheads of the servants of God?
7:3 — seal on the foreheads — see Ezekiel 9:4.
These will remain for God's wrath. They must be marked. See Ezekiel 9:4 (AMP)
7:4-8 — My Bible's study notes say that this is different from the usual birth order listing of the 12 tribes of Israel, because it is a symbolic list of God's true followers. (1) Judah is listed first because Judah is the tribe from which David and Jesus descend (Genesis 49:8-12; Matthew 1:1). (2) Levi had no tribal allotment because of the Levites' work for God in the temple (Deuteronomy 18:1), but they are mentioned here as a reward for faithfulness. (3) Dan is not mentioned because it was known for rebellion and idolatry (Genesis 49:17). (4) The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are listed as Joseph and Manasseh because of Ephraim's rebellion. See Genesis 49 for the story of the beginning of these 12 tribes.
7:9 — these are the people who come out of the great tribulation. See 7:14.
7:14 — See Genesis 49:11; Daniel 12:1 (AMP) 7:16 — See Isaiah 49:10; Psalms 121:6 (AMP)
7:17 — God will wipe away their tears — they won't suffer, anymore.
See Psalms 23:2; Isaiah 25:8; Ezekiel 34:23 (AMP)
Stacey
Take a few minutes to savor Revelation Chapter 7. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations.
7:1-17 — interlude before the seventh seal.
7:1, 9 — after this — implies that this is a new vision.
Eerdmans' Concise Bible Handbook says that the four winds may be the same as the four horsemen mentioned in chapter 6 (see Zechariah 6:5). If this is the case, John is witnessing God holding back these destructive forces while He marks everyone who belongs to Him. That is too cool! If the word is literal, there will be no breeze to offer relief in the heat. Plant material won't blow to new locations to promote new growth. Can birds fly if there is no movement to the air? What other things might be effected by this?
See Zechariah 6:5 (AMP)
7:2 — angel... having the seal of the Living God — was this angel assigned to seal the foreheads of the servants of God?
7:3 — seal on the foreheads — see Ezekiel 9:4.
These will remain for God's wrath. They must be marked. See Ezekiel 9:4 (AMP)
7:4-8 — My Bible's study notes say that this is different from the usual birth order listing of the 12 tribes of Israel, because it is a symbolic list of God's true followers. (1) Judah is listed first because Judah is the tribe from which David and Jesus descend (Genesis 49:8-12; Matthew 1:1). (2) Levi had no tribal allotment because of the Levites' work for God in the temple (Deuteronomy 18:1), but they are mentioned here as a reward for faithfulness. (3) Dan is not mentioned because it was known for rebellion and idolatry (Genesis 49:17). (4) The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are listed as Joseph and Manasseh because of Ephraim's rebellion. See Genesis 49 for the story of the beginning of these 12 tribes.
7:9 — these are the people who come out of the great tribulation. See 7:14.
7:14 — See Genesis 49:11; Daniel 12:1 (AMP) 7:16 — See Isaiah 49:10; Psalms 121:6 (AMP)
7:17 — God will wipe away their tears — they won't suffer, anymore.
See Psalms 23:2; Isaiah 25:8; Ezekiel 34:23 (AMP)
- Remember that the main message of the book of Revelation is the infinite love, power and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is this evident in today’s text?
- What attributes of God do you see in this chapter?
- What scripture seemed to be God speaking directly to you? What is He teaching you in these verses? How does He want you to respond?
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