Beth-El Baptist Church

03/02/2008

Greg Tomlinson


Why is Dan missing from the 12 tribes in Revelation?


There is a list of saved tribes in the book of Revelation but the list of tribes is different than what is commonly understood throughout the rest of the Old Testament.


  1. Where is the list found?

Revelation 7:1-9 cmp Genesis 49:1-28


Revelation is missing Dan and adds Manasseh. The typical list of tribes uses Ephraim and Manasseh for Joseph and removes Levi.


  1. How does the history of the 12 tribes compare to Genesis 49?

Genesis 29:32-35 Joshua 17:13-18


Among many other things, Reuben was the 1st born but effectively was rejected as primary inheritor because of his relationship with Bilhah. Simeon (2nd born) and Levi (3rd born) were rejected as inheritors because of their killing of Shechem and Hamor. They are identified as being divided and scattered. In the promised land, neither tribe had any particular land of possession. Simeon's was mingled with Judah's and Levi's was scattered throughout the land of Israel. Judah (4th) received the primary blessing and the rulership over Israel. This was fulfilled through David the King and ultimately through Jesus Christ, descendant of Judah.


With the other tribes, similar parallels can be seen.


  1. Why then is Dan missing?

Judges 18 1 Peter 2:5-9


Dan left the promised land for a new land that was too weak to fight back. Ephraim is also unlisted and was also exiled from the land according to the Old Testament. It is significant that Ephraim was not mentioned since it is a primary designation of the northern 10 tribes. This indicates that the salvation spoken of in Revelation 7 is not a salvation by physical descent from Israel but by faith. The Israel that is saved is a Israel of faith. Levi is probably listed in Revelation as a result of the priesthood of all believers.


  1. What about the tribulation associations in Revelation?

1 Thessalonians 4:17


It is difficult to accept the idea of the pre-tribulation rapture since Paul included himself as among those who would be present at the second coming of Jesus Christ.