Chapter 4 – I Heard the Number
When I became a Christian over 30 years ago, it wasn’t long before I was introduced to the controversy over the 144,000. This was indeed an intriguing group of people being presented by John and the fact that they were the ones who would be sealed was of incredible importance. As I began to investigate the group, I started where it seemed logical, how everyone else was interpreting the Scriptural evidence.
As I gathered all the material available it soon became apparent that there were two opposing views being presented, with each presenting their Scriptures and commentary references. The main issue at the center of the debate was concerning the number itself, was it literal or symbolic?
As I pondered who might be correct in their interpretation of the many commentary quotations and the Scriptural references, it occurred to me that this was the only verse where we were asking such a question; for there are numerous numbers listed in the book of Revelation.
Setting aside all the collected information temporarily I decided to ask the same question of all the numbers in the book of Revelation. As a relatively new Christian I was surprised to find that all the numbers under consideration were both literal and symbolic. Well, this opened up a whole new perspective on the debate, as now it seemed we had fallen victim to one of Satan’s greatest delights, having two correct perspectives arguing over a non-issue. Because no one had apparently ever noticed how all the numbers in Revelation were both literal and symbolic (including the 144K) the debate continued, even to this day.
Check it out for yourself, just ask the same question of each number; are the 7 churches in chapter 2-3 literal or symbolic? How about the 7 stars, candlesticks, angels of the churches? How about the 7 headed beast or the 42 months of authority given him? What about the millennium; is this a literal 1,000 years or maybe it’s just 990 or perhaps 1,005, who can say? And what about the symbolic part? No, a thousand times no, there is no controversy!
Numbers in prophetic context by their very nature are both literal and symbolic. However we must keep in mind the Hebrew exegesis, multiple applications pointing to the ultimate fulfillment.
Now the question that so many are really concerned about; With literally millions of believers in the world today, why would God utilize only a relative few in this end-time scenario presented in Revelation? This is a very relevant question and one that demands an answer.
In Revelation 7:4 John is pretty clear that he heard the number revealed, “and I heard the number of those who were sealed. One-hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed”. The Greek word for number is the word (arithmos) which is where we get our word arithmetic from. The first definition is, a fixed and definite number, which tends to point towards the literal, then a secondary definition is a indefinite number or multitude, this would vote more for symbolic. However, arithmetic means the method or process of computation with figures; this places the understanding tending to a more definitive number. The same situation occurs in Revelation 9:16 with the same Greek words. Since this is not overly definitive the next step is to consider the context, both texturally and historically.
We will consider these areas more fully in the next chapter. In this chapter we want to address our recent question, what would be God’s purpose in using such a small literal number?
For any who have ever attended a Revelation seminar the point is well taken and demonstrated that at times we need to go outside the book to find clarity for certain subjects. Since we find very little insight within Revelation concerning the 144,000 we must consider other parallels.
John as a student of the Scriptures (Old Testament) is inspired to utilize much of his insight from other biblical sources, out of the 404 verses 276 are quotations from these Old Testament sources. We will utilize this avenue to help with not only answering our question, but understanding more fully the mission of the 144,000.
The story of Gideon is found in Judges Chapters 6 and 7 from the (OT). I will provide a summary of the story here with the suggestion that you read the entire account for yourselves. (Judges 6-8)
The setting for the account is a large Midianite army situated in the local area terrorizing and spoiling the Israelites on a routine basis. This had been going on for 7 years as a result of the people’s disregard of God’s statues, (Judges 6:1-6). Finally the people cry out to God and He sends an angel to call Gideon to service. Gideon has been hiding like everyone else and is surprised to get the call to deliver God’s people. After a few preliminary considerations Gideon is finally ready to call for his own army, the first call goes out to several tribes, (Judges 6:34).
Gideon finally amasses an army of 32,000 volunteers from various tribes; this number is considerable but much less than his adversaries in the valley of Jezreel. You can imagine Gideon’s delight to his trumpet call and the response, but the Lord is quick to remind him that He (the Lord) is still in charge. “The Lord said to Gideon, the people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into your hands… (Judges 7:2). This is a strange verse indeed.
God has reminded Gideon to proclaim the Israeli military protocol found in Deut. 20:1-9, to summarize: if you’ve built a house in the last year you’re excused from military service; if you’ve planted a garden and not harvested it, you are excused from service; if you’ve recently married you are excused from service, or if you are afraid, you can go home. Gideon had neglected to make the declaration because he knew he was out-numbered over 4:1 (even at 32K) but now in dismay he watches 22,000 of his men leave the ranks.
The thing that is important to remember right from the start is that God is going to provide the victory; this should never be in doubt and hopefully Gideon was remembering this too. We must keep it in mind also! One, with God is always a majority since we have His whole creation behind us. It matters not what the numbers look like down here, we are always in the majority with God, He is our victory!
With just 10,000 now in the ranks God surprises Gideon further by proclaiming the army is still too large, down to the river is the command, now God will test them. What Gideon doesn’t realize is that God is looking for just the right soldiers; God will test the very character of this now smaller group. As the army reaches the river’s edge many begin lapping up the water like an animal, oblivious to their surroundings, only 300 are selected as they make their way through the river expecting to make an immediate advance on the enemy. God now has His chosen few to meet the emergency that has existed for 7 years, (this time period is also prophetic).
What’s going on here? The same thing that will occur at the end, but at the end it is a global emergency dealing with a one world beast system. God informs Gideon just why He could not allow the greater multitude to be included, though willing at first, for the battle. God also knew that the victory was sure, and He also knows human nature. All those willing souls could not be included; “lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, my own hand has saved me” (Judges 7:2). The victory was going to be indeed sure and there would be absolutely no question as to why or who was going to receive the glory; God alone!
God knows that there would never be any question if He used only 300 men to defeat 135,000 Midianites (Judges 8:10). The interesting thing about the number is that it was not arbitrary, nor random, God didn’t just pick it out of a hat, why not 250? or 100? or 7? The number is specific corresponding to a similar experience that would occur in the future. These battles are far more significant than just who would end up controlling a piece of terra-firma. The greater issue at stake was a battle of truth verses error, which Revelation depicts as the ultimate conflict at the end. 300 is used for the specific purpose of creating a 450:1 ratio, remember there were 135,000 in the valley, compared to the 300 in Gideon’s army. This ratio will be used again with Elijah the prophet, against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, a 450:1 ratio. Truth was triumphant then, it was triumphant with Gideon’s 300 and it will be thus in the future with the 144,000 no matter the odds, God has connected all the dots and these stories to help us understand the mission of the 144,000, and don’t think for a moment that we’ve exhausted all the insight on the subject.
Gideon divided his army into 3 regiments; they positioned themselves on the valley slopes encircling the entire camp of the enemy. Gideon had equipped his men with trumpets and torches and at the appropriate moment they were to expose the torches and blow a blast on the trumpets and yell, “the sword of the Lord and Gideon!” (Judges 7:20). The startled Midianite army thought they were completely surrounded with massive opponents and in the panic of the moment they slew one another. Gideon’s men went to battle with no weapons other than those that God had supplied, the 144,000 at the end use the same.
“Among earth’s inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every tongue and people; and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones, “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,” will “shine as lights in the world” (Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:15). The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine”. (Bible Commentary from the book Patriarch’s and Prophets)
The 144,000 go to battle at the end with the very same armor, and I would not be surprised in the least if the ratio for this end-time confrontation was 450:1. Many today do not realize that under the trumpets and last plagues billions will die, plus millions of saints before probation closes will be laid to rest who could not survive the perils of the last days. “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness (Is. 57:1-2). John in his commentary repeats this sentiment, “Here is the patience of the saint; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, (notice this is the faith of Jesus not faith in Jesus), Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:12-13).
Some today are preaching that a great multitude will go through to the end; there is zero biblical president for this view. In every biblical example of rescue and restoration, God allows His faithful to go through tribulation, a small remnant go through, folks don’t get it, the smaller the number, the greater the witness, God’s glory is ensured with the few. With God’s proponents of truth so overwhelmed, truth’s victory is all the more obvious.
Jesus stated that broad is the way that leads to destruction, many or multitudes were going that way, but narrow and straight was the road to life, and few were traveling that road. There were only 8 in the Ark, 3 in the fiery furnace, 1 in the lion’s den, and 144,000 scattered throughout the world at the end. If we are promoting that a great multitude will live through to the end, some may join the ranks of those traveling the broad road to their own destruction, God forbid!
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The observance of the false Sabbath will be urged upon us. The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness.
We currently have not discerned God’s purpose with the 144,000, and the extent of their conviction. Similar misunderstanding has occurred in the past. There were prophets even during the captivity of Israel in Babylon, but their earnest messages then went as unnoticed as today. At the time the decree of Cyrus was given, nearly twenty years before, only a comparatively small number, a mere “remnant,” had returned to Judea. By far the greater portion had failed of discerning the opening providence of God, as revealed in the decree of King Cyrus. Many had found a life of ease or contentment in a heathen land and were blinded by their own selfish desires rather than to return to Jerusalem. It was just a remnant that had the discernment to see God’s hand in the work of rebuilding.
The number John heard in Revelation was a literal amount, there would have been no reason to specify one if the contrary was being suggested. Even though God only used 300 in the valley of Jezreel with Gideon, the multitude that had originally been there received the benefit of their victory. The same is true with the 144,000, though these are the called and chosen for the emergency, millions who have been laid to rest will receive the benefit and will be raised with millions of other saints from ages past. What a glorious day that well be! I think if folks had a sense of the enormity of the catastrophe they would not want to live through to the end, isn’t it reassuring and wonderful that God Himself will decide. May we be willing to follow His lead!