In the last blogs about the 144,000 we identified this group. We now know who they are, what they will do and when they will perform. Literally, only Revelation 7 and 14 speak of the group of 144,000, but some see the vision of Revelation 12 about the woman giving birth to a male son as a description of the 144,000. The male son would then be a representation of the 144,000.
the sign
The birth of the male son is called a great sign (12:1). It describes in graphic language a pregnant woman who is about to give birth to a child. Then another sign is mentioned of a dragon, which stands in front of the woman. This dragon aims to devour the child destined for the throne as soon as it is born. But the male son escapes. It is snatched away from the impending danger to God and His throne. The woman then flees to a safe place in the desert, where she is kept for 1,260 days.
when?
We have precisely determined when the 144,000 will come on the scene and be sealed. That is after the sixth seal (Rev.6:12) and that is after the great tribulation (Matt.24:29). And the period of the great tribulation is also described in the relevant chapter, Revelation 12.
Revelation 12
6 And she brought forth a male son, who shall rule all nations with an iron club; and her child is caught away to God, and to his throne.
7 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they may feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
before the great tribulation
The snatching of the male son occurs just before a period of 1260 days. The woman, who is a representation of (part of) Israel, is given the opportunity to flee to the desert. We also find this in Matthew 24, in Jesus’ speech about the last things.
Matthew 24
16 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything from his house.
18 And let him who is in the field not turn back to take up his garments.
(…)
19 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever will be.
chronology
Part of Israel (the woman) will flee into the wilderness before the great tribulation, which will last 1260 days. That is also the moment before which the male son is snatched away. But the 144,000 come on the scene only after the great tribulation, after the sixth seal. Chronologically, the male son cannot be a representation of the 144,000, simply because the group of 144,000 has not yet been designated and sealed.
danger
The man son in Revelation 12 is in danger. The dragon stands before the woman, to devour her as soon as the child is born (Rev.12:4). That is the reason that the male son is snatched away to God and His throne (Rev.12:5). But of the 144,000 we read that they are sealed to protect them from disaster and danger. They have a task to perform, namely to gather Israel from the nations and proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom as a witness to all nations.
The 144,000 do not need to be torn away to protect them. In fact, they are not snatched up to God’s throne in heaven, because their job is here on earth.
throne
The throne speaks of dominion. The group that is caught up to God’s throne is a company meant for dominion. The male son is the One who will rule all nations with an iron club (Rev.12:5), a direct reference to Ps.2:9 where this is said about the Messiah. But the snatching of the male son does not speak of the ascension of Christ, which was a gradual rapture to heaven, with no immediate danger involved (Acts 1:9).
the Christ
The male son must therefore be a representation of a company that is counted as one with Christ. This is never said of the 144,000, but of course it is said of the ecclesia, which is His body (Eph.1:22-23). Head and body are one: the Christ (1 Cor. 12:12) and when the Head and body are complete, this man son will be caught up to God and His throne (1 Thess. 4:17).
After all, the Christ is destined to bring the universe together under one Head (Eph.1:10)!
Deze blog in het Nederlands lezen (read this blog in Dutch).