Why are the tribes of Dan and Ephraim missing from the 144,000 in Revelation 7?
Dan and Ephraim are missing from the 144,000 because they were the first tribes to enter idolatry in their origins, while the tribes were still under Joshua. Revelation 7 seals 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes that are listed, after which John sees a great multitude.
Les explains that the 144,000 sealed Jews, 12,000 from each listed tribe, will go around the globe with the gospel of the kingdom during the final seven years. He also corrects his earlier slip: he had said Gad, but the tribes actually left out are Dan and Ephraim. They are omitted because they were the first to go into idolatry back in their origins, when the tribes were still under Joshua. After the sealing, John sees a great multitude that no man could number from all nations.