Revelation Chapter Seven
Part Two – The Twelve Tribes
Revelation 7:5-8 is a listing of the twelve tribes of Israel. The church, the body of Christ, is part of the Children of Israel by adoption, as we will discover. These tribes are shadows related to the church in some way.
The names listed and the order in which they are listed appears random. This is not coincidental however, but prophetic. Compare the list of names and their order with the order in which they are listed in Genesis 29:31 through 30:24. Also refer to the list in which Jacob passed down the birthrights in Genesis 49.
Compared to these lists, this one found in Revelation is rather odd. Judah is listed first although not the firstborn. Jesus came from the line of Judah, and was “the firstborn of many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
Also, Dan is omitted from the list. Ancient belief held the Antichrist would come from the line of Dan. He is replaced by Manasseh, Joseph’s first son, thus completing the twelve. Jacob took Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his sons, in essence, “adopting” them. By this, they became eligible to inherit Jacob’s legacy along with the other sons. Genesis 48:5
A closer inspection of this Revelation list shows Jesus is talking to His bride through what appears to be a mistake. But God doesn’t make mistakes. Out of confusion He brings perfect order. 1 Corinthians 14:33
The first in the Revelation list is Judah. The name means “praise.” Judah was the ancestor of David, and therefore, Jesus. He talked his brothers into selling Joseph, rather than to kill him. He may have been open to God’s suggestion, or plain greedy. “Why sell him? He must be worth a few sheckels.” This shows God can work through any vessel, willing or not. Judah is the fourth son of Jacob. Four is the number of creation, or the world. Here, Judah is number one in the lineup. One is the number of God.
Message: Praise is to be the number one priority in the church’s relationship with God. Praise is why He created us. “All creation shall praise Him.” Psalm 66:1-2
Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. The name means “behold a son.” Jacob removed Reuben from his inheritance, and adopted Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, in his place. Some believe Jacob did this because of Reuben’s indiscretion with his stepmother Bilhah, his father’s concubine. (Genesis 35:22) Jacob may have done this as a way of thanking Joseph for saving the family, and hence, the Abrahamic bloodline. Ruben is the first son. One is the number of God. In Revelation, Reuben is the second in line. Two is the number of witness or division.
Message: Reuben is a witness to the church; God will not allow divided allegiances. You can’t serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13) A birthright is a terrible thing to waste. Ask Esau, who sold his for a bowl of vegetable soup. Genesis 25:34
Gad is the seventh of the sons. Gad means “good fortune,” or “fortunate.” Seven is the number of perfection and completion. Here, Gad is listed number three in the line up. Three is the number of completeness, or trinity. Of Gad, Jacob prophesied, “a troop shall press upon him, but he shall triumph at last.”
Message: Each of us is complete in Christ, making us most fortunate of His creation. Even when surrounded by a troop, through our God we shall do exploits. Psalm 18:29
Asher, meaning “happy,” is the eighth son. Eight is the number of resurrection and beginnings. Here, Asher is listed fourth in line. The number four precedes from three (the Godhead, Trinity) and is dependent thereon. Four is also the number of creation.
Message: All creation is dependent on God, whether aware of it or not. To the church, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Naphtali means “obtained by wrestling.” Of Naphtali, Jacob prophesied; “Naphtali is a hind let loose which yields lovely fawns.” AMP
Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob. Six is the number of man. Here, Naphtali is fifth in line. Five is the number of grace and atonement.
Message: Jesus obtained man’s atonement through wrestling. Now, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. . . .” (Ephesians 6:2) Do you need to be set free? Having trouble bearing fruit (lovely fawns)? Ask and keep asking. Wrestle that need into submission by prayer. Luke 11: 5-13
Joseph named his first son Manasseh, which means “making to forget.” How appropriate, considering his past. Joseph’s marriage to an Egyptian woman and the birth of Manasseh, helped him forget. The Hebrews followed a second line of lineage through the mother. Manasseh’s mother, being Egyptian, made him a gentile and not part of the Abrahamic covenant. Jacob, their grandfather, adopted both of Joseph’s sons, placing them under the covenant by adoption.
Manasseh is sixth in the lineup replacing Dan. Six is the number of man. Six six six, the number of the Antichrist, is the number of man three times, or the deifying of man. Antichrist is the man who calls himself god. Manasseh replacing Dan in sixth place is prophetic. Jacob prophesied, “Dan shall be a serpent in the way. . . .” (Genesis 49:16-17) The serpent is symbolic for the spirit of Antichrist.
Dan is Jacob’s fifth son. Five is the number of grace. Mahasseh received grace through adoption, and is a shadow of the redeemed, who are adopted into Abraham’s seed by rebirth.
Message: Forget (Manasseh) about the serpent (Dan). He has no teeth. Jesus pulled them! Once children exiled in a far away land, our Heavenly Father has adopted and given us a home with Him.
Simeon is seventh in the Revelation line. Abraham prophecied: “Simeon and Levi are brothers. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel.” The two brothers led their families and servants to destroy the people of Shechem, (Genesis 34) with whom Jacob had made a covenant. Jacob prophesied Simeon would be divided and scattered in Israel.
Seven is the number of completeness, perfection, rest. God created the world in six days and rested the seventh. Seven also represents the total number of anything, all. Simeon is the second son. Two is the number of witness, confirmation, division.
Message: The church is to be the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13) God wants to separate us out, and sprinkle us back among the people of the world. Is the job overwhelming? Rest in Him.
Levi is number eight in the lineup. The name Levi means “unity”, or “attachment.” Jacob included him in the curse with his brother Simeon. But Levi’s family showed steadfast dedication toward Jehovah during times of testing, so God turned the curse into a blessing. His family would become the priestly line.
Eight is the number of resurrection and new beginnings. After Shechem, Levi experienced a complete turn around, a fresh beginning. Levi is the third brother. Three is the number of the Trinity, or Deity.
Message: We must attach ourselves to God, the Trinity, and become one in unity with Christ. Only in Him is new life obtained.
Number nine in the group is Issachar. The name means “a hired worker.” Jacob said of Issachar; “. . . a young donkey lying down between two burdens . . . he bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a band of slaves.” Nine is the number of the Holy Spirit, the nine gifts and nine fruits. Nine also represents choice or judgement. Issachar is the sixth son. Six, of course, is the number of man.
Message: Issachar shows man cannot succeed in the works Christ assigns without the Holy Spirit’s gifts and fruit in operation. Many shepherds try; many of their sheep flounder.
Zebulun is the tenth in the Revelation line and is the fifth son of Jacob. The name means “to bestow.” Five is the number of grace and separation. Here, he is number ten, representing trial, law, and order.
Message: God tried us, weighed us in the balance and found us wanting. God’s grace is bestowed upon us because of Jesus’ love. We are separated out of the world and made righteous.
Joseph is number eleven in the lineage of Jacob. Beyond a doubt he is the most important of the brothers. The faith and trust in God Joseph possessed saved the family line of David and Jesus.
Joseph is also eleven in the lineup in Revelation. Eleven is symbolic of incompleteness and confusion. Of Joseph, Jacob Prophesied; “Archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong. . . .” (Genesis 49:23-24) The bow is symbolic of strength.
Message: Satan will take his best shots to confuse and knock us off the path God lays out before us. The enemy does not want our assignment completed. Through Christ, we remain strong to complete the task. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
Benjamin is number twelve in both lists. Jacob prophesied; “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at night dividing the spoil.” A ravenous wolf is aggressive concerning the prey. He does not lounge around his lair, waiting for something to wander in. The church must be ravenous toward the lost. The number twelve represents government, twelve tribes, and twelve apostles. Twelve is also symbolic for the redeemed.
Concerning government, the church is expected to be aggressive and take spiritual control over principalities, powers, and rulers in high places. Take authority over demonic strongholds by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Sword of the Lord.
Message: The redeemed, possess more power in the spirit world than we realize. Through the name of Jesus, every spiritual knee must bow, including Satan. He won’t bow to a spiritual wimp. Go after him like a ravenous wolf; his defeat is spoil to be divided.