were sealed. Omit.
twelve. See App-197.
(5-8) These verses: foretell. literal sealing of. literal number of people taken from these tribes of Israel. No Jew now knows for certain his tribe, but the Divine sealers know 144,000 (App-10) are set apart for God's purposes. Dan and Ephraim are omitted, Levi and Joseph taking their places. For the reason, see Leviticus 24:10-16; Deuteronomy 29:18-21.Judges 18:2-31. 1Ki 12:26-38. Hosea 4:17. Their restoration to earthly inheritance is shown (Ezekiel 48), the reason being given in Romans 11:29.