The 144,000 and the Multitude

December 13

Micah 3-4

Psalm 140:6-13

Proverbs 29:20-21

Revelation 7

The 144,000 And The Multitude

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the Earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the Earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the slaves of our God on their foreheads.’  And I heard the number of those having been sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel…. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” 

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-10 LSB

There is a lot of confusion about the 144,000 mention in Revelation 7.  I believe that when possible the Bible should be interpreted literally.  There are times when it is obvious that the Bible is using symbolism or metaphors, but there is nothing to suggest that here.  This passage suggest that there will be 144,000 Jewish men who will be used by God to evangelize during the Tribulation Period.  It clearly says there will be 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.  This means that these men have to be genetically pure.  In Biblical times, the tribes were kept separate.  They were not supposed to intermarry between the tribes.  Obviously, since that time there has been mingling between all of the tribes and between Jews and Gentiles.  However, concerning the 144,000, it is very specific that these will be men from each of the 12 tribes so I believe somehow throughout the ages God has preserved a remnant in each tribe that has been kept pure.  At the beginning of the Tribulation, these men will come to faith in Jesus.  They will not believe beforehand or they would be raptured, but shortly after the rapture they will accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and they will be the ones who spread the gospel message to the post-rapture world.  Verse 3 explains that those men will be given a seal to protect them from harm during that time.  They will supernaturally have the protection of God and will not be injured during all of the calamities that befall the Earth.  Also, Satan and the Antichrist will not be able to harm them to prevent them from spreading the gospel. 

As a result of their ministry “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” will come to faith in Jesus.  There will be a great revival like none that has ever happened before.  Unfortunately, those who come to faith during the Tribulation will face great danger and most likely be martyred for their faith.  Verses 9-17 describe those who came out of the Tribulation Period who suffered greatly.  They are not protected from the natural disasters, plagues, famine, wars or the anger of the Antichrist.  Thankfully, following their death, they are seen in Heaven where they will spend eternity, but they had to endure the Tribulation because they did not accept Jesus before the rapture.