Who are the 144,000 of the Book of Revelation?
THE 144,000 Thousand of Revelation 7, Who Are They, When and Why Are They?
They are literal people who are called from the tribes of Israel. The book would not have been so specific about the numbers and the tribes if it were just symbolic. Nothing in verses 4 thru 8 is mysterious. Read Rev 7: 4-8. We just read with our own eyes who they are; the twelve thousand from 12 tribes of Israel except for Dan. Joseph was counted as 2 tribes so the count equals 12. Why are they rewarded with a seal of protection? It is because they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Note verse 14. They have repented and been forgiven by Jesus and their sins are covered by His sacrifice just like us. 144,000 is a literal number, not just symbolic. Some churches have claimed to be the 144,000, but no church has even begun to hope to have 36,000 Jewish members for at least three of the tribes that are listed are part of the house of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Why is the tribe of Dan not included in this list?
There is speculation that it is because the false prophet was from Dan. (Dan.11:37, Jer.8:16) The Bible shows that the tribe of Dan, from the earliest times was obsessed with idolatry. (Gen. 49:17) They seemed to want to spread it to the other tribes. (Judges 18:30) They went so far as to steal idols to worship Milcah, threatened him and his family with death if they resisted, and even took his priest! Judges 18: 1-38. King Jeroboam set up idols in Dan for people to worship. 1 kings 12:28-13:34. The tribe of Dan did get mentioned first in the Ezekiel’s list in chapter 48. Maybe they will have a major repentance.
THE COMING OF HEBREW CHRISTIANITY IN THIS ENDTIME AGE
For many years in the Jewish world it was believed you could be involved in many things and still be Jewish but not Christian and Jewish. However in the late 1880’s after several large scale “revivals” among Protestant believers in America and Europe aimed at Jews, some Jews opened up to the idea. God stirred up among Jews both the desire to return to their homeland and to investigate the New Testament for themselves. Centuries of anti-Semitism among nominal Christians had left Jews skeptical. But some became followers of Jesus. In following decades whole congregations joined in the worship of Jesus. They asked, “Should Jews forgo their identity and attempt to assimilate in Christian Churches”? The answer to the question was a ‘No’! So they maintained a Jewish expression of their faith. We can now see how they could witness to the Jewish world and could help, at the early stages of the Tribulation, thousands of Jews to repent and convert. Christianity has Jewish roots that they could easily see. Does this mean that Christians should pretend they are Jewish and adopt Judaism? No, because they are not of the tribe of Judah.
THEY ARE SEALED AT THE EARLY STAGES OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Note verses 13 and 14 of Rev 7 these are converts who have survived the Great Tribulation or at least the half of it involving WWWIII and persecution of the saints of God. It says these are they who washed their robes and have come out of the Great Tribulation. They will soon be in paradise in the family of God because they have proven themselves loyal to Christ with help of God’s Spirit. They will be sealed and protected. This includes an innumerable multitude from ALL nations. Perhaps from Judah and nominal Christians are the source of this multitude and world at large. The Two Witnesses in the early part of their ministry help convert this multitude by witnessing to them with vital truths. We believe that our witness message even now will be invaluable in the future. Some will recall our warnings.
Why? Because many will remember what they heard on the radio, TV and the internet and saw published about the second coming of Christ and Plagues. When these plagues start to happen and the world in shaken by the Beast and War and Famine and the other five seals that precede this event many will realize that they were warned. They will repent and turn to Christ and be converted. Some may be in labor camps at the time. All will see that the world is in crisis and a multitude will repent. A number that is vast and innumerable.
IT IS WISER TO REPENT NOW BEFORE THE END TIME PLAGUES AND HEAVENLY SIGNS
Paul said we Christians prior to the end time plagues are sealed of God. We are sealed now. Note II Cor1:21-22. Paul says we are sealed now by the Holy Spirit. If we remain faithful in Christ we will not need to experience the Great Tribulation. When we keep God’s Holy Days we are proving ourselves now. Every year when we keep Biblical Holy Days instead of the Babylon’s Easter for the goddess Ishtar we are coming out of Babylon the Great. We are staying pure of the great whore and are spiritual virgins. Christ tells the Philadelphian Church that those who keep the Word and do not deny Christ will be spared from much of the Great Tribulation. Note Rev 3:8, 10. A few Christians will be chosen to be heroic martyrs but that is to their honor and credit. Most of us will either pass away before the tribulation or go to a place of safety until Christ returns.
Be smart and spiritually wise; repent and get baptized now and join the church in witnessing to the world!
