THE 144,000 PEOPLE, WHO ARE THEY?
By Robert Arthur
There are many religious groups and sects especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses who believe the 144,000 people who are mentioned in the Book of Revelation chapters 7 and 14 arespecial and super human beingswho are elevated to upper class people of God who will be in Heaven, whereas the rest of His chosen ones remain on this earth at judgment.
Jehovah’s Witnesses attack the inerrant word of God by making such a dubious and treacherous separation in the word of God which does not exist anywhere in the New Testament and the Bible at large. 2 Pet 3:15-16, 2 Tim 3:5-9
The Apostle John said that what he was shown by the angel of the Lord were ‘signs or symbols’about many of the things that are past, present and will shortly take place [future]. Rev 1:1, 19
A ‘sign’ is a picture [image] or a mark with meaning. In other words it is a figure of something which has special meaning representing another. For example, a flag with red, yellow and green colors with black star in it represents or stands for Ghana. Such is the Book of Revelation. It is highy symbolic.
It behooves on us Christians to search the scriptures to arrive on one common truth. John 8:32
A Christian Bible teacher once said “The quest to finding the Truth is in our sincere and honest approach of studying the word of God”
Now let us study the Word of God to know who these 144,000 people are!
Read with me Revelation chapters 7 and 14 to know who they are: Rev 7:1-8“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, havingthe 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 anhundred and forty four thousandof all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeonwere 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 Zebulonwere sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand”
Rev 14:1-5 “And I looked, and, lo,a Lamb stood on the mount Zionand with him an hundred and forty 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 theysung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty 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 goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruitsunto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God”
From the pointers in the above two scriptures there is no way any good student of the Word of God could not clearly see who these chosen people are but instead regard them as supremely glorious human beings above the other children of God.
By the qualities and characteristics they possess I can confidently conclude that the 144,000 people are just symbol [a picture] ora representation of all the faithful Christians [saints, believers] who have been redeemed [bought, saved] by the blood of Christ in all generations. Mat 26:28
Below are the nine (9) truths wefound after a careful scrutiny of these above scriptures;
1 (a). The 144.000 people aresealed. Rev 7:2-3 reads “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”
Those four (4) angels were giving the power to execute judgment on the sinful world. But God could not have done such a thing until He gives each and everyone the opportunity to know the truth about the gospel of Christ. 2 Pet 3:9
Thus the purpose of the 5th Angel of the Lord who ministers to them that shall be heirs of salvationwas commissioned to set a seal on the foreheads of the faithful servants of God in completion of their salvation process. Heb 1:14
The word ‘seal’ used by the angel here suggests [a signature, total ownership, an absolute control over something, authentication]. John 3:33
Therefore these 144,000 people were totally owned by God, signed as His chosen ones. They were His!
(b). The same word was used by the Apostle Paul when writing to the Christians at Ephesus. “In whom [God] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” Eph 1:13
He continued his admonishment when he said to this same very Christians. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye aresealed unto the day of redemption” Eph 4:30
This sealing is not a physical mark as seen as a tattoo or scar on ones forehead or the body but is it given by the Spirit of God when we hear the word of God [gospel of salvation], believe in it, repent from our past sins and are baptized in water in the name of Christ.
Paul said this after his conversion. “For I bear in my body the mark [signature, seal] of Christ Jesus” Gal 6:17
The Apostle Paul subsequently used the same word to the Christians at Corinth. “Now he [God] which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” 1 Cor 1:21-22
Carefully let us listen to what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:19“Nevertheless the foundation of God stand sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His. And, Let everyone that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity”
Clearly you know that those who call upon Christ as Lord, therefore faithful Christians who stay away from evil are definitely from God. They are sealed [marked, owned] by God. Acts 2:39
I ask, do you call Christ Jesus as Lord, do you depart from all unrighteousness then you are among the 144,000, because as Paul indicated you are sealed by God’s Holy Spirit.
(c). Again the angel referred to those who were sealed as ‘the servants of God’.
Christ Jesus calls those who faithfully serve him as servants.“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor” John 12:26
In the New Testament Christians at large were called servants of God likewise a number of good Christian personalities. eg. Paul, Timothy, Epaphras etc. 1 Pet 2:16, Acts 16:17, Phil 1:1
My question is; Are these good people part of the 144,000 who shall be with God in Heaven or not?
2 (a). The 144,000 people are from the 12 tribes of Israel. Rev 7:4-8
Any good Bible student knows that Genesis chapter 49 refutes some of the names presented in these verses as true representatives of the physical 12 tribes of Israel. They are not all descendants of Jacob. Therefore these 144,000 people could notbe a representation of our physical Israel.
We noticed some elimination of names of true sons and replacing them with grandsons of Jacob. The tribe of Dan has been replaced by Manasseh who was Joseph son and grandson to Jacob.
Does this mean none of Dan’s descendants was good or righteous?
This suffices us to say John’s vision of 144,000 people was not referring to physical but spiritual Israel.
(b). Israelites are the true descendants of Abraham by fleshly birth. Acts 7:8, Rom 11:1
In the New Testament, Christiansare spiritual descendants of Abraham and could be called Israel by virtue of their faith in Christ. Gal 3:7-9, 14
Apostle Paul presented the Galatians Christians as spiritual Israel. Gal 6:16
Later he condemned those physical Jews [Israel] who trusted themselves in the old law by elaborating on who a true Jew is to the believers at Rome. “But heis a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” Rom 2:29
The faith and trust we have in the word of grace of Christ make us spiritual Israelites.
3 (a). The 144,000 people havethe names of the Lamb and the Father on their foreheads. “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion and with him an hundred forty four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads” Rev 14:1
Marking on the foreheads has been consistently an old practice with God to indicate his own ones appointed for salvation. Read Ezekiel 9:4
The names of the lamb and the father on their foreheads show they are the selected [chosen, elected] people to salvation. He knows them because they have been marked and sealed as both Christ and his father’s names show on them.
There is no clear distinction between this verse and Rev 7:2-3.
(b). The true Christians [followers of Christ] fit into this scripture.
There is another spectacular vision which John received from the angel of God which has a direct connotation to the above verse. “And there shall be no more curses: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: andthey shall reign forever and ever. And he said unto me, these sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book” Rev 22:3-7
A couple of thoughts here; the servants of God [followers of Christ, Christians] who faithfully keep the words of this book in their hearts shall be presencewith the Lamb and reign with himforever in Heaven. Why because they have God’s name also on their foreheads. Compare John 17:25-26
With these same characteristics found how could anyone try to make a separation between the 144,000 people and these servants of God.
4 (a). The 144.000 people sing a new song. “…And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” Rev 14:2-3
To ‘sing a new song’ is not to suggest that they learnt and sung a strange lyrical content song.
The Psalmist said this concerning his new relationship with the Lord“I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee….Happy is that people, that is in such a case:yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” Ps 144:9, 15
The phrase ‘sung a new sung’ is a figure of speech which suggests their peculiarity, new relationship with the Lord, a new allegiance to a new master. It is reformation of character. In other words it is a positive attitudinal change.
(b). Paul emphatically wrote reminding the saints at Corinth of their new allegiance and relationship to God which resulted in the change of their inward being. He pointed out to them their segregation [being set apart] from the world. They neither speak the old way nor sing the old songs anymore.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” 1 Cor 5:17
5 (a). The 144,000 people wereredeemed [bought, purchased, saved] from the earth. “….which were redeemed from the earth”Rev 14:3
To ‘redeem’ is to buy back something with money or barter trade [exchange of any valuable things]. The redemption of this group of people was done when the Lamb was slain as a sacrifice to atone for their sins. Rev 5:9-10, Rom 5:9-11
(b). The New Testament usage of the word ‘redeem’ is selective. It is to those who humbly submit and surrender their will to the Lord Christ Jesus. John 1:12-13
The exhortation of Paul to thechurch of God at Corinth proves that the faithful Christians have been redeemed [bought, purchased higher, saved, set free] from the world by the blood of Christ Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary.
Thus their whole life is dedicated to glorify God. They do not serve their own will anymore but God’s.
1 Cor 6:19-20 reads “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which isin you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye arebought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's”
Let us listen to Apostle Peter who wrote his letter to Christians who were non Israelites. He addressed these Gentile converts as “strangers…as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversationreceived by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1Pet 1:1, 18-19, Tit 2:14
I see no reasons why one would not understand that there is no separation between the 144,000 people and faithful Christians. But the Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to make such an unwarranted false separation.
6 (a). The 144,000 people arevirgins. “These are they which were not defiled with women; forthey are virgins” Rev 14:4
(i). The descriptive nature of these people here shows that they cannot be physical Israelites.
(ii). It will be unreasonable for any good Bible student to suggest that these people constitute only males and that no female was selected or seen as righteous among the 12 tribes of Israel.
(iii). Neither does the scripture mean the 144,000 people did not marry nor had any sexual intimacy [intercourse] with women.
But what does it mean? This is a figure of speech which suggests a comparison of our fellowship with the Lord to that of marriage relationship. All marriage relationships require faithfulness and commitment from each partner. Any infidelity found could result in separation. Heb 13:4
This notion runs throughout the Old Testament when God [husband] called Israel his wife. Jer 31:32
Anytime the people of Israel turn back against God to worship idols and commit sin, God referred to it as adultery and defilement. Jer 3:8, Jer 18:13, Ezk 16:32
Therefore the above quote has nothing to do with physical sexual intimacy.
(b). In the New Testament the same word ‘virgin’ was referred to the Corinthian Christians as being married to Christ. “….for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2
The believers here understood Paul well to mean that their relationship with Christ is as a husband and wife affair. Isa 54:5-7, Ps 45:14
In Paul’s exhortation to the Christians at Ephesus, he presented the church as [wife] married to Christ [husband]. The church has to be committed in their relationship with Christ to be respectful, submissive and pure.
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife love himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourish and cherish it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and thechurch. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wifesee that she reverence herhusband” Eph 5:22-32
As God put his divorcement certificate letter to Israel when they became infidel, so the Christians [church of God, wife, chaste virgin] ought to forever submit herself to God [husband] else they suffer divorced [broken marriage].
The Holy Spirit through Paul warned the church of God at Corinth. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, andtouch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Cor 6:14-18
7 (a). The 144,000 peoplefollowed the lamb wherever he goes. Rev 14:4 reads “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes”
This scripture is nothing more than commitment [total dedication] to the Lord. It proves their self-denial. It is a total fellowship with the Lamb.
(b). It would be very difficult for any good Bible student to say that those 144,000 people were selected before Christ came on this earth.
In fact Christ was the first to explain to his disciples who were later called Christians at Antioch what ‘fellowship’ means in this vein.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciplesalso, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” Mk 8:34-38
How could anyone separate the 144,000 people from the Disciples of Christ who were later promised the kingdom of God.
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which havefollowed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” Mat 19:28-29
Fellow Christians have you committed yourselves to follow Christ with your whole hearts and lives then you are among the 144,000 people.
8 (a). The 144,000 people are referred to as first fruits. “…beingthe first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” Rev 14:4
The term ‘first fruits’ is figuratively used to mean ‘set to be leader’, ‘come out as first born’, ‘the choicest’ ‘the chosen people’ ‘first of its kind’.
In the Old Testament the nationIsrael was termed first fruits to Jehovah God, because He chosethem from among the many nations to be his choicest. Jer 2:3
The 144,000 people were called first fruits because they were chosen by the Lamb as the first choice from the earth.
(b). In New Testament the same word is applied figuratively to the first century Christian converts. Rom 16:5, 1 Cor 16:15
The Christians in that age were also called first fruits.
“Of his [God] own will he begot us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures” Jam 1:18
To the Thessalonians believersApostle Paul wrote “But we arebound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” 2 Thess 2:13
From the scriptures quoted there is absolutely no way Jehovah’s Witnesses should make a separation which does not exist.
The 144,000 were first fruits to the Lamb; the Christians from all age are also first fruits to the Lamb.
9 (a). The 144,000 people were found in their mouth neither guile nor fault.
“And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” Rev 14:5
The word ‘guile’ is translated in our modern English as ‘fraud’, ‘deceit’, ‘being crafty’. Ps 34:13, Ps 55:11
(b). In New Testament Christ used this same word for Nathaniel. John 1:47
Christians at large are exhorted to keep their lips free from all guile [deceit, fraud, craftiness, being subtle].
Peter tasked the Christians at his day in this vein. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” 1 Pet 3:10.
This act he calls “good conscience; ….. good conversation in Christ” 1 Pet 3:16
From all indications there are indeed no separations that exist between the true Christians [believers] and the 144,000 people.
It is false teachings Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to propagate. It does not exist anywhere in the Word of God.
As good students of the Bible we have to rightly divide the word of truth than to make a conclusion on scriptures out of their contexts. 2 Tim 2:15
QUESTIONS FOR THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
1. Will Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Gentiles who are not from the 12 tribes of Israel be in Heaven since Christ said they shall? Mat 8:11-12, Lk 13:22-30
2. The tribe of Dan was excludedfrom the list of the 12 tribes of Israel. Does this mean none of them was righteous?
3. In Genesis 49 Jacob mentionedReuben as his first son but in the 144,000 people Judah the fourth son was mentioned first, why?
4. In Revelation 7:9-12 John saw a greater multitude of people from among all languages who were also presence before the throne of the Lamb. Who are these people?
5. Do you believe the revelations which John received from the angel of the Lord were symbolsand therefore could not be physically accepted as they are?
6. Must we trust in theassurances Christ made to his followers - John 12:26 or believe in the unfounded claims by the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
7. Are the 144,000 people constitute of only males since the verse reads “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins” Rev 14:4?
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