REVELATION CHAPTER SEVE
Chapter six has ended with promises of catastrophe related to the 6th seal. Just as we get set up for something terrible to happen we get the question asked in the last verse of Chapter 6; “Who Shall be Able to Stand?) Chapter 7 answers that question.
Vs. 1 Read D&C 77:8 which tells us who the 4 angels are.
Read D&C 38:11-12
Joseph Fielding Smith said that these angles seem to fit the description of the angels in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matt. 13:24-43 & D&C 86:1-7. Wilford Woodruff said, "Those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out." (Parry 92-93)
Note that the “wind” of this verse is a “storm wind” from the Gk. “anemos”
Vs. 2 Read D&C 77:9 which tells us who the angel from the east is. (See big handout on East.) "Another angel" is a composite Elias-various beings with various keys & powers to gather Israel & restore all things. (Ogden)
Vs. 3 The message seems clearly to be that God is doing all that he can to preserve the righteous and that the acts of destruction must be secondary to his work of saving.
The world is reserved unto burning in the last days. He shall send Elijah the prophet, and he shall reveal the covenants of the fathers in relation to the children, and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers.
Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure. When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother. (TPJS p. 321)
Vs. 4 144,000 – See 23 page handout
Vs. 5-8 Why is Dan left out?
A. A mistake. They should have listed Dan instead of Manasses and included Manasses and Ephraim (also left out) with Joseph in vs. 8
B. See 1 Kings 12:29; Judges 18:30 and I Chron. 7 regarding Dan’s association with idols when Jeroboam set up idols there. This is not likely.
Vs. 9 – The Jehovah Witnesses say that the 144,000 in verse 4 are those to be saved in heaven. The innumerable hosts in this verse are the other good people who will inherit the earth.
Note the order again of all nations, kindreds, and people, and tongues
The palms in the hands are Palm branches which are symbols of victory and joy as in the Triumphal entry. (John 12:13; D&C 109:76; I Maccabees 13:51; 2 Maccabees 10:7)
Vs. 10 - The Revised Standard Bible says, "Salvation belongs to our God" and the Good News Bible reads, "Our salvation comes from our God."
Vs. 12 – Guess how many attributes of God are listed? Why 7?
Vs. 13 – The question is saying, “where did all these people in heaven come from?”
Vs. 14 – Note that there is no mention of people who earned their Celestial inheritance by their righteous living. They all were their because of the blood of the lamb.
See D&C 138:13
"The destinies of all people are in the hands of a just God, and He will do no injustice to any one; and this one thing is sure, that they who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution; and before their robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb, it is to be expected, according to John the Revelator, they will pass through great tribulation. (Joseph to Edward Partridge, HC 1:449)
It appears that all of the people in heaven had endured great tribulation. The Greek has a definite article, not present in the KJV. “The Great Tribulation,” Referring to a future final series of woes-not to common troubles that afflict all peoples. I personally like the reference without the definite article.
Vs. 15 – The verb “serve” come from “latreuo” which means the performance of ceremonies associated with God’s sanctuary, which these can perform because they are kings and priests of the Most High. (Draper, p. 86)
My favorite references to living with God are this one and D&C 88:19 and Rev. 21:3. Who can add to my small collection?
The exalted Saints serve God "forever in his kingdom, where, in the literal sense, there is neither night nor a temple. See Rev. 21:22-23. (BRM - DNTC 3:496)
Vs. 16 – Why won’t they need the sun? (Rev. 21:22-23; Isaiah 49:10; 60:19; Psalm 121:6)
Vs. 17 – Many versions say the Lord shall be their shepherd. (RSV, NEB, JB, NIV, GNB - Parry) The last verse of Chapter 6 has now been answered.
