Now let's address the next big question. Is 144,000 a literal number? Well, perhaps I should answer that question with another question. Are the other numbers in Revelation literal? Will there be 12 gates and 12 foundations in the holy city? Are there really 12 different kinds of fruit on the tree of life? Yes, of course. Our understanding of the dimensions of the New Jerusalem is likewise based upon the assumption that these numbers are real.
Even the numbers used to describe
prophetic time periods in the book of Revelation are precise measures.
The numbers would be useless for reckoning if they were merely symbolic.
Although
the number of the 144,000 may be exact, it will be humanly impossible
to identify the individuals who make up this special group. When Jesus
walked the earth, it was easy to determine His 12 most devoted
followers. But the 144,000 in the last days are spiritual Jews,
scattered across the circle of the earth and leading out in a
magnificent revival.
Now some may be thinking, "How can you say
that the names are symbolic but the number is literal?" It's simple.
Jesus did. He did not seem to care which tribes the 12 apostles came
from, but He did purposely choose 12 of them. Also remember that all of
the numbers in Revelation depict a specific value, while all the proper
names in Revelation are symbols (the Lamb, the Dragon, the Lion, Balaam,
Jezebel, etc.).
For these reasons and others, I believe the
number 144,000 is a precise figure. Just as there were actually 12
literal tribes in the Old Testament and exactly 12 apostles in the New
Testament, there will be 12 times 12,000 spiritual apostles in the last
days.
Many have wondered, "If this number is not just a symbol,
then will the 144,000 be the only ones saved in the last days? And if
only 144,000 will be saved, then what are my chances?"
Let's do
some simple figuring. The ratio of 144,000 to six billion (the
approximate world population at the present time) would mean that one
person in 41,666 alive would be saved if Jesus were to come today. This
statistic is much better than the odds offered by most state lotteries,
but we would all agree that it's pretty slim for the hope of salvation.
The
Bible does not teach that the 144,000 are to be the only ones saved in
the last days. Immediately after listing the tribes of the 144,000, the
prophet sees that "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." Revelation 7:9.
In verse 13, one of the 24 elders asks
John who these people are that are clothed in white robes, and from
where they came. Then in verse 14, he answers his own question: "These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Now the
Bible speaks of two great tribulations in prophecy. One was during the
papal persecution of the Dark Ages, when millions of Christians were
slain. But the primary "great tribulation" must refer to the time just
before Christ's second coming, as referred to in Daniel 12:1, 2: "And
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a
nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many
of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
The Number Twelve
The key to understanding the 144,000 may be the number itself. In the Bible, the number 12 almost always represents leadership of the church. There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah, then 12 from Shem to Jacob. Twelve spies led the way to the promised land, and there were 12 judges from Othniel to Samuel.
There is an interesting story in the
Gospels of how in one hour, Jesus healed a woman who had been bleeding
for 12 years and then went immediately to resurrect a girl who was 12
years old (Mark 5:25-42). The first woman represents the Old Testament
church with a continual flow of sacrificial blood. The young girl
represents the New Testament church that came to life after Christ's
resurrection. They both touched Him the same day and were made whole.
God's
church is also pictured in Revelation 12:1, which says: "And there
appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the
moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." The 12
stars above the woman's head are a symbol of the inspired leadership of
the church (1 Corinthians 11:10).
Exodus 39:14 tells us that
there were 12 precious stones on Aaron's breastplate, "according to the
names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like
the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the
twelve tribes." These stones appear to be identical to the foundation
stones of the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:19, 20). "That great
city, the holy Jerusalem ... had a wall great and high, and had twelve
gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." "And the
wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:10, 12, 14.
The
number 12 appears time after time throughout Scripture. King David
appointed 24 groups of 12 (a total of 288) to lead music of praise in
the temple (1 Chronicles chapter 25). Similarly, Revelation 4:4
describes two groups of 12 (a total of 24) elders who sit around the
throne of God. This represents the 12 tribes of the Old Testament and
the 12 apostles of the New Testament.
Jesus promised His
disciples, "Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel." Matthew 19:28. And in Revelation, Jesus makes a
similar promise to some who will come out of the last age of the church,
known as Laodicea (which means "judging the people"). He says, "To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Revelation
3:21.
In heaven, it seems there will be an expanding square
formation around God's throne. First there is God Himself on His throne.
Then the four creatures, then the 24 elders in a square around them
with six on each side, then the 144,000 in a perfect square with 36,000
on each side, then the great multitude all around them. The perfect
order and harmony of this assembly is astounding!
Their Mission
The 144,000 live during the last age of the church and share the experience of the early apostles.
At
the time of His first coming, Jesus chose 12 men whose primary mission
was to reach Israel. And as a result of the outpouring of the former
rain during the Pentecost revival, the 12 apostles reached thousands.
Matthew 10:5, 6 says: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of
the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel."
In the last days, Jesus will use 144,000 (12
times 12,000) spiritual apostles, whose primary mission is to reach the
world with the news of His second coming. The great multitude spoken of
in Revelation chapter 7 is converted by the influence and preaching of
the 144,000 following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter
rain.
The prophet Joel referred to both of these events when he
wrote: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my
spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And
also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour
out my spirit." Joel 2:28, 29.
Please keep in mind that the
144,000 are not the only ones preaching the gospel in the last days.
Just as the 12 apostles were part of a larger group of 120 disciples
leading out in the Pentecostal revival, so the 144,000 are leaders in
the end-time revival, but not the only ones preaching.
I believe
it is also significant to note that Jesus chose the 12 apostles from the
laity, not the priesthood. In the same way, the 144,000 will not likely
be composed only of ordained ministers. Rather, I believe it will
largely be made up of lay persons.
(Elder Doug Bachelor, “Inside Report” March 1996, pp. 6, 7)
http://www.amazingfacts.org/news-and-features/inside-report/id/384/who-are-the-144-000.aspx
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