Chapter 2 144 000
There is much interest in the 144 000 among Adventists, and many have systematically gone through the writings of EG White in an effort to gain a better understanding of who they are. Is the number, 144 000, literal or symbolic? The Bible only mentions them twice: In Rev 7, where it deals with their sealing, and in Rev 14 where they are characterised as being with the Lamb on Mt Zion, sinless, honest, and not defiled with women.
In general, Adventists accept that they are all the living saints at the Second Advent of Christ, and that the great multitude of the last half of Rev 7 are the resurrected saints. Let us keep this concept in mind and have a closer look at Rev 7 in terms of the great multitude:
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It is clear that they do not represent all the saints that have died through all the ages. Not all God’s saints who have died suffered tribulation. Many of God’s people died a peaceful death in the hope of the resurrection. Now there were many martyrs for God through the ages, especially those that died from persecution during the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. Are they the ones referred to in Rev 7?
The Great Tribulation of Revelation has Apocalyptic connections. Christ referred to the time of trouble at the end of the world as being the worst that Earth has ever experienced:
Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
There is therefore a strong indication that this great multitude experienced the time of trouble at the end of the world when the Beast-power persecuted all of God’s saints.
Clearly, there are two groups of people who are alive at the Second Advent, the 144 000, and the Great multitude.
Let us have a brief look at Scriptural numerology: 3 + 4 = 7. God uses 7 to indicate perfection. 7 is God’s number: Days in the week, Naaman had to wash himself 7 times in the Jordan, the Shunamite’s son sneezed 7 times when Elisha brought him back to life, Elijah prayed 7 times before it rained, and then all the sevens of Revelation. However, when it comes to leadership in God’s church, He uses 3 x 4 = 12. The fathers of the nation of Israel were the 12 sons of Jacob. The New Testament church was instituted by 12 apostles. In heaven, around God’s throne are 24 thrones for the 24 elders (2 x 12). At the end of time, when the Latter Rain is poured out, God will choose 144 000 apostles to finish the work (12 x 12 000). Why such a large number? Because the task is immense with eight billion people on Earth, and needs to be completed in 3.5 years. Is the number literal? If the number was symbolic, why such a large number, why not just 12 to indicate the connection with Christ’s apostles? With a little consideration this number indicates a literal number just like the 12 apostles were a literal number. Their symbolic representation is Elijah (Mal 4:5,6), so the 144 000 is not symbolic but literal.
Are the 144 000 all Israelites since they are chosen 12 000 from each of the tribes of Israel (Rev 7:5-8)? Them being chosen from all the tribes of Israel is an indication that these apostles, who are also priests, are not chosen from the tribe of Levi as were the priests who officiated for Israel. They are of a different priesthood. They are chosen from all of Israel, which symbolises them being chosen from all peoples of Earth. This priesthood is not an inherited priesthood, but of people who walk with God, people who know God and have become worthy by submitting to God unconditionally. They love not their lives but are loyal to God even to death (Rev 12:11).
In summary, the 144 000 are apostles at the end of time who will proclaim the 3 Angels’ Messages, the everlasting Gospel. From their labours there will be a vast multitude of people who have given their lives to God. At the Second Advent there will be among the living these apostles, but also be a great multitude of people who are loyal to God who will be caught up in the clouds together with the resurrected righteous from all the ages.
Right now God is searching through the Earth for His end-time apostles. Will you give your life to God today and avail yourself for His work like Isaiah did when he answered to God’s call (Isa 6:8)?
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
There is much interest in the 144 000 among Adventists, and many have systematically gone through the writings of EG White in an effort to gain a better understanding of who they are. Is the number, 144 000, literal or symbolic? The Bible only mentions them twice: In Rev 7, where it deals with their sealing, and in Rev 14 where they are characterised as being with the Lamb on Mt Zion, sinless, honest, and not defiled with women.
In general, Adventists accept that they are all the living saints at the Second Advent of Christ, and that the great multitude of the last half of Rev 7 are the resurrected saints. Let us keep this concept in mind and have a closer look at Rev 7 in terms of the great multitude:
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It is clear that they do not represent all the saints that have died through all the ages. Not all God’s saints who have died suffered tribulation. Many of God’s people died a peaceful death in the hope of the resurrection. Now there were many martyrs for God through the ages, especially those that died from persecution during the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. Are they the ones referred to in Rev 7?
The Great Tribulation of Revelation has Apocalyptic connections. Christ referred to the time of trouble at the end of the world as being the worst that Earth has ever experienced:
Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
There is therefore a strong indication that this great multitude experienced the time of trouble at the end of the world when the Beast-power persecuted all of God’s saints.
Clearly, there are two groups of people who are alive at the Second Advent, the 144 000, and the Great multitude.
Let us have a brief look at Scriptural numerology: 3 + 4 = 7. God uses 7 to indicate perfection. 7 is God’s number: Days in the week, Naaman had to wash himself 7 times in the Jordan, the Shunamite’s son sneezed 7 times when Elisha brought him back to life, Elijah prayed 7 times before it rained, and then all the sevens of Revelation. However, when it comes to leadership in God’s church, He uses 3 x 4 = 12. The fathers of the nation of Israel were the 12 sons of Jacob. The New Testament church was instituted by 12 apostles. In heaven, around God’s throne are 24 thrones for the 24 elders (2 x 12). At the end of time, when the Latter Rain is poured out, God will choose 144 000 apostles to finish the work (12 x 12 000). Why such a large number? Because the task is immense with eight billion people on Earth, and needs to be completed in 3.5 years. Is the number literal? If the number was symbolic, why such a large number, why not just 12 to indicate the connection with Christ’s apostles? With a little consideration this number indicates a literal number just like the 12 apostles were a literal number. Their symbolic representation is Elijah (Mal 4:5,6), so the 144 000 is not symbolic but literal.
Are the 144 000 all Israelites since they are chosen 12 000 from each of the tribes of Israel (Rev 7:5-8)? Them being chosen from all the tribes of Israel is an indication that these apostles, who are also priests, are not chosen from the tribe of Levi as were the priests who officiated for Israel. They are of a different priesthood. They are chosen from all of Israel, which symbolises them being chosen from all peoples of Earth. This priesthood is not an inherited priesthood, but of people who walk with God, people who know God and have become worthy by submitting to God unconditionally. They love not their lives but are loyal to God even to death (Rev 12:11).
In summary, the 144 000 are apostles at the end of time who will proclaim the 3 Angels’ Messages, the everlasting Gospel. From their labours there will be a vast multitude of people who have given their lives to God. At the Second Advent there will be among the living these apostles, but also be a great multitude of people who are loyal to God who will be caught up in the clouds together with the resurrected righteous from all the ages.
Right now God is searching through the Earth for His end-time apostles. Will you give your life to God today and avail yourself for His work like Isaiah did when he answered to God’s call (Isa 6:8)?
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Chapter 2 144 000
There is much interest in the 144 000 among Adventists, and many have systematically gone through the writings of EG White in an effort to gain a better understanding of who they are. Is the number, 144 000, literal or symbolic? The Bible only mentions them twice: In Rev 7, where it deals with their sealing, and in Rev 14 where they are characterised as being with the Lamb on Mt Zion, sinless, honest, and not defiled with women.
In general, Adventists accept that they are all the living saints at the Second Advent of Christ, and that the great multitude of the last half of Rev 7 are the resurrected saints. Let us keep this concept in mind and have a closer look at Rev 7 in terms of the great multitude:
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It is clear that they do not represent all the saints that have died through all the ages. Not all God’s saints who have died suffered tribulation. Many of God’s people died a peaceful death in the hope of the resurrection. Now there were many martyrs for God through the ages, especially those that died from persecution during the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. Are they the ones referred to in Rev 7?
The Great Tribulation of Revelation has Apocalyptic connections. Christ referred to the time of trouble at the end of the world as being the worst that Earth has ever experienced:
Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
There is therefore a strong indication that this great multitude experienced the time of trouble at the end of the world when the Beast-power persecuted all of God’s saints.
Clearly, there are two groups of people who are alive at the Second Advent, the 144 000, and the Great multitude.
Let us have a brief look at Scriptural numerology: 3 + 4 = 7. God uses 7 to indicate perfection. 7 is God’s number: Days in the week, Naaman had to wash himself 7 times in the Jordan, the Shunamite’s son sneezed 7 times when Elisha brought him back to life, Elijah prayed 7 times before it rained, and then all the sevens of Revelation. However, when it comes to leadership in God’s church, He uses 3 x 4 = 12. The fathers of the nation of Israel were the 12 sons of Jacob. The New Testament church was instituted by 12 apostles. In heaven, around God’s throne are 24 thrones for the 24 elders (2 x 12). At the end of time, when the Latter Rain is poured out, God will choose 144 000 apostles to finish the work (12 x 12 000). Why such a large number? Because the task is immense with eight billion people on Earth, and needs to be completed in 3.5 years. Is the number literal? If the number was symbolic, why such a large number, why not just 12 to indicate the connection with Christ’s apostles? With a little consideration this number indicates a literal number just like the 12 apostles were a literal number. Their symbolic representation is Elijah (Mal 4:5,6), so the 144 000 is not symbolic but literal.
Are the 144 000 all Israelites since they are chosen 12 000 from each of the tribes of Israel (Rev 7:5-8)? Them being chosen from all the tribes of Israel is an indication that these apostles, who are also priests, are not chosen from the tribe of Levi as were the priests who officiated for Israel. They are of a different priesthood. They are chosen from all of Israel, which symbolises them being chosen from all peoples of Earth. This priesthood is not an inherited priesthood, but of people who walk with God, people who know God and have become worthy by submitting to God unconditionally. They love not their lives but are loyal to God even to death (Rev 12:11).
In summary, the 144 000 are apostles at the end of time who will proclaim the 3 Angels’ Messages, the everlasting Gospel. From their labours there will be a vast multitude of people who have given their lives to God. At the Second Advent there will be among the living these apostles, but also be a great multitude of people who are loyal to God who will be caught up in the clouds together with the resurrected righteous from all the ages.
Right now God is searching through the Earth for His end-time apostles. Will you give your life to God today and avail yourself for His work like Isaiah did when he answered to God’s call (Isa 6:8)?
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
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