Admin
|
What Is The Function of the 144,000?
Posted : 4 Dec, 2010 06:29 AM
Followers of dispensationalism cannot get out of their mindset which demands a literal and physical interpretation of Revelation 7: 1-8 and Revelation 14: 1-5. In my most recent post - Romans 2: 28-29 and Revelation 7: 1-8: The 144,000 - I pointed out by examples that God began his chosen people, or Israel, in the physical, that is, in the flesh. The chosen people were first those who were physical descendants of Abraham. Circumcision, which is in the flesh, of men was the sign of the Old Covenant. First, the Temple of God was a physical building. When God "turned things upside down" (Isaiah 29: 16), began the new Covenant (Jeremiah 31: 31-33, required everyone, including Jews, to be born again to enter into his kingdom (John 3: 1- 8) , translated about three thousand Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 41), he then changed Israel from the physical or literal to the spiritual. he also fully revealed that Christ and the Holy Spirit operate in the Godhead in dealing with believers. Entry into Israel was then no longer by genetics, but by belief in Christ. Circumcision was done away with as a mark of being an Israelite. God's temple became his people.
If you understand what Paul is saying in Romans 2, Romans 9 and Romans 11, you can see that God did not replace physical Israel with the "Church." Instead, he transformed physical Israel into spiritual Israel. In Israel reborn in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, nor male or female, because anyone can enter by by belief, but must have a love of the truth to be saved (II Thessalonians 2: 3)
In listing twelve tribes of old physical Israel John in revelation 7: 1- 8 is saying that the 144,000 are Israel reborn in Jesus Christ. The 144,000 are not just believers in Christ. but are a special group called out for a mission. Revelation 14: 4 says "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."
Not being defiled with women and being virgins does not have a literal meaning. It is metaphoric. Revelation 17: 1-7 describes a woman as a figure of false religion. Not being defiled with women means the 144,000 have not been defiled with false religion, with false doctrines and with religion which is a mingling of man's religion with that of God.
Then in Revelation 14: 5 tells us that "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." The 144,000 are not deceptive; they speak the truth.
What is called the Remnant of Israel in Zephaniah 3: 12-13 are similar to the 144,000. The remnant of Israel existed in Old testament times and Paul in Romans 11: 5 mentions a Remnant, which can be the remnant of Israel, as those of physical Israel who accepted Christ. But - the Remnant of Israel exists now; it mostly those who have come out of the churches with their false doctrines.
Zephaniah 3: 12-13 describes some traits of the Remnant of Israel which can be applied also to the 144,000. " I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."
The 144,000 are not addicted to anything that is sinful. The are not in any way deceptive. And they cannot be made afraid of anything. They are too close to Christ to become afraid. Though the devil may send his serpents and scorpions after them on occasion, they are too strong in Christ and in his Full Armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18) to be brought down.
They are to be sealed before the events of the tribulation fully begin. Revelation 7: 3, "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees" is metaphoric for spiritual events of the tribulation. The physical side of the Tribulation will be real though. Did not the BP oil blowout disaster hurt the sea, that is, the Gulf of Mexico?
But the killing of Christians on a large scale, including in this country, has not started yet.
Daniel 11: 33 gives us a glimpse of the mission of the 144,000.
" And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days."
This can be applied to what happened to the Apostles in the First Century. But that does not exhaust this prophecy/ The mission of the 144,000 is to instruct a larger group of God's people, those who are not in the Churches and in false doctrines.
Some Old Testament prophecies tell us something about what will happen to the Church Christians in the tribulation.
Deuteronomy 32: 35-36 says "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
36. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left."
Deuteronomy 32: 35-36 is quoted in Hebrews 10: 30.
There is none shut up, or left in Deuteronomy 32: 36 means there is no one left alive or in prison at a certain point during the tribulation. All who are to be killed will have been killed.
Zechariah 13: 8-9 and Ezekiel 5: 1-5 and 5: 12 are scriptures that give us general principles about how God deals with those who think they are his people. Zechariah 13: 8-9 has three groups of this people while Ezekiel 5 adds a small fourth group which is the Remnant or 144,000.
Post Reply
|
