Who are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation? The answer to that question shouldn’t be difficult. The number 144,000 is mentioned only three times in Scripture and all times in the last book of the Bible. All three times it refers to the group of the 144,000 (Rev.7:4; 14:1,3).
Yet there are many misunderstandings about who they are, the best known of which is of course that of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But in addition, people often don’t know what to do with this group. And when people do have an idea, their performance is often chronologically misplaced, so that the ambiguity remains. Yet I believe it is not difficult to identify the 144,000 and the time in which they occurred within the context of the events in which they are mentioned.
time
It is important to indicate when the 144,000 will appear on the scene. And that’s not difficult, because the section introducing the 144,000 contains a chronological clue.
Revelation 7
1 And after this I saw four messengers, standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
2 And I saw another messenger, who ascends from the rising of the sun, who has the seal of the living God; and he calls with a loud voice to the four messengers, to whom it was given to hurt the land and the sea,
3 And he saith, Hurt not the land, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we seal the bondmen of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I hear the number of those who are sealed, an hundred and forty-four thousand who are sealed (…)
time indication
And after this, says Rev.7:1. That is after the opening of the sixth seal (Rev.7:12) and before the opening of the seventh seal (Rev.8:1), which concerns a silence or pause. This pause precedes the seven trumpets, which follow the seven seals. The sixth seal marks a notable time that we often find described in prophecy.
Revelation 6
12 And I saw when He opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fall to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when it is shaken by a strong wind.
when
In the sixth seal there is an earthquake, the darkening of the sun and moon and other signs in the heavens. Jesus also spoke about this event in His “sermon about the last things” and tells us when this will be.
Matthew 24
29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be made dark, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
immediately after the tribulation
These signs in heaven occur immediately after the tribulation of those days. Earlier the Lord pointed out that this concerns the great tribulation (Matt.24:21). The sixth seal marks the end of the great tribulation and that is when the 144,000 are sealed.
Israel
The seven seals refer to Israel. These seals are a sealing of a scroll (Rev.8:1) with the title deed of the land of Israel (cf. Jer.32:8-14). The question is raised, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals (Rev.5:2)? Who is the rightful owner?
There is only One who has the right of redemption (Jer.32:8) and that is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David (Rev.5:4). A little further on He is further described as the Lamb standing as if he had been slain (Rev.5:6).
Christ Jesus
It is Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who gave Himself up to die and be raised by His Father, thus paying the ransom for all (1 Tim.2:6). Here it specifically speaks of the ransom of Israel, they would be into a royal priesthood (Rev.5:9-10; Ex.19:6).
the seals
The Lamb opens the seals of the scroll (Rev.6:1,3,5,7,9,12; 8:1). The first seal shows a rider on a white horse, who brings a false peace or temporary peace. This peace is false, for it is taken away by the next horse. Compare also with 1 Thess.5:3, which says: and when they say, peace and security, then suddenly total destruction comes upon them.
the riders
This red horse takes away peace and brings war (Rev.6:4), then a black horse appears that represents famine (Rev.6:5) and the last green horse brings death and destruction (Rev.6:8 ). The first white horse is reminiscent of the Messiah (Rev.19:11), who will also appear on a white horse. But he is a false Messiah, because this rider seems to bring a peace that is not real peace, because it ends in destruction. The other horses therefore symbolize the great tribulation that will come to Israel, after a period in which people will say: peace and security (1 Thess.5:3).
the great day of their wrath
It is after this period of the great tribulation that the 144,000 are sealed. This is followed by a period called the great day of Their wrath, referring to the wrath of God and the Lamb (Rev.6:17). This period is symbolized and described as seven trumpets. That is also the period before which the 144.000 are sealed. More about that in a next blog.
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