Who are the 144,000?

Who are the 144 ,000? We're going to answer that question. You can also discover more on got questions dot org. Then I heard the number of those who were sealed 144 ,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

The 144,000 in Revelation 7 as Literal Israelites

This passage comes from an interlude between the judgment of the sixth seal of the tribulation and the opening of the seventh seal. How one answers the question who are the 144 ,000 depends on which interpretive approach one takes to the book of Revelation.

The futurist approach, which we consider the best, interprets the 144 ,000 literally. When taken at face value, Revelation 7 -4 seems to speak of 144 ,000 actual people living during the end times tribulation.

Nothing in the passage leads to interpreting the 144 ,000 as anything but a literal number of Jews. 12 ,000 taken from every tribe of the children of Israel, according to verses 5 -8. These 144 ,000 Jews are sealed, which means they have the special protection of God.

They are kept safe from the divine judgments and from the wrath of the Antichrist. They can freely perform their mission during the tribulation. It had been previously prophesied that Israel would repent and turn back to God, and the 144 ,000 Jews seem to be a sort of first fruits of that redeemed Israel.

Their mission seems to be to evangelize the post-rapture world and proclaim the gospel during the tribulation period. As a result of their ministry, millions, a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, will come to faith in Christ.

Why the 144,000 Are Not a Limit on Salvation

Much of the confusion regarding the 144 ,000 is a result of the false doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses. They claim that 144 ,000 is a limit to the number of people who will reign with Christ in heaven and spend eternity with God.

The 144 ,000 have what the Jehovah's Witnesses call the heavenly hope. Those who are not among the 144 ,000 will enjoy what they call the earthly hope, a paradise on earth ruled by Christ and the 144 ,000.

It is true that there will be people ruling in the millennium with Christ. These people will be comprised of the church, Old Testament saints, and tribulation saints. Yet the Bible places no numerical limit on this group of people.

The Millennium and the New Jerusalem

Furthermore, the millennium is different from the eternal state, which will be established at the completion of the millennial period. At that time, God will dwell with us in the New Jerusalem. He will be our God and we will be his people.

The inheritance promised to us in Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit will become ours and we will be co-heirs with Christ. That answers the question, who are the 144 ,000? On our website, gotquestions .org, you'll find a deeper discussion and recommended resources.

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