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Revelation 7 Deuteronomy 33

Symbols
Chapter 7 is a pause between the sixth and seventh seal. It is similar to the declaration in Revelation 10 where the angels tells them to "Prophesy Again" at the end of the sixth trumpet. Then he says that "there is time no longer" and "the Mystery of God will be finished" during the seventh trumpet. There is a 3.5 year period in which the wicked will tread on the temple, but the two witnesses will send plagues. The trumpet is silent at first, then it sounds.
Revelation 7 introduces the work of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost who seals the people of God. Here we see the last call to be sealed. God is washing and consecrating His priests for ordination. The symbols used involve the blessings that they receive.
Jewish understanding describes the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) as the time when Israel is sealed. On this day it is the last time that you have a chance to change the books of judgment. Your fate is sealed after this time. Therefore, according to our interpretation, this final sealing began in 1844 and will continue until the Seven Last Plagues.

1844 | Judgment Begins | Three Angel's Message |  | Mark of the beast | Seven Last Plagues | Harvest
Righteous dead Sealing Righteous Living | Punishment

We will define certain information about the seal of God.

- Definition. The seal of a king marks his name, title and territory.
  ... For in six days the Lord made the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and all that is in them and rested the seventh day. (Exodus 20: 8-10)
  The Sabbath commandment contains all these elements. The name is Lord God. The title is Creator and the territory is heaven and earth.
- Who Owns the Seal? God owns the seal and He sealed Jesus. Then Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to seal us.
  Do not work for the food which perishes, but food the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father has set His seal. (John 6: 27)
- Who Seals? The Holy Spirit gives the seal by changing our hearts according to the covenant.
  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4: 30)
  The Holy Spirit brings us into conformance with the laws of God by writing them on our hearts. Therefore, if His work is successful in us, we will never break any laws of God and we are automatically sealed. So He causes us to have the correct attitude towards God that will allow us to be sealed or selected on the day of judgment.
- What is the Seal? We have the seal when the law is written in our hearts and we do the will of God. The covenant allows God to do the following in the sealing.
  But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, " I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jeremiah 31: 33; Hebrews 8: 10)
  - Holy Spirit. God sends the Holy Spirit to do the sealing. (Ephesians 4: 30)
  - Law. He seals the law in our hearts. This was the prophesy about Jesus.
    I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40: 8; Hebrews 10: 7)
  - Obedience. The result is that we are obedient to the will of God because we are righteous.
    Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. (Isaiah 51: 7)
- The Seals. How are the seals related to the sealing? When the king took the throne, He read the law and covenant. The opening of the covenant scroll involved the breaking of the seals. The agreement listed the curses which we saw being released in the prophecy of the seven seals. The covenant also stipulated that God would write His law into our hearts. Therefore, the Holy Spirit was sent to seal us. The opening of the covenant scroll caused two sets of actions by God.
  - Curses for the Wicked (Seven Seals). The wicked receive the punishment of the five sets of curses.
  - Blessings for the Righteous (Sealing). They receive the Holy Spirit Who seals the law in their hearts.
- Sabbath. The prophecies predict that the Sabbath commandment will be the weak link in the chain of commandments that Satan will attack. It is the controversy over this commandment and the first four commandments that will be the great issues at the end of time. Breaking any commandment in disobedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit will cause us to lose the seal of God. The fight over the Sabbath will be the great issue that determines who responds to the seal.
  ... and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. (Acts 5: 32)
- Yom Kippur. Jewish tradition says that this day is the final chance to be sealed. The sealing began on the feast of trumpets. Yom Kippur is just the last opportunity. During this period from the feast of trumpets to Yom Kippur, Jews would greet each other with these words.

  > "May you be sealed and may your name be written in the book."

  Now that the great Yom Kippur has begun and God is selecting His people, Revelation 6 asks "who will be able to stand" in this judgment. Revelation 7 answers that by saying only those who are sealed and adopted by God.

The people of God receive the seal of God instead of the Mark of the Beast. Before they enter the Promised Land (heaven) they are counted by God and given their inheritance. These are the same people pictured in Revelation 15 as standing on the sea of Glass.

The Sealing (Revelation 7: 1-8)
Revelation 6 ends with the question, "Who will be able to stand?". Revelation 7 attempts to answer this question by looking at the people who are triumphant. They will be able to stand.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. (Revelation 7: 1-4)
The final trouble is held back until the sealing is completed. This appears to happen in the sixth trumpet when the four angels are released.
Sixth Trumpet. Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." (Revelation 9: 13-14)
Let us put this in perspective with what we have learned in Revelation 15. As soon as God names and numbers His people He allows the time of trouble to begin. Daniel 11: 45 to Daniel 12: 1 reveals that a great time of trouble will begin at some time after Babylon goes to war in the Middle East and Israel is occupied. This occupation of Israel is equivalent to the persecution of the people of God. When the people of spiritual Israel are persecuted, the people of physical Israel are also persecuted.

Trumpets | 1844 | Yom Kippur | Temple Remains Opened | Feast of Tabernacles
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Revelation 15 | Judgment (Sealing) | Latter Rain | Priests Named | Day 1-6 | Day 7 (Great Hosannah) | Day 8
Righteous Dead | 144,000 | Ordination (Inauguration) | Second Coming
9 | Fifth Trumpet (Babylon Falls) | Sealed | Sixth Trumpet (Four angels released) | Seventh trumpet
13 | Image to the beast | 666 | Name of the Beast | Seven Last Plagues | Seventh plague
Mark of the Beast
Daniel 12 | King of the North comes to an end | Michael stands up | Time of trouble (great tribulation) | Resurrection

Universal Message. And I saw another angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth. (Revelation 10: 1-2)
The universal message is delivered. It is completed in the seventh trumpet. The opening of the Book of Daniel has a universal impact. This is shown by the angel of Revelation 10 having one foot on the land and the other on the sea.
Similarly, the sealing work of the angel of Revelation 7 has a universal influence. The full force of the global time of trouble is withheld until the 144,000 servants are sealed.
So we have two angels with a universal work. The first seals the servants of God. The second sends the final message to the whole world. Both of these angels announce a work that is completed by four other angels.
So the sealing of the 144,000 is either essential for the spreading of the gospel message or is a result of this work.

The Universal Angels
Symbol | Revelation 7 | Revelation 10
--- | --- | ---
Sun | Ascends from the rising of the sun | Face as the sun
Earth, Sea | Do not harm the earth or sea | Right foot on the sea, left foot on the earth
In his hand | Seal of God | Little book
Seals | Servants of God | Words of the seven thunders
Voice | Loud | Loud
Delay | Delay the destruction | No more delay (time)
Work | The sealing | The Gospel
Completed | Sixth trumpet | Seventh trumpet
Working Angels | 4 Angels | Three Angels and the angel with the strong voice
Time of trouble | Judgment of Babylon

Four Corners Of The Earth. This refers to the global nature of this event. (Ezekiel 7: 2-3). If the four corners of the land represented all of Israel, then the four corners of the earth represents the whole earth.
The Four Winds. Winds represent war and strife. (Jeremiah 49: 35-38)
The Earth, Sea, Tree. The great time of trouble is not supposed to start for any place or class of humans until God has sealed His people.

- The Sea. We have seen prophetically that the sea represents the wicked or great masses of people who have rejected God.
- The Earth. The earth, as the opposite of the sea, is the soil where the seed of God has not been sown and people have not been watered by God.
- Tree. A tree represents the people of God.
  Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1: 1-3)
  But, as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. (Psalm 52: 8)
  Fruit Trees. The law on planting trees says that the fruit is not to be eaten or offered to God for the first three years. In the fourth year, all the fruit is given to God as the first fruits, then the people can eat the fruit from the fifth year and after. (Leviticus 19: 23-25)
  With this rule, Christ worked in Israel for three years and expected an harvest six months later in the fourth year. Then He planted the disciples and they also worked in Israel for three and a half years. After God plants His final generation of workers, it takes over three years before their labours can be offered to God. So the angel is told to hold back the winds of strife until the fruit harvest is ready.

Symbols
Symbol | Meaning
--- | ---
Four Angels | The four cherubim in the Most Holy Place
Four Corners | All the earth
Four Winds | War and trouble
Sea | People, the wicked
Earth | People, the unreached
Trees | People, the righteous

From The Rising Sun. The angel comes "from the Rising sun" or from the east, with the seal of the Living God. East is the direction of Christ's coming, from Heaven. (Matthew 24: 27). It is also the direction of the kings and priests of Israel. This seal is a message or work from God for the people of God in preparation for the coming of God.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24: 27).
Who is this angel from the east? An angel is a messenger bringing a message from God. Sometimes God is His own messenger because Christ appeared as the "Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament. This angel did not forbid people to bow before Him like other angels.
Sometimes the messenger is a human. Jesus said the John the Baptist was Elijah because John was bringing the same message as Elijah. So the message and the messenger can be called by the name of the sender. So John was Elijah. So let us see who this messenger is.

- Christ. He is the one that comes from the east and it is His message that is being sent.
- Christians. If they bring the message of Christ then they are the messengers.
- 144,000. In this context, they are the Christians who are formally called to bring the message.
- One Person. A single person can only claim to be one of the messengers, not the only one. Because the context is clear that he calls 144,000 leaders.

Sealed The Servants Of Our God.
This seal is the main point of contention in the mark of the beast issue of Revelation 13. It is the external sign of loyalty of a final generation that will trust in a Creator God, even when creation begins to crumble around them during the seven last plagues.
The Seventh Day Sabbath is the sign that God is the Creator and it contains the seal. (Exodus 31: 13-17).
The Seal.
What is the seal? It is the name of God written in our foreheads. It is total submission to God with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is a recognition and obedience to the Creator God of Genesis.
The Name of God is on our Forehead. Then I looked, and saw, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14: 1)
The Seal is on our Forehead. Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads. (Revelation 7: 3)

The Power of the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1: 1-8 says that divine power is given to us so that we can have the following: The Mark in the Head. Fruitful : (Fruit of the Spirit). This part of the power is the baptism of the Spirit that cleanses us. It meets all the definition of the word baptism. It gives us the power to bear the character of God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, so that we are once again "in His image". The Mark on the Hand. Useful : (Gifts of the Spirit). The power to be useful. This part of the power does not cleanse or cause people to repent. It is not the baptism. It does not accomplish the work of baptism. It gives us the power to work with the Spirit to accomplish the plans of God.

God gives His name where He chooses to live and He chooses to live with us.
The Property of God. You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God at the place where He chooses to establish His name. The tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear [love] the Lord your God always. (Deuteronomy 14: 23)
Compare this to how He rejects the wicked with a defiling meal which shows that He does not give them His name.
How do we get this seal or name of God? Only those who love God will get His name. One tangible outward sign of this mental obedience is keeping the commandments. The mark of the beast issues involve the first four commandments. They submit to the beast and obey it and get the mark of the beast in their hand and forehead. We will be sealed in our hand and forehead if we obey God.
If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14: 15)
Name On the Hand. This one will say,"I am the Lord's". And that one will call on the name of Jacob. And another will write on his hand, "Belonging to the Lord", and will name Israel's name with honor. (Isaiah 44: 5)
On the great day of atonement our hand will either be labelled "For the Lord" or "For Azazel".

The Holy Spirit And The Seal.
Both the old and new testaments talk about the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. The result of the covenant is the sealing in the hand and head by the Holy Spirit. We will do and love the will of God.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing they render you neither useless nor fruitless in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1: 8)

- Hand ("I will do" or "Useful"). I delight to do Your will, O my God; ... (Psalm 40: 8)
- Head ("In My Mind and Heart" or "Fruitful"). ... Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40: 8)

A Seal
There are six essential elements in a seal needed to authenticate a document. Let us use the Seal of the United States of America as an example.
1 | Name | George Washington
2 | Number | All people
3 | Title | President
4 | Authorizer | The people
5 | Territory | United States
6 | Duration | Time in office

The Sabbath And The Seal
The Sabbath commandment contains all the elements used in a seal.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: ... for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is , and rested the seventh day: therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20: 8-11)
The seal states who, what, why, where, whom and when authority is given.

1. Name. The Lord Your God. It must state who is sealing it.
2. Numbered. The seventh day. It states the number or quantity ruled.
3. Title and Authority. Creator. It states the persons office or authority.
4. Authorizer. Who gave authority. God is His own authority.
5. Dominion and Territory. It states the realm or jurisdiction where he has authority. Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.
6. Duration. One day. It states how long the authorization lasts.

The Sabbath As A Sign Of The Seal
However the Sabbath by itself is not the seal. It is the entire law that is sealed in the heart.
Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. (Isaiah 8:16)
However, at the end of time allegiance to the Sabbath will be the final test to see if we will obey God or obey our own commandments. Because the Sabbath issue is so important in establishing who will obey the Holy Spirit, it is often equated with the seal. A name, title and territory by themselves is not a seal, but they are contained in the seal, so the Sabbath by itself is not the seal but only a part of the seal.
A sign is a system that looks like the real event and is a reminder of the purpose and location of the event.
The Sabbath is a sign of the work of the seal and the sign of the covenant. It is structured like the seal.
Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God (Ezekiel 20: 20)
Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them (Ezekiel 20: 12)
As we embrace the sign of the seal, it is evidence that we are submitting to the seal. Jesus died when He embraced the sign of the covenant. He realized that He must be circumcised for sin and then rest in the grave. The final generation will also die because of the Sabbath sign. We must rest from sin by being obedient to God even when it seems that a day should not be such a big issue. The fruit in the Garden of Eden also seemed like a "small issue".

The Three Dimensional Seal of the Covenant
Level | Seal | Seal of God | Sabbath | Mark of the Beast
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Spiritual | Holy Spirit | Name | Content | Name of God and Christ | The Lord Your God | Name of the Beast
Authority | Our Father | Creator | Dragon's authority
Territory | Mt. Zion | Heaven, earth, sea | Every tribe, nation, tongue
Number | 144,000 | Seventh day | 666
Duration | Eternity | One day | 42 months
Authorizer | God is His own authority | God | Dragon
Mental | Head | Knowledge | Law | Law in our heart | Remember | Lawless
Accept | God | God is our Father | God is Lord | Reject God
Decision | Change | Character transformation | Renewed mind | Reprobate mind
Character | Fruitful | Fruit of the Holy Spirit | Dead to our works | Slaves to sin
Physical | Mark | Forehead | Name of God | The Lord your God | Name of the beast
Hand | Hand | Number of God | Seven | Number of his name (666)
Gifts | Useful | Gifts of the Holy Spirit | Restoration | Destruction
Action | Obedience | Do His will. Follow Christ | Rest from our works | Do our will
Sign | Cut Off | Death | Dead to sin. Freedom | Circumcised hearts | Uncircumcised hearts, name of the wicked cut off
Sanctified | Holy | We are Holy, blameless | The day is holy | Unholy
Renewal | Life | Eternal Life. Resurrection | Kept forever | Eternal death
Covenant | Blessings | Blessed day | Cursed

The covenant is a legal agreement to seal us. God takes the steps to put His stamp of approval on us. There have been two signs of the covenant. Both point to the promise that God would separate us from our sins and make us dead to sin and give us rest and make us holy. Then He would give us new life. God used Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to fulfill this covenant. After He cut off sin by the death of Christ, He is giving us rest from sin through the sealing work of the Holy Spirit.

- Circumcision ("Cut Off Sin"). It is a sign of the crucifixion. God would come disguised in a human body. That body would be cut off and buried for sin. But the seeds of life in His inner body would resurrect Him to new life. Circumcision is still a requirement after the cross. We must circumcise our hearts and cut off the dead man of sin. The Holy Spirit is here to do this task as He puts the law in our hearts.
- Sabbath ("Rest From Sin"). It is a sign of our rest from sin and our holiness. We are dead to sin, or cut off from sin and are being made holy when we are no longer slaves to the outer body.
  While circumcision only points to the "physical sign" of the seal, the Sabbath is a sign of the entire seal, all three dimensions. This is why it is eternal.

The Mark Of The Beast And The Seal
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13: 17)

1. Name. ... and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (Revelation 13: 1)
2. Number. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty six. (Revelation 13: 18)
3. Title, Authority. They worshipped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast ... (Revelation 13: 4)
4. Authorizer. Revelation 13: 4 also reveals that the Dragon gave authority to the beast.
5. Dominion and Territory. ... and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13: 7)
6. Duration. ... And authority to act for forty two months was given to him. (Revelation 13: 5)

The Name and Number of the Seal
The name and number is encoded in the first four commandments which are attacked by the beast during the persecution.
Commandment | Seal | Mark
--- | --- | ---
1 | Name | Identifies God | Name of God | Name of the Beast
2 | No graven images | Name of Christ | Image to the Beast, Antichrist
3 | Do not take name in vain | Takes the name of God | Blasphemous names
4 | Number | Sabbath | Saturday | Sunday

The Name and Number of the Mark.
The wicked belong to the beast and are counted among his followers and so they have the mark and name of the beast. The mark includes only two of the six characteristics, the name and the number. These are universal signs of the wicked.

1. Name. The first three commandments tell how to treat the name and reputation of God.
   1. The first identifies Him and why He is God.
   2. The second says that we cannot make our own Gods from the image of anything in heaven and earth.
      But the New Testament actually says that Christ is the only image of God that can be worshipped. This is because Christ is God who made Himself into the form of man to come to the earth. Even in a lower form He is still God and can be worshipped.
      in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4: 4)
      He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1: 15)
      » Christ. He is the image of God who became man. He was made without human intervention.
      » Antichrist. He is the image of man trying to become God. He was made by human intervention.
      » Duration. This commandment also legally specifies the duration of the punishment.
      ... for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. (Exodus 20: 5)
      Judgment began in the third generation of churches and will be complete in the fourth generation.
      0. Pergamos. This is the church that began the apostasy or "those who hate God".
      1. Thyatira. This first generation persecuted this church.
      2. Sardis. This unfaithful generation abandoned the work of God.
      3. Philadelphia. The judgment started in 1844 with this third generation that ridiculed this church.
      4. Laodicea. This is the fourth generation after apostasy. They will suffer the seven last plagues.
   3. The third invites us to take His name with honor. The 144,000 have both the name of God and Christ.
2. Number. The fourth commandment is an invitation to meet Him every seventh day.

The other characteristics cannot be signs of the mark because they are universal or belong to only one individual.

3. Title or Authority. The authority is given to only one leader and is not a characteristic shared by all the wicked.
4. Authorizer. This is the dragon or Satan.
5. Territory. The territory is the earth where even the righteous live.
6. Duration. The duration of authority is experienced by everyone and cannot be a sign of allegiance to either side.

The 144,000 (Revelation 7: 4-8)

Numbering the People
Group | Meaning
--- | ---
Number by Names | Only the male heads of households were numbered
Numberless | All others were not numbered. Women, children below twenty, old people, the Levites from the branch of Aaron

Israel was brought out of Egypt and counted before they received their inheritance in the Promised Land. As a part of this process only the male heads of the household were counted.
The tribe of the Levites were not numbered. This is because God was their inheritance. However, in the new Jerusalem the Levites are numbered along with the other tribes. This is because all tribes are priests and all receive this inheritance because their possessions are the property of God.
If the numbered people were only the heads of household and the vast majority were not numbered, then the 144,000 must be symbolic or representative of a larger group. It is not the total of all who will be saved. Verse 9 confirms this when it introduces the large number of people who could not be counted.
We see here the symbolic 144,000 represents the people of God. These are the redeemed from the Earth who were brought out of Babylon and are sealed with the Seal of God. (Revelation 14: 1-4). But who are they?

Who Are The 144,000?
... They have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14: 4)

Nation | Ancient Israel | Righteous Israel | Wicked
--- | --- | --- | ---
Tribe | 12 Tribes | 12 Tribes | 1 Man
Family | Leaders counted | 144,000 counted | 666
Members | Were not counted by law | Could not be counted | Many
Inherits | Land of Israel | New Earth | Death

They are the first fruits of a harvest. So they must be from trees that were planted by God three and a half "years" earlier.
There are many interpretations about this group of people.

- The Total Saved. Only 144,000 people will be saved.
- Symbolic Number. It represents the total number of billions of righteous who will be saved.
- Super Evangelists and Leaders. They are a special group of people at the end of time who deliver the gospel. So the literal 144,000 lead the symbolic 144,000.
  House of David. And the House of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12: 8)
  This is the people at the last exodus who lead Israel like the angel of the Lord in the first exodus. The apostasy of the Jews ends and they accept the Messiah. The partial hardness of physical Israel is over and it becomes a great sign to spiritual Israel. The work of this group is a sign that leads the church of Laodicea out of apostasy. So in the end physical Israel actually does the work that it was supposed to do. It leads by example after it accepts the teachings of the 144,000. The 144,000 are not virgin Jews who preach the Gospel to the world. They are the first fruits of the new olive oil harvest who are with the High Priest by faith in the Most Holy Place.

If we look at the usage by Israel the best that we can say is that they are leaders who represent a large number of people in their families. They do a great work at the end of time.
The 144,000 are the first fruits of the new olive oil harvest, the 144 bells and pomegranates on the robe of the high priest, and the angel of the house of David who lead the whole house of Israel (Jews and Gentiles) in the final exodus.
Could Not Be Counted. This could mean that the group was so large that it was virtually impossible to count in any reasonable period of time. It could also mean that it was illegal to count them so they were not counted.
Now we see the symbolic reason why numbering the people is such a sin. God wanted to preserve the symbol that the final people of Israel was a very large group, so He made it illegal for the prototype who represented them to be counted. If they had counted the people, it appears that God might have been limited to saving only the number that represented that initial count. Like the heads of household, this numberless group also has the name of God written on their forehead.

Deuteronomy 33: The Twelve Tribes At The End Of The Exodus
Deuteronomy 33 records the blessings of Moses to the tribes who are about to enter the Promised Land. This is also the focus of Revelation 7. We will summarize what we believe they represent, but you should read the lesson on the twelve tribes. That lesson explains how the names of the sons, the blessings of Jacob and the blessings of Moses predict their role in the final week of the life of Christ at His First Coming. Each group also represents a phase in the final days before the Second Coming. Deuteronomy 33 can be divided into four phases.

- Latter Rain (1-3). God brings light to the world as the angel from the rising sun.
  He said, "The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones; At His right hand there was flashing lightning [fiery law] for them. "Indeed, He loves the people; All Your holy ones are in Your hand, and they followed in Your steps; Everyone receives of Your words. (Deuteronomy 33: 2-3)
  The Message of the Second Angel. After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. (Revelation 18: 1)
- The Heads of Household (4-5). The 144,000 lead the church who have the seal of God.
- Twelve Tribes (6-25). They complete the exodus.
- Second Coming (26-29). Christ rescues them and brings them to the Promised Land.

The Heads Of Household
Moses charged us with a law, a possession for the assembly of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, the tribes of Israel together. (Deuteronomy 33: 4-5)
The blessings of Moses begins with an admonition to keep the law, which was their inheritance. Moses gathered with the heads of the household before he blessed the sons.
At the end of time, the sealing begins with a call to the leaders of the tribes. They will give the three angel's message which warns the world to obey the laws of God. The 144,000 are the final heads of household who are the leaders during this final warning.
At that time Moses was their king. The last great revival movement begins with great leadership who recognize Christ as their head, both as the God and King of the nation.

The Sealing Of The Twelve Tribes
The blessings of Moses are instructions to the final generation who are approaching the end of their exodus. The order of the blessings in Deuteronomy 33 is not the same order as the list who are sealed in Revelation 7. We will use Deuteronomy as a picture of the characteristics of the last tribes. We will assume that Revelation represents a possible strategy and order in the sealing. It is the same strategy that Jesus used during His ministry.

Go To The House Of Israel
These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matthew 10: 7)
First go to the house of Israel and try to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is coming again to usher in the kingdom of God. At the first coming they rejected Christ, but they will not reject Him this time. Their acceptance of the Messiah will be such a great light that it will be a great sign that triggers the greatest results in our final evangelism.

The Sealing | Psalm 80
--- | ---
Events | Order
Leaders (144,000) | Mid-Wife | House of David | Shine a Light Stir Up The Power of God
Ministry to the Jews | Pregnant Woman | Judah
Reuben
Gad
Ministry to the Gentiles | Asher
Naphtali
Manasseh | Come and Save Us
Simeon
Child | Levi
The Last Persecution | Issachar
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin

1. Judah ("Praise the Lord"). The conversion of the Jews is triggered by desperate times when the nations are surrounding them. They cry out to God and He hears them and sends the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 12). They are brought back to the fold when they recognize the Messiah. Then God helps them against their adversaries.
   And this regarding Judah; so he said, 'Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, and may You be a help against his adversaries'. (Deuteronomy 33: 7)
2. Reuben ("Afflicted, No Preeminence or Dignity"). Reuben represents Israel, the firstborn son who lost his dignity and his birthright. The hope of Moses is that by the last Exodus the nation of Israel will survive as a large number of people who will join the rest of the righteous as they wait for the Messiah.
   May Reuben live and not die, Nor his men be few. (Deuteronomy 33: 6)
3. Gad ("Raider"). There is a blessing said for the people who convince the Jews, especially the clergy. As Gad, they represented the priests who convinced the Romans to arrest Christ. The Romans tore His arms and head with a crown of thorns and nails. However, in this act the priests fulfilled the justice of God by keeping the ordinances. The death of Christ brought justice to a dying world, even though the priests betrayed Him to do so. At the end of time it is the priests that will be raided and convinced. God will tear their arm and forehead to remove or prevent the mark of the beast from being placed there.
   Of Gad he said, "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lies down as a lion, and tears the arm, also the crown of the head. Then he provided the first part for himself, for there the ruler's portion was reserved; And he came with the leaders of the people; He executed the justice of the LORD, and His ordinances with Israel". (Deuteronomy 33: 20-21)
   A large number of believing Rabbis and priests are a definite sign to the world.

Go To The Gentiles
The Gentiles are now the unfaithful ones. They have discarded the laws of God as "outdated Jewish ceremonies". Like Laodicea, they think that they know everything and need no instruction. The witness of Jews and the revelation of the Gospel in the laws and ordinances wakes them up.

4. Asher ("Rich Bread"). He represents the time Christ was buried, but treated like royalty.
   Of Asher he said, "More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, And may he dip his foot in oil. Your locks [bars, shoes] will be iron and bronze, And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be [so shall your strength be]. (Deuteronomy 33: 24-25)
   - Dip His Foot in Oil. This seems to be part of an anointing ceremony for a priest.
   - Iron and Bronze Shoes. Working in the territory of the new Greco-Roman empire, Babylon the Great.
   - Days of Leisurely Walk. This is the length of time that they will teach the people to prepare for the Promised Land. The time is represented by their days walking in the "Promised Land" as strangers.
     » A Year for a Day ("Unfaithful"). The unfaithful Hebrews spent 40 years wandering in the desert for the 40 days the twelve spies were in the Promised Land.
     » A Day for a Year ("Faithful"). Jesus lived 33 years in the Promised Land and He walked around the earth for 33 days after He returned to earth from His inauguration. During this time He gave the disciples instructions to prepare them for their inauguration, this is the work of the 144,000.
     » A Day for a Year ("Faithful Asher"). We do not know how long this will be for the people that represent Asher at the end of time. But here are a few possibilities.
     - 6 Years. For the final seven years on earth, the seventh year will be the year of plagues but the first six could be for evangelism. It represents the 6000 years that people have been on the earth.
     - 360 Days. From the time Israel entered the Promised Land to the end of the Christian era it is about 3300 to 3600 years.
     - 165+ Days. It could represent the length of time since 1844, during which the three angel's message has been preached.
   Asher is a picture of feet that are ready to do the will of God during the time of the revival of the iron kingdom.
   and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6: 15)
   Asher is the son who introduces the "Rich Bread of Life" to the world by preaching the Gospel.
5. Naphtali ("Loose Doe"). He is the son that represents the resurrection phase of Christ.
   Of Naphtali he said, "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD, Take possession of the sea [west] and the south." (Deuteronomy 33: 23)
   This is a promise of the great success of the evangelism efforts. We will be successful in gathering people from the wicked sea so that they can wait in the south for the Lord. The end time exodus is represented by a church fleeing from the king of the north to wait for the Lord in a place as far away from the north as possible.
   The Time of The Shining Light..
   After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. (Revelation 18: 1)
   At this point we will look at a prophecy in Psalm 80 that speaks only about the children on the western side of the tabernacle (Joseph, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh). Psalm 80 is a plea that God will reverse their disgrace, revive them and restore them.
   O Give ear Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your power and come to save us! Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us and we will call upon Your name. O Lord God of hosts, restore us, cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved. (Psalm 80: 1-2, 18-19)
   The light will shine and the power will be shown before the four sons on the west are revealed.
6. Manasseh ("Make Me Forget"). According to Moses, he will be ten times smaller than Ephraim. This seems to represent the fact that when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in that they will be a much larger nation than the Jews. The majority of Jews probably accept by this time. They now know that God has forgotten their unfaithfulness at the crucifixion.
7. Simeon ("Unloved"). Simeon is the Christian church, the second son. Moses had no blessings for Simeon. Why? He is not missing from the kingdom as Revelation shows, but he will not be allowed to build the church of God.
   - Laodicea. Christ also had no praises for Laodicea. Simeon could represent the state of the church of Laodicea. They do no work for God and are in danger of being expelled. They only respond in time to save themselves.
   - Church Built on Violence. As the second son, Simeon inherits from Reuben, the disgraced first son. One characteristic of Simeon is his violence. At the crucifixion, Peter and his sword represented the violent nature of the church that would be founded by the disciples.
     "Simeon and Levi are brothers - their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. (Genesis 49: 5-7)

     Status | Sacrifice | High Priest | Sanctuary | Divine Justice | People
     --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
     Imperfect on Earth | Died | Sinned, died | Defiled on earth | Perverted | Sin
     Perfect in Heaven | Jesus Lives Forever | Undefiled in Heaven | Do not judge | Sin

     God builds His perfect kingdom and keeps the covenant by perfecting different sections in order. At first the sacrifice, people, priests, justice and the earthly sanctuary were imperfect, causing the covenant to fail because only God was faithful. After the crucifixion, the high priest and the heavenly sanctuary were perfect. Justice from the Lord was also perfect because He no longer appointed humans to execute divine justice, telling them "do not judge".
     At the end of time only the perfection of the people remain as an obstacle to keeping the covenant. They would be the sanctuary built of living stones. There can be no taint of immorality or violence associated with them.
     Just as David could not build the temple of God because of his history of violence, the vast majority of the Christian church will not be allowed to build the final church because they are violent.
     David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. (1 Chronicles 22: 7-9)
     The Prince of Peace. Who is the man of peace who will build the church in the city of peace (Jerusalem) and give rest to the people? Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace and High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. As the head of the church, He will build the church by his Holy Spirit.
     Built by Peace. Not by might, Not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. (Zechariah 4: 6)
     The last church will be built by emulating Christ; by submission, turning the other cheek, sacrifice and martyrdom, not by war, violence against others or against the earth and other living things.
     King of Righteousness and High Priest of The City of Peace. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. (Hebrews 7: 1-2)
     For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9: 6)
     » Separating the Righteous and the Wicked. Let us look at one final reason why Simeon is not blessed by examining the north and southern tribes camped around the sanctuary. Because the camp position represents a siege, it is a picture of the role of the church (good and bad) during persecution. The north to south orientation of Ezekiel represents the journey of the righteous from apostasy to glory at the Second Coming.
     » North. We are judged and separated into those who are given life and those who are doomed to perish.
     - Dan (Judged). These are the wicked who are like serpents.
     - Asher (Happy). Moses' blessings prophecy about the selection of this dead church, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the coming persecution in their exodus.
     - Naphtali (Prevailed). He is set free from Babylon after they have prevailed.
     » South. In the south we are separated into those who have lost preeminence and those who are unloved and those who are fortunate.
     - Reuben (Afflicted). This is the righteous nation, clinging fast to God as Christ did in Gethsemane. Moses said, "May Reuben live and not die" (Deuteronomy 33: 6). This is the blessing said to those who are facing the worst persecution and experiencing the last plagues.
     - Simeon (Hated). This has to represent the evil people who are hated and without a blessing. They are also the violent church with the sword who are responsible for the events of the last days. How can we reconcile this mixed picture of a Simeon who is lost, with Simeon who is sealed and in the kingdom? Some of them renounce violence and are saved, but many of the church will be lost.
     - Gad (Fortunate). This represents the Second Coming as God raids the planet.
     So in the end the picture is one of victory for those who represent the Jews. It is a mixed picture for the Gentiles. The church is named Israel, so all symbols that represent Israel prevail.
8. Levi ("Attached"). The entire church is now officially attached or married to God. They are now the bride of Christ and the nation of priests who can enter the sanctuary and seek shelter from the coming storm. This is the only place where they can escape the wrath of God and the wrath of the beast.
   Of Levi he said, let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man, whom You proved at Massah, with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah; who said of his father and his mother, 'I did not consider them'; And he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons, for they observed Your word, and kept Your covenant.
   They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your law to Israel. They shall put incense before You, and whole burnt offerings on Your altar. O LORD, bless his substance, and accept the work of his hands; Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, and those who hate him, so that they will not rise again. (Deuteronomy 33: 8-11)
   They did not consider any allegiance or loyalty more important than obeying God. They are worthy to receive Christ.
   He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10: 37)
   Jesus indicates that we will go through a final testing at the hands of the wicked when we are worthy.
   and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10: 37. See Micah 7: 5-9)

The Church During The Persecution
The entire church, Jews and Gentiles is now united. This also becomes a sign that brings more people to the church. Persecution intensifies and they now face great opposition from family, friends and the established churches who are in league with the wicked governments.

9. Issachar ("Rejoice in Your Tents"). This is the church that begins the feast of Tabernacles and the "tents" are the booths constructed during this feast.. The blessings of Issachar and Zebulun are said together, because, as the great evangelism goes forward, the persecution intensifies and the people must seek the temporary shelters to continue their work.
   Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, And, Issachar, in your tents. They will call peoples to the mountain; There they will offer righteous sacrifices; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand. (Deuteronomy 33: 18-19)
   These two tribes call the people to look to Mount Zion, the mountain of God. They will offer themselves as living, righteous sacrifices. The result is that they will pull people from the grasp of the raging seas of the wicked to become treasured stones in the kingdom of God.
10. Zebulun ("Rejoice in Your Going Forth"). This is the church that responds to the call to flee out of Babylon and begin the final exodus from earth.
11. Joseph ("Reproach Removed"). He represents the church who is now ready to enter heaven because their reproach has been removed and their quarantine lifted in the camp of heaven. The leper priests are cured! They are now safe to save. He is also the blessed firstborn son of the beloved wife.
    But this church is now under persecution all around the world. The leadership of Joseph convinces them that it is now time to flee for their lives, living in the tents that they have prepared. Living like wild oxes, living off the produce of the earth, outdoors in the bushes with God.
    Of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath, And with the choice yield of the sun, And with the choice produce of the months. And with the best things of the ancient mountains, And with the choice things of the everlasting hills, And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, And to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deuteronomy 33: 13-17)
    This blessing could be interpreted both as the reward they will receive in heaven and as the resources they will have during the persecution while they are living in the tabernacle of God. Joseph is composed of two branches of the church.
    - Manasseh ("Jews"). The firstborn son. They will be smaller than the Christian church.
    - Ephraim ("Christians"). The second son.
12. Benjamin ("Son of the Right Hand"). This is the beloved church who dwells securely by faith in the sanctuary of God, under the care and protection of God as the seven last plagues ravage the earth and punish the wicked.
    Of Benjamin he said, "May the beloved of the LORD dwell in security by Him, Who shields him all the day, And he dwells between His shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33: 12)
    This is a yoke and a burden on His shoulders that God gladly bears.
    The church who was once "the son of sorrow", will be placed on the right hand of Jesus when He returns.
    All the nations will gather before Him; and He will separate them from one another as the shepherds separate the sheep from the goats. And He will put the sheep on the right and the goats on the left.
    The Sheep on the Right. The He will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world".
    The Goats on the Left (The Sin Offering). Then He will say to those on His left, "Depart from Me accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and the angels". (Matthew 25: 32-34, 41)

Jeshurun
It means an upright people, full of knowledge. The mobile nation of Israel during the exodus was the nation of Jeshurun with Moses as their king.

The Second Coming
The rest of the blessings of Moses is a beautiful description of the events at the Second Coming which occurs when the last church, Benjamin, is ready to be separated from the wicked.
Jesus Comes with the Clouds. "There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty.
Wicked Destroyed. "The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, and said, 'Destroy!'
The Righteous Tabernacle with God. "So Israel dwells in security, the fountain of Jacob secluded, in a land of grain and new wine; his heavens also drop down dew. "Blessed are you, O Israel; who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread upon their high places." (Deuteronomy 33: 26-29)

- Jesus Comes with the Clouds. At the Second Coming Jesus comes with an army of angels to rescue us.
  Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1: 7)
- Wicked Destroyed. The seventh plague.
- The Righteous Tabernacle with God. We go to heaven.

The Blessings Of Moses
This order is from the blessings of Moses. It is different from the order of the sealing. Moses simply lists the characteristics of the people who are sealed and the order in which heaven responds to them. Revelation lists the order of the sealing and how the people respond to the Holy Spirit. It presents the church in four distinct groups or stages of experience that leads them into the Promised Land. From the time the church is converted from Jacob to Israel, we can see the change in the blessing from Jacob to Moses. They have matured by the time of they cross over into the Promised Land.
Reuben and Simeon represent the state of the two branches of the church before the latter rain. The Jews are surrounded and being afflicted by the nations around them (Zechariah 12). The Christians have become scattered and violent and are an unloved people.

1. Meet the Messiah: (The Ministry to the Jews). The formerly unloved Christian church introduce the Messiah to the Jewish church who had lost their preeminence. The status of the Jews and Christians changes when they lift up Christ, the king from the tribe of Judah. Both groups see Christ as the Messiah more clearly in the scriptures and it begins a spiritual revolution.
2. Converted and Sealed: (The Ministry to the Gentile World). The repentance and conversion created one nation of faithful priests, attached to God. They become beloved sons who do the will of their Father as His right hand and earn the respect of heaven as their reproach is removed.
3. Persecuted. Then their persecution intensifies and they flee from the pursuing forces of Babylon to live as refugees under the protection of God. Christ comes and rescues them when He raids the earth.
4. Reward. The wicked and righteous receive their reward. The righteous are resurrected and raptured and the former people who were dead in sin receive the reward of kings.

The Blessings of the Twelve Tribes
Son | Meaning of Name | Jacob | Moses | Final Role
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | Simeon | Unloved | Scattered, violent | No blessing | Christians: Unloved Gentiles
Reuben | Afflicted | No preeminence or dignity | Live, survive, do not die | Jews: Lost dignity, besieged
The Latter Rain | God sends the Holy Spirit.
Judah | Praise the Lord | Lion king | Bring to His people | Jews introduced to the Messiah
2 | Levi | Attached | Scattered, violent | Faithful priests | People become faithful priests
Benjamin | Son of Right Hand | Ravenous wolf | Beloved son lives securely | Son of the right hand
Joseph | Reproach removed | Fruitful bough | Blessed firstborn | Righteous approved by heaven
Manasseh and Ephraim | The two sons of Joseph were mentioned as a part of his blessing
3 | Zebulun | A good gift | Haven for ships | Rejoices and Goes forth | Righteous have fled Babylon
Issachar | Given Wages | Donkey bears burdens | Rejoices in Tents | Righteous live in Tabernacles
The Second Coming | Christ brings His reward
Gad | How fortunate | Raider | Executes justice | Righteous rescued by Christ
4 | Dan | Judged | Serpent | Lion's whelp | The wicked rejected
Naphtali | Wrestled, prevailed | Loose doe | Possess sea, south | Righteous resurrected, raptured
Asher | Happy am I | Fat bread, rich king's food | Blessed son | Old sinners get a king's reward

A Change In The Inheritance
The fortunes of four tribes seemed to change.
Added Tribes (Counted): Two tribes who were technically not counted in the original distribution of inheritance, now receive a direct inheritance under their names. Now they can lead a tribe and get the inheritance of God.

- Levi - The Nation of Priests: While Levi was one of the original tribes of Israel, we know that it was not "Numbered" as one of the Twelve Tribes. He was not given a separate inheritance. Levi was the "Priests" of God in literal Israel. We know that God's redeemed people will all be "Kings and Priests" to God (Revelation 20: 6, 1 Peter 2: 5), so the tribe of Levi makes a fitting characteristic of God's people in Heaven. Their inheritance comes from God. The 144,000 are numbered in preparation for receiving this inheritance from God.
- Joseph - The Beloved Firstborn: There is no record of any failure of Joseph in the old testament. So he is blameless like God's people (Revelation 14: 5). God's people, like Joseph, will be blameless through the righteousness and blood of Jesus Christ. They are totally surrendered to Jesus Christ (Revelation 7: 10). Since Joseph will be alive in Heaven, he simply replaces the portion held in trust by his youngest son. Joseph was given a double portion which was distributed through the tribes of His two sons. (Genesis 48: 22)

Missing Tribes (Not Counted): But two children are missing from the list. They used to be one of the major tribes camped around the sanctuary. Why are they are not worthy to lead a tribe in heaven?

- Ephraim: Ephraim went into Baal worship and idolatry (Hosea 2: 2,3,8), but so did the other tribes. We know that idolaters will not enter into God's New Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 8). However, the absence of Ephraim may only be related to the presence of his father Joseph as the real heir. Joseph was promised a double portion which was held by both sons. As the oldest son, Manasseh received the second portion in the end, not Ephraim.
  Double Inheritance. Reuben, the first born son should have received the birth right. This was the spiritual heritage and a double portion of the property.
  The Law. But he shall acknowledge the first born, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the first born. (Deuteronomy 21: 17)
  But the birthright was split up when Reuben lost preeminence. Although he was the eleventh son, Joseph received the physical birthright that belonged to the eldest son.
  And Judah, the fourth born, received the spiritual birthright as the ancestor of the Messiah.
  However, in the end all of this is passed to Joseph.
  Spiritual Birthright. Though Judah prevailed over his brother, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph. (1 Chronicles 5: 2)
  Physical Birthright. ... This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. (Ezekiel 47: 13. See Genesis 48: 22)
  Joseph's portion was held in trust by Ephraim until Joseph is resurrected and God combines the physical and spiritual birth rights. So there is nothing particularly wrong with Ephraim. He shares his father's property.
  One Inheritance. ... Look, I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim ... and I will put them with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. (Ezekiel 37: 19)
- Dan - The Wicked Leader: As one of the original sons, Dan should not be missing. We can only find these events as a record of the possible reason and as patterns of the man of sin that he would represent.
  - One Man: Dan was the only son with only one child (Genesis 46). The tribe of the beast is only one man.
    Here is wisdom let him who has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And his number is six hundred and sixty six. (Revelation 13: 18)
  - Idolatry. Although all the tribes committed idolatry, Judges 18 indicates that Dan committed idolatry from the time of the judges until the captivity. They never committed to their God. This story almost has a striking resemblance to the issues of the mark of the beast. When Dan went to get an inheritance, they sent five spies to the land and they convinced a Levite living there to become their priest. He incorporated idolatry into their worship. When they took the city they used 600 soldiers. While the total number who took their inheritance was 606, it has an odd similarity to the beast and his number as they also try to claim an inheritance by force.
  - Levi. It is also significant that Levi replaces Dan. While a judge condemns, a priest always defends the people. All the tribes in Heaven become priests like Levi. Therefore, Dan represents the opposite of Levi. Dan is rebellious and unrighteous and unfit to be a priest.
  - Judged a Serpent. Finally, as we look at the blessings we see the reason for his rejection. The symbols seem to indicate that he represents the Antichrist. The wicked leader who sits as a judge over the tribes. The symbols describe him as the son of Satan, a snake and a roaring lion who pounces on the people. The blessings of Jacob pronounced the most negative images on Dan. He is a serpent like Satan. (Genesis 49: 16-17). The combined name is "judged a serpent".

    » | Wicked Judge. Like Satan, Dan is an accuser of the brethren. Law on Judgment. Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you give, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7: 1-2) » Judges People. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. (Genesis 49: 16) » He Will Be Judged. His name means "God has judged me" (Genesis 30: 6). Because Dan judged the people, God will judge him.
    » | Satan: Ruthless Lion. Dan is an evil king. While Jesus is the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah", the Antichrist grasps this title and becomes Dan, a puny lion cub who walks about the earth like a dysfunctional gangster. Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, that leaps forth from Bashan. (Deuteronomy 33: 22) Satan the Roaring Lion. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5: 8) Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people. (Proverbs 28: 15)
    » | Jacob: The Supplanter/Deceiver. Dan is a deceitful son from whom the righteous must be delivered. He grabs the heel just like the unconverted Jacob grabbed the heel of his brother. Serpent. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horses heels, so that the rider falls backwards. I look for your deliverance, O LORD. (Genesis 49: 17)

  - A Horned Snake. The blessings of Moses assigns a part of the body to each of the sons, because the offering of Christ is represented as being skinned, dismembered and disemboweled by the people. Dan was the horn who strikes the heel. Jesus Christ receives His wound from the serpent in the heel (Genesis 3: 15). In the end, the Little Horn is the enemy of God, the Antichrist, the horn of the serpent.
  » The Lost Son. Here we find another startling imagery. The entire world is seen as the tribe of Israel, because God has reconciled the two groups into one (Ephesians 2: 13-14). However, Dan became the prodigal son who wasted and abandoned his inheritance and never returned home to his grieving Father.

The Great Number (Revelation 7: 9-12)
After these things I looked, and saw, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 7: 9-12)

- No One Could Count. The number of the saved are greater than 144,000. In God's system of counting only the heads of families were counted by name. Let us look at the idea of "Numbering of God's People".
  - Israel was numbered just before they were to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 26 and following). The purpose of this numbering was so that they could be given their inheritance.
  - Here, we see God's people have been numbered. This is a result of the Judgment that began in 1844. The first phase focused upon the righteous dead (Revelation 11: 18-19). Here we see the second phase, focused upon the living. They are standing before the throne, the Ark of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place in God's Presence during the great persecution.
- White Robes. They symbolize our victory over sin, given as a gift from God. (See Revelation 19: 7-8)
- Palm Branches. The palm branches reminds us of the Feast of Tabernacles. Every day they would march around the altar with these green leaves.
  Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. And you shall take on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. (Leviticus 23: 39-40)
- Salvation Belongs to our God. We are saved "By Faith". Our salvation comes through Jesus, as a gift from God. It is not through ourselves or what we do.

The Great Tribulation (Revelation 7: 13-17)
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "My Lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7: 13-17)

- Survived The Great Ordeal These are the saints of all ages who were successful and have been saved and washed in God's righteousness. The Great Tribulation could be symbolically representative of these levels:
  1. History. The whole human race who have struggled against Satan.
  2. Papal Persecution. The 1260 years of the dark ages.
  3. Mark Of The Beast. The last persecution and the seven last plagues.
  4. Jacob's Wrestling. Our final testing and refining during the mark of the beast persecution.
- Worship Him Day And Night. They worship God continually as priests in His sanctuary, enjoying His eternal Sabbath rest. This is the opposite of the fate of those who worship the beast. They receive no rest. Here is wisdom. Both groups do something continually. But one has no rest. We have real rest when we worship God.

  Continual Work. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image and for anyone who receives the mark of its name. (Revelation 14: 11)
  Continual Praise. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come. (Revelation 4: 8)
- Shelter. So God will Tabernacle with His People. This also carries the idea of sheltering them or protecting them. Now that the sheep have been identified and separated from the goats, they need to be protected because the beast has launched his final persecution. They take refuge in God.
  And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a canopy. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a cover from storm and from rain. (Isaiah 4: 5-6)
- Hunger And Thirst No More. Again we have a sanctuary and curse image. God feeds them from His sanctuary with bread of life and the water of life. The curses from the sanctuary will not affect them anymore.
  This is also imagery from the Seven Last Plagues (hunger, thirst and heat). Specifically the first four plagues that affect the world. God shelters the righteous in His tabernacle while the wicked are punished.

What Is The Message Of The 144,000?
Their message must center around the issues of the last day. They must call people back to God and issue a warning to the disobedient. As the messengers of God to a decadent world they must confront the evils of the world and attack the strongholds of Satan. They must do all this for their love and for the glory of God or a strong desire to see God honored. Some will concentrate on different messages, but all are under the control of the Spirit of God.
For a while it seemed that only those who were hostile towards God were able to point out injustice in the world, while those who claimed to be leaders of the people of God were supporting great immorality. But evil cannot fight the good fight because it will be side tracked by immoral goals. The people of God must stand up to evil and injustice and chart a courageous course to a moral solution. Some will do this by enforcing morality, but the true messengers of God will define evil and point the way to righteousness and urge people to make a choice. As multitudes wait in the Valley of Decision, there will be many messages and messengers who deliver the message from one God.

- Gospel: The love of God and the Plan of Salvation will be preached to the whole world.
- The Three Angel's Message: The final prophetic message and warning will be given. Men will hear that they must make a decision about God so that they can flee from the wrath of God.
- Creation and Evolution: Rational voices will convince the world that God is the creator who is worthy of honor.
- Out of Babylon: The final message will call people out of immoral allegiances, towards an exodus back to God.
- Environment: The saints will expose those who destroy the earth physically, mentally and spiritually.
  ... and the time came for the dead to be judged ... and to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11: 18)
  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4: 6)
- Hostility to God: The nations of the world will have an irrational hostility towards God that causes them to embrace evil and despise the good. They must be warned about this continued hostility with which they are justifying the desire to fulfill their own lusts. By law, their hostility will trigger the wrath.
- Israel: One group will convince the nation of Israel that Jesus is the Messiah and they will call global Israel.
- Immorality and Hedonism: The saints will expose the absurdity and destructive forces of immorality that dresses itself up as "freedom" and "fun" and "success".
  "I must be myself", generally means I want the freedom to act irresponsibly so that I can be popular.
  This trend is encouraged by the message of Hollywood, the sports and entertainment industries and college campuses. Sex, addictions, drugs, alcohol and music are the new sacraments for the gods of hedonism. Their motto is, "if it feels good do it". "Rules are made to be broken" is another common theme.
  You have lived luxuriously on the earth, and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (James 5: 5)
- Idolatry: The saints will expose the absurdity of man striving to be God or submitting to degenerate gods. While the pleasure seekers submit to the puny gods of hedonism, the pious also seek gods of their own making. Praying to saints and making saints have become big business in some circles. Our children seek their idols among the sports and Hollywood superstars. All of them are a degenerate species.
- Spiritualism: The saints will expose the forces of darkness and their grip on our leaders and decision makers.
  And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9: 21)
- Slavery: By 2007 there were 27 million slaves worldwide generating $9.5 billion dollars income annually. Some of these slave organizations were even supported by Christian right members of the United States congress. Children, men and women are in bondage as sex slaves, factory workers and household slaves. The book of James 5 says that God hears these cries of injustice against laborers in the last days.
  Come now you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Look, the pay of the laborers which have mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you ... (James 5: 1, 4)
- Corporate and Government Sins: Some will condemn the sins of the nations and businessmen. As Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah pointed out the sins of each nation, men and women will stand up with courage and condemn the actions of various governments. Some governments are guilty of slavery, child prostitution and systemic immorality. Others are guilty of murder, aggression, hostility, torture and suppression and crimes against the poor so that they can favor the wealthy. Others are guilty of suppressing freedom of worship. And some are guilty of being silently complicit. They are hypocrites who feed off the mysery of some in silence while they pretend to be pillars of virtue.
  Corporations are guilty of slavery, theft, greed and economic exploitation. This leads to a return of slavery.
  And the merchants of the earth weep over her because no one buys their cargo any more. Cargoes of gold and silver ... and slaves and human lives. (Revelation 18: 11-13)

Repetition and Enlargement
See the study on the The Last Exodus.
The four cups of the Passover seder are the experience of the church before the final exodus.

1. Freedom ("I Will Bring Out"). The 144,000 are brought out. They are free because Babylon has fallen.
2. Deliverance ("I Will Deliver"). The latter rain comes and the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is given.
3. Redemption ("I Will Redeem"). The nation of priests is called out and given the name of their God.
   ... Do not fear, for I have redeemed you and called you by My name. You are Mine! (Isaiah 43: 1)
4. Release ("I Will Take Out"). We are resurrected and raptured from the earth and taken to Heaven.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4: 30 | Time: 80 minutes Print: 16 pages
Copyright Updated : September, 2007 Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008) Thanks to the Holy Spirit for telling me to see a connection between the seals and the sealing and for showing me that Revelation was written in the order of the feasts. All images were created by Laverna Patterson and are the property of teachinghearts.