Revelation 7:5
From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
From the tribe of Judah
The tribe of Judah holds significant prominence in biblical history. The name "Judah" comes from the Hebrew "Yehudah," meaning "praise." Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and his tribe became the leading tribe of Israel. Historically, Judah is the tribe from which King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ descended, fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah coming from the line of David. This mention in Revelation underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and the centrality of Judah in His redemptive plan.

12,000 were sealed
The number 12,000 is symbolic, representing completeness and perfection in biblical numerology. The sealing signifies divine protection and ownership, marking these individuals as belonging to God. In the context of Revelation, being sealed indicates being set apart for God's purposes, protected from divine wrath, and assured of salvation. This sealing echoes the Old Testament practice of marking or setting apart individuals for God's service, as seen in Ezekiel 9:4.

from the tribe of Reuben
Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. His name, derived from the Hebrew "Re'uven," means "behold, a son." Despite his birthright, Reuben lost his preeminence due to his transgressions (Genesis 49:3-4). However, his inclusion here signifies God's grace and the restoration of all tribes in the eschatological vision. It highlights the theme of redemption and the inclusion of all God's people in His ultimate plan.

from the tribe of Gad
Gad was the seventh son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. The name "Gad" means "good fortune" or "troop" in Hebrew. Historically, the tribe of Gad settled east of the Jordan River and was known for its warriors. Their mention in Revelation emphasizes the strength and resilience of God's people, who are called to stand firm in faith. It also reflects the unity and diversity of the tribes, each contributing uniquely to the fulfillment of God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Tribe of Judah
Judah is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, known for its leadership and royal lineage, including King David and Jesus Christ. The tribe is often associated with praise and strength.

2. Tribe of Reuben
Reuben is the firstborn son of Jacob, and his tribe is known for its historical significance and initial leadership role among the tribes of Israel.

3. Tribe of Gad
Gad is one of the tribes of Israel, known for its warriors and strategic location east of the Jordan River.

4. Sealing of the 144,000
This event involves the marking of 12,000 individuals from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing protection and divine ownership.

5. The Vision of John
The Apostle John receives this vision while exiled on the island of Patmos, providing a glimpse into the spiritual realities and future events.
Teaching Points
Divine Protection and Ownership
The sealing of the tribes signifies God's protection and ownership over His people. Believers today can find assurance in God's promise to protect and preserve them spiritually.

Significance of Tribes
Each tribe has unique characteristics and roles in God's plan. This diversity within unity can inspire believers to appreciate their unique gifts and roles within the body of Christ.

Faithfulness and Obedience
The sealing of the 144,000 highlights the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. Believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith, even amidst trials.

Hope in Prophecy
The vision given to John provides hope and assurance of God's ultimate plan for His people. Christians can find encouragement in the certainty of God's promises and His sovereign control over history.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the sealing of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel teach us about God's protection and ownership of His people?

2. How can the characteristics and roles of the tribes of Judah, Reuben, and Gad inspire us to embrace our unique roles within the church today?

3. In what ways does the concept of being "sealed" by God provide comfort and assurance in your personal walk with Christ?

4. How does the prophecy of the 144,000 encourage you to remain faithful and obedient in your daily life?

5. What other biblical passages can you find that discuss God's protection and sealing of His people, and how do they enhance your understanding of Revelation 7:5?
Connections to Other Scriptures
The sealing of the 144,000 can be connected to Ezekiel 9, where a mark is placed on the foreheads of those who lament over the sins of Jerusalem, signifying divine protection.

The tribe of Judah's prominence is echoed in Genesis 49, where Jacob blesses his sons and prophesies Judah's leadership and royal lineage.

The concept of sealing is also found in Ephesians 1, where believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance.
A Sketch of an Impending JudgmentHomilistRevelation 7:1-8
All-Saints' DayJohn Donne, D. D.Revelation 7:1-8
God's Government of the WorldD. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 7:1-8
Pent-Up JudgmentH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 7:1-8
The Angel's SealE. Erskine, D. D.Revelation 7:1-8
The Best ServiceW. Birch.Revelation 7:1-8
The Church's Security AssuredR. Green Revelation 7:1-8
The Divine Management of the WorldD. Thomas Revelation 7:1-8
The Four WindsWm. Gregory.Revelation 7:1-8
The Sealing of the ElectArchdeacon Manning.Revelation 7:1-8
All SaintsCanon Furse.Revelation 7:4-8
The SealingJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Revelation 7:4-8
People
Asher, John, Joseph, Levi, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun
Places
Patmos
Topics
12000, Judah, Reuben, Sealed, Thousand, Tribe, Twelve
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 7:1-8

     7266   tribes of Israel

Revelation 7:2-8

     5518   seal

Revelation 7:4-8

     1654   numbers, 11-99
     7135   Israel, people of God

Library
All Saints' Day
Westminster Abbey. November 1, 1874. Revelation vii. 9-12. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

What and Whence are These?
We are frequently tempted to think that our Lord Jesus was not in very truth a man like ourselves. His actual and proper humanity is believed among us, but not fully realized. We are apt to fancy that his was another flesh and another manhood from our own, whereas he was in all things made like unto his brethren, and was tempted in all points like as we are, though without sin. It is, therefore, needful again and again and again to set out the true brotherhood and kinship of Christ. The same spirit
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

The Bliss of the Glorified
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."--Revelation 7:16. WE cannot too often turn our thoughts heavenward, for this is one of the great cures for worldliness. The way to liberate our souls from the bonds that tie us to earth is to strengthen the cords that kind us to heaven. You will think less of this poor little globe when you think more of the world to come. This contemplation will also serve to console us for the loss, as we call
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Fifth vision "In Heaven"
H5, xiv. 1-5. The Lamb and the 144,000. The Fifth Vision in heaven is very brief. It is another Episode, telling us of those who will have come through the great Tribulation, and have been caught up to Heaven. It is part of the larger Episode, and is parenthetical. The previous vision on Earth has told us of those who were slain because they refused to worship the Beast or receive his mark. Those who were for death, had been killed; and those who were to be kept alive, have been kept alive (xiii.
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Glory of the Martyrs.
We shall now contemplate the glory of the vast multitude of the blessed, who surround the thrones of Jesus and Mary. I quote from the Apocalypse: "After this, I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues: standing before the throne, and in the sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."* This glorious multitude represents all the blessed. They may be divided into eight classes, namely, the martyrs, the doctors
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

Appendix the Daughters of Jerusalem
The question is frequently asked, Who are represented by the daughters of Jerusalem? They are clearly not the bride, yet they are not far removed from her. They know where the Bridegroom makes His flock to rest at noon; they are charged by the Bridegroom not to stir up nor awaken His love when she rests, abiding in Him; they draw attention to the Bridegroom as with dignity and pomp He comes up from the wilderness; their love-gifts adorn His chariot of state; they are appealed to by the bride for
J. Hudson Taylor—Union and Communion

'Three Tabernacles'
'The Word ... dwelt among us.'--JOHN i. 14. '... He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them.'--REV. vii. 15. '... Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.'--REV. xxi. 3. The word rendered 'dwelt' in these three passages, is a peculiar one. It is only found in the New Testament--in this Gospel and in the Book of Revelation. That fact constitutes one of the many subtle threads of connection between these two books, which at first sight seem so extremely unlike
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Two Shepherds and Two Flocks
'Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them.' --PSALM xlix. 14. 'The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them.' --REV. vii. 17. These two verses have a much closer parallelism in expression than appears in our Authorised Version. If you turn to the Revised Version you will find that it rightly renders the former of my texts, 'Death shall be their shepherd,' and the latter, 'The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall be their Shepherd.' The Old Testament
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Precious Deaths
The text informs us that the deaths of God's saints are precious to him. How different, then, is the estimate of human life which God forms from that which has ruled the minds of great warriors and mighty conquerors. Had Napoleon spoken forth his mind about the lives of men in the day of battle, he would have likened them to so much water spilt upon the ground. To win a victory, or subdue a province, it mattered not though he strewed the ground with corpses thick as autumn leaves, nor did it signify
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

Sardis
We have had four references to Israel's history in the Old Testament, and as four is the number connected with the earth, so these four have been connected with Israel in the earth and the Land; and with the culminating sin of departure from the love of God manifested to the Nation. Israel had "left her first love," forsaken God, and joined herself to idols in the most abominable form. This is the climax of Israel's sin. All else in this history is judgment, until Israel is removed from the Land
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

General Notes by the American Editor
1. The whole subject of the Apocalypse is so treated, [2318] in the Speaker's Commentary, as to elucidate many questions suggested by the primitive commentators of this series, and to furnish the latest judgments of critics on the subject. It is so immense a matter, however, as to render annotations on patristic specialties impossible in a work like this. Every reader must feel how apposite is the sententious saying of Augustine: "Apocalypsis Joannis tot sacramenta quot verba." 2. The seven spirits,
Victorinus—Commentary on the Apocolypse of the Blessed John

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

An Advance Step in the Royal Programme
(Revelation, Chapters iv. and v.) "We are watching, we are waiting, For the bright prophetic day; When the shadows, weary shadows, From the world shall roll away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the star that brings the day; When the night of sin shall vanish, And the shadows melt away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the beauteous King of day; For the chiefest of ten thousand, For the Light, the Truth, the Way. "We are waiting for the morning, When the beauteous day is dawning, We are
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Notes on the Second Century
Page 94. Line 9. The Book of ---- The reference here is to the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon xiii. 1-5. Page 104. Med. 33. As originally written this Meditation commenced thus: Whether the sufferings of an. Angel would have been meritorious or no I will not dispute: but'---- And the following sentence, which comes after the first, has also been crossedout: So that it was an honour and no injury to be called to it: And so great an honour that it was an ornament to God himself, and an honour even to
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Blessing of God.
NUMB. VI. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of GOD making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to GOD. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Death Swallowed up in victory
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory! D eath, simply considered, is no more than the cessation of life --that which was once living, lives no longer. But it has been the general, perhaps the universal custom of mankind, to personify it. Imagination gives death a formidable appearance, arms it with a dart, sting or scythe, and represents it as an active, inexorable and invincible reality. In this view death is a great devourer; with his iron tongue
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Meditations of the Blessed State of the Regenerate Man after Death.
This estate has three degrees:--1st, From the day of death to the resurrection; 2d, From the resurrection to the pronouncing of the sentence; 3d, After the sentence, which lasts eternally. As soon as ever the regenerate man hath yielded up his soul to Christ, the holy angels take her into their custody, and immediately carry her into heaven (Luke xvi. 22), and there present her before Christ, where she is crowned with a crown of righteousness and glory; not which she hath deserved by her good works,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
The three divisions of this chapter,--I. The principal use of the cross is, that it in various ways accustoms us to despise the present, and excites us to aspire to the future life, sec. 1, 2. II. In withdrawing from the present life we must neither shun it nor feel hatred for it; but desiring the future life, gladly quit the present at the command of our sovereign Master, see. 3, 4. III. Our infirmity in dreading death described. The correction and safe remedy, sec. 6. 1. WHATEVER be the kind of
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Living One
"I am He that liveth, and was dead" (i. 18). (...) (ho zon), THE LIVING ONE. Like the previous title, it is used as a special designation of the One whose unveiling is about to be shewn to John. Its use is peculiar to Daniel and Revelation. The two books thus linked together by it are linked as to their character and subject matter in a very special manner. It is used twice in Daniel:- Dan. iv. 34 (31 [19] ) and xii. 7; and six time in Revelation:- Rev. i. 18; iv. 9,10; v. 14; x. 6; and xv. 7. [20]
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Links
Revelation 7:5 NIV
Revelation 7:5 NLT
Revelation 7:5 ESV
Revelation 7:5 NASB
Revelation 7:5 KJV

Revelation 7:5 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Revelation 7:4
Top of Page
Top of Page