# 45 2021 Dev. Revelation 7:10. Uncountable! Read all of chapter seven first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelation 7:10 “And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.
At the end of Ch. 6 we have the impression that the Great Judgment is emminent, but no, not yet. Rev. 7 gives us a different vision, a vision of comfort, a vision of victory, a vision of God’s calling and love for His people.
We see four angels holding back the four winds, “at the four corners” as the world was understood in the day. The four horsemen (God’s judgments) were held back as well, there was to be a seal placed on the forehead of the servants of God. Today we see baptism as a sign and seal of forgiveness and God’s grace by His Holy Spirit. 144,000 sealed, that is not a literal number, v. 9 tells us that 144,000 are the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…”
But why the tribes of Israel? God’s intention in calling Abraham was to impact all people, that is clear from God’s Covenant with him, “I will make you a great nation” offspring like the “sand of the sea, like the stars in the sky and through you and your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,” (Gen. 26:14). All believers are children of Abraham. Some tribes are not mentioned, Ephraim, one of Joseph sons, but Manasseh is included as well as Joseph not normally considered a tribe. Also, Dan is not included. There is a lot of speculation, like Ephraim was instrumental in the two and ten tribal split which may be a reason and like Jacob’s blessing and prophecy on Dan as on Jacob’s other sons (Gen.49). But there is no consensus.
The question arises what is the timeline of this vision? Since this is before the judgment the indication is before the beginning of time. That is in line with Eph 1:3-4 ; Rm 8: 28-30 God operates outside of time but He created time moving linearly to a predetermined conclusion that is highlighted in Ch.7. Living in our world today, it sometimes seems to be coming to the end of time, more than likely not yet, no one knows. But vs.15 gives us great comfort, God is in control and those who follow Jesus are heading for His presence, spiritually and eventually physically. V.16 those who suffered hunger and thirst, lack of shelter and suffered scorching heat will no longer suffer under persecution. V.17 Our Shepherd, Jesus, ‘will lead them (us) to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear (out of) from their (our) eyes,’ spiritually now but physically in eternity. Amen and Amen
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Heavenhigh 