Hi DFW
Thought maybe you were joking wasn't sure sorry for being so touchy.
I think you are misunderstanding. The 144,000 are only the start. They bring this
9: After this I beheld, and, lo, 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; 10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
I know many hold to this theory. But it is only human reasoning. John wrote this right after writing about the 144,000. But when John writes "AFTER THIS" he has changed the subject. He is no longer writing about the 144,000.
When one understands Paul's pretrib rapture, it is easy to know who these are. In fact, if not for two words, almost all would believe these are the raptured church. But John wrote that these come "out of GT." Again, this is a phrase that most do not understand in this setting. The days of GT (great tribulation) that Jesus spoke of will not begin until the abomination. Here in chapter 7, John has not yet even started the week, much less arrived at the midpoint. The midpoint chapters are chapters 11 & 12.
So what is John's meaning? Only that at the time of the pretrib rapture, people will be dying for their testimony around the world. It is that way in half the world today, and it will get worse.
The biggest question is, WHEN will Paul's rapture come? If we study 1 thes. 5, Paul TELLS US when. Paul tells us there will come a SUDDEN EVENT. At this sudden event, two different groups of people will get two different results. Those living in the darkness, NOT born again, will get SUDDEN DESTRUCTION. What is this sudden destruction? It will be a mighty, worldwide earthquake caused by the dead in Christ rising. Where is this earthquake in Revelation? It is at the 6th seal, which when broken, displays the SIGNS for the DAY of the LORD. This is EXACTLY what Paul wrote; just three verses after his classic rapture verse, Paul tells us that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night - - exactly the way Jesus said HE Will come. Of course, because HE comes for His bride. So Paul is making the rapture and the Day of the Lord back to back events that CANNOT be separated; the rapture being the trigger for the Day.
So AFTER John saw the 144,000 Israelites being sealed, then he saw the raptured church in heaven. They got there by way of rapture, NOT ANYTHING connected to the 144,000.
The big question here is, WHY are not the 144,000 raptured? It is because at the time of the rapture, they still do not believe Jesus is their messiah! But when the rapture takes perhaps 50% of earth's population off the planet, suddenly these 144,000 understand that Jesus WAS the Messiah, and they turn to Him and become His servants.
Why did John break between the 6th and 7th seals, to show this sealing and the raptured church in heaven? Imagine a long play, where they close the curtains for intermission. What happens when the curtains are closed? They rearrange the set for the next act! This is exactly what John does; the setting must be changed before the breaking of the 7th seal officially starts the Day of the Lord, the Day of His wrath, and the 70th week. TWO events absolutely must take place before His wrath begins; one, the church MUST BE REMOVED, by way of rapture; for Paul wrote in chapter 5 that we get "salvation" [rapture] and get to "live together with Him" because we have NO APPOINTMENT with His wrath. Two, the 144,000 MUST BE SEALED for their protection before the 7th seal is broken. Once these two events are accomplished, the curtain can be opened, for the "set"is not ready, the church is in heaven and the Jews are sealed.
They are the latter rain they die in the Great Tribulation. The 144,000 are the firstfruits the great multitude are those who are murdered for refusing to worship the Beast
There is not ONE HINT that this great group of people, too large to number, have died. Rather, they have been changed, and now have resurrection bodies. John has not yet opened the week, much less arrived at the point the beast is risen from the sea. He will not arrive until 3 1/2 years AFTER this point. So this theory is WAY OFF. The beast will not show up for years.
13: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
All this means is that they were IN the world, where people were dying for their testimony, but were REMOVED by way of rapture. What did Luke write? That we should PRAY we be counted worthy to escape "these things" meaning at least to escape those days of GT.
Look at Rev 14:
First the 144,000
1: And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Yes, the 144,000 have been caught up to the throne as FIRSTFRUITS to God. Many more Jews or Israelites will follow and turn to God. But these will be in heaven for the marriage and supper.
Then the eternal Gospel is preached and people are told to repent and worship the One True God.
6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
There will be three angels fly around the world, preaching to every human in their own language, three (3) different messages. This is only one of the three messages they will bring. Note that there is not one mention here of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, and not one mention that His blood washes away sins. Why is this? Because the door of salvation via the born again road was CLOSED at the pretrib rapture, and the Holy Spirit went back to heaven with the Bride. Earth returned to what it was before Pentecost. From that point on, [rapture] NO ONE will be "born again." Again, the born again door will CLOSE. So this angels just tells people to WORSHIP GOD.
Then The beast is released from the pit and destroys Mystery Babylon.
8: And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
This is given as a prophecy. This prophecy of Babylon falling will be given several times before the event actually happens. It will happen at the 7th vial in chapter 16. This is just PROPHECY, a foretelling of that event. it seems the beast was released from the pit at the 5th trumpet, some time before this time. But it also seems he was never put back into the bottomless pit. Note TWO "fallens." Why two? Because one is MYSTERY babylon, the false religion the beast deceives the world with, and the other is the physical city of Jerusalem, which will be destroyed with fire.
The persecution starts as described before.
9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Common sense tells us this warning will come BEFORE the Beast has set up the mark, and started forcing people to worship. The timing here will be some short time after the abomination; perhaps before the false prophet is seen.
Many Millions are slaughter in the greatest persecution ever.
12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Why do you not trust Jesus words?????
FINALLY something I can agree with! Once the false prophet shows up, the image is build, and the mark established, great tribulation will come upon the world. It will be much like the three Hebrew boys, that refused to bow - but here God will not deliver; for He has said the saints will be OVERCOME by the Beast. From the point of the pretrib rapture on, the only way to get to heaven will be to lose your head. The exception will be the 144,000.
Lamad