Subject: rev.7:4 |
Bible Note: It should be noted that the term 'the twelve tribes of Israel' is used by James to refer to the whole church (James 1.1). It is quite clear that James is not simply addressing Christian Jews because in his letter, which is full of moral exhortation, no reference is made to how Jewish Christians should see Gentile Christians, which was a burning topic at the time. Had James been writing to Jewish Christians only he would unquestionably have dealt with this topic at least once. Furthermore it is clear that his letter would have been read out in all the churches that received it (there were no separate Jewish churches as far as we know) and had he not intended it to be a letter to all he would certainly have sent a greeting to Gentile Christans. That being so 'the twelve tribes of Israel who are scattered abroad' is a reference to the church as a whole. This ties in with the idea that the Apostles would sit on the thrones of David (Psalm 122.5) on behalf of the Messiah overseeing 'the twelve tribes of Israel' i.e. the church of the Messiah. Whilst we have lost sight of the fact the early church laid great emphasis on the fact that the true church were the true Israel. They were founded on the early believers in the Messiah who were all ex-Jews, and thus formed the true remnant of Israel (Rom 9.6; 11.1 ff). And as Paul makes clear in Romans 11.16-24 the believing Gentiles were engrafted into Israel, whilst the unbelieving among the Jews were cut off. For the teaching that the true church is the true Messiah-believing Israel see Rom 11.16-24; Gal. 3.29; 6.16; Eph 2.11-22; 1 Peter 2.9; James 1.1. The reason that the names of Ephraim and Dan were omitted is not difficult to determine. It is because those names were especially associated with idolatry in the OT. Abstention from idolatry is an emphasis of Revelation. (That Ephraim is included as Joseph indicates that the issue was over the names not over the tribes). In Rev 21.12, 14, 17, the bride of Christ (the New Jerusalem), and therefore the Old and New Testament church, combines the twelve patriarchs with the twelve Apostles, and this in connection with 144000. There could be no clearer indication that the bride of Christ is in mind in Rev 7 and 14. Best wishes |