Interesting point, Rick. I find Revelation so confusing with the symbolic imagery and not being in chronological order for an end time book.
"When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." [Rev 6:9-11]
It would appear that these are martyrs in the early days of the tribulation. They are each given a white robe. But, I find it very confusing that the dead are questioning the Lord.
Quite possibly, in the tribulation with all the saints already raptured that the souls of the dead people can converse with and even question God.
It is quite obvious that the 144,000 [Rev 7:4] are of the tribes of Israel. They are the original Jehovah's Witnesses. The Israelites.
It is interesting that the tribe of Dan is missing. Why? Is there a logical reason or a prophecy being fulfilled? I can find where Dan was idolatrous in Lev 24:11; Judges 18; 1 Kings 12:28, 29. Could that be it? Why is he singled out?
"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.' Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, 'Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?' And I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" [Rev 7:9-17]
In the first verse, it would appear that all nations would or should include the gentiles. I find that hard to explain and impossible to reconcile that to Daniels prophecy.
It could possibly be talking about the Jews and part Jews in foreign countries that die for the Truth. The great multitudes are quite possibly the ones mentioned in chapter 6 that are given white robes. Here it is approaching the millennium as it is after the three and a half year great tribulation.
"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." [Rev 20:4-6]
There is no mention of white robes, but I can only speculate that if they died for their witness to Jesus that they must be the same group.
But there is comfort in knowing that if you are born twice, you die once and if you are born once you will die twice.
In His service
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