What does Revelation 7:6 mean?
The tribe of Asher is named as having 12,000 of its members sealed. Asher means "happy" or "blessed." In blessing his twelve sons, Jacob said of Asher, "Asher's food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies" (Genesis 49:20). The tribe of Asher settled along the fertile northern coast of Canaan when Israel settled into the Promised Land. In the tribulation, as members of the 144,000 sealed Jewish evangelists, Asher will be spiritually fruitful, bringing others to faith in Jesus.The tribe of Naphtali is named as having 12,000 sealed. Jacob said of Naphtali, "Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns" (Genesis 49:21). Like a doe, Naphtali would dwell in the mountains northwest of the Sea of Galilee. Deborah, a female judge and deliverer, sang about the people of Naphtali as risking their lives to the death on the heights of the field (Judges 5:18). They will also be willing to risk their lives in the tribulation as they endeavor to win people to Christ.
Manasseh is mentioned as having 12,000 of its members sealed. Manasseh was the elder of Joseph's two sons. Manasseh's descendants Gideon and Jephthah were victorious in battle. The tribe of Manasseh will overcome persecution in the tribulation and emerge victorious.
The tribe of Ephraim, Joseph's other son, is not listed in the 144,000; it instead appears to be synonymous with the tribe of Joseph (Numbers 1:32–33). Descendants of Ephraim, such as Joshua, Deborah, and Samuel experienced victory over Israel's enemies.