Who are the 144000?
Who are 144000? This is very interesting topic because only the Bible Revelation mentions this number. People have the following understanding of 144000:
1. Literal: People think 144000 are literal that means their quantity are real the “144000” Jews people, and they come from the real earthly Israel of 12 Tribes. They are “sealed” means they are saved or protected by God from AntiChrist in the real 3.5 years period of the Great Tribulation.
2. Symbolic: 144000 is a symbolic number, that means it symbolizes an “uncountable people” to be saved, someone may also think 144000 are the same group people of “a great multitude” of Revelation 7:9.
Then what does it really mean? Let’s find and analyze what does the “144000” mean.
144000 Literal Interpretation
People think it is literal: 144000 are come from the real 12 Tribes of earthly Israel(Jews), is it true?
First of all, let’s put aside how difficult it is to seal 144000 among of the 12 Tribes of Israel today, because 10 Tribes have destroyed about 2700 years and the other 2 Tribes(Jews) also have destroyed about 2000 years. Their family records have disappeared. How can we ensure that their bloodline is pure and not mixed with the bloodline of other ethnic groups?
More importantly, if 144000 really come from bloodline 12 Tribes of Israel, then we have to find their law foundation, are they legal(lawful)? If we seek their legitimacy, then we must seek for the support from God’s law. What is the Basic Law of 12 Tribes? As you know this law is according to the Covenant that God made with Israel 12 Tribes through Moses. What is this Covenant about?
4 And Moses wrote down all the words[Law] of YHWH. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to YHWH…
8 And Moses took “the blood” and threw it on the people and said, “Behold “the blood of the covenant” that YHWH has made with you in accordance with all these words.” – Exodus 24:4-8
What is this “Covenant” [Law] of Jehovah God made with 12 Tribes about?
3 while Moses went up to God. YHWH called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: … 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. – Exodus 19:3-6
Then, are 144000 is based on this “covenant” above? If their foundation is based on the covenant above would be illegitimate, why? Because this “covenant” [Old Covenant] has ceased and has been replaced by the “New Covenant“.
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the “new covenant” in my blood.
29 and I[Jesus] assign to you[apostles], as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – Luke 22:20,29,30
With whom did Jesus make the “New Covenant“? Jesus not make covenant with bloodline Jews 12 tribes, but his apostles and disciples. Although Jesus not make covenant with Jews 12 tribes, but the “New Covenant” has to fulfill all what the “Old Covenant” is covering to make God’s word(Promise) come true, also because of God loves all His faithful servants of ancient Israel, that is to say the promulgation of the “New Covenant” is based on the “Old Covenant”. Therefore the “New Covenant” is also based on 12 Tribes of Israel, and also the foundation is referring to 12 apostles in New Jerusalem.
” 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession… ” – 1Peter 2:5,9
So if 144000 are the literal meaning that come from bloodline 12 Tribes of Israel(Jews), they will not have legitimacy, for the Old Covenant has ceased. Moreover, the arrangement of 12 Tribes of “Old Covenant” cannot fulfill the legal requirements of the “New Covenant”, for the heavenly 12 Tribes has no Tribe of Dan, also the bloodline Israel have no Tribes of Levi and Joseph to fulfill the legal requirements of heavenly Israel.
Jesus Christ has stated clearly he has made the “New Covenant” effective already, therefore all arrangement if based on “Old Covenant” including earthly 12 tribes are no legitimacy. That means 144000 in heavenly 12 Tribes must be chosen according to the “New Covenant” arrangement, that’s why we see the heavenly 12 Tribes are not exactly the same as earthly.
That is to say the 144000 must not refers to bloodline(Literal) Israel of 12 tribes(Jews). Let’s see how the apostle Paul explained the difference of “New Covenant” and “Old Covenant”.
New Covenant vs Old Covenant
Apostle Paul explained in details about the “first Covenant [Old Covenant]”, and “second Covenant [New Covenant]” in Hebrew chapter 7-11, let’s reat it.
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood [old covenant] (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe [heavenly tribe], from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment[Old Covenant] is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
– Hebrew 7:11-19
1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
4 Now if he[Jesus] were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
5 They[arrangement of Old Covenant] serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things…
7 For if that first covenant[Old Covenant] had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second[New Covenant].
8 For he finds fault with them when he says:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a “new covenant” with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the [Old] “covenant” that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares YHWH.
10 For this is the [New] “covenant” that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares YHWH:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one [Old Covenant] obsolete.
And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away
(written at about AD 63, after that Jerusalem and sacrifices arrangement was destroyed in AD 70).
-Hebrew 8:1-13
8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing(earthly Jerusalem Temple)
9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
15 Therefore he[Jesus] is the mediator of a “new covenant“, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the “first covenant“.
19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
– Hebrew 9:8-28
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near…
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second [New Covenant].
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
– Hebrew 10:1-10
Even “he[Abraham] was looking forward to the city [New Jerusalem] that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” – Hebrew 11:10
Heavenly 12 Tribes
If we compare the earthly 12 Tribes and heavenly 12 Tribes, what difference would you have found? Yes, you know their names are not all the same, anything else?
We found that only the tribe Levi of earthly Israel could be priests, and only the tribe of Judah could be kings. But the heavenly all 12 tribes could be priests and kings both together. Why does it so difference? We know the earthly things are the shadow of heavenly things, they are the copy of heavenly arrangement following God’s instruction.
“They[Jews’ priests] serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” – Hebrew 8:5
So if the earthly things are shadow of the heaven, why did not copy all exactly to the earth? It seems most are reflecting heavenly arrangement but some are difference, like not all 12 tribes could be priests and kings same as heaven. Why?
It seems God knows the limitation of men, so He did not copy heaven the same on earth, but in Heaven there is no this limitation. What limitation? We know YHWH God is Holy Holy Holy, He is the Most Righteous. If a man is being a king who would make wars and killing people, and on the other side if he is a priest, he would serve Holy God using his bloody hands. Would the Holy Holy Holy God accept his serve?
Surely God won’t accept it. That’s why God separate 2 positions to 2 tribes, but 12 Tribes of Heaven have no this limitation, so they could be priests and kings simultaneously. They are holy people the holy nation, they are righteous and peaceful, their war are also the righteousness. They won’t use weapons to kill evil ones, why?
1 The word of YHWH came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him… 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages[“Saints“]. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates’
21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares YHWH God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur.
– Ezekiel 38:1-22
The evil ones would kill each others because of their evils.
And all 144000 are holy and serve Holy God, there are no mankind limitation and that’s why all heavenly 12 Tribes could be priests and kings.
“Sealed” – Protected from the wrath of the Antichrist ?
The literal theory of “sealed” of 144000 also means they are protected from the wrath of the Antichrist during the tribulation period. But it seems it also not match with what Bible says. Because all do not worship the Beast and do not receive its’ mark 666 on their forehead would be killed, therefore the “sealed” do not mean 144000 would be protected by God from Anti-Christ, instead of to be slain.
“And it[the Beast 666] was allowed to give breath to the image of the [7 headed] beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to “be slain“. ” – Revelation 13:15
“… Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They[144000] came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4
“Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” – Revelation 14:1
“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
“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those[144000] who had conquered the beast[False Christ-Anti Christ] and its image and the number[666] of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb…” – Revelation 15:2,3
Therefore 144000 would be killed[slain], not protected. If it do not mean “protect”, then what does it mean of “Sealed“?
4 even as he chose us [144000] in him before the foundation of the world…
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, [Kingdom of God], according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ,
10 as a plan[fullness of 144000] for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
– Ephesians 1:4,9-10
“13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel(the gospel of kingdom of God) of your salvation, and believed in him, were “sealed” with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is “the guarantee” of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:13,14
Apostle Paul clearly told us, got “sealed” actually means get the “promise” from the Holy Spirit, that the “sealed” is the “guarantee” of the inheritance, and the “inheritance” is the God’s Kingdom, until it is come true – the New Jerusalem come down from heaven! 144000 would be the 12 Tribes of Heavenly Israel, they would be Kings and Priests with Christ in New Jerusalem for a thousand years, and will be forever and ever.
So the “sealed” meaning is 144000 get the “guarantee“, confirmed they would inherit the Kingdom of God.
144000 a symbolic number?
Another interpretation is: 144000 is a symbolic number, that means it symbolizes an “uncountable people” to be saved, someone may also think 144000 are the same group people of “a great multitude” of Revelation 7:9. Is that true? Let’s see…
Generally people won’t use a complex number to symbolise something, but using number like a digit 7 or 10 or 6 as simple as it could, magnifing a “number” as a symbol is meaningless, because 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 a unlimited people, isn’t it much simple and clear? No need to say 144000 and each Tribe are 12000, right?
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? Also what does “a Great Multitude” represent?
144000 – a real literal number
Does Bible prove that 144000 is a literal number?
To be Continued…
Views: 33
Comments are Closed on this Post