SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD Concerning 'The Gospel' LORD JESUS CHRIST Grounded In Biblical Truth
http://www.SovereignGraceOfGod.com (Home Page)

A L L - I S R A E L

Rev. 7:4-8

"And I heard the number of them which were SEALED: [and there were] SEALED a hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of ALL THE TRIBES of the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL."

TRIBES OF ISRAEL
SONS OF JACOB

NUMBER	NAME	VERSE-1	VERSE-2	VERSE-3	MOTHER
1	REUBEN	Gen. 49:3	Num. 1:5	Rev. 7:5	LEAH
2.	SIMEON	Gen. 49:5	Num. 1:6	Rev. 7:7	LEAH
3.	LEVI	Gen. 49:5	MISSING	Rev. 7:7	LEAH
4.	JUDAH	Gen. 49:8	Num. 1:7	Rev. 7:5	LEAH
5.	DAN	Gen. 49:16	Num. 1:12	MISSING	BILHAH
6.	NAPHTALI	Gen. 49:21	Num. 1:15	Rev. 7:6	BILHAH
7.	GAD	Gen. 49:19	Num. 1:14	Rev. 7:5	ZILPAH
8.	ASHER	Gen. 49:20	Num. 1:13	Rev. 7:6	ZILPAH
9.	ISSACHAR	Gen. 49:14	Num. 1:8	Rev. 7:7	LEAH
10.	ZEBULUN	Gen. 49:13	Num. 1:9	Rev. 7:8	LEAH
11.	JOSEPH	Gen. 49:22	Num. 1:12	Rev. 7:8	RACHEL
11-A.	MANASSEH	-	Num. 1:10	Rev. 7:6	-
11-B.	EPHRAIM	-	Num. 1:10	MISSING	-
12.	BENJAMIN	Gen. 49:27	Num. 1:11	Rev. 7:8	RACHEL

'ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL'
SEALED

Most teach that the 144 thousand of ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, in Revelation 7, represents National Israel. But when we read these verses carefully we see that this would create several conflicts........

I. Those who are SEALED are believers in Christ.

2 Cor. 1:21-22

"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: WHO HATH ALSO SEALED US."

'A REMNANT OF JEWS'

The SEALED will comprise a remnant of Jews chosen by GRACE from National Israel. But does not include Israel as a political Nation.

II. TWO TRIBES OF ISRAEL ARE MISSING ?

The tribe of EPHRAIM.
The tribe of DAN.

TWO TRIBES ARE MISSING ?

If these 12 tribes, of ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, were pointing to National Israel, it would have been bad enough to leave out DAN, which the BIBLE has some bad things to say about (Gen.49:17), but to avoid naming EPHRAIM is another matter. EPHRAIM was SET BEFORE MANASSEH (Gen.48:20). Since DAN was an integral part of the Nation of Israel and EPHRAIM had as much right as Manasseh to be included, verse 4 can not be a true statement if National Israel is in view, for it says ALL THE TRIBES.....

ISRAEL's MEANING
JACOB, 12, 10, CHRIST, BELIEVERS

So then what does the Bible mean when it talks about ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL ???? First of all what does the Bible say about the meaning of 'ISRAEL' ????

ISRAEL = JACOB

Genesis 32:28

"And He said, thy name shall be called no more JACOB, but ISRAEL"

ISRAEL = 12 TRIBES

Genesis 49:28

"All these [are] the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL."

ISRAEL = 10 TRIBES

1 Kings 11:35-37

"But I will take the KINGDOM out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] TEN TRIBES ... and shalt be king over ISRAEL."

ISRAEL = CHRIST

Hosea 11:1

"When ISRAEL [was] a CHILD, then I loved him, and called MY SON out of Egypt."

ISRAEL = ALL BELIEVERS

Matthew 15:22

"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHHEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, GREAT [is] THY FAITH;."

Romans 9:6

"Nor they are NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE ISRAEL."

Romans 2:29

"But he is a JEW, which IS ONE INWARDLY, and circumcision is that of the heart."

Galatians 3:29

"And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye ABRAHAM'S SEED, and heirs according to the promise."

HOUSE OF ISRAEL - ALL BELIEVERS

This woman was a non-Jew. She was not a blood descendant of Abraham, but Jesus CAME TO HER, and for the HOUSE OF ISRAEL - ALL BELIEVERS.

If you sincerely believe on Jesus Christ, who is the promised seed of all the nations of the earth, you therefore became the TRUE SEED OF ABRAHAM.

ISRAEL's PURPOSE

PICTURE OF THE 'ISRAEL OF GOD' ( BELIEVERS ).
PEOPLE TO RECORD THE WORD OF GOD.
PEOPLE TO GIVE THE WORD OF GOD.
SEED TO PRODUCE THE SON OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST.
PEOPLE TO CRUCIFY JESUS CHRIST.
A SIGN OF THE 'END-OF-TIME' - ( FIG TREE IN LEAF ).

The NUMBER TWELVE
SIGNIFIES THE FULLNESS OF WHATEVER IS IN VIEW

In the BIBLE the number TWELVE (12) signifies the FULLNESS OF WHATEVER IS IN VIEW.

12 Tribes of Israel --------------- (James 1:1)
12 Apostles ----------------------- (Mark 3:14)
12 Foundations -------------------- (Rev. 21)
12 Gates -------------------------- (Rev. 21:14/21)
144 (12 times 12) Cubits ---------- (Rev. 21:17)

BELIEVERS ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

In Revelation 21:2 this HOLY CITY - THE NEW JERUSALEM - THE BRIDE, is referring to the BODY OF BELIEVERS. Believers are the BRIDE OF CHRIST and CHRIST is our BRIDEGROOM. (2 Cor. 11:2 - Matt. 9:15).

Romans 11:26

"And SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED."

SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED
SO does not mean THEN

This explains the statement made in Romans 11:26 where it says "SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED", notice that IT DOES NOT say "THEN ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED. Yes, All believers will be saved, it IS NOT talking about all the people of National Israel. Nations do not turn to Christ, INDIVIDUALS DO.

ISRAEL OF GOD
ALL BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL referred to in Revelation 7 are NOT CURRENT TRIBES OF ISRAEL. This is referring to the 'ISRAEL OF GOD' which is ALL BELIEVERS.