Future Protection & The 144,000

By Pastor David Rose

We will be looking at a few different opinions regarding the 144,000 and protection for God’s saints. There are some reputable scholars that say that the 144,000 are the literal physical Jews of the nation Israel. Still there are others that say that this is referring to the spiritual Israel, meaning the church. There may be a few more theories out there, but we will focus on just these two. First we will read the scripture.

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. ²And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, ³Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. ⁴And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. ⁹After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” Rev. 7:1-9

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. ²And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: ³ And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. ⁴These 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. ⁵And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14:1-5

So what do these verses mean? The first school of thought says that these are a 144,000 Jewish men that have never been with a woman. They go out to witness for the Lord. God places a seal on these men that the plagues and the Anti-Christ do not touch them. Some in this school of thought believe that they are literal virgins others say they are spiritual virgins in that they have not defiled themselves with the false religious systems of this world. One reason many believe they are not literal virgins is no where is scripture is it considered unclean, or unholy to take a wife. You cannot defile yourself by getting married. In fact the Bible says that the marriage bed is undefiled. The woman referred to in Revelation chapter 12 is commonly known as the nation Israel and the child, is Jesus Christ. The child is caught up into heaven, vs.5. We know that Jesus caught up into heaven. Then the woman flees into the wilderness where God has prepared a place of protection for her for 3.5 years. Many believe that the woman is the same as the virgin spoken of in chapter seven and fourteen. One reason this group does not believe this woman to be the church is because it was the woman that brought fourth the man child. The church did not bring forth Christ, but Israel did. So when we see that the woman is persecuted by the red dragon (satan), God gives this woman two wings to fly into the wilderness to hide. Satan sends a flood after the woman, this (flood) could be an army that God causes the earth to swallow up to protect the woman. This group believes that 144,000 Jews will be saved just before the rapture and for the next three and a half years will proclaim the gospel to the other Jews. God will perform miracles through these men. (Question: Since there is nether male nor female in Christ Jesus could the 144,000 virgins be both Jewish men & women who have not defiled themselves with other religions or gods?)

The next school of thought is that the 144,000 virgins are the bride of Christ. The thought on this is that Christ has always refered to His church as His bride or His virgins. Matt. 25:1-6 Paul refers to the Christian or the church as the “chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:2 Even though Israel brought forth the man child, they say that the church is the new Israel or the true Israel according to these verses.
“ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Rom. 2:28,29

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galations 3:28-29

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Col. 3:11

In 1 Peter 2:9 it refers to the church as Israel, a spiritual nation.
The Apostle James in 1:1 refers to the church as the “twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.” The people in this group say that “If Jesus wasn’t concerned about the 12 apostles being from the different tribes and most of them came from the tribe of Judah anyway. So why would He be concerned about the 12 tribes in Revelation?” If we read in Revelation 21:16 we see their interpretation of the 144,000. According to scripture we find that the measurements of the new Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs in length, breath, and in height. When added together all four sides is 36,000 per each side. Then you add all four sides together you get, 36,000 X 4 = 144,000. The people that believe this theory do not believe the 144,000 people are a literal number but rather symbology. Just like the “Lamb” is not a lamb, but Jesus Christ. God also puts a seal on his church just like the 144,000.

^“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30

“Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Cor. 1:22

So whether you believe that the first view is right or the second view we as Christians will all be protected while we are here.
I do however believe that these 144,000 are going to be a Jewish remnant that God will raise up in the last days to proclaim the truth to the Jews, for the day of the gentiles shall be fulfilled. The one scary thought is this. There are those that believe that those that obey the Lord and keep themselves pure will be protected, but those that do not will be thrust into the great tribulation. God tells the church of Philadelphia that since they kept His word and have not denied his name will keep them from trouble that is coming on this earth.
“Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.” Rev. 3:10

God warns the church of Thyatira to repent.
“I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first. ²⁰Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. ²¹And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. ²²Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” Rev. 2:19-22
Here God warns the church of Thyatira that even though they have a reputation of being charitable and they were known for doing good deeds, yet they where not obeying the Lord. They even operated in faith like many professed Christians today. Many will be thrown into the great tribulation so they will stop playing games with God. Many so called prophets are telling people that they can be a Christian and still hold on to sin. You cannot dictate to God how you will serve him. You must obey Christ and His word, that is what true Christianity is. If we wish for God’s protection, it will be by His rules and His standards. When I say that many will be thrown into the great tribulation I do not mean the wrath of God. You are either saved or lost there is no middle ground. If you are here when that happens, that will not be a good sign. Now is the time to get right with God. Today is the day of salvation. But to those who love and obey God there is protection available. God tells us in His word that no weapon formed against us will prosper. (Isaiah 45:17) The Lord also says that He will lift up a standard against the enemy, if he should come against you. Isaiah 59:19 There are many promises from God for protection. Psalm 121:2,3,7,8 Psalm 27:1; 4:8, 50:15 Isaiah 41:10; 43:2 Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21 My favorite promise for protection is all of Psalm 91.