Wednesday Night Bible Study
THE 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-10; 14:1-4)
I am not one who believes in spending a lot of time learning about other religions and cults; but
when one of their teachings has some of the Believers confused, then I feel that it needs to be
addressed. How many of you heard it taught (especially by the Jehovah’s Witnesses) that there
will only be 144,000 that goes to Heaven? This teaching is based on the interpretations of Rev. 7
and 14. Let us examine these passages.
We know that a time is coming when the world will be in terrible turmoil. People will to work all day just to make enough money to buy a loaf of bread. Hatred and violence will be the order of the day. People will be turning in their own family members just for the reward. People will be forced to take the devil’s mark in order to live freely. The Bible says:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21)
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:22)
It is going to be so “hellish” on this earth that the Lord is not going to allow these days to go on but so long, because not even those whom He has sealed would be able to make it through!
But even during this time, the Lord will be merciful enough to still have His gospel preached. Listen to these words found in the book of Revelation:
“2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants (Witnesses/Preachers) of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:2-3)
“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.” (Rev. 7:4)
Remember, these 144,00 were sealed, or saved, or set apart. the question you might be asking is why? Let’s look back into the Old Testament a little:
“28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” (Joel 2:28-29)
Then the Word brings us back to the New Testament and reminds that:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14)
CONCLUSION
My sisters and my brothers, I don’t want you to weep for these 144,000. I don’t want you to think that they had suffer through the Tribulation. The Lord had them sealed/set apart for that time. If you notice in Rev. 7 when they were first sent to perform their tasks, it was 144,000 of them. We read about them being in Heaven in Rev. 14; there is still 144,000 of them! The Lord had them preaching His gospel without the lost of one!
Some of you may ask yourself was it worth it to them. Well let us look back at what Revelation has to say:
“9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9-10)
After their time for preaching is over, John records that there came through this Tribulation period a number so great that he could not even count them all . . . do you think their preaching meant a difference? And don’t forget what was recorded about these 144,000 in Rev. 14:
““1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their forehead
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Rev. 14:1-5)
The Lord will give them a song that only they can sing, because only they will have gone through what they did!
So please explain to me where this teaching of only the 144,000 going to Heaven came from when:
- They are all virgins.
- They are followers of the Lamb.
- The Church will have been Raptured.
- They were sealed/set apart for this purpose from those who were left after the Rapture.*
- They testify of seeing a number which no man can number come to Glory from the Tribulation period.
*Do not forget that because many Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, while waiting for the Messiah to come, children were still being raised according to Old Testament Laws, so there were many who were “kept”.