Israel.

[Gideon300]

Hearing and then seeing is a theme in Revelation.

Earlier in the same book, John records this passage:

“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

While John is weeping, the elder says to him "See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah..."
John hears "Look, the Lion!" One would expect to see some type of a lion.

But then John turns to look and he sees this:

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain..."

Hears "Look a lion!" -> Sees a lamb that looked like it had been slain.
Now, we know that the lion and the lamb refer to neither animal but to a specific person: Christ Jesus.

This pattern is also relevant to the passage in Revelation 7.

John hears the number of those who were sealed;

Revelation 7 "Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel."

And then the number from each tribe is enumerated:

"From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad... etc."

Notice, this was to be a list from "all the tribes of Israel" yet it is not: Dan is missing and Mannasseh, one of Joseph's sons, is added.
So, just from the text (and excluding any religious gymnastics) we should know that this is NOT a list of the physical tribes of Israel.

This is something else.

But let's continue...

So John hears "144,000 from the tribes of Israel!" (a specific number and specific types of people) and then he looks and sees...

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

...he sees a great multitude no one could count.

I could write nearly a page for every sentence above but let me conclude this:

Revelation 7 requires wisdom to understand, like the rest of the book. This is not a count of 144,000 Jews. It is something else.

If not Jews, who?

 

[HeIsHere]

God works where people are looking.

This prophesy still hangs over them:

But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says:
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”

The Jews are not currently jealous of believers: they are using them to advance their own political agendas.

I look for the people who currently reside in the region called "Palestine" to be those who move Israel to jealousy. I am not talking about Hamas or any other terrorist group... the people.

I do believe these verses were fulfilled in the first century as the gentiles they being not a particular nation, but I will need to formulate my response more fully to demonstrate why I believe it to be so.

Paul reiterates it in Romans 10:19.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Yes. I did not quote Genesis 49:17 because some might take it as a good thing. I see it as a warning of Dan's future betrayal of Israel and their deception of the people of Laish.

Yes I agree , sort of like what he said about Judas beforehand of his later betrayal of the lord.

notice the 12 tribes and 12 apostles are 24 specific names written in heaven ?

“and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:12, 14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It seems like a consistant part of Gods plan to have twelve tribes of Israel in the ot and twelve apostles of Jesus in the nt.

Dan seems to be a figure for Judas in the nt both later replaced with others.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Hebrews 7:11-12

Melchezidek is a good study brother …..

“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect,

but the bringing in of a better hope did; ( new covenant the gospel ) by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:11-12, 18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬

“but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:24-25‬ ‭

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:

We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; while it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:1-2, 12-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

[homwardbound]

Melchezidek is a good study brother …..

“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect,

but the bringing in of a better hope did; ( new covenant the gospel ) by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:11-12, 18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬

“but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:24-25‬ ‭

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:

We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; while it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:1-2, 12-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the amazing Love and mercy of God, woe is me, I thank God for Son as risen where new life begins in the born again by God for them. I can't do it, God can and did it for us all through Son. seeing us each worthy of Love and mercy. To get given that and do that for all
There is a movie called "The Shack" that floors me. Seeing we all go through troubles here in this earth life, and some get stuck in their growth of God's love for us all.
The Story is about a man 'Mack" who got stuck in his tragedy that happened to him.
Amazing "Gold Nuggets" I get from the movie from my own turmoils in life here on earth that have created anger and sometimes think I have gotten over and see when think about it, I haven't yet. Now, still learning new from God in it all. Seeing, my Mother, My Dad, My Sister all alive in Heaven, having no impatience any more as had when alive here on earth first.
There is always the possibility they might not be in Heaven, I stand in trust to God to make the right righteous decision and see we all worthy of God's love, otherwise I see what Jesus did for us all, as not well, not good enough. When I see it as the best, God loves us all y'all period, and am thankful beyond understanding. I can't explain it as God can and does to each one of us in His Love blows me away everyday