啓示錄 7 章 Revelations 7
- 馬克牧師
- Jul 7
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 28
各位平安！這一講我們要一起默想《啟示錄》第七章的經文。
我們回顧一下，在第五章，我們看到的是一個壯觀的敬拜場景 —— 天上地下萬物齊聲頌讚，被殺的羔羊配得一切榮耀。
接著進入第六章，畫風急轉直下。從敬拜直接轉進到末日的風暴 —— 四匹馬所帶來的征戰、飢荒、死亡，讓整個氣氛變得極度沉重。
但到了第七章，畫面再次轉變。我們看到四位天使站在地的四角，手中掌握著四方的風——這是一種「暫停」的畫面，好像整個審判暫時按下了「暫停鍵」。為什麼呢？因為有件重要的事情要發生。
這時出現的是以色列的十二支派被印記的人，總數是144,000。這裡有趣的地方是，如果你仔細去讀這十二支派的名單，你會發現兩件事非常特別：
第一，「但支派」不見了。第二，原本應該是「以法蓮」的地方，變成了「約瑟」支派。
有一個常見的解釋是：但支派在舊約（例如《士師記》）裡，曾經陷入嚴重的拜偶像問題。因此在這裡，約翰可能是有意地把它從名單中刪除，作為一種屬靈的提醒——忠誠與聖潔，是被印記之人的關鍵特質。
這段經文不只是名單，它在告訴我們：在審判即將臨到之前，上帝的百姓會被保護、被分別出來。
第二，有一個常常被問的問題來了：為什麼是12？為什麼是12,000？為什麼總共是144,000人？這個數字到底代表什麼？
其實，在聖經的語境裡，數字往往具有象徵意義。「12」這個數字，在聖經中是非常關鍵的代表——象徵「完全的神的百姓」。像是舊約的十二支派，新約的十二使徒，都是代表上帝所揀選的群體。
而144,000怎麼來的呢？其實很簡單，是12（支派）乘以12（使徒）再乘以1000。12 × 12 = 144，然後乘上1000，這個「千」在猶太文化中象徵「大、完全、眾多」。
所以說，144,000其實就是一個「象徵性的完全數」，表示從神的子民中，有一個「完整的群體」被救贖、被印記。不是說「只有」144,000人能得救，而是說：這些人代表的是整體上帝的百姓，一個完整的數目。
如果我們再繼續讀下去，就會發現：在這144,000之後，約翰立刻看到了一個「沒有人能數過來的」大群人，來自各國、各族、各方、各民，穿著白衣，高聲讚美羔羊。這個畫面直接告訴我們：得救的人遠超過字面上的144,000。
所以，如果你曾經被這個數字搞混或甚至覺得有點擔心，不用怕——這裡不是在設定「人數限制」，而是在強調：上帝拯救的計畫，是完全的，是從舊約到新約，是橫跨歷史、超越族群的救恩。
接著，我們來到《啟示錄》第七章第九節，畫面再次拉寬、升級。
約翰說他看見了一大群人，沒有人能數過來，來自各國、各族、各民、各方。他們站在寶座和羔羊面前，高聲喊著：「救恩屬乎坐在寶座上我們的神，也屬乎羔羊！」
這畫面超壯觀，不只是視覺上的驚嘆，更是一種靈裡的宣告：救恩是為全地的，是為每一個願意信靠祂、悔改歸向祂的人預備的！
這群人穿著白衣，手拿棕樹枝，大聲敬拜。接著其中一位長老問約翰說：「這些穿白衣的是誰？是從哪裡來的？」
約翰一臉問號，說：「你知道啊，長老你告訴我吧。」於是長老回答說：這些人是從大患難中出來的，曾用羔羊的血把衣裳洗白淨了。
這裡我們要稍微解釋一下——當他說「用血洗衣服洗得白」的時候，這是一個象徵性的說法，不是真的拿血來洗衣服。雖然在早期教會的某些神秘主義團體中，真的有人這麼想，但我們知道這裡所講的，是「耶穌所流的血的代價與能力」，而不是物理上的動作。
也就是說，我們說「被耶穌的寶血洗淨」的意思，是祂為我們所付出的代價潔淨了我們的生命，讓我們得以站在神面前。
接著我們看到一個令人驚奇的畫面——這些人不只是得救，還在神的寶座面前、在祂的殿中晝夜事奉祂。而寶座上的要用帳幕覆庇他們。
注意這個細節，對猶太人來說，帳幕（會幕）是聖潔不可侵犯的地方，尤其是外邦人不能進入，只有祭司能進入聖所，至聖所更是只能大祭司一年一次進入。
但在這裡，我們看到的是——所有人，來自萬國萬民，都能夠在神的帳幕之下與祂同住，親近祂、敬拜祂。
這就是耶穌基督所成就的偉大逆轉：原本被限制的聖所，如今向所有被救贖的人敞開，不再只為某些血統或階級，而是因著耶穌，我們都能成為君尊的祭司，親近祂，住在祂榮耀的同在中。
所以，雖然這段是寫給猶太人看的，但它對他們也是一個強烈的提醒：神的救恩不只是屬於以色列，而是屬於全世界每一位願意信靠祂的人。
而第七章的尾聲，給了我們一個極大的盼望。
這段經文其實是回應前面第六章裡，那些因為為羔羊作見證而被殺的信徒。他們在第五印下問道：「主啊，還要等到幾時呢？」現在，他們得到了一個極美的回答——在天上的敬拜中，他們站立在神的寶座前，經歷著真正的安息與慰藉。
第16節寫道：「他們不再飢、不再渴；日頭和炎熱也必不傷害他們。」
你聽到這句話，是不是整個人都鬆了一口氣？這些為信仰受苦的人，終於得到了完全的安慰。而這一切的關鍵，是接下來這句：
「因為寶座中的羔羊必牧養他們，領他們到生命水的泉源；神也必擦去他們一切的眼淚。」
這句話太美了！「羔羊牧養他們」——這不是個隨便的比喻，而是整本聖經裡最溫柔、最深刻的一個畫面。
從舊約開始，上帝就被稱為牧者。我們最愛讀的詩篇23就是這樣開始的：「耶和華是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏。」詩篇80篇：「領約瑟如領羊群之以色列的牧者啊！」、以賽亞書40章：「牧養自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔，抱在懷中，慢慢引導那乳養小羊的」、以西結書34章和37章，也都不斷提到彌賽亞是以色列的牧人，牽引祂的百姓，懷抱羊群。
到了新約，耶穌自己也說：「我是好牧人，我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我。」（約翰福音10章）彼得前書說祂是「我們靈魂的牧人」，希伯來書稱祂為「群羊的大牧人」。
這些都指向同一件事——耶穌是那位願意為羊捨命、為羊引路、為羊遮風避雨的牧者。
當約翰寫這些話時，他心裡很清楚：以色列地的牧羊人，生活極其艱難。他們常在峭壁和乾旱的曠野間奔走，要時時提防野獸出沒，忍受白天的酷熱、晚上的寒冷，為羊群找尋有限的水源與青草地。這和我們印象中紐西蘭那種綠油油、羊兒漫步的風景差很遠——在中東，牧羊是艱辛、警醒、需要極大愛與保護的工作。
而耶穌，就是這樣的牧人。
祂不是遠遠看著放羊吃草不管事的牧人，而是親自下到曠野、走過黑暗、抵擋野獸、翻山越嶺把迷失的羊領回的好牧人。祂引導我們到生命水的泉源——這泉源，不是地上的一口井，而是永恆生命的源頭。祂擦去每一滴眼淚，祂給我們的是不再有飢渴、不再有傷害、不再有夜晚的痛苦與絕望的世界。
這幅畫面，美到讓人靜默。這不是童話，而是啟示錄向我們展示的終極現實：那些為信仰付出一切的人，最後會在神的帳幕之中，被安慰、被引導、被愛到底。
感謝上帝的信實！
這是啟示錄第七章的默想。下一講，我們繼續默想啟示錄第八章的經文。感謝各位的聆聽，願上帝祝福各位。
Peace be with you all! Today, we’ll reflect on the passage in Revelation chapter 7.
Let’s briefly recap what we’ve seen so far:
In chapter 5, we witnessed an awe-inspiring worship scene—heaven and earth united in praise before the slain Lamb, who alone is worthy of all glory.
In chapter 6, the tone shifts dramatically: worship gives way to apocalyptic turmoil. We see the four horsemen bring war, famine, and death—creating a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
But when we arrive at chapter 7, the narrative shifts again. Four angels stand at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds—a momentary pause in judgment. Why? Because something crucial is about to unfold.
At this moment, 144,000 servants of God from Israel’s twelve tribes are marked with a seal. If you carefully examine the list of tribes, two things stand out:
The tribe of Dan is missing.
Instead of "Ephraim," we see the tribe of Joseph listed.
A common interpretation is that Dan’s tribe is omitted because of its history of idolatry (as seen in Judges). By removing Dan, John may be signaling a spiritual lesson: loyalty and holiness are essential for those who are sealed.
This listing is not merely a census—it communicates that God’s people are selected and protected before the coming judgment.
Why 12,000 from each tribe? What does 144,000 mean?
This is a question many ask: Why twelve tribes? Why 12,000 from each? Why a total of 144,000?
In biblical symbolism, “12” signifies completeness—the people of God, as shown in the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.144,000 is simply 12 × 12 = 144, multiplied by 1,000. In Jewish thought, the number 1,000 signifies multitude, fullness, greatness.
Thus, 144,000 represents a symbolically complete, redeemed community—not a literal limit on the number of redeemed, but a way of depicting the fullness of God’s people.
Because immediately following the 144,000, John sees a vast multitude no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne in white robes, praising the Lamb. This reveals: God’s salvation extends far beyond the numeric 144,000.
So if you’ve ever been concerned by this number, rest assured: it’s not a cap, but rather a symbol. God’s redemptive plan is perfect, holistic, spanning Old and New Testament history and across all nations.
A Multitude that No One Can Count (Revelation 7:9)
In verse 9, the scene expands even further:
John writes he saw a great multitude that no one could count—people from every nation, tribe, people, and language—standing before the throne and the Lamb, crying out:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
This is not just a vivid visual—it’s a spiritual declaration: Salvation is universal. All who trust Him, repent, and turn to Him can stand before the Lamb.
These worshippers are clothed in white robes, holding palm branches in their hands. One of the elders then asks John:
“These wearing white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
John responds in amazement: “You tell me, elder!”The elder replies:
“These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
We should clarify: when he says “washed their robes in the Lamb’s blood,” this is symbolic language, not literal. Some early mystical groups believed in physically using blood to cleanse clothes—but the real meaning here is the cleansing power of Jesus’ sacrificial blood, not a physical act.
When we say “washed in His blood,” we mean that the sacrificial price and power of Jesus’ blood cleanses us, making us righteous before God.
Worship on the Temple Floor
Then another remarkable image emerges: these redeemed people stand before the throne day and night in God’s temple, worshiping Him, and the Lamb shelters them with His presence—the imagery of the temple’s tabernacle covering the worshippers.
For Jewish readers, this is stunning. The temple (or tabernacle) was sacred. Only priests could enter the sanctuary; the Most Holy Place was accessed only once a year by the high priest. Gentiles were never allowed.
But here, we see:
people from every tribe and nation dwelling under God’s presence, worshiping openly—comforted and sheltered.
This is the great reversal Jesus accomplishes. The holy space, once restricted, is now fully open—because of Christ, all redeemed people are made priests and invited to draw close to God.
Though John is writing to a Jewish audience, this vision brings a powerful reminder: God’s salvation is not limited to Israel—it extends to every person around the globe who trusts in Christ.
A Comforting Promise (Revelation 7:16-17)
Finally, the chapter closes with a message of deep reassurance—especially to those mentioned in chapter 6, the martyrs who bore witness for the Lamb.
Verse 16 provides this promise:
“They will hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat.”
Feel that? Every soul who suffered for Christ, who asked “How long, Lord?”—now is told: you will be sustained; no more pain.
And verse 17 continues:
“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living springs of water. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is profound—the Lamb shepherding them. This isn’t a casual metaphor—it’s the most loving image in all Scripture.
From the Old Testament, God is called Shepherd:
Psalm 23: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 80, Isaiah 40, Ezekiel 34, 37—continue the theme: God shepherds His people.
In the New Testament, Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd:John 10—“I am the good shepherd…”1 Peter 2:25—He is the Shepherd of our souls.Hebrews 13:20—He is the great Shepherd of the sheep.
This figure would resonate deeply with John’s audience—shepherding in Israel was hard, risky work. Shepherds guided sheep across rocky terrain, kept watch for predators, endured desert heat by day and cold by night. They guarded the flock carefully—grass was scarce, water was rare.
Jesus isn’t some distant observer; He’s the Good Shepherd who enters the wilderness with His flock—who rescues, protects, and leads them to living water, the fountain of eternal life. He wipes away every tear. He sustains them with profound rest and care.
This isn’t fantasy—it’s the eternal reality Revelation invites us to envision:
those who suffered for Christ will be eternally comforted, guided, and loved under His gracious care.
Praise God for His faithfulness!
That concludes our reflection on Revelation chapter 7. Next time, we will continue exploring chapter 8. Thank you all for listening—may God richly bless you.
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