John Gill's Exposition on Revelation 7:8

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand, etc.] Which signifies “dwelling”, (<013020>Genesis 30:20); and was the tribe in which Christ had his dwelling, and where he much conversed; and may denote his gracious inhabitation, as well as that of God the Father, md of the Spirit, among the saints and sealed ones. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand; whose name signifies “adding”, (<013024>Genesis 30:24); and may intend the additions both of numbers, and of gifts and graces to the churches of those times. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand; this word signifies “the Son of the right hand”, (<013518>Genesis 35:18); showing, that these sealed ones are as a signet on God's right hand, and are as near and dear unto him as a man's right hand is to him; (see <198017>Psalm 80:17). Now twelve thousand out of each tribe make just the number of a hundred forty and four thousand, (<660704>Revelation 7:4); the tribe of Dan is not mentioned, it may be because of the apostasy of that tribe, one of Jeroboam's golden calves being set up there; showing that God had no sealed ones of that sort, and instead of him Levi is reckoned; though that tribe had no part in the division of the land of Israel, yet had a part in Christ, and is therefore mentioned in this mystical account. Nor is the name of Ephraim used, it may be for the same reason; there having been a great defection in that tribe from the pure worship of God, and instead of him the name of Joseph appears.

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