Revelation 7:9-17

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit: Heaven.
  • Chapter LVIII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XII, Scorpiace,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The explanation of the vision, in which the angel tells first the acts of the saints, that is, their sufferings and work of faith in Christ Jesus, in this verse. Secondly their glory: both present, which consists in two things, that they minister to God, and that God protects them Re 7:15 and to come, in their perfect deliverance from all annoyances Re 7:16 and in participation of all good things which the memory of past hurts shall never be able to diminish Re 7:17."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Let not any slothful one say, 'If I get to heaven at all, I will be content:' such an one may let heaven go altogether. In worldly things, men are ambitious to get as high as they can. Christians have a far more noble ambition."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Twelve is the number of the tribes, and appropriate to the Church: three by four: three, the divine number, multiplied by four, the number for world-wide extension. Twelve by twelve implies fixity and completeness, which is taken a thousandfold in 144,000. A thousand implies the world perfectly pervaded by the divine; for it is ten, the world number, raised to the power of three, the number of God."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "These numbers are not to be taken literally, but only signify that a great number, not a countless number, but a part of each tribe of Israel, accepted the gospel."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • "First Thoughts on Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 4, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "So much of the imagery is strange if not, perhaps, even estranging. Yet it is a way of asserting hope for people who faced hopelessness. It is a way of making God central and keeping the vulnerability of God in our vision."
  • "The Song of Victory," God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse, Wendell W. Frerichs , Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1986.
  • "'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," James H. Burtness, Word & World, 1992.
  • "The Lamb Is the Shepherd," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Revelation 7:9-17, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "If this apocalyptic literature is to mobilize us into action in this world, it is important to return to a question of who now is later going to celebrate. May it be the one's we love. And so we expand our love base."
  • "The Great Escape," Expository Essay, Revelation 7:9-17, Dr. William R. Long. Part 2.
    • "Let this be a day when the imagery of Revelation helps your spirit to soar."
  • "The Redeemed of the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-17)," by J. Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The verb “to seal” is sfragizw. It means “to make an imprint in wax” and it was often done with a signet ring. This was done in ancient times in various kinds of business transactions. It could signify a number of ideas: (a) It often showed a completed transaction had occurred. For the 144,000 it was their personal redemption. (b) It was often a mark of identification and ownership. These became the servants of God and God’s people. (c) Finally, it was often a mark of protection or security. This is clearly the emphasis here."
  • "Whitewash," Martha Greene, The Christian Century, 2002.
    • "We should be cautious about relinquishing the rich language of biblical metaphor. The therapeutic language of 'self-esteem' or 'Happiness comes only from within you' will not help us pass through the great tribulation. There are still some things that we cannot do on our own or for ourselves."
  • "Hope in the Midst of the Great Ordeal," analysis and reflections by Robin Morgan at Sabbatheology by The Crossings Community of St Louis.
    • "Even scared/scarred hearts can be healed and opened by the Lamb's power and love. His goodness calls to us, his intimate care for each of us (who are part of that innumerable throng) draws us to him."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Under the Cover of Clothing: Scripted Clothing Performances in the Apocalypse of John," Dietmar Neufeld, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2005.
    • "Taking into account the functions of attire and adornment delineated by social psychologist, this essay proposes to examine the shifting course of values reflected in the clothing and ornamentation motifs deployed in the Apocalypse of John."
  • "The End-Time as Seven Seals," from The Most Revealing Book of the Bible, Vernard Eller.
  • Lambrecht, J., "The Opening of the Seals (Rev 6:1–8:6)," Biblica Vol. 79(1998) 198-221.   Abstract.
    • "The second scene (7,9-17) is a proleptic vision. In an eschatological anticipation John leaves the basic story-line of his prophetical report of future events, a line which goes from chapter 4 to chapter 22. For a moment he neglects, as it were, the logical progression in time; he leaps forwards immediately to the eschaton. In apocalyptic literature, however, one should not in the least be surprised by such proleptic procedures."       
  • "Blood and Purity in Leviticus and Revelation," by K.C. Hanson, in Listening: Journal of Religion and Culture 28 (1993).
    • "Purity derives from what the Lamb has done, not what the community has done (see Lev 20:7-8). It also does not derive from membership in a politically defined cultic-group of Israelites, but is composed of people from all groups. The "in-group" is thus diverse and scattered; and one of the implications of this is that there is no central control mechanism. And since all are "priests," no clear social hierarchy is in place within the group; no select group of official cultic personnel is required to perform the rituals."
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Burtness, James H., "'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," Word & World, 1992.
  • Charles, Gary W., "Diving into Wonderland: Preaching Revelation in the Mainline Pulpit," Journal for Preachers, 2006.
  • Cook, W. Robert, "The 'Glory' Motif in the Johannine Corpus," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1984.
  • Draper, J.A., "The Heavenly Feast of Tabernacles: Revelation 7:1-17," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1983.
  • Frerichs, Wendell W., "God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse," Word & World, 1986.
  • Greene, Martha, "Whitewash," The Christian Century, 2002.
  • Kelly, Balmer H., "Expository Article: Revelation 7:9-17," Interpretation, 1986.
  • Long, Kimberly Bracken, "'Who Are These People?' Revelation 7:9-17," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
  • Read, David H.C., "Communicating Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996.
  • Smith, Christopher R., "The Tribes of Revelation 7 and the Literary Competence of John the Seer," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1995.
  • Yates, Richard Shalom, "The Function of the Tribulation Saints," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
  • Yates, Richard Shalom, "The Identity of the Tribulation Saints," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
  • Yates, Richard Shalom, "The Resurrection of the Tribulation Saints," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
      Image Browse - PDF
  • Yates, Richard Shalom, "The Rewards of the Tribulation Saints," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Heaven," funeral homily by Sigurd Grindheim, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
  • "Living in the Middle of Time," the Rev. Dr. Ted Wardlaw, Day 1, 1997.
  • "The Greatest Thing a Person Can Do," John Jewell, 2001.
  • "To Jew and Gentile," Ray C. Stedman. Text or Real Audio.
• With Children:
  • "Who Are These People Dressed in White," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Revelation 7:14, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Revelation 7:9, 11, 13, 14, 17. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
    • Ye Servants of God
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Revelation