The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation chapters 7:4-8 and 14:1-5 are the firstfruits called throughout the 6,000 years of man's history who will be born into God's Family as the sons of God. These saints of the first resurrection (Rev 20:6) will reign with Christ in the kingdom of God when He returns to establish His rule on earth. They have not been defiled by false doctrine (woman represents false church) as they understood and practiced the purity of the truth (religious virgins) as commanded in Scriptures (Rev 14:4; John 4:24).
Noted that the 144,000 were sealed by the Holy Spirit (Rev 7:4; Eph 1:13). They also have the name of the Father written on their forehead (Rev 14:1), much like what Christ prayed to His Father on the night before His crucifixion (John 17:11), and the Apostle Paul who adds, 'I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named' (Eph 3:14-15). The 144,000 do not represent physical Israel but rather spiritual Israel - true Christians - who will be assigned to rule over the twelve physical tribes of Israel under Christ's twelve Apostles during the Millennial kingdom!
These 144,000 saints were from all ages past including those martyrs who died at the hands of the false church mentioned in Rev 17:6. Figuratively, the martyrs who 'cried' out to God for justice were told to wait for the number to be fulfilled (Rev 6:9-11). There are some who will fall away and new members added to the tally to make up the final 144,000 before the close of the church age. Christ warned His true disciples to 'hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.' (Rev 3:11). Paul affirmed this point in Romans that, 'blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in' . And so all Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25-26).
It is worthy to note that the sealing of the servants of God happened just before the Great Tribulation when the angel cried out to the four angels not to harm the earth until the servants of God were selaed on their foreheads (Rev 7:1-3). The forehead represent the mental faculty of man where decisions are made, and that is what differentiate man from animals. It is in the heart and mind that the Spirit of God resides. These are the 'ten thousands of His saints' who will be in the first resurrection (Hebrews 11:35 - better resurrection).
The word 'seal' is mentioned in many passages in the Bible. Jesus Christ first mentioned this in John 6:27 when He said, 'Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.' The Apostle Paul affirmed this truth in Ephesians 1:13, 4:30 and again in 2 Cor 1:21-22 where it states, 'God has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.'
Christ has said that His church is a little flock (Luke 12:32) and the 144,000 are the firstfruits of salvation (James 1:18; Rev 14: 4). Jesus Christ is the firstborn among them all (Rom8:29). Subsequent harvests will come during the Millennial Age with Christ on the throne as the King of kings and Lord of lords. As firstborn means God's choice, the 144,000 saints from all ethnic background and nationalities are the called and the chosen (Matthew 20:16) who were predestined (Eph 1:4-5) to become immortal spirit beings as members of His Family. There is no doubt that the firstfruits are members of the true church of God who are called by His name (John 17:11).
Noted that the 144,000 were sealed by the Holy Spirit (Rev 7:4; Eph 1:13). They also have the name of the Father written on their forehead (Rev 14:1), much like what Christ prayed to His Father on the night before His crucifixion (John 17:11), and the Apostle Paul who adds, 'I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named' (Eph 3:14-15). The 144,000 do not represent physical Israel but rather spiritual Israel - true Christians - who will be assigned to rule over the twelve physical tribes of Israel under Christ's twelve Apostles during the Millennial kingdom!
These 144,000 saints were from all ages past including those martyrs who died at the hands of the false church mentioned in Rev 17:6. Figuratively, the martyrs who 'cried' out to God for justice were told to wait for the number to be fulfilled (Rev 6:9-11). There are some who will fall away and new members added to the tally to make up the final 144,000 before the close of the church age. Christ warned His true disciples to 'hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.' (Rev 3:11). Paul affirmed this point in Romans that, 'blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in' . And so all Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25-26).
It is worthy to note that the sealing of the servants of God happened just before the Great Tribulation when the angel cried out to the four angels not to harm the earth until the servants of God were selaed on their foreheads (Rev 7:1-3). The forehead represent the mental faculty of man where decisions are made, and that is what differentiate man from animals. It is in the heart and mind that the Spirit of God resides. These are the 'ten thousands of His saints' who will be in the first resurrection (Hebrews 11:35 - better resurrection).
The word 'seal' is mentioned in many passages in the Bible. Jesus Christ first mentioned this in John 6:27 when He said, 'Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.' The Apostle Paul affirmed this truth in Ephesians 1:13, 4:30 and again in 2 Cor 1:21-22 where it states, 'God has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.'
Christ has said that His church is a little flock (Luke 12:32) and the 144,000 are the firstfruits of salvation (James 1:18; Rev 14: 4). Jesus Christ is the firstborn among them all (Rom8:29). Subsequent harvests will come during the Millennial Age with Christ on the throne as the King of kings and Lord of lords. As firstborn means God's choice, the 144,000 saints from all ethnic background and nationalities are the called and the chosen (Matthew 20:16) who were predestined (Eph 1:4-5) to become immortal spirit beings as members of His Family. There is no doubt that the firstfruits are members of the true church of God who are called by His name (John 17:11).
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