Yeah, there has been some pretty solid refutation of many of those even in the "jewish" community that promote this stuff. Shlomo Sands has been promoting a lot of this stuff and he has been shown to be a wrong by Bennett Greenspan and others. Shlomo Sands is not a geneticist by profession. He is essentially an atheist which for some reason has taken it upon himself to chip away at the idea of a Hebrew people.
But then we would fall into the "battle of the experts" like what goes on in a court of law. If we just posted a "he said" - "he said" list of accusations against each other. With no side prevailing. It is falling into the trap of believing man over God. For me it is very simple. God made the promise, it is His name on the line, He either has to come thru or look like a jerk. And He is not going to allow Himself to look like a jerk.
So when He says that 12,000 of each of 12 tribes is sealed in Revelation, I have no reason whatsoever to take the other than literal. There is nothing in the context that suggests it is to be taken any other way. And when He says in Joel 3 that He will judge the nations on how they treated Jacob (Israel) that also seems pretty straightforward. And it means there has to be a delineation between physical Hebrews and gentiles. Irregardless of what some with agendas say about it today.
Greenspan goes into this extensively in this lecture.
His name is “Shlomo Sand”. It does not appear in the links I provided. He says nothing about Jewish genetic ubiquity.
Bennett Greenspan says nothing about Jewish genetic ubiquity. He obviously hasn't read any of the links I've provided, which include testimony from Orthdox Jewish Rabbinism. He would doubtless be ecstatic to be informed that the Jewish genetic identity which he espouses is found in the entire human race.
If you reject the empirical genetic evidence in the links I provided, then you should call up Francis Collins, a Believer who led the Human Genome Project, and inform him of his heresy.
Same with anyone in the criminal justice system who has ever used DNA evidence to prove or disprove guilt or innocence.
The only jerk is anyone who rejects Christ's definition and description of His brethren in Matthew 12 and 25 as “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
The Church and the 144,000
Revelation 7:3-4 describe the 144,000 as “sealed.” That description is reserved in the NT for believers in Christ – His Body and Bride – the Church:
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also
sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were
sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.
The
Revelation 7 passage is therefore conveying the insight that the OT Israelitish faithful saints of God are included under the NT banner of the Church. This is further confirmed by the meanings of the names of the listed tribes and substitutes (Levi and Joseph replacing Dan and Ephraim), describing spiritual qualities and experiences of those who comprise the Church:
Of additional significance is the order in which the names are presented, differing from the usual presentation by order of birth. In particular, Judah appears first, in recognition of its role as the tribal progenitor of Christ, the Lion of Judah.
While rebellion and apostasy were repetitive afflictions of the OT Israelites, there were still thousands who remained faithful (
1 Kings 19:18). Their number is depicted as 12, a scriptural value representing faithfulness; multiplied by 12, representing the faithful from each of the twelve tribes; multiplied by 1,000 representing the indeterminate but large number (
Psalms 50:10;
Psalms 91:7;
Revelation 5:11) of the total faithful in Israel; thus, 144,000.
Revelation 14 continues the descriptions further reflecting the qualities and experiences of the redeemed – the Church. Absent here is any mention of tribal, ethnic, or other distinctions, thus conveying the reality of the inclusivity and oneness of the NT Church which now embraces both Israelite and Gentile. Its number can also be depicted as 12, representing faithfulness; multipled by 12 representing the 12 faithful apostles, who with the prophets comprise the foundation of the NT church, with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone (
Ephesians 2:20); multiplied by 1,000 representing the indeterminate but large number of the total faithful in the NT Church; thus, also 144,000.
The NT Church's inclusivity and oneness are declared in the following:
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall…
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The 144,00 are described as celibate, meaning that as the Bride of Christ, they are not defiled by adultery with the world (
James 4:4). They sing a new song of deliverance and victory. (
Revelation 14:3). They follow Christ wherever He goes. (
Revelation 14:4) Their residence is heavenly Jerusalem on Mount Zion. (
Hebrews 12:22)
No doubt about it…
the Church is written all over the 144,000.
