Does the number “144000” symbolic or literal?
Another interpretation of the 144000 is: It is a symbolic number, that means it symbolizes an “uncountable people” would be saved, someone may also think 144000 are the same group people of “a great multitude” of Revelation 7:9. Is that true? Or they are literal meanning?
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Generally people won’t use a complex number to symbolise something, but use number like 7 or 10 or 6[a digit] as simple as it could, magnifing a “number” as a symbol is meaningless, because the importance is the symbolised object not the symbolic number.
That’s why use “144000” symbolise a uncountable people number seems not make sense. If so, Bible could use number “12” to symbolise 12 Tribes and each Tribe represents an unlimited people, isn’t it much simple and clear? No need to say 144000 and each Tribe are 12000, right?
Another reason is use a number to symbolic another number is meaningless and not logical, what does it mean? Biblical number like “7” is used to symbolic God’s plan or the perfect of God’s arrangement… But use a “number” like 144000 symbolic “another number” like “large uncountable” number is not reasonable, if so you would say why not directly say the sealed are uncountable? No need saying the sealed are 144000, for they are not really 144000 but uncountable!
So it seems 144000 this number is a real literal number not a symbolic number. But more importantly what Bible says about this number? Does Bible prove that 144000 is a real number?
Yes. After the 6 Seals of Revelation have opened, the four angels holding the 4 destroy winds have been told do not release the 4 destroy winds, “until” the 144000 have sealed.
Revelation 7:3 “saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, “until” we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000“.
What does it mean of “until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads… the number of the sealed, 144,000“? That means the “144000” is a countable number, angels have to seal of 144000 one by one until the last one – the 144000th is sealed, then the sealing work is defined to be complete.
The 144000 also refers to the souls of the 5th Seal of Revelation 6:9,11,
“9 I saw under the altar the souls of those[144000] who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne…
11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, “until” the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete.(144000 number complete)”
How to make the sealing work complete? If the 144000 symbolic an uncountable number, you are unable to define the sealing work “complete“, for there are millions and millions babies borned very year, then the sealing work seems won’t be ended forever. So you should specific a date to define the completion, the sentence should be like this : Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, “until” xx July 20xx…
But the sentense is : ” …”until” we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000.” Therefore make the sealing work complete is the number not timing.
Also Revelation 14:3 also proves that the 144000 is a literal number, what does it say?
“and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” – Revelation 14:3
“No one… except the 144000…” means they are a limited, real and literal number
Jesus also said the one inherit God’s Kindom is the chosen one, few and a limited number.
“13 Enter by the narrow gate… 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13,14
“47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good[the chosen one] into containers but threw away the bad.” – Matthew 13:47,48
Moreover, we can say each one of the 144000 is precious for Jesus and YHWH God, because Jesus said he would not lost one of them.
“since you[Father] have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you[Father] have given him[Jesus]. ” -John 17:2
“And he[Jesus] said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”” – John 6:65
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?… 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” – Matthew 19:13,14
“To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” – John 10:3
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32
“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” – John 10:29
“Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those(those the slain of the 5th Seal – the 144000) who worship there.” – Revelation 11:1
Therefore the above verses prove that each one of the 144000 are precious for Jesus and YHWH God that no one would be lost, Jesus promised “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”. That’s why we say the 144000 is a literal number, they are really 144000 no more and no less of one.
For more please read <Who are the 144000?>
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