The 144,000: Who They Will Be And What We Can Learn Today Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

Watches this sermon at:

Part 1: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/153420

Part 2: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/157138

1 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. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 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. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth, no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1–5)

Studying the book of Revelation is a sneak peek into the future, and being prepared is the Christian’s duty in this world which is declining so rapidly. What I want us to do tonight is to cover important info about these tribulation saints identified as The 144,000. But I want us also to take some pragmatic interpretation of this passage and apply it to our lives.

Scripture has some marvelous descriptions for Christians. It calls us children of God (1 John 3:2), new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), the elect (1 Peter 1:1), kings and priests unto God (1 Peter 2:9), saints also some special nuances of richness (Colossians 2:10, Ephesians 3:8). They all indicate an elevated identity. But Scripture also speaks of the triumphant nature of the Christian. We are called overcomers (John 16:33, Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 21:7), victors (1 John 5:4), and super conquerors (Romans 8:31-39). Scripture even says that we are always triumphant in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-17). There’s a certain level of invincibility to us because of God’s grace and power in Christ (John 10:28).

In spite of this identity as overcomers and winners and conquerors and super conquerors, we still lose the battle to the world, the flesh, and the devil. We don’t have to, but sadly we do. The question really, then, is how can we live up to our identity? How can we be triumphant? What are the components that produce triumphant Christians?

I really think in a wonderful way that question is answered right here in this text. Here we meet an amazing group of men that demonstrate to us the components of triumphant Christianity. They are uncompromising, unflinching, undaunted, and undefeated. If there is ever a time in history when the Church needs to be obsessively triumphant in Christ and overcome the world, it is today. It seems that we’re losing the battle, not winning it. And so, we must ask the question, “What made them so uniquely triumphant and what can we learn from them?” I have 12 characteristics that I want to show you, but first, let’s look at who they were in Revelation 14.

-Who Were These Saints

Verse 1 reminds us again that John is seeing these things with his own eyes, as the Lord is revealing them to him so he can understand it. John sees a Lamb sitting on Mount Zion – and this is Jesus Christ. There are some interesting contrasts between chapters 13 and 14.

13 is viewed from earth (Satan’s Perspective); 14 is viewed from heaven (God’s perspective)

13 focuses on the beast, 14 focus on the lamb

13 focuses on false teaching, 14 focuses on the everlasting Gospel of truth

13 focuses on the mark of the beast, 14 focuses on the mark of God

13 focuses on a false prophet, 14 focuses on the witnesses of God

There has been tremendous speculation on who these 144,000 witnesses are in Revelation 14. Even groups like the Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormons have tried to claim they are this group of people. The 144,000 are also described as those “who had been redeemed from the earth” (Rev. 14:3). The Lamb is not standing with a spiritual elite from among believers or a future gathering of ethnic Jewish believers, but with all who have been redeemed from sin by the coin of his blood (Phillips).

However, God’s Word has already revealed to us their identity and tells us everything we need to know bout them. Revelation 7 tells us these 144,000 are the ones who were rescued from this Earth due to the testimony of the 2 Witnesses. They represent 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Judah. So they are Jews, meaning that we must comprehend the pinnacle role Israel does and will play in the prophetic work of God’s eternal plan. They are a small remnant of the earth - there are currently an estimated 53,000 Christian missionaries.