JOSEPH W. TKACH
January 1988
Dear Friend:
Thank you for your recent inquiry. You asked why the tribe
of Dan is not mentioned in the 144,000 described in Revelation 7.
It is interesting to note that Dan is also left out of the
genealogies of I Chronicles 1-9. This historical point of
interest helps explain why Dan was not mentioned in Revelation
7:5-8.
The tribe of Dan as a whole was guilty of IDOLATRY -- even
to the point of stealing the idols they used to practice their
religion (Judges 18:14-31). Theirs was the first organized
idolatry in ancient Israel, and the longest in duration. It
continued "until the day of the captivity of the land," nearly
500 years later (Judges 18:30). Jewish tradition says that Dan
was the first tribe to follow Jeroboam into his sin of idolatry.
In their literature, the term "Dan" is often used to represent
idolatry.
From this summarized history of the tribe of Dan, it becomes
obvious why Dan would not be among the 144,000 "servants of God"
described in Revelation 7:1-4. Dan thoroughly rejected God's true
religion for thousands of years, substituting a continuous
tradition of idolatry. The descendants of Dan say, "I have waited
for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen. 49:1, 18). The vast majority of
Danites must wait for salvation until AFTER the sealing of the
144,000.
It is reassuring to know that Dan and all the other tribes
of ancient Israel WILL be saved. (For more information on this
subject be sure to request the free booklet IS GOD TRYING TO SAVE
THE WORLD NOW?) In fact, Dan is mentioned FIRST in the
apportionments of land in the soon-coming Millennium (Ezek.
48:1). The Bible records, "ALL Israel shall be saved" (Rom.
11:26). The 144,000 are only a very small portion of the people
of all nations who will eventually be saved.
A related question involves the tribe of Ephraim. Some have
thought that this tribe is not mentioned among the 144,000
either. But, in fact, Ephraim IS included. You will notice that
the tribes
of Manasseh and Joseph are both listed. Ephraim and Manasseh were
the two sons of Joseph (Gen. 48:1). Since Manasseh is one of the
tribes descended from Joseph -- and mentioned by name -- the
"tribe of Joseph" here must refer to EPHRAIM (Rev. 7:8). Ephraim,
being the leading tribe of the house of Joseph, sometimes bore
the name "Joseph."
If you have additional questions, please feel welcome to let
us know.
PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT
PASTOR GENERAL