The Book of Revelation is a very encouraging study once we understand the apocalyptic nature of its writing and that symbolism is the dominant feature and focus, not historical personalities or events. The “144,000” is a group mentioned or alluded to throughout the book. While this group is misaligned and falsely characterized by denominationalism, we can be encouraged by what God actually reveals about them!
Who Are These 144,000?
After the sixth seal was opened by the Lamb, there was an apocalyptic description of a great judgment unleashed upon the opposition to God (Revelation 6:12–14). Those “of the earth” (i.e., belonging to Satan, Revelation 17:8), from every social stratum, cried out to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us…from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:16–17 NKJV). The answer of who was able to stand was figuratively portrayed as two groups of people.
First, the 144,000 symbolized the “redeemed of the earth” (Revelation 14:3). Attempts to limit these to redeemed Jews fail to recognize the figurative nature of the passage. Christians are the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15–16; cf., Romans 2:28; Galatians 5:6; Philippians 3:3). The list of the tribes from whence these 144,000 came is different from the traditional lists in the Old Testament (Genesis 35:23–26; Exodus 1:1–4; 1 Chronicles 2:1–2). Second, John saw a “great multitude which no one could number,” who were those martyred Christians who came “out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9–14). This group symbolized those who had died in the violent persecutions of that day, while the 144,000 symbolized those on earth who were faithfully serving the Lamb despite the severe persecution.
These 144,000 also appear “standing on Mount Zion” with the Lamb, “having His Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1), which symbolized their belonging to God (Revelation 3:12; 7:3; 9:4; 22:4), as opposed to Satan by having his mark (cf., Revelation 13:16–17; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). These 144,000 sang “a new song before the throne…and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3). These 144,000 also “follow the Lamb wherever He goes…were redeemed from among men…for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:4–5).
How Can We Stand Like 144,000?
Although the combined persecuting forces “will make war with the Lamb…the Lamb will overcome them…and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). Anybody can stand with the Lamb if he or she meets this three-fold status. First, he or she must be “called.” Only those who have obeyed the Gospel are “the called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6–7; 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1; cf., 2 Thessalonians 2:14). Second, he or she must be “chosen.” God chooses us through the Gospel (Ephesians 1:3–6). This choice, or “election” (from the same Greek word, eklektos), is not unconditional but dependent on our conforming to His will (Ephesians 1:11–14; Romans 8:29). Jesus came as “a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God” (1 Peter 2:4–6). Whether we accept Jesus, He is the same cornerstone. To those “who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become…A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:7–8). People are not “appointed” to reject Jesus (Matthew 11:28; Mark 16:15–16), but by rejecting Jesus, they are “appointed” to stumble (Matthew 7:21–23)! Third, he or she must be “faithful.” Faithfulness does not require sinless perfection (1 John 1:8–10) but loyalty to the Lord (Matthew 24:44–46).
