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.
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 death. These
resurrected saints are destined to stand before the throne of God and follow
Christ wherever he goes.
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 fellow citizens 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, from the 12 tribes, redeemed, that is to say they were not
worshipping the beast (false religion).
For information on the great multitude read the article The
Great Multitude.
