144000 Sealed

The opening of the seals is the start of wrath and tribulation as we could see by the, military conquest, civil wars, famines, death hunger pestilence, and the cry to martyrs as we saw last week with the different color horses.

We come out of the sixth seal of the start of the Lambs wrath, earthquakes, stars falling, blood moons. Etc etc

Which would be what most would call the tribulation whether you’re looking for that moment to come or that moment has already happened. So we pick up in chapter 7 with the 144000 which at least most of you have heard something about.. I’ll give you a hint. They knock on your doors trying to witness. They believe there will only be 144k in heaven so they have had to change their view points over times because they have a bigger following now than 144k.

As i was preparing this week i was talking to Ronny Ross and explaining how maybe i was struggling bringing the study into sermon form and he gave me a few pointers. Maybe less is more on certain things. So allowing the listener or reader to want to learn or read on their own as well so maybe i will change my approach a little bit going forward from the way i have preached most sermons. Such as the Angels in the four corners don’t need explained so much because it’s not the main focal point of the text. But they are holding back the tribulation until…….

The number 12 is considered a perfect number, representing a complete and harmonious whole, and it is used throughout Revelation to emphasize the completeness and perfection of Gods plan and His people

The number 144 is a symbolic number, not a literal number of people, and it used to represent a large, but not infinite, number of Gods people. It represents a group of believers from all tribes and nations from old and New Testament prior to the 1st century tribulation. The reason for this is because not all the tribes are actually listed so it absolutely can not be literal as most might want to believe or think. Dan and Ephraim are missing. The tribe of dan is omitted possibly due to their history of idolatry and rebellion, as found in the book of Judges. Ephraim, one of the two sons of Joseph is also missing with Joseph and his other son Manasseh being included as the 12 tribes. Some believing that they are left out as well for the need of a new covenant.

The 144 are sealed signifying their protection and special role in Gods plan

Some interpret the 144 as a literal remnant of Israel who will be protected during the future tribulation period to come when all of these events and seals start taking place in years to come.

Revelation 7 ESV

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

At different time frames though out history people have started claims every time wars have broke or new leaders have taken office. So my suggestion is to just prepare your hearts for Christ!!

This is Christians coming out of the tribulation—- 70ad those that survived and made it to the caves, rocks and hills

For the future it will be the same those that come out of the tribulation victoriously—

So we have 144k sealed on foreheads, but really just written on their hearts!

Then after that we have a great multitude that can’t be numbered.. vs 9

Victory in Jesus

This is gentile worship.. we are the temple!!