The 144,000

The 144,000

            The 144,000 has been taught by a very popular false religion that this is the total number of people that will have the privilege to enter into Heaven and be in the very presence of God.  This is why it is important to know Scripture so that we can, as Titus 1:9 says, “…exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict.”  Though we are to ensure that we are preaching sound doctrine, there is also a point where we must avoid arguing over certain things.  Titus 3:9-10 says, “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning.”  We are not trying to be mean, but rather just keep each other in line with the Scriptures.  This is why we are to give two warnings before acting.  In other words, there are things that, as believers, we can agree to disagree with.  On the other hand, there are certain things that are Biblical doctrine, and by changing the doctrinal purpose of Scripture, then it becomes a new Scripture.  We must use Scripture as our guide for all things, and as we are told in 2 Timothy 3:16, we must use Scripture for teaching, reproof, correction, and training.  When we step outside of Scripture, or go above what is written in Scripture, by believing so-called other holy books, then we are susceptible to falling prey to being led astray.

            With this knowledge behind us, let’s look at the information pertaining to the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 7.  Revelation 7 answers the question of the ending part of chapter six.  That question is simply, “Who is able to stand?”  The answer to this question comes between the sixth and seventh seals.  Chapter seven starts off speaking of the angels holding back the four winds of the earth.  For those who are crying about global warming today, they have not seen anything yet.  All four of these angels are told to hold off on the destruction of the earth until the servants of the Lord have been sealed.  It is interesting that the world speaks about the mark of the beast all the time, but they never speak of the mark of the Lord, or the sealing of the Lord that is spoken of here and in Revelation 14. In verses four through eight, we see the number of the servants of the Lord that will be sealed.  That number is 144,000 or 12,000 from each tribe.  These saints are Jews that had gotten saved earlier in the tribulation and now are on fire for Jesus.  They are going to bring a type of revival to the land. 

            It is interesting to note that all of the tribes that are listed in verses four through eight, leave out two tribes.  Those are the tribes of Ephraim and Dan.  There is much speculation as to why this is, but we are not looking at that for the moment.  One interesting fact is that some scholars believe that the antichrist may rise from the tribe of Dan. Again, this is only speculation and is based on the Scripture found in Genesis 49:17.    

            So, it is clear that the 144,000 are those whom God will use during the tribulation to be a witness and to preach the gospel.  So, one may ask, “Are they successful?”  Well, you don’t have to look very far to find the answer to that.  Just look at verse 9.  It speaks of a great multitude which no one could number from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne.  It is clear that the witness of these 144,000 Jews will have great success. 

            Our loving and merciful God has planned in advance who these 144,000 evangelists will be that will provide the largest soul harvest of history.  So, we know that this multitude of 144,000 people are not the number of people that will have the blessed honor of spending eternity in Heaven in the presence of the Lord, but rather, they are the multitude of evangelist that the Lord will raise up to proclaim the gospel and to bring forth the largest soul harvest ever.  It is because of the work of these 144,000 that many will receive Christ as their Savior.  Let’s be like the 144,000 evangelist, and let’s be on fire for Jesus and have a great desire to reach the lost.   

Pastor Jeff