The Spirit of God: Prophecy Article Today: "The 144,000 and Their Purpose" -J.R.Lawendowski

Thursday, April 28, 2011

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The 144,000 and Their Purpose

Written by J.R.Lawendowski

In Revelation chapter 7, just prior to the opening of the seventh seal on the scroll by the Lamb, we see discussion regarding two companies of people. How you view the study of the end times, Israel, the Church, and believers during the Tribulation is going to affect how you understand this chapter and the identity of these two bodies of people. As with all understanding of Bible prophecy, we at TribulationForces feel it to be best to understand and interpret what is written in a literal manner and to also ensure that all pertinent passages are in harmony. By doing so one can simply read Scripture and it will tell you what you need to know and such is the case with Revelation chapter 7 and it’s associated passages dealing with this topic.
Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
The significance here is that the first group of people (the 144,000) is being set apart from the remainder of the remnant of Israel and the Gentile world for that matter to receive the seal of God which will protect them from the judgments to come. Further, these 144,000 discussed again in Rev 14 are told to be “being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. That being the firstfruits of the redeemed Israel (Romans 11:25-27) of which the remainder will accept Christ upon His return (Zec 12:10).
Also of note, and of no coincidence, the first group are called “servants”:
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Thayer Definition:
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1a) a slave
1b) metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests
2) a servant, attendant
Part of Speech: noun
What seems clear is that they are termed servants before they are called. As a saved believer we are “servants” to Christ, but this group is not yet called. When you view the entire chapter it seems apparent they are called “servants” as they have a job to do.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
It is of no coincidence and would be totally irrelevant to any understanding of the Word if we are not to take the breakdown of the 144,000 literally as representatives of the people of Israel. Of note here is the tribes that are listed….the tribe of Dan is missing and one of Joseph’s sons, Manasses is listed. (Recall that Masasses was a Gentile – ½ Jewish and ½ Egyptian being of mixed blood). In Scripture there are approximately 19 arrangements listing the tribes of Israel...and this list is different than them all. One may ask why is Dan missing? Dan is most likely missing (as is Ephraim – Joseph’s other son) as the tribe of Dan apostized and turned to idolatry (Judges 18:14-31). Also, Joseph received a double blessing from his father (Gen 49:1-22). This is not insignificant as it’s an obvious parallel to the twelve apostles. Twelve apostles of Christ, one of which became apostate (Judas Iscariot) and his replacement by Matthias (Acts 1:16-26)
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
John begins the next passage with his standard expression “After this” (Gr. Meta tauta) which brings the reader to the next event or group (in this case). In Rev 7:9 we now see that this “great multitude” is not only from Israel and its twelve tribes but rather from every nation, kindred, people and tongue…so we have not only Jews but also Gentiles in this second group. The white robes signify that they are redeemed so therefore they had received Christ…also of note…unlike the 144,000 who are on Earth and are being sealed for protection from the coming judgments…but they are in Heaven as they are “standing before the throne”.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The next question is who does this second group represent? Fortunately Scripture once again tells us (of course only if you take it literally). In Rev 7:13 we see one of the elders (representative of the raptured church) asking John “What are these…?” and “whence came they?”. The fact that one of the elders asks who they are is indicative that this second group of people are not Church age saints.
In Rev 7:14 we see the answer… ”These are they which came out of the great tribulation”. Amazing!! A multitude which no man can number (must be bigger than 200,000,000) saved out of the Tribulation. They are martyred believers from the Trib and do not represent the martyrs and saints throughout the age of the Church.
Now, how do the 144,000 and the “multitude” connect? Are the 144,000 really witnesses? Yes! In Matthew 24:14 (of which Matt 24:3-31 is a parallel description of the Tribulation by Christ) we see that the Gospel is being preached and it chronologically aligns with the sealing of the 144,000:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Further one only has to look to Paul for an example of how we may understand the conversion of the 144,000. Before Paul was “called out” on the road to Damascus he was filled with hatred for the church and persecuted the followers of Christ with ferocity. Following his conversion his evangelical zeal was without match…the same could be said regarding the 144,000. Possibly astute and dedicated Jews disbelieving the testimony of Christ, yet when called by God….
Also of significance is satan’s response to this remnant (remember, a majority of Israel won’t believe until they see Christ returning (Zec 12;10)). In Rev 12:17 we see this animosity:
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
With the proper understanding of Rev 12:1-5 we know that the woman is representative of Israel so the remnant of her seed must be Jewish…they keep the commandments and “have the testimony of Jesus Christ”. We also know from the Old Testament that Israel is pictured as the witness for God unto the nations of the earth (though they shirked from this duty, God will raise up 144,000 faithful witnesses to finish His plan). There you go…a believing remnant (a remnant of the remnant of Israel if you will), witnessing to the world, protected through the Tribulation by the seal of God and producing a “multitude” out of the Tribulation….saved!!
There you have it…the 144,000 witnesses, spreading the Gospel during the Tribulation resulting in a multitude of saved people in light of what is going on during the Tribulation.
Sources:
1. J Dwight Pentecost, “Things to Come”
2. Edward Hindson & Mal Couch, "Revelation, Unlocking the Future"

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