THE PURPOSE OF THE SEALING OF THE 144,000

The Purpose for the Sealing of the 144,000

"And 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." "Of 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." "Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand." "Of 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." "Of 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."

 

 

The Unusual Ministry of Two Witnesses During the First 3 1/2 Years

"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed." "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."

This ministry is during that period of the opening of the seven seals with their remarkable demonstrations, pointing to the wrath of the Lamb.

One of these witnesses is almost surely Elijah (Mal. 4:1-6). It is very possible that the other is Moses (Mal. 4:1-6 with Luke 9:28-36). cf. also 2 Peter 1:16-18.
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
"And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray." "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering." "And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:" "Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." "But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him." "And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said." "While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud." "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." "And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen."
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."

This ministry of these witnesses is such that Israel is moved, and 144,000 are turned to the Lord and sealed. They believe the message of these witnesses and are saved.

The immediate purpose of this sealing is for the purpose of preparing them for witnesses through­out the earth during the period of the great tribulation, and last 3 ¹/₂ years of Daniel's seventieth week.

Immediate purpose is protection from judgment to come (divine and human).

Mediate purpose is proclamation of the gospel (7:9-17; 14; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:17-24; 11:15-16, 1 Cor. 15:8.)

Ultimate purpose is population of the kingdom (ch. 14; Matt. 25:1-13).

During the last three and one-half years of the tribulation, the Antichrist will attempt to force himself upon mankind as God. Having murdered the two witnesses, he will bring tremendous pressure to bear upon all humanity, but especially upon Israel. During this last 3¹/₂ years, 144,000 saved Jews, sealed from all harm, will bear the everlasting gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 14:6). This seal will also protect them from the judgment of God upon wicked men (Rev. 9:4).

It is therefore important to record the sealing of the 144,000 Jews before telling of the unnumbered multitude who are saved and suffer death for their testimony.

The more remote purpose for sealing the 144,000 is to make absolutely certain that there will be a remnant to enter into the kingdom which Christ will very shortly set up.

This then is an elect company (not the only company) from Israel, who will believe the gospel and be saved. They are saved by grace and not for what they are.

This group will constitute the first fruits for Christ and his kingdom (Rev. 14:1-6). Other companies of Israelites will follow and the great company of Gentiles they lead to Christ will also enter the kingdom.

This group, called virgins in Rev. 14:1-6, are the same virgins spoken of in Matt. 25:1-13.

The Saved Saints: God's salvation in the midst of judg­ment. Rev. 7:9-17 This falls within the last 3¹/₂ years.
"After 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;" "And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God," "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat." "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."