Many Christians prefer a literal interpretation of Revelation. The saved will be ultimately and forever redeemed, while those who are lost will be destined for judgment.Ģ. The condition of those who are alive at the time of the rapture of the church will be sealed. Unfortunately, many in our society utilize the Scripture detailing the sealing of the 144,000 as justification for delaying a decision for their own personal salvation, thinking many will be saved after the rapture of the church.īut the Bible does not allow an opportunity for salvation for those who reject salvation prior to the rapture. It may encourage delaying a decision for personal salvation. "God increased the number of the Israelites 1,000 times ( Deuteronomy 1:11) God keeps his covenant to 1,000 generations ( Deuteronomy 7:9) God owns the cattle on 1,000 hills ( Psalm 50:10)." Other examples: Isaiah 60:22, Psalm 84:10, Exodus 20:6, and 2 Samuel 18:12.ġ. "The figurative use of the whole number 1,000 is common in Old Testament usage," he said. Hanegraaff also points out other instances in the Bible where whole numbers are used symbolically. In his article, Hank Hanegraaff said, "The 144,000 and the great multitude are not two different peoples but two different ways of describing the same purified bride. From one vantage point the purified bride is numbered from another, she is innumerable-a great multitude that no one can count." Spurgeon described the "great multitude, which no man could number" as the "great gather of the Gentile multitude redeemed by blood, numbered by God, never to be numbered by men, being like the sand on the seashore, innumerable!" Spurgeon declared "the day shall come when first and last shall rejoin together in the equal blessing of the Most High." He noted the tribe of Dan is missing but explained "we shall never understand all the things of God." The 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes with Judah and Benjamin joined together stand in equal position. In his sermon entitled "The Believer's Glad Prospects," Charles Spurgeon gave an explanation of Revelation 7:4-9. In his commentary, Methodist theologian, Adam Clarke wrote the 144,000 includes “all of the Jews converted to Christianity 12,000 out of each of the 12 tribes: but this must be only a certain for an uncertain number for it is not to be supposed that just 12,000 were converted out of each of the 12 tribes.” No one will be excluded or granted partiality based upon lineage. The tribal distinctions referred to in Revelation were eliminated well before the writing of John.Īdditionally, one could logically adhere to the opinion that the separation of tribes was used to symbolize the numerous Christian denominations and their equality in number of inclusion. This group of people will evangelize the world during this period, leading the salvation of millions referenced in Revelation 7:9. This futuristic count refers to the theory that the 144,000 are “sealed Jews,” protected from the wrath of the Antichrist during the tribulation period. One can believe the number in Scripture is a definite count and still have the hope of attaining heaven. Literal Theory: 144,000 Are the “Sealed Jews” Generally, Christians either interpret this verse as literally 144,000 people, or they believe it is a definite number to symbolize an indefinite number of people.
Who is included in the 144,000? Much debate and discord have resulted from the study of exactly who the 144,000 in Revelation are.Ĭhristians agree the 144,000 does not denote the total of souls throughout history who will be ultimately be saved from the wrath of eternal damnation. “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” ( Revelation 7:4)
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