The root of the different views on the identity of the , seems to be whether they are a specific group of people who will be revealed in the future or if this group is representative of a larger group. If it is a specific group, this would seem to be a remnant of Jewish male, celibate believers with 12, from most of the tribes of Israel excluding Dan; are those from Joseph the ones through his son Ephraim only or could they include some from Ephraim and some from Manasseh, so Manasseh has over 12, in it?
The identification of them — being sealed by God — precedes the harm that God puts on the earth and also protects them from the harm discussed in Revelation The sixth seal that had been opened in Revelation has a great earthquake and other cosmic signs i. Presumably, those from Dan and Ephraim, as well as women and Gentiles, could become part of this multitude as well as those who were not among the 12, from the tribe, as this number would only be a remnant of the tribe , but they would not be part of the , It is unclear if those from these other tributes, the women, and the Gentiles would be harmed by the items in Revelation since they are not explicitly said to be sealed.
Another possibility is that these , are representational of all believers, using symbolic language to describe them. Therefore, , could be 12 x 12 x 1,, showing that there is a great number of people that God calls.
These two visions likely depict the same people of God but do so from two different perspectives. First, we see the people of God on earth arrayed in battle formation and protected from divine judgments to come. Revelation 6 concluded with an important question: Who can withstand the wrath of God and the Lamb ? This explains why they can be sealed and simultaneously suffer martyrdom. We will never experience the wrath or condemning judgment of God Rom.
Four angels stand at the four corners of the earth, every part of the world. He called. The four angels are commanded not to harm the land or sea or trees until the servants of God have been sealed.
The seal on the forehead indicates ownership and protection and distinguishes the servants of God from inhabitants of the earth. Passover and a man with an ink horn in Ezekiel. The number , appears only in Revelation and in , 3, suggesting the number represents the same group both places. Both Revelation 7 and 14 serve as interludes, where we see the righteous, the ,, sealed or protected by God.
The number itself results from multiplying the square of 12 by , emphasizing the people of God in its totality and fullness.
This is the case because numbers in Revelation normally represent reality figuratively. The seal of God is also connected with believers throughout Revelation, just as unbelievers bear the mark of the beast. Taking other details about the group literally becomes very problematic.
Set Interface Language. Decrease font size. Increase font size. Display options. Default More Most. Back to Default Settings Done. Article Preview :. In the following, I explore how this metaphorical image of , male virgins functions Christians agree the , does not denote the total of souls throughout history who will be ultimately be saved from the wrath of eternal damnation. One can believe the number in Scripture is a definite count and still have the hope of attaining heaven.
This group of people will evangelize the world during this period, leading the salvation of millions referenced in Revelation The tribal distinctions referred to in Revelation were eliminated well before the writing of John. Additionally, one could logically adhere to the opinion that the separation of tribes was used to symbolize the numerous Christian denominations and their equality in number of inclusion. No one will be excluded or granted partiality based upon lineage. Numerology could certainly be in play for the usage of the number , The 12, from each of the 12 tribes with Judah and Benjamin joined together stand in equal position.
Spurgeon declared "the day shall come when first and last shall rejoin together in the equal blessing of the Most High. Spurgeon described the "great multitude, which no man could number" as the "great gather of the Gentile multitude redeemed by blood, numbered by God, never to be numbered by men, being like the sand on the seashore, innumerable!
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