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144,000....Who are they?

MidnightCry

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Hello everyone and Happy Sabbath!

I haven't been here for sooo long, most of you won't even remember who I am. Hi to all and Hi to Cliff2.
Cliff2, how are things down under?:wave:

I have a question about the 144,000. I have heard different explainations about who they are. I have read the number is a literal number, the number is not a literal number, I have read they are made up of the 12 tribes of Israel; they are the remnant church, etc.

I just read in a book that the 144,000 will be similar to the 12 apostles. They will preach the gospel in the last days and gather together the remnant church before the return of Christ. They are also the first to receive the seal of God.

Has anyone else ever read this or something similar? Please use scripture to support your answer.

Thanks,
midnightcry
 

RC_NewProtestants

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I just read in a book that the 144,000 will be similar to the 12 apostles. They will preach the gospel in the last days and gather together the remnant church before the return of Christ. They are also the first to receive the seal of God.

Has anyone else ever read this or something similar? Please use scripture to support your answer.

Thanks,
midnightcry

What book were you reading. It sounds that they must not have backed up their position too well since it inspired you to ask the question. Though if they only said similar to the 12 apostles that could mean almost anything.
 
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RND

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Hello everyone and Happy Sabbath!

I haven't been here for sooo long, most of you won't even remember who I am. Hi to all and Hi to Cliff2.
Cliff2, how are things down under?:wave:

I have a question about the 144,000. I have heard different explainations about who they are. I have read the number is a literal number, the number is not a literal number, I have read they are made up of the 12 tribes of Israel; they are the remnant church, etc.

I just read in a book that the 144,000 will be similar to the 12 apostles. They will preach the gospel in the last days and gather together the remnant church before the return of Christ. They are also the first to receive the seal of God.

Has anyone else ever read this or something similar? Please use scripture to support your answer.

Thanks,
midnightcry

Happy Sabbath!

Pastor Doug bachelor has a great book on that that I hope you'll enjoy. Very eye opening.


Who Will Sing the Song? The 144000 of Revelation 14
 
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djconklin

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I have a question about the 144,000. I have heard different explainations about who they are. I have read the number is a literal number, the number is not a literal number, I have read they are made up of the 12 tribes of Israel; they are the remnant church, etc.

I just read in a book that the 144,000 will be similar to the 12 apostles.

12 Tribes * 12 Apostles/Disciples = 144. John saw a large number; so multiply 144 by 1,000.

Given that the book is symbolic in lots of places it is more likely that the number is symbolic as well.
 
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MidnightCry

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Happy Sabbath!

Pastor Doug bachelor has a great book on that that I hope you'll enjoy. Very eye opening.


Who Will Sing the Song? The 144000 of Revelation 14

Thank you so much, RND. I was able to download the above book by Doug Bachelor and I read it over today. It was very good and answered alot of questions.

The book I have been reading is called "The Revelation of Jesus," by Larry Wilson. His comments on the 144,000 are in line with the book by Doug Bachelor. In fact, he goes into even more detail than Bachelor. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going down the wrong path by reading the book by Mr. Wilson. He is not a Seventh-Day Adventist. He states in one of his books that he is not affiliated with any particular denomination -- he justs studies the Bible and tries to present material in line with scripture. He has written about five books, I believe. They are all very good and line up with the doctrines of the Adventist church, as far as I can tell.

Thanks again recommending the book by Doug Bachelor. I really enjoy reading his material.
 
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O

OntheDL

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I thoroughly enjoy most of Doug Bachelor's works/sermons.

However I do not agree with him on the 144000. I'll attach a chart with quotes from the bible and from the spirit of prophecy below.

But clearly the 144000 and great multitude are the same group.

First of all, John heard the number of 144000. That's 12000 from each tribe. The number 12000 is the number of a army in the old testament.
The great multitude that John saw the no man can number, means no mortals can number. Since only God can number anyone for salvation or destruction. For example, the invisible hand wrote on the wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. No man can number does not mean no man can count.

After probation closes, the only group of believers will be alive at the 2nd coming is the 144000. So who are the great multitude that came out of the Great Tribulation? The same 144000!

Also check out the santuary study thread in the TSDA forum, the 144000 will replace/replenish the fallen Lucifer's position in heaven.

-----------------144000---------The multitude
Enter the temple
-----------------LS80 217.1
-----------------GC 648.3------------Rev 7:15
Before the throne
-----------------GC 648.3------------
-Rev 7:9
-----------------Rev 14:3------------Rev 7:15
Come out of the great tribulation
-----------------LS80 217.2
-----------------GC 648.3------------Rev 7:14
Jesus shall serve them in the banquet
-----------------LS80 217.2----------Rev 7:17
Have gotten the victory
-----------------Rev 15:2
-----------------GC 648.3-----------VSS 464.3
Standing on the sea of glass
-----------------Rev 15:2
-----------------GC 648.3-----------VSS 464.3
Having the harp
-----------------Rev 15:2
-----------------GC 648.3-----------VSS 464.3
Sing the new song: Moses and the Lamb
-----------------Rev 14:3
-----------------Rev 15:3
-----------------GC 648.3-----------VSS 464.3
Washed their ropes white with the blood of the Lamb
-----------------GC 648.3------------Rev 7:14
Wipe away tears from their eyes
-----------------GC 648.3------------Rev 7:17
Hunger no more, thirst no more
-----------------GC 648.3------------Rev 7:16



"Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a building which looked to me like a temple. About it where seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees to beautify the place; the box, pine, fir, olive, myrtle and pomegranate, and the fig tree, bowed down with the weight of its timely figs, made the place all over glorious. As we were about to enter the temple, Jesus raised his lovely eyes and said, Only the
one hundred and forty-four thousand enter this place, and we shouted Alleluia. {LS80 217.1}
"The temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The things I saw there I can but faintly describe. Oh! that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell something of the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the one hundred and forty-four thousand were engraved in letters of gold. After we beheld the glory of the temple, we went out, and Jesus left us, and went to the city. Soon we heard his lovely voice again, saying,'Come, my people, you have come out of great tribulation, and have done my will, and suffered for me; come to the marriage supper; for I will gird myself and serve you.' We shouted Alleluia, glory, and entered into the city. And I saw a table of pure silver, it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, Not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while, if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain. And he said, You must go back to earth again and relate to others what I have revealed to you. Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. {LS80 217.2}

Revelation 7
9After 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;
...
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.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

There the redeemed ones greet those who directed them to the uplifted Saviour. They unite in praising Him who died that human beings might have the life that measures with the life of God. The conflict is over. All tribulation and strife are at an end. Songs of victory fill all heaven, as the redeemed stand around the throne of God. All take up the joyful strain, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" and hath redeemed us to God.--MH 506, 507. {VSS 464.2}

Song of Moses and the Lamb--This song and the great deliverance which it commemorates, made an impression never to be effaced from the memory of the Hebrew people. From age to age it was echoed by the prophets and singers of Israel, testifying that Jehovah is the strength and deliverance of those who trust in Him. That song does not belong to the Jewish people alone. It points forward to the destruction of all the foes of righteousness, and the final victory of the Israel of God. The prophet of Patmos beholds the white-robed multitude that "have gotten the victory," standing on the "sea of glass mingled with fire," having "the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." Rev. 15:2, 3. {VSS 464.3}

Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,--so resplendent is it with the glory of God,--are gathered the company that have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, "having the harps of God," they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, "the voice of harpers harping with their harps." And they sing "a new song" before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb--a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience--an experience such as no other company have ever had. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as "the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before God. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 7:14-17. {GC 648.3}

Revelation 14
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.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
 
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RC_NewProtestants

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The book I have been reading is called "The Revelation of Jesus," by Larry Wilson. His comments on the 144,000 are in line with the book by Doug Bachelor. In fact, he goes into even more detail than Bachelor. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going down the wrong path by reading the book by Mr. Wilson. He is not a Seventh-Day Adventist. He states in one of his books that he is not affiliated with any particular denomination -- he justs studies the Bible and tries to present material in line with scripture. He has written about five books, I believe. They are all very good and line up with the doctrines of the Adventist church, as far as I can tell.

Probably not too surprising since Larry Wilson is a former SDA Pastor.

If earthquakes are increasing so rapidly in the 1990s, then what is there to prevent Christ's return? Therefore, in Larry Wilson, The Revelation of Jesus (Brushton, NY: Teach Services, 1992), p. 1, we find the former Seventh-day Adventist pastor predicting four global earthquakes beginning about 1994 and ending in 1998 with the Second Coming of Christ.
http://www.icr.org/research/index/researchp_sa_r06/

By the way that is a great article at the above link by the Institute for Creation Research. Showing that all those Christians authors who say there are an increase in earthquakes are bogus, very in depth too.
 
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MidnightCry

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I thoroughly enjoy most of Doug Bachelor's works/sermons.

However I do not agree with him on the 144000. I'll attach a chart with quotes from the bible and from the spirit of prophecy below.

But clearly the 144000 and great multitude are the same group.]



I can't believe the 144,000 and the great multitude are the same group.

One group is numbered (144,000) and the other group is described as a group that is such a great multitude it cannot be numbered.

Also, John sees "a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands."
"These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:14)

Wouldn't it be awful if out of all the billions of people on the earth, only 144,000 will be alive when Christ returns?
I just can't accept that.
 
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MidnightCry

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Probably not too surprising since Larry Wilson is a former SDA Pastor.



By the way that is a great article at the above link by the Institute for Creation Research. Showing that all those Christians authors who say there are an increase in earthquakes are bogus, very in depth too.


I am thrilled to hear the Larry Wilson ia a former SDA Pastor. I suspected he was a SDA but I don't recall reading it in any of his books. I love to read his books and study them along with scripture. He seems to take the SDA beliefs or theories one step further -- which I find very interesting.

I checked out the link you provided above on earthquakes. I'm not too sure about the earthquake theory. I would have to read more about it. I am sure one could find evidence to support either belief. I think a person has to research it, study scripture, and decide for themself.

One thing is for sure, Jesus said, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pangs." (Matt. 24:7,8)

We will have earthquakes in many places which will increase with frequency and intensity; like labor pains before the birth of a child. They will occur more frequently and be more severe as time goes on. Is that happening now? Could it happen tomorrow? I don't know. But it will happen.
 
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OntheDL

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I can't believe the 144,000 and the great multitude are the same group.

One group is numbered (144,000) and the other group is described as a group that is such a great multitude it cannot be numbered.

Also, John sees "a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands."
"These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:14)

Wouldn't it be awful if out of all the billions of people on the earth, only 144,000 will be alive when Christ returns?
I just can't accept that.


Hi MNC,

I like your screen name.

There is no textual evidence that states these are two different groups. Let me explain...

1. John heard the number of 144000 and then he saw a group.

Would you be able to count a group of 144000? :wave:Of course not.

A "great multitude" does not have to mean millions of people. In the four gospel books, Jesus was often followed by a great multitude. There were hundreds and sometime thousands, but not millions or billions.

The two descriptions one heard, the other seen are the Hebrew parallelism used by Hebrew writers to describe one object from different angles.

It's like describing an elephant, one tells it has a long nose, big fan-like ears, another one tells it huge legs, tall shoulders and a tiny tail.

Together they paint a complete picture.

2. We can not try to understand the bible with language we know today. I explained this in my last post.

"No man can number" does not mean no man can count.

As in the phrases, "he was numbered with the transgressors, Isa 53:12", I want to be numbered among the saints... it means to be categorized in, to be determined with... to be judged...

In terms of salvation, only God can number/determine/judge. God numbers everyone either for everlasting life or for eternal damnation. We saw this after the invisible hand wrote on the wall, Belshazzar's final fate was numbered by God in Daniel 5:25,26.

3. The 144000 is the last generation of believers alive when Christ comes back.

The question is not whether you can accept it or not?

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

How many people out of the billions got into the boat before the flood? Eight!

The question is how many people chose to give their lives completely over to Jesus? Will you and I be among the 144000? Will you and I give our hearts completely to Him?
 
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RC_NewProtestants

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I checked out the link you provided above on earthquakes. I'm not too sure about the earthquake theory. I would have to read more about it. I am sure one could find evidence to support either belief. I think a person has to research it, study scripture, and decide for themself.

One thing is for sure, Jesus said, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pangs." (Matt. 24:7,8)

We will have earthquakes in many places which will increase with frequency and intensity; like labor pains before the birth of a child. They will occur more frequently and be more severe as time goes on. Is that happening now? Could it happen tomorrow? I don't know. But it will happen.

Well there is no scientific evidence for more earthquakes so there is not a debate on that side of things. Even the verse in Matthew says nothing about an increase in earthquakes so the entire idea is based upon assumptions.
 
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MidnightCry

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RC,

how can you say that? The verse in Matthew tells us that, "All these things are the beginning of birth pangs."

How do you define birth pangs? My understanding is that they start out slow and not to severe, and then become more frequent and more intense.

That means earthquakes (and other events) will become more frequent and more intense as time goes on.
 
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