Bible Question: Kindly explain Rev 14:1, REv 7:4, Rev 14:3 and Rev 14:4. Who are the 144,000 |
Bible Answer: The 144,000 are Israelites (12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel). Mid-point in the seventieth week God will seal unto salvation and protect "the woman" who flees to the wilderness of Edom, i.e. the 144,000. From the only other passage that refers explicitly to the 144,000, we learn "these are the ones wo have not been defiled with women [i.e. have not committed spiritual adultery], for they have kept themselves [spiritually] chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as firstfruits to God and the Lamb" (Rev. 14:4) Although they will be protected from the persecution from Antichrist during the second half of the seventieth week, they are not raptured with the church at Christ's return at the end of the seventieth week. Either similtaneously or immediately after the church is raptured, the 144,000 dwelling in Edom will be brought into a saving relationship with their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Just as God prophecied through Ezekiel: "I shall bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I shall enter into judgement with you face to face... And I shall make you pass under the rod, and I shall bring you into the bond of the covenant" (Ezek. 20:35,37). Therefore, it is this 144,000 who will flee into the wilderness of Edom at mid-point in the seventieth week and are sealed for salvation; they are protected (Rev. 12:6) until Christ's return at the end of the seventieth week, when they will be "brought into the bond of the covenant", i.e. brought into a saving relationship with their Messiah, Jesus Christ. At this point they will "follow the Lamb wherever He will go" (also Isaiah 63:1-3), and will be protected from the wrath of God (Day of the Lord). (see Rev. 9:4 where God's wrath is directly against all "the men who have not received the seal of God on their foreheads".) Then will follow the final Day of the Lord judgments and the 30 day reclamation of the nation of Israel [i.e. those who survive the 70th week] by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 24:6; Habakkuk 3). Also Micah 2:12,13 tells of Israel's (i.e. 144,000) protection in Edom ("fold" is actually "Bozrah" a capital of Edom), and the restoration of the nation of Israel by Messiah which will enter physically into the millenium. [The times are mentioned in Daniel and Revelation, and the 30 day reclamation of Israel is foretold by Hosea also.] This process of saving the "nation" of Israel is mentioned in Romans, culminating with Paul's words "The Deliverer will come from Zion to remove ungodliness from Jacob (Israel)" when the time of the Gentiles is complete. |