Who Are The 144,000?

Who are the 144,000?

Revelation, Part 8, Revelation 7:1-17

Introduction

- Chapter 6 talked about the four horsemen and the first 6 seals

-- Discussed the importance of their duties to release the Anti-Christ

-- They bring death and destruction upon the Earth as God’s Judgment

- We also witnessed a great earthquake that shook foundations of the Earth

-- This will send inhabitants of the Earth to the mountains to flee

-- Each who went into hiding had one prayer: that they would be allowed to die for the judgment is too severe.

- In this time, we see the beginning of what God has planned on this Earth

-- APP: Our disobedience is what has brought this upon the Earth

Read Revelation 7:1-17

Pray

Ω Point 1 – The Four Angels (v1-3)

- At this moment, there are angels waiting for the word from God

-- To unleash His judgment upon this Earth

-- Remember city of Sodom? Angels were sent there to destroy the city

-- However, Lot and his family were saved and removed (Genesis 19)

- These four angels are granted the authority to hurt the land and the sea

-- IMP: They are restrained until God’s servants are sealed

-- Once these servants are in place – once they have received the protection of God, we will see the trumpet judgments begin

- The four winds mentioned talk about the whole Earth (N, S, E, and W)

-- The angels are given specific orders to hurt only the land and sea

-- The bowl judgments (later) are the judgments on man, specifically

- In Heaven, God has ultimate authority

-- Believe John is getting a glimpse of a chain of command effect in place

- See how another angel comes forward to hold back these angels?

-- This is an arch-angel – someone in greater authority than these four angels

- We will see that a number of persons will be sealed first; these are 144,000

-- The word ‘sealed’ means protected; they’re sealed with the Holy Spirit

- What is important to note here is that God knows who is faithful to Him

-- He knows who His workers are – and John is being given a confirmation --- IMP: Just as they are sealed … those who are saved are also sealed (or protected) from this judgment

- Strengthens the rapture of the church happens before the Tribulation begins

-- Why? God’s promise is that we shall be saved if we call upon the name of the Lord (that is Jesus) – and this sealing is sealing those following the rapture for service to Him!

Ω Point 2 – Who are the 144,000 that are sealed? (v4-8)

- Many people have mixed up, or tried to assume who the 144,000 are

-- It is very important to note that when you read the Bible, it’s clear!

Ω - One of the biggest, false doctrines is that shared by the group called the Jehovah’s Witnesses

-- Let me start by saying this is a cult – from beginning to end

-- It is an “obey this or else” type of religion which God does not honor

- Background: They believed when they formed that they were part of the 144,000 who would not see death and they were here to do God’s work.

-- The problem with their logic is this: most of those who called themselves part of the 144,000 are now dead and in their grave!

-- The result of this false thinking? They are forced to CHANGE their beliefs and doctrine – which since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (see Hebrews 13:8) … why would they have to continue to modify their beliefs if they were truly following Jesus? They’re not, they are a cult!!

- VERY IMP: If your religion is confusing, it ain’t from God!

-- 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

Ω - IMP: The Bible tells us EXACTLY who these people are in Rev 7!

-- John is being shown the nation of Israel

-- It is important to observe that the literal application of Israel’s importance cannot be avoided.

-- Those who remove literal Israel from scripture will never be able to grasp the book of Revelation and God’s plan for the end times.

- Here, we see the role of 144,000, from the 12 tribes of Israel

-- There are 12,000 each of the 12 tribes of Jacob (Israel)

-- Represent a select group, descendents of Jacob

-- They fulfill the role planned for Israel, to be a light to the nations

- APP: Out of all the nations of the Earth, God has chosen the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be a light to the nations, to be his witnesses