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Thee 144,000
Mal. 4:5 -- See, I will send you the prophet Elijah
before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.
This prophecy by Malachi approximately 400 years before Christ received an application
of this prophecy at the coming of John the Baptist, announcing the coming of Jesus as the
Christ. He, however, was only a type of the witness to come as this was not the great and
terrible day of the Lord as represented by Christ's Second Coming.
Matt. 11:7-14 -- Jesus began to talk to the crowd about
John: (The Baptist). "What did you go out into the desert to see?... a
prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written: "I will send my messenger ahead of
you, who will prepare your way before you"...
For all the Prophets and the Law
prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was
to come.
John the Baptist was a type of Elijah, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, to
prepare the way for Christ's earthly ministry. When his testimony was finished he
was martyred (beheaded).
The fulfillment of this prophesy can only be completely fulfilled before that great and
dreadful day of the Lord (Second Coming). It is scheduled to be accomplished by
those assigned this task to prepare the whole world for the return of Christ where He is
to rule over this earth. These 144,000 ("Elijahs") will come in the power
of Elijah -- the indwelling Holy Spirit. They will prophesy for
1260 days (Rev. 11:13). This is why they are called "servants the
prophets." When they have finished their testimony they, like John the Baptist,
will also be martyred (Rev. 11:7).
Rev. 7:2,3 (NEB) -- Then I saw another angel rising out of
the east, carrying the seal of the living God; and he called aloud to the four angels who
had been given the power to ravage land and sea: ‘Do no damage to sea or land or
trees until we have set the seal of our God upon the foreheads of his servants.
And I heard the number of those who had
received the seal. From all the tribes of Israel there were a hundred and forty-four
thousand.
This indicates that servants (bondslaves) are selected by God and sealed before
allowing the angels who had been given power to ravage the land, sea, and trees to proceed
with their devastation. This devastation is then described very graphically with the
damage to these structures by Seven Angels blowing their trumpets as recorded in chapters
8 & 9. These 144,000 being designated as bond slaves (Wuest); bond servants
(NASB), and indicates that they are selected by Christ and purchased by His blood for a
very special purpose.
Rev. 5:9 (NEB) -- Thou art worthy to take the scroll and
to break its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood dids't purchase for God
men of every tribe and language, people and nation; thou hast made of them a royal house,
to serve our God as priests; and they shall reign upon the earth.
This represents the scene in heaven with God the Father holding the scroll with seven
seals. Only Christ was found worthy to break the seals for the reasons listed.
It appears that the purchase listed above is referring especially to the 144,000,
represented by their high calling (A royal house).
"Thou hast made of them a royal house, to serve our God as priests,
and they shall reign upon the earth." (Not in heaven.)
Rev. 20:4 -- And I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They
had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads
or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years...
Vs. 6 -- They will be priests of God and of Christ and
will reign with him a thousand years.
Rev. 11:3 -- I will give power (Acts 1:8, Holy
Spirit) to my two witnesses and they will prophecy for 1260 days.
Vs. 6 -- These men have power to shut up the sky so
that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying.
This is obviously speaking of this same group. These are scheduled to reign upon
the earth where they will be priests of God and reign with Christ for 1000 years.
This has to be referring to a group still future as no group has, as yet, passed
the test of avoiding the mark of the beast on their foreheads or on their hands.
They will witness for 1260 days (3-l/2 years -- Time, times and l/2 times) and
have power to shut up the sky so it won't rain during their prophesying. Elijah
prophesied for 3 l/2 years (James 5:17) that it wouldn't rain.
Rev. 11:5 -- If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from
their mouths and devours their enemies.
The king Ahaziah sent a captain with fifty men to bring Elijah to the king. The
captain said, "Man of God, the king says ‘Come down.’ Elijah
answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and
consume you and your fifty men. And fire from heaven consumed the captain and his
fifty men. (2 Kings 1:9,10).
These illustrations are to show that these witnesses are the Elijahs that Malachi was
prophesying to come to announce the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
(The 144,000)
The two witnesses of Rev. 11 are listed as the two olive trees and the two lampstands.
The olive trees represent the source of the oil which keeps the lamps burning.
The lampstands represent the light, or the Word of God. The oil represents
the Holy Spirit which keeps the lamps burning. These are the two witnesses, but the
preaching of this message must be by human messengers who preach this everlasting gospel.
These witnesses are empowered by the Holy Spirit and are preaching from the Word of
God. These agents being represented by the 144,000.
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
After three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them and they stood
on their feet. . . and a voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here" and
they went up to heaven in a cloud (Vss. 7-12).
Tremendous events occur during the three and a half years as the witnesses testify.
The trumpets cause their tremendous devastation. The man of sin (Satan
personified as a man) takes control of the earth with 200,000,000 troops involved. A
third of mankind are killed.
No wonder a holy one asked the man clothed in linen (Christ) who was above the waters,
"How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" (Dan.
12:7). The man clothed in linen said...
"It will be for a time, times and a half a time. When the power of
the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
(Dan. 12:8).
This occurs after the witnesses have finished their three and a half years of
testifying, and are killed by the beast from the abyss (see above). These are
designated martyrs for Jesus because the entire group is martyred (Rev. 11:7).
Rev. 6:9-11 -- When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under
the altar the souls of those who had been slain, because of the word of God, and the
testimony they had maintained.
"How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and
true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
Then each of them was given a white robe,
and they were told to wait a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and
brothers who were to be killed had been accomplished.
Apparently during the three and a half years of witnessing of the bondslaves a number
of them were undergoing martyrdom. It was apparent that the souls of the bondslaves
(figuratively) were advised to wait until their fellow bondslaves slated for martyrdom had
been completed. This occurs when the remaining witnesses for Jesus are killed by the
beast from the abyss.
These were then united in death with their fellow servants. In three and a
half days they are all raised from the dead and taken up to heaven (Rev. 11:11).
Their fellow-servants who preceded them in death were given each a white robe.
Wouldn't the remainder receive the same on their entry to heaven? I believe we get
another view of the 144,000 from John's description:
Rev. 7:9-17 -- (Great Multitude in white robes) --
After this I looked and there before
me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and
language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing
white robes and were holding palm branches in their hand.
Vs. 13 -- Then one of the elders asked
me,"these in white robes -- who are they, and where did they come
from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who
have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore they are before the throne of
God and serve him day and night in his temple... For the Lamb at the center of the
throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water."
We know that this represents the group raised in the first resurrection. They
have that qualifying characteristic of having come out of the great tribulation.
They are further identified in Rev. 6:9 that they had been slain "because of
the word of God and the testimony they had maintained."
In Rev. 20:4,5 (Speaking specifically of the first resurrection) And I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the
word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received
his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with
Christ 1000 years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years
were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Rev. 11:15-18 -- The seventh trumpet sounded and loud
voices from heaven said:
The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.
The twenty-four elders say: We give
thanks to you, Lord God Almighty- - -because you have taken your great power and have
begun to reign.
The time has come for judging the dead
and rewarding your bondslaves the prophets.
The bondslaves (144,000) have just been called up into heaven, just preceding the
seventh trumpet which came quickly following the sixth. "Your wrath has
come" represents the beginning of the seven last plagues (Rev. 15:1). God the
Father and Christ have taken over the kingdom of this earth and have begun their reign.
Rev. 14:1-5 -- Then I looked and there before me was the
Lamb, standing on Mt. Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name
written on their foreheads...
And they sang a new song before the
throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the
song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth...
They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
It would appear that this passage strengthens Rev. 5:9 as referring to the 144,000, as
their purchase is written in similar wording. They are the firstfruits -- not
the harvest. These are designated as the saints or God's people in contrast to
servants or bondservants or prophets or martyrs for the 144,000.
If I were travelling in some important country of the earth which happened to have a
world famous clock on a par with "Big Ben" in London, and if this clock not only
gave the time of day but the day, month, and year as well; how could I better document my
presence there than to have my picture taken in front of this world famous structure?
I believe God has done that very thing in a very suttle way. Notice how He has
arranged those raised in the first resurrection (144,000), in heaven and in a way
"snapped their picture," so that anyone who wants to know can easily understand
exactly when the picture was taken.
Rev. 15:1-8 -- I saw in heaven another great and marvelous
sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues -- last, because with them
God's wrath is completed.
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass
mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast
and his image and over the number of his name...
Vs. 5 -- After this I looked and in heaven the temple,
that is, the tabernacle of testimony was opened.
Out of the temple came the seven angels
with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden
sashes around their chests.
Then one of the four living creatures
gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives for
ever and ever.
And the temple was filled with smoke from
the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven
plagues of the seven angels were completed.
We already know from Rev. 14:1-5 that the 144,000 are in heaven where they have been
redeemed from the earth. What does this picture add to our understanding? Only
the very important fact that they are there at the time the seven angels with the seven
last plagues are making preparation to pour them onto the earth and the time that they are
dispensed.
The only group in heaven that has overcome the beast and his image and over the number
of his name has to be a group who were developed during the time of tribulation before the
plagues were poured out. This fits perfectly with the witnesses, martyred after
completing their testimony and taken to heaven prior to the seventh trumpet with the seven
last plagues which it announced.
Rev. 16:4,5 -- The third angel (third plague)
poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
Then I heard the angel in charge of the
water say: "You are just in these judgments. . . For they have shed the blood
of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
The only prophets listed in Revelation that this could refer to would be the servants
or bondslaves, the prophets -- always referring to this special group. The
saints are listed separately.
Rev. 17:6 (Amplified) -- (Babylon the Great) I also
saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints (God's people) and the
blood of the martyrs (who witnessed) for Jesus.
Notice both groups have martyrs, but the saints are listed as God's people. The
martyrs are designated for those who witnessed for Jesus, obviously the 144,000.
Rev. 17:14 -- They (the beast and the ten kings)
will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of
lords and King of kings and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
When Christ comes to claim His own, the 144,000 come with Him. They are His
faithful followers and will follow Him throughout eternity.
Rev. 18:24 -- In her (Babylon) was found the blood
of prophets and of saints and of all who have been killed on the earth.
Rev. 19:1-6 -- After this I heard what sounded like
the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting. . . He has condemned the great
prostitute. . .
He has avenged on her the blood of his
bond-slaves (or servants). . .
Then a voice came from the throne saying:
Praise our God, all you his bondslaves, you who fear him both small and great!
Then I heard what sounded like a great
multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like the peals of thunder shouting:
NEB -- Allelujah! The Lord our God, sovereign over
all, has entered on his reign.
Wuest -- Because the Lord our God, the Omnipotent, has
assumed His Royal authority.
Phillips -- For the Lord our God, the Almighty, has
come into his kingdom.
This is a great celebration party. They are celebrating God Almighty who is
assuming His royal authority and beginning His reign on this earth.
These same voices were heard in heaven following the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
Were they hearing the same celebration at that time? It sounds very much like
it.
The second reason for celebration was the destruction of the great prostitute which is
so graphically described in chapter 18. This effectively answered the question of
the martyred bondslaves in Rev. 6:10. The redeemed bond-slaves are watching this
avenging from front row seats in heaven.
The third reason for celebrating is that Satan and his angels have just been kicked out
of heaven (Rev. 12:10). Note the same loud voices and message:
Rev. 12:7-10 -- And there was war in heaven. Michael
and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
The great dragon was hurled down --
that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
He was hurled to t he earth, and his angels with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of
his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and
night has been hurled down.
Notice the three times when loud voices from heaven announce the same message:
1. The sounding of the seventh trumpet announcing the seven last plagues.
There were loud voices in heaven which said, "The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.
2. The one in Rev. 12:10, just previously listed.
3. Rev. 19:1-6 -- A great celebration party in heaven,
celebrating:
a. The dismantling of the great prostitute in chapter 18 with avenging on her the blood
of his servants (144,000 -- Vss. 1,2).
b. Inauguration of God's reign (Vss. 5,6).
Then a voice came from the throne saying: Praise our God, all you his
servants. . . Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, shouting: Allelujah!
For our God Almighty reigns.
Zechariah, in describing the events that God will carry out just before His return,
makes this statement:
Zech. 13:2 -- On that day (Day of the Lord) I will
banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more, declares
the Lord Almighty. I will remove both the prophets -- and the
spirit of impurity from the land.
The only prophets in the land at the time of the end are the servants the prophets
-- referring to the 144,000 in the book of Revelation. How these are removed
we find in:
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their testimony,
the beast from the abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. . .
Rev. 7:11,12 -- But after three and a half days a
breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck
those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven
saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud,
while their enemies looked on. (This just before the Seventh Angel sounded his
trumpet).
After the seventh angel sounded his trumpet announcing the seven last plagues, among
other things, we note this scene taking place in heaven:
Rev. 15:1,2 -- I saw in heaven another great and marvelous
sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues...
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass
mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast
and his image and over the number of his name.
The only group in heaven representing those who had gained victory over the beast and
his image could only be those witnesses who were killed by the beast and after three and a
half days were taken up into heaven. They apparently have just arrived when the
above scene was described.
Rev. 15:7,8 -- Then one of the four living creatures gave
to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever
and ever.
And the temple was filled with smoke from
the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven
plagues of the seven angels were completed.
This group in Vss. 1,2 are sandwiched between the seven angels who will be dispensing
the seven last plagues. After describing this group from earth that had gained the
victory over the beast, he then shows the angels being given their golden bowls filled
with the wrath of God. This leaves no "wiggle room" to question when this
group is found there.
Shortly thereafter at the giving of the seventh plague, Christ returns to earth to
destroy the wicked and gather up the redeemed. These faithful ones come with Him.
Rev. 17:12-14 -- The ten horns you saw are ten kings who
have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings
along with the beast...
They will make war against the Lamb, but
the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings -- and with
him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
The First Resurrection
Rev. 20:4-6 -- And I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.
They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on
their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand
years.
The rest of the dead did not come to
life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy are those who have part
in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be
priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
This is giving a description of those who will be raised up in the first resurrection.
They are those who have been martyred for their testimony for Jesus and had not
worshiped the beast or his image, etc. Following their martyrdom they came to life
and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The first resurrection consists entirely
of the 144,000. Note the details of this resurrection:
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their
testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill
them...
Vss. 11,12 -- But after three and a half days a breath
of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who
saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven
saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud,
while their enemies looked on.
1 Thess. 4:14,15 -- We believe that Jesus died and
rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep
in him.
According to the Lord's own word, we tell
you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly
not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from
heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of
God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
This must be speaking of this loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up
here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud (Rev. 11:12).
1 Thess. 4:17 -- After that, we who are still alive and
are left will be caught up with them (the 144,000) in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I believe these passages present in clear statements that the first resurrection is of
limited scope and does not include the saved of all ages going back to Adam and Eve.
It describes in detail that it involves those who refused to worship the beast or
his image or receive his number in their forehead or hand.
After these were raised up it states that "the rest of the dead did not come to
life until the 1000 years had ended (Rev. 20:5). Jeremiah, speaking of the Second
Coming makes the following statement:
Jer. 30:7-9 -- How awful that day will be! None will be
like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
"In that day" declares the Lord
Almighty, "I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds.
"No longer will foreigners enslave
them. Instead they will serve the Lord their God and David their king whom I will
raise up for them."
When I have previously read that statement, I wondered why God mentioned raising David
up for them as all the faithful would be raised at His coming. Now I can see He made
an exception to raise David to be their prince at that time instead of at the end of the
1000 years.
This brings us to the obvious conclusion that the wicked dead and the righteous dead
from past ages will not be raised until after the 1000 years have ended. The
"Great White Throne" judgment takes place at that time and the records are
checked. God knows who is saved and lost. This is for the benefit of those
checked so they can be convinced as to the fairness of their reward.
This also clears up a thought I had always had about Rev. 20:15 -- "If
anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of
fire." I had wondered, if this was restricted to the wicked, why look in the
Book of Life as it would be obvious that none of them would be found there.
Those among the saved who are in their graves will not mind an extra 1000 years to
their sleep. When one thinks about it, they very well might prefer it to be that way
and skip the intermediate stage. This all begins to make sense with another of our
favorite texts:
John 14:2,3 (KJV) -- In my Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.
We have just learned in Rev. 20:4-6 that the first resurrection consisted of those
martyred for their testimony to Jesus, and because of the word of God. Also limited
to those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused his mark on their
forehead or hand. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years
were ended.
This would include all the righteous dead from Adam and Eve until Christ's return with
the exception of these 144,000 martyred witnesses. They, along with the living
saints, who will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and will ever be with the Lord.
At the end of the 1000 years all of the dead will be raised, some to life and some to
death. Note the following:
John 5:28,29 -- For the hour is coming, in which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of damnation. (The 144,000 were never in their graves, they were refused
burial.)
When the righteous dead from all ages are raised, after the 1000 years, the earth will
be recreated entirely new, and the glorious holy city will descend to earth from heaven to
be their permanent home. Thus fulfilling the promise He made to them above.
The Dragon and The Pregnant Woman
Revelation 12
Rev. 4:1 -- After this I looked, and there before
me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to
me like a trumpet, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after
this.
This was written by John in the closing period of his life, about 100 years after the
birth of Christ. He is then taken away in the Spirit and shown "what must take
place after this." He was not to be shown what had taken place in the past.
These events he was to be shown were things that were to happen in the last days.
Rev. 12:1 -- A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her
head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
Some say that the twelve stars on her head represent the twelve apostles. How
could this be if her child she gives birth to was Jesus? Several of his apostles
weren't born yet and none had been selected at that time.
Rev. 12:3-5 -- Then another sign appeared in heaven, an
enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.
His tail swept a third of the stars out
of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who
was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to
God and to his throne.
This may be difficult for some to accept, but this child born under these circumstances
can not be referring to Christ. His birth had taken place a hundred years earlier
and couldn't be classified as "What must take place after this." I believe
Isaiah, speaking of this same "time of the end" enlightens us:
Isa. 66:7,8 -- Before she (Zion) goes into labor,
she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.
Who has ever heard of such a thing?
Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation
brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to
her children (144,000).
Vss. 14-16 -- When you see this, your heart will
rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to
his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.
See, the Lord is coming with fire, and
his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke
with flames of fire.
For with fire and with his sword the Lord
will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord (Second
Coming).
"The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants." This is
speaking of his "servants the prophets" which name he applies to the 144,000.
These are the ones that prophesy for 1260 days. They are brought to birth at
the time they are selected and sealed in their foreheads and are called "the servants
of our God."
It is of these prophets that it states in Rev. 11:6 "These men have power to
shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying."
It is also of these it is speaking in Rev. 12:17. "Then the dragon was
enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring
-- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
We know this because the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10).
These 144,000 have been sealed with the seal of God, which is the Holy Spirit (Eph.
1:14).
Before Christ comes in person at the second coming, He is revealed to the world through
His specially selected and sealed servants, the 144,000. In Rev. 12:2 it states that
her child will be snatched up to God and to His throne. Rev. 11:7-12 tells us how
this comes about.
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their testimony
the beast that comes up from the abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
Vss. 11,12 -- But after three and a half days a breath
of life from God entered them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven
saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud.
Read the entire chapter of Rev. 12. It tells of things that are still to take
place and can't be speaking of something that happened 2000 years ago. The 144,000
are personally selected by Christ from His church on this earth. A church that is
not limited to any sect or denomination. One in which no man has any vote as to
which one will be selected for that purpose. From the moment of their selection they
are always labeled separately from their other brothers and sisters in Christ. They
are listed as Servants the Prophets, witnesses or martyrs. The other
members of Christ's body are listed as saints, or God's people.
It is the Saints who are sequestered in the desert to a place of safety, out of the
reach of the serpent. When the serpent is foiled in his attempt to destroy the woman
(saints, God's people) he becomes enraged and goes off to make war on the group in Rev.
12:17.
It is at this time that their testimony has been finished -- the last undecided
sinner has made his choice for or against salvation. God then allows the beast from
the Abyss to make war on them, overcome them and kill them (the 144,000).
Remember that John the Baptist was also a type of that same prophet, Elijah. When
he had finished his testimony he was martyred (beheaded). The beast at that time
being Herod.
John had prepared the nation of Israel for the coming of Christ as the Messiah.
The 144,000 are the "Elijahs" at the end-time to preach the everlasting gospel
to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, following which they will receive the same
fate as John the Baptist. They, however, will be resurrected after three and a half
days and taken to heaven (the first resurrection) and so will they ever be with the
Lord. They will also come back with Christ, several weeks or so later, when He comes
personally to destroy the wicked and to gather up the living saints to be with Him.
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