|
THE 144,000 : WHO CAN THEY BE?
By Jim Wilhelmsen
Only a few passages in the
scriptures mention a group of people who are commonly called the
144,00. This is a group of people that will have a special ministry
in the last days leading to the return of Christ.
Historical Abuse
Many cult groups, ism’s and schism's have used this elite group to
announce themselves as this “chosen” elite group to further their
own causes, groups and leaders. The abuse of this term has been so
widely used for so long, that whenever the real appearance of these
anointed ones come they will probably be met with much skepticism
and unbelief.
There are many assumptions about these people that have become
doctrine. I believe the Lord has shown me, there are different ways
of looking at this that are so extreme, they may never be identified
because of our wrong assumptions.
The only fair way to present this is to first explain what has
become the accepted normal understanding of the 144,00 according to
traditional interpretations and point both the strong points and the
weak points to these traditional concepts.
Traditional View:
In a nutshell, the popular concept is that the 144,00 people are
Jewish male virgins from the twelve tribes of Israel, who if this is
the last days, live in Israel right now!. They have a special
evangelistic mission to prepare the world for the coming of the
Lord. This is what is taught in most Bible colleges today and what
most Bible believing Christians have been taught and are expecting.
But is this the truth? Is there any other way to understand what the
Bible does say about this group?
What the scriptures say:
Let’s see the few scriptures where this group is mentioned with some
comments.
The “sealing”
2 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,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 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. (KJV)
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
Revelation 7:2-8 (KJV)
In this first text, is described a rather simple understanding that
from the twelve tribes of Israel, each one has twelve thousand
individuals selected and sealed by God. The sealing is described by
“Vines notes on Dr. Strong’s Concordance”:
SEAL
(c) secrecy and security and
the postponement of disclosure, <Rev.10:4>... (d) ownership and
security, together with destination,<Rev. 7:3,4, 5> (as with the
noun in <v. 2>; see A); the same threeindications are conveyed
in <Eph. 1:13>, in the metaphor of the"sealing" of believers by
the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time
of their regeneration, (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of
Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
From the above definition, we can see that this sealing process
proclaims and promises three things.
1. The sealing proclaims
ownership, they belong to God.
2. The sealing also includes a special protection
from Satan, to enable them to perform their set apart
duty.
3. This set apart duty is the destination and
purpose of the sealing which is
the third part of the sealing process. As New Testament
prophets, they will not only be proclaiming the gospel of Jesus
Christ but they will also explain the many specific details and
current events which are leading to the second coming of Christ.
Secrecy as a protection
In this security or protection by God comes the idea of secrecy.
Perhaps, (and I say this as something that can neither be proven or
disproved based on language and contextual use) the protection comes
about by these individuals in a clandestine manner. This secrecy is
not that these people will act like paranoid spies, but rather they
will boldly be proclaiming God’s warnings and promises but not
identified as anyone special or connected with any man made
organization. This includes the idea that these people have been
selected and sealed by the Holy Spirit in a very invisible manner.
They are directed by the Holy Spirit only and independent from man’s
doings
and they minister where they are.
A Common Misconception
This is not the preconceived idea commonly accepted by the majority
of Christianity today. The popular idea is that these 144,000 are a
group of super Jewish teachers or an elite band of super Christians
who suddenly appear on the scene after the rapture takes place. In
actual truth, they are never going to be the product of a gathering
by the many ism’s and skism’s or denominations of man made structure
and institutions. Like salt and light they are scattered about doing
their anointed duty without man’s approval, recognition, detection
and unfortunately appreciation.
Same ministry and path as the Prophets of Old
These individuals will suffer the same rejection the Prophets of old
endured and died for, being stoned to death. They will join in the
suffering of Christ who also was rejected and put to death.
Today we are too civilized to stone people with an undesirable or
seemingly out of context message. Today the stoning of a prophet
comes by ignoring and excluding them from the mainstream until they
go away. This is a more kinder gentle way to rid ourselves of the
kooks and undesirables who bear strange ideas and thoughts. In spite
of this they will fulfill what God has selected them to accomplish.
Today many of these labeled as strange or having ideas way outside
of the box, just might be among the 144,000!
The sealing of the twelve tribes: What
happened to the tribe of Dan?
Notice that the tribe of Dan is excluded, and the Levites are added.
In the traditional understanding, the tribe of Dan is said to be
excluded because it is assumed with some scriptural evidence to
support such a claim that the Antichrist would come from this tribe.
By this default then it is speculated that they lose their
inheritance. I do agree that there is evidence that the Antichrist
comes from this tribe but I believe this may not have negated this
or any tribe from their inheritance and calling.
The Levites were never numbered with the twelve tribes in the
Pre-Christ Old Testament times because they represented the
spiritual leadership. In this understanding there have always been
thirteen tribes. The priesthood was the special duty that came from
the Levite tribe. This was why they were not numbered with the rest.
It did not mean they were excluded but rather accepted on a much
broader plain because of their anointed duty. I pose this
question, as Peter stated:
“But ye
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him
who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”
1
Peter 2:9
We as the church were to be a
royal priesthood, a chosen generation and a nation which would be a
safe haven for the church. This new tribe nation founded by the
Danites , became the tribe nation, now known as America! This nation
once being a holy nation which means “set apart” was a nation set
apart for God’s purpose!
So, could this fact be why Dan is not mentioned or numbered with the
rest of the tribes? Can it be that they are now the New Testament
replacement for the Levitical priesthood? I believe this is more in
keeping with a Biblical constancy of type and shadow from former Old
Testament things that have been carried over to the New Testament
times.
The seed of Jacob and the
144,000
As explained in the earlier section, understanding the seed of Jacob
as the lost ten tribes of Israel and it’s distribution into all the
world into all cultures and races, the twelve tribes are not all
modern day Jews in Israel. This is one of the most important
misunderstandings of this text. The whole point of this Diaspora as
the Jews call it was to fulfill the prophecy that Israel would fill
the whole earth. (Isaiah 27:6)
The next text of scripture describes specific attributes and
characteristics of the 144,000
Rev 14: Further description of
the 144,000
1 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.
2 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:
3 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.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are
virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb where ever he
goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits
unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault before the throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for
the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 14:1-7
(KJV)
The
Breakdown:
The 1st verse overlaps the idea of the sealing as already mentioned.
The Lamb is obviously Jesus Christ. The “fathers name written upon
their foreheads” can mean the
intellectual embracing of God’s Word and their obedience by His Holy
Spirit is so impressed and convinced upon these individuals that
they cannot and will not deviate from it as the source of
everything. They will not succumb to the end time delusion or
“religious doctrines” that are not supported by scripture or
confirmed by His Spirit.
The idea of singing an new song has been deceptively used by cult
groups as something new in revelation that allows for a “new Gospel”
or the interpretation that creates some new encrypted message of
change in the traditional gospel. This is a false belief that
conflicts with the very foundations of the gospel. It remains the
same simple message and unchangeable through all times.
Some conventional commentaries state that this is the song of the
“new covenant” of redemption in Christ Jesus. This interpretation is
certainly more consistent with what the Bible would say about the
gospel of Christ. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever,
(Heb 13:8) His story and Gospel (meaning good news) is the story of
Christ fulfilling the Law living a sinless life, put to death,
resurrected providing redemption for his own and returning for them
in the “Day of the Lord”. This remains the same story and message
forever, and will not change or deviate in any manner.
144,000 declare more than the un-compromised
Gospel of Christ
There must be more than this broad view of the new covenant however,
to create the need for a special ministry by these 144,000. While
they are proclaiming the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ they do
have more to proclaim that sets them apart from past evangelists. It
is in the context of being called to ministry in the “end times”
tribulation period which requires something more to their message.
The tribulation will be a very confusing time for both unbeliever
and the Christian regardless if you think the rapture has happened
or not. This confusion of surrounding events are what is understood
by the 144,000 and explained along with the declaration of the
Gospel. While we can expect these revelations relative to the
current events of that time, the gospel message will be the same
truth and story as from the very beginning.
What does virgins mean in this
context?
Verse 4 about “virgins” is another one which has been misunderstood
because most will accept a surface rendering which is very
misleading. A very old commentary by Matthew Henry from the 15th
century states:
[1.] they are described by
their chastity and purity: They are virgins. They had not
defiled themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery;
they had kept themselves clean from the abominations of the
antichristian generation
Even in this distant time
past Matthew Henry allowed this contamination as being both
spiritual as well as a physical one. In a more recent Commentary,
Barn’s Notes states:
"The sense,"... "cannot be that
all these 144,000 had lived an unmarried life; for how could the
apostle Peter, and others who were married, have been excluded?
But the reference must be to those who held themselves from all
impurity–...-- which, in the view of the apostles, was closely
connected with idolatry." Compare Bleek, Beitr. i. 185. Prof.
Stuart supposes that the main reference here is to those who had
kept themselves from idolatry, and who were thus pure.
The virginity in this context
may not be speaking at all about the physical abstinence from any
contact of a woman within the normal context of marriage. This was
not even a Jewish concept. To be a Rabbi you had to be married. The
mention of unlawful sex of adultery or fornication was such a basic
prerequisite even to be a believer let alone a minister of special
selection that it would not be worthy of mention. In context the
only addition of virginity would be that of a spiritual
contamination by false beliefs.
Who is the woman?
This is confirmed as we understand just who the woman is. In the
Greek it means a woman in general but specifically a wife. There is
a pathway of a woman mentioned in the Bible. To understand this may
be an important identity to the contextual use of the woman here in
this verse.
The Historical path of the woman: Israel, Rome, Europe, the final
destination in America/Babylon with an escape back to Israel. This
has been mentioned earlier and for continuity sake we will be brief
about it.
In Daniel 7:4 One of four beast’s as a possible end time nation is
the Lion with eagles wings attached. They are broken off and nothing
more is said about them. Symbolically the Lion could be England as I
have mentioned in a prior section, America as the wings of the
eagle, are broken off as the result of the American Revolution.
In Revelation 12:4-6 &14-17, we see the fleeing woman as the Church
which began as the early Jewish believers who fled into Rome and
with gentile conversions the church grows as it flees the wrath of
the dragon who is Satan. In the process of this fleeing, the woman
is given the wings of an eagle and taken to a refuge. This is the
description of the believers who fled into and became the foundation
of a Christian Nation America!
In Isaiah 55:5 we see the immigration policy of the United States
that allows Jacobs seed (lost ten tribes of Israel) to be
re-gathered together again. This is the gathering of the remnant of
true believers who flow into the US as a refuge and a place to
evangelize the rest of the entire world. (That is not to say there
are not believers scattered around the world, rather many will be
collected into one area as a refuge and foundation for a platform to
evangelize the rest of the world.) In time we see that this remnant
in America as the congregation or a New Testament Zion, (Psalm 74:2)
the holy mountain of God between the seas.(Dan11:45) Project
paperclip and the Gehln organization fulfills this prophecy in
Daniel and the bride becomes corrupt within.
America becomes Babylon; The Bride becomes a
whore!
Jeremiah describes and prophecies against a future spiritual Babylon
which can be none other than America. The seed of Jacob is in her
and is told to come out from among her. Between Jeremiah 50 and 51
and Revelation 17.
This woman who was given a golden chalice, (Jer 51:7) (symbolic as a
Godly vessel to explain and make clear the Gospel of Jesus Christ
but she becomes contaminated from within. Now it is filled with
filth and abominations. The bride becomes a whore! She is seen
riding upon the beast in Rev 17:1-7
The whore does not include the
entire Church!
That is not to say that the entire Church is wrong. It does however,
proclaim that many who claim to be a Christian church have departed
so far away from what the original Gospel is, that they are not even
proclaiming the truth. This is the falling away mentioned in
2Thessalonians 2:3 These liberal groups have compromised themselves
with the false doctrines of the spirit of Antichrist and no longer
represent the one true God. Similar to the Old Testament times
when Israel had fallen into national idolatry there was always a
faithful remnant. Today within modern spiritual Babylon, this
remnant consists of more than the 144,000. The but it does include
many of them. I am not so vain to think that all of the 144,000 are
Christian Americans. Many of them probably are but there are others
scattered all over the world. Most have migrated to America but will
be sent out, many of them as refugees fleeing Babylon to evangelize
the world. Most will return with the remnant of Israel as described
in Isaiah 10:20-22. Another point to consider is that the full
count of these people may not have their ministry at one time. We
have been in the last days since the ascension of Jesus almost 2,000
years ago. The 144,000 are being described from the eternal
perspective and may even include reformers and martyrs from the past
who have finished their part in their own lives but could still be
in the numbering. This however is not a revelation just an
assumption worth considering.
Gender specific, Are they all
men?
There is also a common belief that this text of scripture in
Revelation 14 speaks of only males as the 144,000. This is not so
well defined as far too many assume. The contextual use of “they,
these and them” in this context of scripture, when referring to the
144,000 is in the masculine gender tense. It is because of this use
some have assumed that it must refer to only male members of the
human race. This is a wrong assumption claimed by observing the use
of the same masculine tense in other texts of scripture. It is used
in describing a woman in Matt 26:13 and mankind in general in Matt
45:16 and the infamous “whosoever” of many new testament
descriptions referencing qualifications for salvation which of
course includes both sexes. With such consistency in this kind of
use it is outright wrong to assign a male only exclusivity to this
group of people. The scripture stating that they were redeemed from
among men, is also a word used consistently for mankind in general
without any gender specific slant.
The 144,000 character
references:
In the thirty years of ministry I have come across more than a few
self proclaimed “prophets” boasting of special revelations and
“deeper” understandings about the Bible which included a ministry to
set the church straight. The personal characteristics of most of
these individuals however were anything but the criteria mentioned
in the scriptures. The most outstanding human flaw was the rebellion
to authority. Other
qualities or the lack there of, was a spiritual immaturity to the
leading and ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this lack of
understanding the person portrayed a lack of patience, and the
demand to follow and believe their message. When we read the
characteristics mentioned in the scriptures, quite a different
profile is described.
Follow the Lamb
One characteristic of those who are redeemed-- they are followers of
the Lamb of God. That is, they are his disciples; they imitate his
example; they obey his instructions; they yield to his laws; they
receive him as their counselor and their guide. They do not take
short cuts or compromise their integrity and values of their faith.
Wherever he goes.
A characteristic of true Christians, is that they follow the Savior
wherever he leads them. Be it into trouble, into danger, into
difficult duty; be it in Christian or pagan lands; be it in pleasant
paths, or in roads rough and difficult, they commit themselves
wholly to his guidance, and submit themselves wholly to his will.
Redeemed of men
These are selected as an overall example and cross-section of
mankind in general. The gender is not specific to just males as the
Greek includes for “whosoever” will, as one word use for the same
Greek word used here for men. They are redeemed not by their blood
line connections, their knowledge or social position but rather
because God choose them. They are not the total amount of redeemed
but a selection from the redeemed. This redemption is exclusive only
to believers “in Christ”, as a positional
relationship based on faith alone.
First fruits unto God.
This is a term that may have a two fold meaning.
1.God’s Point people
Jesus is described as the firstfruit of those that are asleep.
“But now is
Christ risen from the dead, and become the
first fruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:20
The first fruits here is
describing the first in line or a beginning point or spearhead for
something far greater. This idea is confirmed by
“ And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he
might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18
It is in this understanding that
the firstfruit when connected to the 144,000 are a spearhead and
first of something bigger. In a sense they are God’s point men or
persons. In military combat, when you send out a patrol, you
position a man ahead of the rest who is called the point man. They
are the person who will draw enemy fire first to indicate to the
rest where the enemy is. Although necessary, it is the most
dangerous and vulnerable position to be in. This is one meaning and
position of the 144,000 as God’s point people.
2. The First fruit Offering to God:
The other meaning consistent to the Bible is that the First Fruit
are the first of a grown crop at a usable age that is offered up to
God as a sacrifice. This was part of the Levitical Laws and
practices of the Jews in the Old Testament. The first fruit
description for the 144,000 may include both ideas. They are set
apart for special duties as a beginning point for others to follow.
They are also set apart by their commitment and determination to do
the will of God. This sealing of commitment also makes them a
sacrificial offering unto God. In this sense their calling may lead
them to martyrdom being the point people for God’s revelations
and preaching the Gospel. As these chosen become visible and are
believed for what they have to proclaim, the enemy attacks them to
the point of death. In this attack confirmation of the reality of
these truths exposes the enemy for whom and what they are, Haters of
God and His truths.
No Guile found in their mouths
No deceit, fraud, or hypocrisy is found in their manner of
presenting the Gospel. They say what they mean and mean what they
say. A sincerity and purity is projected from their own personal
relationship with their commander, Jesus. They are truly what they
professed to be, Children of God and ministers of the Gospel.
Another important aspect is that they do not verbally defend or
retaliate against those that rejected them. They have overcome
disappointment, hurt and anger with compassion on their accusers
knowing that fellow Christians are not the enemy, they are weaker
family members whom they truly love. They will never say in
seriousness, “I told you so.”, For those outside of God’s family,
they view them as simply lost and ignorant of reality also loved as
Christ had loved them before they came to the cross and foot of
Jesus. They are the ones who have the patience of the saints (Rev
13:10) and they set an example for the world to follow. They are
passive in any physical
defense on the temporal plane, They will not try to prevent things
from happening. (Rev 22:11) In other words they will not be leaders
of a resistance movement fighting the NWO to save the American way.
However they will be aggressive and active as spiritual leaders.
Their fighting is a spiritual battle using spiritual weapons against
spiritual beings on a spiritual plain to change only one heart at a
time toward Christ.
Without fault before the throne of God
This is the most powerful revelation a believer may ever experience.
Humility and Boldness in Love. This kind of declaration does not
mean that these individuals are sinless or have attained a sinless
state through their own efforts.
It is a description of the relationship they have with their
redeemer and God. They have the humility to know who they were and
where they came from, and how they got where they are today through
Jesus Christ. It is a mental humble attitude of willing to be
willing to come before and obey Jesus with a broken and contrite
spirit. This is what brought them into this place and nothing else
from themselves. To be forgiven and led into a new way of thinking
and doing everything His way. In spite of their humanness and short
comings, they know their forgiveness, they know their position as
sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. They are a prepared warrior
of the
Lord.
With a boldness to come into the very presence of their master with
confidence created only by a right standing relationship bonded by
Love. They know their enemy and are filled with a righteous
indignation to do battle and stand firm .
144,000 A Conclusion
If we are in the generation to experience the final events leading
to the return of Christ, the 144,00 may already be called, inspired
and being formed into the people they must be to meet the spiritual
challenges ahead. They will not all be super Jews or super
Christians gathered around some man made structure or organization.
Like the twelve apostles that Jesus gathered around himself during
his earthly mission, they will be a mixture of believers from every
race, national identity, social and economic background possibly
sprinkled around like salt and light. The only organization will be
the leading of the Holy Spirit of God. Most, regardless of their
backgrounds will all be very normal people with normal human
shortcomings. They will however have the attitude to be willing to
be willing to follow Jesus where ever he leads. They will have the
undaunted tenacity to adhere to sound doctrine about the person of
God while having an open heart and mind to see outside of the box,
bravely leaving traditions of men and man made religious doctrines
behind. They will integrate the timeless gospel of Christ into the
shook up world around them. They will understand things not
understood by the majority of believers or unbelievers. Like pillars
they will provide stability to a confused and frightened people by
explaining the rock of the Word of God. Today they are perhaps
looked upon by most as those that obviously love the Lord but are
“out there” with some unusual and different beliefs inconsistent to
“time tested” doctrines about the End Times. If we are in these
final times YOU might be one of them!
"But God has
chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame
the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world
and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the
things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are
in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-- and
righteousness and sanctification and redemption–that, as it is
written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
1
Corinthians 1:27-31 (NKJ)
In conclusion, I have received
e-mail asking if I thought I was possibly one of these people.
Reluctantly I am not. I believe I have been told this by the Lord.
But I do have a ministry to help prepare some of them for their
ministry. Much of the information on my site has been things that
for now may seem strange. To others these things are interesting but
perhaps not vital to their own lives. That is because it is ahead of
it's time. However, there may come a time when they will mean life
or death for many. What better blessing could a teacher of the Word
have than to know that their students will surpass the teacher. I
can't think of anything better than that!
|