The 144,000 and the
Great Multitude
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Welcome to this lesson! Let's pray together:
O Lord,
For a very long time, the identity of the 144,000 intrigued those who looked into the book
of Revelation.
But Your prophetic Word is now unsealed, and we are able to discover who they really are.
Please guide us by Your Holy Spirit during this fascinating lesson, so that our
understanding may be in accordance with truth.
In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 6:12,14,16,17
I looked when He opened the sixth seal (...).
The sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved
out of its place. (...)
[Men] said to the mountains and rocks, «Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who
sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has
come, and who is able to stand?»
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In our lesson «Great Signs in Heaven»,
we have seen that the sixth seal describes a striking scene taking place at the end of the
world.
We have also seen that this seal ends with an important question, asked by terrified men: «Who is able to stand?»
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Revelation 7:1-4
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four
corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow
on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And
he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and
the sea, saying, «Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the
servants of our God on their foreheads.»
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of
all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.
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Before going on with the seventh seal, the book of Revelation answers the
question «Who is able to stand?»: the 144,000, sealed by
God.
But who are they?
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Revelation 7:4,5
And I heard the number of those who were sealed.
One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were
sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve
thousand were sealed (...).
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The prophecy says that the 144,000 come from «all the
tribes of the children of Israel».
This statement has led some people to believe that the 144,000 are Jews according to the
flesh, direct descendants of Abraham.
But if we carefully examine the list of the twelve tribes, we will be surprised...
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The list of the 12 tribes in Revelation is different from the original!
| Simeon # Simeon |
The original list | Levi
# Levi
| The list of the
of the twelve | Judah # Judah
| twelve tribes making
tribes of Israel, | Issachar # Issachar | up the 144000,
as described in | Joseph
# Joseph
| as described in
DEUTERONOMY 27:12,13 |
Benjamin # Benjamin | REVELATION 7:5-8
| Reuben #
Reuben |
(The order is | Gad #
Gad | (The order
is
changed to | Asher #
Asher | changed to
facilitate | Zebulun # Zebulun
| facilitate
the comparison.) | Naphtali # Naphtali | the comparison.)
| Dan #
Manasseh |
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James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to
the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
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Romans 9:6
For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.
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The prophecy of the 144,000 did not accurately reproduce the original list of
the 12 tribes of Israel, because, under the New Covenant, the Israel of God is no longer
made up of Jews according to the flesh, but of Jews according to the heart, that is, the
Church of Christ.
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The Church of Christ now makes up spiritual Israel:
«For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this
rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.» (GALATIANS 6:15,16)
«Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.» (GALATIANS 3:7)
«If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.»
(GALATIANS 3:29)
«I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of
Satan.» (REVELATION 2:9)
«For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in
the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in
the Spirit, and not in the letter.» (ROMANS 2:28,29)
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Revelation 7:4
I heard the number of those who were sealed.
One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were
sealed.
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1 Chronicles 16:15
Remember His covenant always, the word which He
commanded, for a thousand generations.
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The number 144,000, which is the result of 12 x 12 x 1000, has a special
meaning.
We have already seen that the number 12 symbolizes the alliance between God and men.
As for the number 1000, it indicates a very large quantity, as we can see in the second
verse.
So, the 144,000 are a large number of faithful believers.
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Revelation 7:2-4
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having
the seal of the living God.
And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth
and the sea, saying,
«Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God
on their foreheads.»
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of
all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.
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Right before the seventh seal, that is, before the return of Jesus, an angel
announces that the 144,000 must now receive the seal of God on their foreheads, before the
destructive winds are released.
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Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise.
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Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.
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Each faithful believer is already sealed with the Holy Spirit.
But the seal put on the 144,000's foreheads is different, since it is not yet affixed.
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Revelation 14:1
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on
their foreheads.
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Revelation 22:3,4
The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His
servants shall serve Him.
They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
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The 144,000, sealed with the name of God and the name of the Lamb on their
foreheads, reflect God's character, and faithfully serve Him.
But there's more...
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Revelation 13:16,17
And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor,
free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of
his name.
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In the last days, as the 144,000 receive the seal of God on their foreheads,
others will also receive a mark on their foreheads: the mark of the beast.
The choice between these two alternatives will determine the eternal destiny of each
individual.
What are the seal of God and the mark of the beast? Future lessons will answer these
crucial questions.
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Revelation 14:2,3
And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
And they sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures,
and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four
thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
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Revelation 15:2,3
And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with
fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and
over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. And they
sing the song of Moses.
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The 144,000 sing a «new song» and the «song of Moses».
What is the subject of these two songs?
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The subject of the «new song» and the «song of Moses»: God's salvation!
«Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all
the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from
day to day. Declare His glory among the nations.» (PSALM 96:1-3)
«Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and
His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His
righteousness He has openly shown in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy
and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the
salvation of our God.» (PSALM 98:1-3)
«Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He
has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him."»
(EXODUS 15:1-2)
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Revelation 14:3
And no one could learn that song except the hundred and
forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
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1 Peter 1:18,19
(...) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your
fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot.
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The 144,000 sing the new song because they have been redeemed by Jesus Christ.
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Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for
they are virgins.
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2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.
For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ.
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In our lesson «The Pure Woman», we
have seen that a woman symbolizes a Church.
The 144,000, «the ones who were not defiled with women»,
are therefore faithful to God, and refuse any compromise with other churches' doctrines.
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Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for
they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
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Luke 9:61,62
And another also said, «Lord, I will follow You, but let
me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.»
But Jesus said to him, «No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God.»
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The 144,000 «follow the Lamb wherever He goes».
Nothing in this world can divert them from their only goal: to follow Jesus and to serve
Him.
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Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
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Jeremiah 2:3
Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His
increase.
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The 144,000 are designated as «firstfruits to God».
This confirms that they are really a part of the Israel of God, that is, the pure and
faithful Church.
They are «holiness to the Lord», being set apart by God to
fulfill a very special work.
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Revelation 14:5
And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are
without fault before the throne of God.
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Zephaniah 3:12,13
I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and
they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies.
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The work of the 144,000, a small group of active believers at the end of time,
is to truthfully proclaim God's message.
And what is this message?
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Revelation 14:5-7
And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are
without fault before the throne of God.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -
saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come.»
----------------------------------------------------
This message is that of the three angels. We studied its content in our last
lesson.
The word «angel» comes from the Greek word «aggelos»,
which means «messenger». This accurately represents the role of the 144,000 in the last
days.
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Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, 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.
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As the 144,000 proclaim the three angels' message «to
those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people» (Revelation
14:6), a great multitude will favorably respond to this message, as we can see in
this verse.
But who is this great multitude?
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Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of those who were sealed.
One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were
sealed.
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Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, a great
multitude which no one could number.
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First, let's not mix up the 144,000 and the great multitude:
- the 144,000 are a group which can be numbered (John said: «I heard the number»);
- the great multitude is a group which «no one could
number».
So, the 144,000 and the great multitude are two distinct groups.
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Revelation 7:10-12
[The great multitude was] crying out with a loud voice,
saying,
«Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!»
And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures,
and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
«Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to
our God forever and ever. Amen.»
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Just like the 144,000, the people belonging to the great multitude glorify God
for the salvation He gave them, and join the heavenly hosts in worshiping the Almighty
Lord.
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Revelation 7:13,14
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, «Who are
these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?»
And I said to him, «Sir, you know.»
So he said to me, «These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.»
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The Bible says that the great multitude comes out of «the
great tribulation».
Although believers were persecuted in every century, the last days' tribulation will be
more severe than ever before.
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Daniel 12:1,2
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who
stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as
never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the
book.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
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The book of Daniel confirms that the last days will be a time of trouble,
distress, and great tribulation, «as never was since there was a
nation».
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Daniel 12:1,3
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who
stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as
never was since there was a nation, even to that time. (...)
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn
many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
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The same passage in Daniel links the great tribulation with turning «many to righteousness».
Indeed, the message proclaimed by the 144,000 in the last days will lead people of all
nations to accept God's offer of salvation.
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Zechariah 8:22,23
Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek
the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
«In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a
Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you."»
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So, the 144,000, that is, the Israel of God in the last days, will teach the
great multitude, that is, all those who, shortly before Jesus' return, will respond to
God's call, after hearing the proclamation of the 144,000.
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The message of the 144,000 will lead a great multitude to salvation:
«Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and
nations who do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and the Holy
One of Israel; for He has glorified you.» (ISAIAH 55:5)
«For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the
Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to
your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and
see: they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your
daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your
heart shall swell with joy.» (ISAIAH 60:2-5)
«Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen! (...) Come out of her, my people, lest you share
in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.» (REVELATION 18:2,4)
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The experience of the 144,000 calls to mind the apostles' at Pentecost:
«Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were
all with one accord in one place. (...) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And
when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone
heard them speak in his own language. (...)
"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the
last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream
dreams." (...)
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand
souls were added to them.» (ACTS 2:1,4-6,16,17,41)
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Revelation 6:9,11
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
held. (...)
And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest
a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren,
who would be killed as they were, was completed.
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The 144,000 and the great multitude will soon join all the believers faithful
to God throughout history, and all of them will receive Christ's white robe.
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Revelation 7:13-17
«Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did
they come from?»
And I said to him, «Sir, you know.»
So he said to me, «These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (...) He who sits on the throne
will dwell among them.
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor
any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them
to living fountains of waters.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.»
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Finally, after the last days tribulation, the 144,000 and the great multitude
will know eternal happiness.
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Let's pray together:
Father,
Jesus said: «Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.» (Matthew
28:19)
You call each one of us to become one of the 144,000, on which You will very soon put Your
seal, so that Your message may be proclaimed to the great multitude who will accept it.
Please give us the courage we need to join Your Church, as we are really living in the
last days of this world's history. In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
The test of Lesson 60 is waiting for you!