Revelation 7-10

Revelation 7

1-8

Staying consistent with the apocalyptic genre one should cautiously consider anything that could be symbolic and avoid forcing literal interpretation, which some have done in this case.  We should look for Old Testament allusions that logically connect with the overall themes developing throughout Revelation.  The significance of the 12,000 of each tribe as been discussed over and over. But what I think we have here is a picture of the totality of God’s people signified by a list of the tribes of Israel, God’s covenant people in the OT.

Their number is significant symbology to show the completeness of God’s people all protected by God’s “seal”.  The seal itself has allusion to a running theme throughout the Bible of God’s people being marked or sealed by something that identifies them belonging to God.  In Genesis men and women were created in God’s likeness, a type of mark or seal.  In Ezekiel 9 those who are identified with the mark on their foreheads were spared from judgement. So I think we have a significant connection with Revelation to the marks and seals we’ve been seeing placed on God’s people. In contrast we later see the mark of the beast, those who are destined for judgement.

John names the names from Jacob’s sons and curiously mentions one of Joseph’s two sons as part of the 12, leaving out Jacob’s son Dan.  It seems that many reasons have been cited but the question still exists with no real satisfaction as to why.  But whatever the case the meaning of the text is not negatively harmed.   God’s people are protected from judgement, He knows who each one of them are and will not lose count of even one.

Other important observation is the list order.  If the first name being Judah is of any significance then it may because Judah is given precedence because it is Christ’s human and prophetic heritage. If this were speaking of the literal Israel then we might assume to see Jacob’s first born mentioned, but in symbolic form Christ is first.

9-17

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10