Expert: LEBoyd - 3/6/2007

Question
Dear Sir:
I have two questions:
1. Can you explain to me the reason why the tribe of Dan and Ephraim were not included in the 144000 "sealed" people in Revelation 7:4-8 ? Both tribes at one time appear to have practiced idolatry, and it could be assumed that Ephraim was a part of Joseph's family, but ceertainly not Dan. By the same token Manasses could also have been included with Joseph. Any help will be appreciated.
2. A recent correspondent asked why the Christian population was decling so much in America. It does appear that many churches are not nearly as full as they once were. Secular teaching in the schools and colleges is not
apt to encourage church attendence, but does not necessarily mean that Christians are being lost to these teachings. Any information you may have along this line would be appreciated.
Thanks
Leonardo20

Answer
Leonardo,

Your questions are not easy questions :)

For the first question, the short answer is we don't know why.  However, possibilities can be hypothesized based on how one interprets Revelation.  As you are probably aware there are several ways to interpret the book.  Considering the terminology used as compared to the book of Daniel, I prefer the Preterist view.  I believe the book was written somewhere between 63AD and 66AD, and that all of the event prophesied are primarily related to the fall of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, and the on going kingdom of Christ, the church.  Therefore, my opinion on the tribes is founded in this interpretation, and agrees with your opinion.  In Judges 18:14-26, we have an incident where Dan steals an idol from Ephraim.  Neither tribe seems to do a good job of worshiping YHWH.  For us, today, the message seems to be that we have One God the Father, One God the Son and One God the Spirit.  Idolatry can be found in a number of ways (greed is specifically mentioned in Col. 3:5).  On the other side, we see a beautiful picture of tribes (Christians) having protection (spiritual).

The second question, again in my opinion, is the result of "progress".  If we look at history, even back to Israel in the Old Testament, the number of "godly" people seems to be negatively correlated to the "progress" of the nation.  So, as man "progressed" in Genesis, we come to Noah and the resulting flood; As Israel grew in power, the people left God.  In Europe, we see the same results - today there are very few who claim any ties to Christianity and church attendance.  Now, the the US over the last 50 to 70 years, we see the same thing occurring.  My belief is that mankind does not like to think of ourselves as insignificant and out of control of our environment.  So, as we "progress", the "natural" result is that we think we are the highest beings in the universe and therefore no longer need God.  Even the tower of Babel was the result of this.  So, today we see evolution and science as the area of "progress" to show how man is not insignificant, which results in no "need" for God.

What's interesting to me, is that the message of God is that we are not insignificant!  We are so special that God gave his only unique Son (John 3:16), and that they Son chose to "empty" himself for us (Phil 2:4ff).

I hope this was helpful.
Thanks,
LE