Study of End Times week 33
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The Sealed 144,000
The Sealed 144,000
Last week we looked at the second beast, which is the beast from the earth, which is the false prophet, or what we found out is the anti-Holy Spirit, that made up the anti-trinity.
The false prophet will direct people to worship the Antichrist and to follow him, the false prophet is another one of Satan’s leaders in the corruption of the world.
Tonight we are going to look at the sealed 144,000, we first heard about these 144,000 people back in chapter 7, where we were actually given the break down of the number of the 144,000 and where they come from.
Their is 12,000 of these sealed people from each tribe of the tribes of Israel, and we know that there is 12 tribes of Israel, which gives us 144,000 sealed saints.
Tonight we are going to look at 6 characteristics of the 144,000
The Character of the 144,000
The Character of the 144,000
1 Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Again in ch 7 is where we first really learned about these 144,000 and in verse 3 we learned.
3 “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
These 144,000 are called servants, and they are sealed on their foreheads by God.
The first characteristic of the 144,000 is:
1. They are Protected:
1. They are Protected:
4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
This tells us that the tribulation saints are saved and sealed with the Father’s name on their foreheads (this seal stands for protection, possession, and preservation).
Not one is lost. Nowhere in the Bible will you find a truly saved person losing his or her salvation.
Why? Because saints are sealed by the Holy Spirit. And the King’s seal cannot be broken by an person.
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Whether you are a saint in the great tribulation or a saint in this present age; you are sealed!!
2. They Praise:
2. They Praise:
2 I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
The four living creatures here represent the attributes of God; the elders represent the saved of all ages.
The 144,000 are the saved Jews who will fill heaven with their song as they rejoice before the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Bible says it is a new song. There are two Greek words translated new. One has to do with time; the other has to do with character.
The word new here in verse 3 means new in character. Because of their own special experience, the saved Jews have a song nobody else can sing.
How does this apply to us? I have a song you can’t sing, and you have a song I can’t sing.
Jesus is unique to every person. I cannot put into words what Jesus means to you.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
3. Their Purity:
3. Their Purity:
Revelation 14:4 (CSB)
4a These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins.
What does the phrase “they which were not defiled” mean?
First, it does not mean these people are against marriage. Instead, John is using symbolism to mean that these people are spiritually undefiled.
Remember that Satan’s false church is called a harlot (later in Revelation, we will learn about a scarlet women who represents false religion).
These people are virgins who are true to the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have not defiled themselves. James used this same symbolism when he said:
4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.
In the same way Paul said to the church in:
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.
Are you spiritually pure? Do you have an undefiled love for the Lord Jesus Christ?
Would you disgrace the Lord Jesus? I would rather die by torture than be unfaithful to my darling wife?
And I know I would rather die by torture than be unfaithful to my heavenly bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Their Purpose:
4. Their Purpose:
Revelation 14:4 (CSB)
4b These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They are marked by their loyalty to the Lamb.
They have no rival, no refusal, and no restraint.
Do you have that kind of loyalty to the Lamb?
Are you steadfast in your purpose?
5. They Prophesy:
5. They Prophesy:
Revelation 14:4 (CSB)
4c They were redeemed from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
In Israel there was a feast during harvest time called the Feast of First fruits.
God instructed His people to harvest the first ripened grain and take it to the temple for a ceremony because the firstfruits signify the harvest that is to come.
There will be 144,000 saved Jews who will preach the gospel like the apostle Paul around the world.
Revelation 7:9 tells us that millions and millions will come to Christ during the great tribulation.
9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.
Why are these saved? Because they are protected and sealed for the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Their Profession:
6. Their Profession:
5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
No lie (hypocrisy) These people will know the truth, believe the truth, tell the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth.
They will not be hypocrites who speak the slogans of the beast during the great tribulation.
If you faced the Lord today, would your words condemn you words condemn you or justify you?