144,000

And here is the curious connection between the 144,000 who are the servants of God. Here you will see that Servants and Prophets are synonimous in Revelation and even throughout the Bible.

• Prophets are referred to as servants in this verse.


• Servants are once again called prophets, and are once again distinguished from the "saints", or the rest of the saved.
• God "of the holy prophets" sends an angel to show His "servants" the future. i.e. prophecy.

Other interesting points on the 144,000

-Israel was in Egypt for 400 years which is exactly 144,000 days

-Moses and then the Israelites were in the wilderness for 14,400 days,

10% of your day is 144 minutes

 

This Question is not one I am clear on. On one hand I can offer your support that the 144,000 have an exclusie experience in that they live through the 7 last plagues, at time where God's people will not die. On the other hand verses like this reveal that some of them are being martyred during the time of trouble. The conclusion would have to be that a certain amount will be slain and a certain amount will live through till the end and be translated in fullfillement to 2Thess.

There is allot to discuss in this verse.
• First note that servants are slain for their testimony, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev 19:10
- this means they were killed for prophesying

• Those who killed them are still alive on earth
• White robes were given to them, just as they are given to the 144,000.

• The word for rest is "anapaou" which means take rest, refresh, or take ease. This word is used rarely in the Bible and is different from the Hebrew word "Sakab" which is also translated "rest," and used 27 times in the Old testament to refer to death.
- God would rather we see this death as a vacation or holiday from our trial on earth. This next verse uses the same word and actually views this death as a much deserved holiday from our labour.

 

 

 

* A Greek motel in The Crow's Nest Pass, Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these who are arrayed in white robes, and from where do they come?
14. And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.
15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple. And He sitting on the throne will dwell among them.
16. They will not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, nor will the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and will lead them to the fountains of living waters. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

As meantioned in the previous section, not only do the 144,000 die for their testimony, but the ones that don't die, live through the great time of trouble during the 7 last plagues. In this section you will see overwhelming Biblical support for something that is the most unbelievable yet profound truth of Revelation. This being what the 144,000 do during this period and why.

What: They live through a time where judgement has closed, Jesus is nolonger our mediator, and grace is no longer necessary. In other words, they do not sin. They live the A-typical time of Atonement, were all sin and unknown sin is cleansed from their life.

Why: What adds incredible significance to this, is why they live through this time and why they must not sin. In order to understand this you must have the right understanding of the Nature of Jesus(Page under construction) on earth. We will touch on this subject by looking at Satan's 2 accusations against God.

1) that unfallen beings cannot keep God's Law. This accusation was somewhat proven right when 1/3 of the angels agreed with him.

2) the 2nd accusation is that fallen man cannot keep God's Law. When Adam and Eve sinned, he was proven right as all their children living in their fallen nature of the flesh, continued to live riddled in sin.

If Satan had been right, God's Law of Love would have had to be changed. When Jesus came upon the earth, he stated that He would fullfill the law by keeping it in His fallen body, and thus the law would not be changed by one jot or one tittle.

When Jesus lived His perfect life in a fallen body, He proved Satan wrong, not just on charge #1, but also on charge #2. Had he come in a pre-fall Adam nature, he would have proved nothing, as 2/3rds of the angels in heaven did not fall, even while hearing Lucifer's lies, straight from his own mouth.

When you understand this, you will understand that although Satan is grappling to bring as many as he can to his side right now, he is even more concerned with getting God's people to fall after the close of judgement. This means that he is saving his best temptations and delusions for this very time.

Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.
22. And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.
23. Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it.
24. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.

If possible, but yet it will not happen. The elect will not sin.

Rev 14:3 And they sang as it were a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousands who were redeemed from the earth.
4. These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, as a firstfruit to God and to the Lamb.
5. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they were without blemish before the throne of God.

The 144,000 are given the same description as Jesus, our example was given.

1Pe 2:21 For you were not called to this? For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps,
22. He who did no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth,

When you understand fully that Jesus was not only our atonement, but our example, and why He was our example, the role of the 144,000 becomes clear. Jesus was an example to us of how we can live. Not in fantasy, but in reality. And what is the most important thing for us to know is that Jesus cannot return till He has a generation that is able to follow His example while Satan is throwing his best at them. You see, far more important than looking for signs of the end, we need to be allowing God to cleanse us of sin.

 

This section is last not because it is unimportant but because I did not want it to distract and confuse the previous point.

1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for the judgment to begin from the house of God. And if it first begins from us, what will be the end of those disobeying the gospel of God?
18. And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19. Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.

 

• What about the reference to "First Fruits?"

Here we an indication that the first fruits may be made alive before those who are Christ's at His coming.

- Rev 15 is a chapter that receives very little attention. Because scholars assume that everyone is resurrected together, these verses are assumed to be out of order.

 

As I read these, I feel the spirit of truth revealing that these verses are describing sequential events, not random ones. Note also what those people have victory over: "the beast, his image, his mark, and over the number of his name." These are events or deceptions that will only occur one time in earth's history-- right at the very end of time. The unarguable conclusion is that they can't represent all the saved, but must be a special group of the saved.

The plagues which are about to be poured out are the final fulfillment of God's promise to those in the 5th seal. "How long oh lord until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on earth? . . . IT WAS COMMANDED TO THEM, that they should rest/wait a little while longer. ."

- obviously we can't assume that only the 144,000 will be killed, or that being martyred makes you a part of the 144,000. Here and in the 5th seal it is revealed that apostles and brethren and saints are martyred. In other words, anyone of God's people may face death.

 

Now lets take this previous verses and discover how they are connected.

5th seal: "How long oh Lord until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on earth? . . and they were commanded to wait a little while longer until their fellow servants and brethren were killed in the same manner as they was fulfilled.

Rev 14: "Then I looked and behold . . . 144,000 standing in heaven (the number of their bethren to be killed as they were is fulfilled)

Rev 15: "I saw . . 7 angels having 7 last plagues . . . and those who have victory . . . standing on a sea of glass. (now as God has promised, he will avenge them)

Rev 16: "Go pour out the wrath of God on the earth . . . For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink (God is avenging them, as He promised, their waiting period is over)

 

Here is something I learnt while studying with the Messianic Church: