MARKING PEOPLE OF GOD
Revelation 7.2-8
The people of GOD are always marked by the Lord for different purpose and for different reasons. They are certainly specially selected people with high standard of Spiritual love for GOD and unshakable faith, dedication, loyalty, and devotion to the Most High GOD.
John here starts from the Israelites and reveals the number of 144.000 thousand sealed (marked) from all 12 tribes of Israel, which is 12 thousand from each of 12 tribes. As the verse 3 indicated, they are sealed on their foreheads.
~ 2-8. Marking (sealing) GOD'S people. (Exodus 12.7.13) (Ezekiel 9.4-6) (John 3.33, 6.27) (Ephesians 1.13, 4.30) (2Corinthians 1.21-22) (2Timothy 2.19) (Revelation 7.2-8, 9.4, 14.1.9-11)
~ 4-8. 144.000. (Revelation 7.4-8, 14.1.3-5).
~ See also related themes concerning Eunuchs: (Matthew 19.12) and concerning Nazirites: (Numbers 6.1-21) (Judges 13.3-5) (1Samuel 1.11.22.28) (Amos 2.11-12).
PEOPLE IN WHITE ROBES
Revelation 7.9-17
After describing 144.000 thousand Israelites marked by GOD, John turns his attention to Gentiles. As the elder said to John, these multitude of people who came from all corners of the Earth and dressed in white robes (9), they came from the great tribulation (14).
The great tribulation relates to the Day of the Lord and also to Armageddon mentioned in different places of the Bible and described in all what places very similarly.
~ The Great Tribulation: (Isaiah 13.6.9-10, 34.4) (Ezekiel 32.7-8) (Joel 1.15, 2.1.11.31, 3.14) (Amos 5.18.20) (Obadiah 15) (Zephaniah 1.7.14.18, 2.2-3) (Malachi 4.5) (Matthew 24.29-44, 25.13) (Mark 13.24-37) (Luke 12.39-40, 21.34-36) (1Thessalonians 5.2) (Revelation 3.3, 6.12-14.16-17, 16.15).
"They have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." (14). Washing robes in the Blood of Christ symbolizes certain unique Baptism to clean their souls from all the impurities they have, which make their robes of their spirit white, means consecrated and holy.
Why by the Blood of Christ, they clean their Spiritual robes? The Blood of Christ symbolizes Purity of the Christ Soul, of His Holy Spirit (the life (spirit) of every living thing located in its blood. Leviticus 17.11) which is His Spiritual Holiness of His Character and Personality.
So, everyone who follows, obey, and live according to the Spiritual Qualities of the Character and His Commandments already washed and purified their "souls," in the Christ's Holy Sacrificial Blood that He has spilled on the cross for us.
The same thing happens every time during Passover Holiday when we drink wine which Christ called symbolically as His Blood, which is also purifies and consecrate all souls who deserve and who worthy to drink "His Blood," so in their spirit they will be like Christ, holy and righteous. In this sense washing - Baptizing your robe (soul) in the Blood of Christ does the same, it purifies and consecrate your spirit to become holy in your spirit like Christ.
In verse 15 they are standing before the Throne of GOD and serve Him day and night in His Temple. While the Temple of GOD already exist in the spirit of every true Christian, there is another Spiritual Temple of GOD in Heaven in which perpetual worship conducted by the people of GOD in white robes.
The second part of this verse relates very much to the same thing, "and He Who sits on the Throne shall spread His Tabernacle over them." The Tabernacle was the very first physical Holy Place in which GOD resided among His people Israel. Now this Spiritual Tabernacle symbolizes a Holy Place for all nations who worship the Lord the GOD of Israel, the Father and His son Jesus Christ (15).
The next verse 16 express a condition of Spiritual Angelic State in which no physical harm or discomfort can affect those who are in the Spiritual State like the angels in Heaven. They are always in perfect condition of happiness and joy worshiping their GOD in love and in full dedication to Him.
The last verse 17 reveal the Spring of Living Water that was mentioned before in number of places of the Holy Scripture. The water, particularly in the Middle East, always especially symbolizes the essence of life, but here John talking about even better Water, the Spiritual Water of Life.
Every single Word, Commandments, and Statute of GOD is the Living Water of Life that gives Spiritual Life for everyone who absorb it and drink it, means those who follow the Word of GOD and obey it. Those who drink on physical water they are only supporting their bodies and but those who drink Spiritual Water of Laws and Commandments of GOD support the life of their soul eternally and they live forever.
~ 17. *Fountain, Spring of Living Water: (Psalms 36.8-9) (Isaiah 44.3-4, 55.1-2) (Jeremiah 2.13, 17.13) (John 4.12-14, 7.38) (Revelation 7.17, 22.1-2.17). Fountain of Life: (Psalm 36.9, Proverbs 10.11, 13.14, 14.27, 16.22).
~ 17. Commandments of GOD give Life: (Leviticus 18.5) (Deuteronomy 8.3) (Nehemiah 9.29) (Psalm 119.93) (Ezekiel 20.11.13, 33.15) (Matthew 4.4, 19.17.29) (Mark 10.17.19.28-30) (Luke 4.4, 10.25-28, 18.18-20) (John 8.51, 12.49-50).
~ Parallel theme: "Other sheep" (Isaiah 14.1, 56.3.8) (Jeremiah 12.16) (John 10.16).
GOOD SHEPHERD
Revelation 7.17
And all of them have One Shepherd Jesus Christ, the True, Caring, and Kind Shepherd Who will never abandon His sheep and will defend them from all the predators of the forest.
~ 17. The Good Shepherd: (Psalm 100.3) (John 10.1-16) (1Peter 5.4) (Acts 20.28-30) (Revelation 7.17).