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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 7

The things contained in this chapter came in after the opening of the six seals, which foretold great calamities in the world; and before the sound of the seven trumpets, which gave notice of great corruptions arising in the church: between these comes in this comfortable chapter, which secures the graces and comforts of the people of God in times of common calamity. We have, I. An account of the restraint laid upon the winds, Rev. 7:1-3. II. The sealing of the servants of God, Rev. 7:4-8.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 7:1-12

Here we have, I. An account of the restraint laid upon the winds. By these winds we suppose are meant those errors and corruptions in religion which would occasion a great deal of trouble and mischief to the church of God. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind: here the spirits of error are compared to the four winds, contrary one to another, but doing much hurt to the church, the garden and vineyard of God, breaking the branches and blasting the fruits of his plantation. The devil... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 7:13-17

Here we have a description of the honour and happiness of those who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ, and suffered for him. Observe, I. A question asked by one of the elders, not for his own information, but for John's instruction: ministers may learn from the people, especially from aged and experienced Christians; the lowest saint in heaven knows more than the greatest apostle in the world. Now the question has two parts:?1. What are these that are arrayed in white robes? 2.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:1-3

7:1-3 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that the wind might not blow upon the earth, or upon the sea, or against any tree. And I saw another angel going up from where the sun rises, with a seal which belonged to the living God, and he shouted with a great voice to the four angels to whom was given power to harm the earth and the sea: "Do not harm the earth and the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:1-3

This vision is expressed in conceptions of the world which were the conceptions of the days in which John wrote. The earth is a square, flat earth; and at its four corners are four angels waiting to unleash the winds of destruction. Isaiah speaks of gathering the outcasts of Judah from the four corners of the earth ( Isaiah 11:12 ). The end is come upon the four corners of the earth in Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 7:2 ). It was the belief of the ancient peoples that the winds which came from due... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:1-3

Before the great tribulation smites the earth the faithful ones are to be marked with the seal of God. There are two points to note. (i) The angel with the seal comes from the rising of the sun, from the East. All John's pictures mean something and there may be two meanings behind this: (a) It is in the East that the sun, the supreme earthly giver of light and life, rises; and the angel may stand for the life and the light that God gives his people even when death and destruction are abroad.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:4-8

7:4-8 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand were sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; of the tribe of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:4-8

There are certain quite general things to be noted here which will greatly help towards the interpretation of this passage. (i) Two things are to be said about the number 144,000. (a) It is quite certain that it does not stand for the number of the faithful in every day and generation. The 144,000 stands for those who in the time of John are sealed and preserved from the great tribulation which at that moment was coming upon them. In due time, as we see in Revelation 7:9 , they are to be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:9-10

7:9-10 After this I saw, and, behold, a great crowd, so great that none could count its number, drawn from every race and from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palms in their hands. And they shouted with a great voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated upon the throne and to the Lamb." Here we have the beginning of the vision of the future blessedness of the martyrs. (i) There is encouragement. There... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:11-12

7:11-12 And all the angels stood in a circle round the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell upon their faces before the throne, and worshipped God, saying: "So let it be. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength belong to our God for ever and for ever. Amen." The picture is of a series of great concentric circles of the inhabitants of heaven. On the outer ring stand all the angels. Nearer the throne are the... read more

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