Blessings,

I know rootsie is going to say this is blah blah blah from fundamentalists christians, yes it might be, but it has good reasonings.

Who Are They?

Revelation 7:1-4 states: "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. 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."

Then the Scripture lists 12,000 from each of the following 12 tribes: Judah,

Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar,

Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

The next main passage that describes the 144,000 is Revelation 14:1-5:

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion [Mount Zion], 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

firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile

[deceit]: for they are without fault before the throne of God."

I should mention that when we explore these things, we venture on holy

ground. I share the following study with confidence, but I also realize and

respect that others may have a different interpretation.

The Twelve Tribes

Perhaps one of the first things we should ask is whether or not the

144,000 are actually 12,000 literal Israelites from each of these respective

tribes. I don't want to be tedious, but to really understand this subject we

should briefly review what the Bible says about the Old Testament tribes.

First, there were actually 13 tribes. Twelve tribes came from the 12 sons of

Jacob, who the Lord renamed Israel. But because Joseph was sold into

slavery by his older brothers, he was separated from his family for many

years. After Joseph finally reunited with his father, Jacob promised to

compensate by adopting Joseph's two sons as his own, to be numbered

with his sons in place of Joseph. "Now thy two sons, Ephraim and

Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came

unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be

mine." Genesis 48:5. Hence, Joseph would be numbered twice through his

sons.

One reason you still find only 12 tribes mentioned throughout the Bible is

that after the Levites were chosen to be the priests for Israel, they were

excluded from receiving a specific territory inheritance (Deuteronomy 10:8,

9; 18:1) and from census figures (Numbers 1:49). Instead, they were to

spread out among all the tribes as teachers and priests.

There are several reasons why the tribes mentioned in Revelation chapter

7 can't possibly be literal Israelite tribes. The Old Testament reveals that

10 of the 12 tribes were carried away by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. "In the

ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel

away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of

Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." 2 Kings 17:6.

History records that long before the time of Jesus, some of the 10 tribes

returned to Samaria after intermarrying with the Assyrians. Their

descendants, known as Samaritans, were hated by the Jews because

they were no longer "pure" Israelites in blood or religion. In fact, because

the 10 tribes have been so thoroughly scattered around the world and

absorbed by their host nations, today a person would be hard pressed to

find even one pure descendant from the tribe of Gad, Asher, Naphtali,

Manasseh, or Simeon-much less 12,000 of them!

Another strong clue that Revelation is not speaking of the literal Israelite

tribes is that in the Old Testament, the 12 tribes were very unequal in

population numbers. Judah was very large, while Benjamin was very small.

God divided the promised land in proportion to each tribe's needs. But the

144,000 is composed of 12,000 per tribe, right across the board.

So who does make up this group? I believe the answer to this question

lies in the fact that God's promises to literal Israel now apply to spiritual

Israel. Since the year A.D. 34, the prophecies and attention of Scripture

have focused on the children of faith-either Jew or Gentile. "For he is not a

Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward

in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is

that of the heart, in the spirit." Romans 2:28, 29. "And if ye be Christ's,

then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Galatians 3:29.

What's in a Name?

My first clue that there must be a spiritual meaning to the 144,000 was the

way in which the tribes are listed in Revelation 7:5-8. This is the only time

in Scripture that the names of the tribes appear in this order. Reuben, the

firstborn of Jacob, is listed as second while Judah, fourth in birth order, is

listed as first. Joseph and Levi are included, while Ephraim and Dan are

left out. Why?

Because "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder [viper] in the path,

that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward" (Genesis

49:17), and "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone" (Hosea 4:17).

In the Bible, a serpent is a symbol of Satan. The critical, backbiting nature

of Dan aligned this tribe with the kingdom of Satan instead of the kingdom

of God. Likewise, the tribe of Ephraim had forsaken the God of Israel and

had embraced paganism. Hence, Ephraim and Dan are left out of the

144,000.

Jewish names always had a meaning that depicted some characteristic of

the child or an event connected with his birth. For example, Genesis

29:32-35 says: "Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name

Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now

therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a

son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath

therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And

she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my

husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore

was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and

she said, Now I will praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah."

In fact, Rachel and Leah made prophetic statements for all 12 of Jacob's

sons. Here are the names of the tribes that make up the 144,000 (in the

order listed in Revelation chapter 7), together with the meaning of each

name:

1.

Judah

=

"I will praise the Lord"

2.

Reuben

=

"He has looked on me"

3.

Gad

=

"Granted good fortune"

4.

Asher

=

"Happy am I"

5.

Naphtali

=

"My wrestling"

6.

Manasseh

=

"Making me to forget"

7.

Simeon

=

"God hears me"

8.

Levi

=

"Joined to me"

9.

Issachar

=

"Purchased Me"

10.

Zebulun

=

"Dwelling"

11.

Joseph

=

"God will add to me"

12.

Benjamin

=

"Son of His right hand"

Now notice what happens when the meaning of the names are combined,

in the same order, into a paragraph:

"I will praise the Lord for He has looked on me and granted good fortune.

Happy am I because my wrestling God is making me to forget. God hears

me and is joined to me. He has purchased me a dwelling. God will add to

me the Son of His right hand." (The words in italics are supplied to

complete each thought.)

These names describe the story of the church's struggle, redemption,

victory, and marriage to the Lamb.

How Many?

Now let's address the next big question. Is 144,000 a literal number? Well,

perhaps I should answer that question with another question. Are the other

numbers in Revelation literal? Will there be 12 gates and 12 foundations in

the holy city? Are there really 12 different kinds of fruit on the tree of life?

Yes, of course. Our understanding of the dimensions of the New

Jerusalem is likewise based upon the assumption that these numbers are

real.

Even the numbers used to describe prophetic time periods in the book of

Revelation are precise measures. The numbers would be useless for

reckoning if they were merely symbolic.

Although the number of the 144,000 may be exact, it will be humanly

impossible to identify the individuals who make up this special group.

When Jesus walked the earth, it was easy to determine His 12 most

devoted followers. But the 144,000 in the last days are spiritual Jews,

scattered across the circle of the earth and leading out in a magnificent

revival.

Now some may be thinking, "How can you say that the names are

symbolic but the number is literal?" It's simple. Jesus did. He did not

seem to care which tribes the 12 apostles came from, but He did

purposely choose 12 of them. Also remember that all of the numbers in

Revelation depict a specific value, while all the proper names in Revelation

are symbols (the Lamb, the Dragon, the Lion, Balaam, Jezebel, etc.).

For these reasons and others, I believe the number 144,000 is a precise

figure. Just as there were actually 12 literal tribes in the Old Testament

and exactly 12 apostles in the New Testament, there will be 12 times

12,000 spiritual apostles in the last days.

Many have wondered, "If this number is not just a symbol, then will the

144,000 be the only ones saved in the last days? And if only 144,000 will

be saved, then what are my chances?"

Let's do some simple figuring. The ratio of 144,000 to six billion (the

approximate world population at the present time) would mean that one

person in 41,666 alive would be saved if Jesus were to come today. This

statistic is much better than the odds offered by most state lotteries, but

we would all agree that it's pretty slim for the hope of salvation.

The Bible does not teach that the 144,000 are to be the only ones saved in

the last days. Immediately after listing the tribes of the 144,000, the

prophet sees that "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."

Revelation 7:9.

In verse 13, one of the 24 elders asks John who these people are that are

clothed in white robes, and from where they came. Then in verse 14, he

answers his own question: "These are they which came out of great

tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the

blood of the Lamb."

Now the Bible speaks of two great tribulations in prophecy. One was

during the papal persecution of the Dark Ages, when millions of Christians

were slain. But the primary "great tribulation" must refer to the time just

before Christ's second coming, as referred to in Daniel 12:1, 2: "And there

shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation

even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,

every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that

sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and

some to shame and everlasting contempt."

The Number Twelve

The key to understanding the 144,000 may be the number itself. In the

Bible, the number 12 almost always represents leadership of the church.

There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah, then 12 from Shem to Jacob.

Twelve spies led the way to the promised land, and there were 12 judges

from Othniel to Samuel.

There is an interesting story in the Gospels of how in one hour, Jesus

healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and then went

immediately to resurrect a girl who was 12 years old (Mark 5:25-42). The

first woman represents the Old Testament church with a continual flow of

sacrificial blood. The young girl represents the New Testament church that

came to life after Christ's resurrection. They both touched Him the same

day and were made whole.

God's church is also pictured in Revelation 12:1, which says: "And there

appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and

the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." The

12 stars above the woman's head are a symbol of the inspired leadership

of the church (1 Corinthians 11:10).

Exodus 39:14 tells us that there were 12 precious stones on Aaron's

breastplate, "according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve,

according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with

his name, according to the twelve tribes." These stones appear to be

identical to the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem (see Revelation

21:19, 20). "That great city, the holy Jerusalem ... had a wall great and

high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names

written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of

Israel." "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the

names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:10, 12, 14.

The number 12 appears time after time throughout Scripture. King David

appointed 24 groups of 12 (a total of 288) to lead music of praise in the

temple (1 Chronicles chapter 25). Similarly, Revelation 4:4 describes two

groups of 12 (a total of 24) elders who sit around the throne of God. This

represents the 12 tribes of the Old Testament and the 12 apostles of the

New Testament.

Jesus promised His disciples, "Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matthew 19:28. And in Revelation,

Jesus makes a similar promise to some who will come out of the last age

of the church, known as Laodicea (which means "judging the people"). He

says, "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."

Revelation 3:21.

In heaven, it seems there will be an expanding square formation around

God's throne. First there is God Himself on His throne. Then the four

creatures, then the 24 elders in a square around them with six on each

side, then the 144,000 in a perfect square with 36,000 on each side, then

the great multitude all around them. The perfect order and harmony of this

assembly is astounding!

Their Mission

The 144,000 live during the last age of the church and share the

experience of the early apostles.

At the time of His first coming, Jesus chose 12 men whose primary

mission was to reach Israel. And as a result of the outpouring of the former

rain during the Pentecost revival, the 12 apostles reached thousands.

Matthew 10:5, 6 says: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded

them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the

Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of

Israel."

In the last days, Jesus will use 144,000 (12 times 12,000) spiritual

apostles, whose primary mission is to reach the world with the news of

His second coming. The great multitude spoken of in Revelation chapter 7

is converted by the influence and preaching of the 144,000 following the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.

The prophet Joel referred to both of these events when he wrote: "And it

shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream

dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants

and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." Joel 2:28,

29.

Please keep in mind that the 144,000 are not the only ones preaching the

gospel in the last days. Just as the 12 apostles were part of a larger group

of 120 disciples leading out in the Pentecostal revival, so the 144,000 are

leaders in the end-time revival, but not the only ones preaching.

I believe it is also significant to note that Jesus chose the 12 apostles from

the laity, not the priesthood. In the same way, the 144,000 will not likely

be composed only of ordained ministers. Rather, I believe it will largely be

made up of lay persons.

Acts chapter 1 describes an interesting sequence of events that took

place just before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the former rain. First,

the disciples focused on Jesus (verses 10, 11). Then they prayed and put

aside their differences (verses 13, 14). Finally, they chose Matthias to

replace Judas, the apostle who had died (verses 16-26). Notice that as

soon as the number 12 was complete, the Holy Spirit was poured out in

the Upper Room (Acts chapter 2).

Even now, Jesus is training an army of special forces to lead in this final

mission of rescuing God's children, who have become Satan's prisoners of

war. Revelation 14:4 proclaims of the 144,000: "These are they which were

not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow

the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

If we desire to be among those who follow the Lamb throughout eternity,

we must first learn to follow Him here, now. Then together we can sing the

song of Moses and the Lamb.