Though they are only mentioned twice in scripture, there seems to be a lot of
debate over who they are. What is boggling is that the answer as to who they are
is also given, yet always over looked.
So who are the 144,000?
Revelation 7: 2 -8 "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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 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.
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. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. 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."
To have the seal of God is to say you have lived your life in a godly manner. The tribes of of Israel
where the actual descendants of Abraham. So the 144,000 are the physical
descendants of Abraham who have been found worthy of eternal life in the kingdom
of God, and are the first resurrection.
Why only 144,000 mentioned?
Revelation 14: 1-5 "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb
stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand,
having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from
heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and
I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it
were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders:
and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no
guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."
Revelation 20:2-5 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and
I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand
years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection."
They are the first fruits of God's two harvests, the first to be transformed at
Christ's coming! These are the best of the best from the descendants of
Abraham, who have followed faithfully in the Lord, even to the point of death. When speaking of not defiled
by women, it is reference to having not participated in pagan worship. The
Church is prophetically referred to as a woman, and false religions are referred to as whores,
so to be virgins is to say they have not worshipped false gods. These first fruits are offered to the Lord, just as the first
born in every home was to be offered to the Lord.
They will reign with Christ as kings and priests during the thousand years on
earth, and not only sit with him on his throne, but will become a spiritual part
of the new Jerusalem.
Ephesians 2:19-22 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
There is nothing hidden or cryptic to be found here. They are
just what it says they are.
For information on the great multitude read the article The
Great Multitude.
