144,000 Hebrews
"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 7:4 - King James Version)
These 144,000 men (see Revelation 14:4) are chosen by God from the tribes of Israel. What is the purpose of this sealing? There is a similar passage in the Old Testament which may help us to understand this one.
“Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, 'Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.' [These are angels.] Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.' But to the others He said in my hearing, 'Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.' So they started with the elders who were before the temple.” (Ezekiel 9:1-6 – New American Standard)
These people that Ezekiel saw in his vision were given a seal or mark by an angel. Those without the mark were in danger of dying. Those with the mark were protected. Although, the individual's attitude towards the sin of the land was a criteria in regarding to whether the angel placed the mark on them or not, these is only an indirect relationship between this sealing and salvation.
The 144,000 Hebrews of Revelation chapter seven are sealed or marked. This means that they are protected. They will not die in the disasters which will come with the seven trumpets. God and his angels will protect them.
Personally, I do not believe that these 144,000 are saved at this point. God is protecting them because he has selected them to be his servants. They are yet unaware of this.
Remember, God has often selected people before they accepted him. Examples are Samson (Judges 13:2-5), Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17) and Paul (Acts 9:15,16).
God is setting aside these 144,000 men to be witnesses during the final period of the Great Tribulation. We will learn more about them when we study chapter fourteen.
These 144,000 men (see Revelation 14:4) are chosen by God from the tribes of Israel. What is the purpose of this sealing? There is a similar passage in the Old Testament which may help us to understand this one.
“Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, 'Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.' [These are angels.] Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.' But to the others He said in my hearing, 'Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.' So they started with the elders who were before the temple.” (Ezekiel 9:1-6 – New American Standard)
These people that Ezekiel saw in his vision were given a seal or mark by an angel. Those without the mark were in danger of dying. Those with the mark were protected. Although, the individual's attitude towards the sin of the land was a criteria in regarding to whether the angel placed the mark on them or not, these is only an indirect relationship between this sealing and salvation.
The 144,000 Hebrews of Revelation chapter seven are sealed or marked. This means that they are protected. They will not die in the disasters which will come with the seven trumpets. God and his angels will protect them.
Personally, I do not believe that these 144,000 are saved at this point. God is protecting them because he has selected them to be his servants. They are yet unaware of this.
Remember, God has often selected people before they accepted him. Examples are Samson (Judges 13:2-5), Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17) and Paul (Acts 9:15,16).
God is setting aside these 144,000 men to be witnesses during the final period of the Great Tribulation. We will learn more about them when we study chapter fourteen.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 4:48 AM
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