Bible Commentaries
Revelation 7

Verse 1

And. Some texts omit.

after. App-104 .

these things. The texts read "this".

saw. App-133 .

on (first and fourth occurance) Greek. epi . App-104 .

earth. App-129 .

holding = holding fast. Greek. krateo. Compare App-172 .

four winds. See Jeremiah 49:36 . Daniel 7:2 ; Daniel 8:8 ; Daniel 11:4 .Zechariah 2:6 ; Zechariah 6:5 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

on (second and third occurance) Greek. epi. App-104 .

nor, nor. Greek. mete. See App-105 .

any. App-123 . tree. Greek. dendron. Not as in Revelation 2:7 .

Verse 2

another. App-124 .

east. Literally sunrising.

the = a.

living. App-170 .

God. App-98 .

loud = great.

Verse 3

neither. Same as nor, Revelation 7:1 .

have = shall have, sealed. See App-197 . Compare Revelation 9:4 ; Revelation 14:1 ; Revelation 22:4 , and See Revelation 13:16 ; Revelation 14:9 . This sealing is visible and protects the elect (Matthew 24:31 ) of Israel during the tribulation, marking them off as worshippers of the true God.

servants. App-190 .

in = upon. App-104 .

Verse 4

them which were = the.

an hundred, &c. See App-197 .

children. App-108 .

Verse 5

were sealed. Omit.

twelve. See App-197 .

(5-8) These verses: foretell a literal sealing of a literal number of people taken from these tribes of Israel. No Jew now knows for certain his tribe, but the Divine sealers know 144,000 ( App-10 ) are set apart for God's purposes. Dan and Ephraim are omitted, Levi and Joseph taking their places. For the reason, see Leviticus 24:10-16 . Deuteronomy 29:18-21 .Judges 18:2-31 . 1Ki 12:26-38 . Hosea 4:17 . Their restoration to earthly inheritance is shown (Ezekiel 48:0 ), the reason being given in Romans 11:29 .

Verse 9

After this. As Revelation 1:19 .

beheld. As Revelation 7:1 (saw).

lo. App-133 .

multitude. These are converts during the great tribulation.

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

kindreds. As Revelation 7:4 (tribes).

people = peoples.

stood = were standing.

palms. Greek. phoinix. Only here and John 12:13 . Compare the "great hosanna" of the Jews on the last day of "Tabernacles".

Verse 10

cried = they cry.

Salvation. Greek soteria. In Rev. only here, Revelation 12:10 ; Revelation 19:1 .

unto = to.

Verse 11

stood = were standing.

worshipped. App-137 .

Verse 12

Amen. See Revelation 1:6 .

Blessing, &c. A sevenfold ( App-10 ) ascription. Compare Revelation 5:12 , where it is to the Lamb, while here it is to God. Prefix the def. art. to each term.

for . . . ever. See Revelation 1:6 .

Verse 13

answered = masked. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 .

What = Who.

Verse 14

Sir. Most texts read "My lord".

knowest. See App-132 .

which came = who come.

out of. App-104 .

great, &c. = the great, &c. Compare Matthew 24:21 . See Jeremiah 30:5-7 . Daniel 12:1 . Nothing to do with Christ's sufferings and death on the cross.

have. Omit.

washed. Greek. pluno. Only here. App-136 . Septuagint uses in Psalms 51:2 , Psalms 51:7 for Hebrew. kabas. These wash "their own robes" the standing of works, not of grace. For latter see 1 Corinthians 6:11 .

in = by. i.e. by virtue of, the en being here the efficient cause. App-104 . See Revelation 1:5 ; Revelation 5:9 , and App-95 , note 2, "washing in blood".

Verse 15

Therefore = For this cause, or On this account. Greek. dia touto.

serve. App-137 and App-190

day and night. Hebraism for "continually".

Temple. See Revelation 3:12 .

dwell. Greek. skenoo. Here; Revelation 12:12 ; Revelation 13:6 ; Revelation 21:3 . See John 1:14 and compare Isaiah 4:5 , Isaiah 4:6 .

among = over. Greek. epi,

Verse 16

neither, neither, nor. Greek. oude, the second occurance followed by me .

light. Greek. pipto . Occ twenty-three times in Rev., always "fall" except here. See Revelation 16:8 . Compare Isaiah 30:26 .

heat = scorching heat. Greek. kauma. Only here and Revelation 16:9 .

Verse 17

shall = will.

feed = tend, or shepherd. See Revelation 2:27 . Micah 5:4 .

living, &c. The texts read "fountains of waters of life" ( App-170 .) See Revelation 21:4 . These two verses: refer to Isaiah 49:8-10 ; Isaiah 25:8 . Jeremiah 31:9 , Jeremiah 31:10-25 .Ezekiel 47:1 , Ezekiel 47:12 .