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Revelation 7:4-8. John heard the names of 12 tribes with 12,000 from each tribe … sealed and thus protected. The 12 tribes are not
“lost” as some contend. Attempts have been made to identify the 12 tribes here with the church, mostly to avoid the implication that
this is literally Israel. The fact that specific tribes were mentioned and specific numbers from each tribe were indicated would seem to
remove this from the symbolic and to justify literal interpretation. If God intended these verses to represent Israel literally, He would
have used this means. Nowhere else in the Bible due to a dozen references to the 12 tribes mean the church. Obviously Israel will be
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in the Tribulation, and though men do not know the identification of each tribe today, certainly God knows.

It is quite apparent that Israel and all 12 tribes will be in the Great Tribulation. Only those who were saved prior
to the Rapture are absent. What do the commentaries tell us about this event? The Bible Knowledge
Commentary states that “men do not know the identification of each tribe today.” The 12 tribes are called out in
Revelation 7. God knows the DNA make-up of the 12 tribes and the individuals who belong to them. The tribes
of Dan and Ephraim are missing and been replaced by the tribes of Levi and Joseph (Ephraim) respectively. For
comparison, please see Ezekiel 48 and Revelation 7. There are only 12 tribes, like there are only 12 Apostles. Paul
replaced Judas as the twelfth Apostle, who was divinely chosen by Christ on the road to Damascus. It was not
the casting of lots by Peter for the selection of Matthias. This selection process occurred prior to the Holy Spirit,
the Helper, being given on the Day of Pentecost. Both points are in disagreement by Bible scholars. We do know
God has sealed the 12 tribes called out in Revelation 7 for protection from His Wrath and Satan’s destruction.

Orion, the Shepherd is replaced with Leo the Lion symbolizing Judgment and Wrath - View of the Orion Nebula (NASA)

168 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures
(Re 7:4–8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.