Chapter 7 – Strive to be one of the 144,000
Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the 144,000. It is our responsibility to do all we can to help others gain heaven.
This publication has not been prepared to attempt to bring to light “WHO” the 144,000 are. No one knows, it is totally up to God, absolutely, just as He selected the 300 for Gideon’s army, so He will choose those who He knows will be able to meet the challenges of the end, and for the same reasons. Though we do not know who they are, we can and should better understand their mission.
There has been commentary in the past that seems to be misunderstood concerning certain individuals mentioned that could be included in this end-time group. Scripture is clear, only those still living will make up the 144,000, they are the living saints only, no person whose probation has closed will be included in that specific group. Some would be quick to point out a few quotations from other commentaries suggesting that this thought may seem contrary to other comments, let’s take a look.
“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. . . . I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, ‘You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with* the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.'”—Early Writings, pp. 39, 40.
“I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings, who had just died] was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble.”—Letter 10, 1850 (2SM 263).
These statements and perhaps a few others are held out in an attempt to convince folks that the number can’t be literal because folks from past generations are presented as included with them at the end. What is happening in these cases is that well meaning folks are reading into the commentary what they want it to say. Read these statements just as they read, these folks,(along with many others will) be among the 144,000 but NOT one OF THE 144,000.
The same author quoted above also states that ALL who died in the hope of the 3rd angels message, keeping the Sabbath, would be raised to see Jesus come, this is that special resurrection mentioned in Daniel 12, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2) So you see, thousands, perhaps millions will be raised in this special resurrection to see their Savior come, but they will not be part of the 144,000; just with them to witness the event.
Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,–so resplendent is it with the glory of God,–are gathered the company that have “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. Is this the large innumerable group out of every nation, tribe, tongue and people? Not so! ” With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; (that’s living men) and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault” before God. “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 have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; 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.” (Revelation 7:14-17).
To John was given a view of the remnant people of God, and as he beheld their character and their work, he exclaimed, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12)
It is really all about character, only as we contemplate the great plan of redemption can we begin to better understand and appreciation the character of God. I fear many do not understand as far as possible the manifold wisdom of God’s sacrifice. Paul challenges us in Ephesians 3, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
Have you ever asked yourself; just what was the eternal purpose the Father was asking of His Son? I get the impression from some that God was asking His Son to come and pay off the mortgage. We had a debt we couldn’t pay, the mortgage was too high so Christ came and paid it, end of story! Yet what Christ accomplished on this earth was just the beginning of the real story, the real sacrifice. How many realize that Christ sacrifice would cost more than we can imagine. The price would be an eternal one, an infinite payment. Further on in the chapter Paul ask, Do we really grasp the love of God, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” You see this is the understanding of the 144,000. This is a four dimensional love, a love that exceeds our present reality, that goes beyond our finite reasoning.
To begin to understand that eternal purpose we must remember that Jesus surrendered himself to the Father because of us, our sin. The Father is compassionate not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, (2 Pe 3:9). The reason the rescue plan would call for an eternal sacrifice was due to the eternal nature of what was transgressed.
God’s law is eternal, a very transcript of His character. To atone for the violation of this eternal law (character of God), an eternal presence equal to God’s character would need to be applied. This application would need to be made by the high Priest after the model of the Sanctuary Service. Christ played this role at Calvary.
Jesus was the perfect, unspotted sacrifice, but in order to play the dual role of both priest and victim He would of necessity need to be both 100% man (the second Adam) and 100% God (equal with the Father). Jesus Himself claimed His mission was to satisfy the demands of the broken law, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17) This He accomplished at Calvary, as His blood was applied to the mercy seat below, (1 Jn. 5) the blood, water, and Spirit in the earth.
Christ of necessity would need to sacrifice His omnipresence for all eternity, to forever cover the transgression of God’s eternal character. This is the ultimate at-one-ment! We just catch a glimpse of what we will study for all eternity, Christ’s willingness to forfeit part of what made Him God, (One perfect character to cover the transgression of another). Love, Law, and Character are just synonyms for God Himself. So you see, the depth of God’s love is eternal, you already knew that intellectually, but now you see it in the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. Christ will forever maintain His glorified body, forever dwelling without the omnipresence He once had from eternity past. This sacrifice He was willing to make for you, for me, eternity itself can never fully reveal the depth of such love. Yet as we study the Bible and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and more.
As we strive to be included as one of the 144,000 let us follow after the example of Christ and avail ourselves completely for His service, His plan. We will need that double portion of His Spirit demonstrated by Gideon’s 300, Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh and now we see why this tribe is listed as one of the tribes for the 144,000. May we yield ourselves to receive completely this double portion, let us pray for it, plead for it, may it become ours Lord Jesus, Amen.