The account given to the apostle concerning that noble army of martyrs who stood before the throne of God in white robes, with palms of victory in their hands.
Revelation has four portraits of the 144,000 each with its own emphasis:
Revelation 7:1-8: Emphasis falls on the sealing of the 144,000 for
their protection during the time of trouble and at the second coming followed by the jubilatory singing after victory has been gained. (Revelation 7:9 17).
Revelation 14:1-5: Emphasis on the character of the 144,000.
Revelation 15:2-4: Emphasis on the victory of the 144,000 over the beast, his image and his mark.
Revelation 19:1-8: Emphasis on the jubilatory singing of the 144,000 because the harlot has been judged and God’s people have been avenged.
***The 144,000 sealed ones from the twelve tribes of Israel are not literal Jews.
“The message of the renewing power of God's grace will be carried to every country and clime, until the truth shall belt the world. Of the number of them that shall be sealed [Revelation 14:1] will be those who have come from every nation and kindred and tongue and people. From every country will be gathered men and women who will stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb, crying, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." [Revelation 7:10]. But before this work can be accomplished, we must experience here in our own country the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts.” E.G.W.
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28, 29
Q: If God stamps His seal only on literal Jews, then why would God warn every nation, kindred tongue and people about the dangers of worshiping the beast and his image and receiving his mark? For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:26-29
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac your seed shall be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac your seed shall be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Romans 9:6-8
A: The fact that God warns all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples about the seal of God and the mark of the beast clearly indicates that it is possible for people from every nation, kindred, tongue and people to receive the seal of God or the mark of the beast. Clearly, then, the sealed ones from the twelve tribes of Israel cannot be literal Jews only!
Literal or Symbolic Number?
Q: Are we to understand that there will be only 144,000 living saints when Jesus comes?
A: First, the book of Revelation presents its message in symbolic language. Persons, names, places and numbers are all symbolic. Numbers such as seven, three and a half times, three and a half days, 42 months, 1260 days, 666, two hundred million, are all symbolic. Revelation 7 and 14 (where the 144,000 appear) are saturated with symbols such as the Lamb, winds, trees, tribes of Israel, seal, four corners of the earth, earth, sea, white robes, virgins, first-fruits, etc.
A: First, the book of Revelation presents its message in symbolic language. Persons, names, places and numbers are all symbolic. Numbers such as seven, three and a half times, three and a half days, 42 months, 1260 days, 666, two hundred million, are all symbolic. Revelation 7 and 14 (where the 144,000 appear) are saturated with symbols such as the Lamb, winds, trees, tribes of Israel, seal, four corners of the earth, earth, sea, white robes, virgins, first-fruits, etc.
Second, if there will only be 144,000 faithful living saints when Jesus comes (not one more and not one less!) then we would have to conclude that God pre determined, pre-chose or hand-picked them. It is very unlikely that exactly 144,000 would exercise their freedom of choice to be among the living righteous when Jesus comes.
***The 144,000 who in the chapter before us are said to be sealed with the seal of God in their foreheads, are again brought to view in Revelation 14:1, where they are said to have the Father's name written in their foreheads.
Q: What Is the Seal of God?
Q: What Is the Seal of God?
A: From the foregoing reasoning, facts, and declarations of Scripture, two conclusions inevitably follow:
1. The seal of God is found in the law.
2. The seal of God is that part of His law which contains His name, or descriptive title, showing who He is, the extent of His dominion, and His right to rule.
The law of God is admitted by all the leading evangelical denominations to be summarily contained in the decalogue, or ten commandments.
1. The seal of God is found in the law.
2. The seal of God is that part of His law which contains His name, or descriptive title, showing who He is, the extent of His dominion, and His right to rule.
The law of God is admitted by all the leading evangelical denominations to be summarily contained in the decalogue, or ten commandments.
We have, then, but to examine these commandments to see which one it is that constitutes the seal of the law, or in other words, makes known the true God, the lawmaking power.
The first three commandments mention the word "God," but we cannot tell from these who is meant, for there are multitudes of objects to which this name is applied.
We pass over the fourth commandment for the time being.
The fifth contains the words "Lord" and "God," but does not define them, and the remaining five precepts do not contain the name of God at all.
With that part of the law which we have examined, it would be impossible to convict the grossest idolater of sin. The worshiper of images could say, This idol before me is my god, and I worship him according to this law.
Thus without the fourth commandment the decalogue is null and void, as far as it pertains to the definition of the worship of the true God.
But let us now add the fourth commandment. As we examine this commandment, which contains the declaration, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is," we see at once that we are reading the requirements of Him who created all things.
---The Author of this law has declared who He is, the extent of His dominion, and His right to rule; for every created intelligence must at once assent that He who is the Creator of all has a right to demand obedience from all His creatures.
Thus the fourth commandment in its place, this wonderful document, the decalogue, the only document among men which God ever wrote with His own finger, has a signature, it has that which renders it intelligible and authentic, it has a seal.
But without the fourth commandment, the law is incomplete and unauthoritative.
From the foregoing logic it is evident that the fourth commandment constitutes the seal of the law of God, or the seal of God.
Drawn/taken from the book Daniel & Revelation by Uriah Smith---Study Guide by Stephen Bohr---Sermon by Walter Veith---Commentaries from Matthew Henry/Adam Clark---Revelation Made Clear
