Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 55

"One hundred and forty-four thousand"

Text: Revelation 7:4

A SPECIAL SEALING

The Lord gave a command for His “servants” to be sealed. Those who were sealed belonged to the Lord. They would enjoy His protection.

“And I heard the number of those who were sealed.
One hundred and forty-four thousand
of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.”
Revelation 7:4-8

1. Who were these servants of God?

a) They were Jews.

b) They came from the different tribes of Israel.

c) They would be the converted Jews who would come to faith in the Lord (Romans 9-11).

d) They would be especially protected in the Great Tribulation that would take place.

2. The Twelve tribes of Israel.

a) Normally, the tribe of Levi would be left out of the count.

b) They were called Levites and were dedicated to serve as assistants to the priests.

c) In this list, the Levites were named as one of the tribes.

3. The missing tribe.

a) Dan was omitted as one of the tribes.

b) It is interesting to note that Dan was also omitted in 1 Chronicles 4-7.

c) We are not informed as to why this tribe was not included.

4. The tribe of Joseph.

a) This tribe is normally represented as:

i) Manasseh

ii) Ephraim

b) Manasseh was mentioned.

c) The tribe of Joseph is thus a reference to Ephraim.

i) In the Old Testament, Ephraim had a bad name (Cf. Hosea).

ii) It is called “the tribe of Joseph” to say that this tribe was a good one.