A Sign In the Heavens
144,000 REDEEMED
From Among
Men!
by Eloise Gardenier
Here is presented another signpost directing us toward Christ’s Return to earth. Understanding this Sign and getting its intended value, as with most all the signs, requires that we take careful pains to rightly divide the word of truth. The focus of our attention is directed toward two primary places in God's word: Jesus' great prophetic lecture cited in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, known as the "Olivet Discourse" and in chapter 14 of the book of Revelation. In the accounts of the Discourse there are more than a few references to the ‘Rapture’ of believers. Each reference is faithfully issued with instructive warnings for believers that they should be in a state of readiness and preparation for that great moment. Each reference offers a chaperone of good counsel so that one may take heed to scrutinize one’s own heart and spiritual condition that they remain true and faithful at all times to their espoused husband, shunning every false advance throiwn at them by wooing idols. Clearly, these words of advice must be rightly divided, the dots must be connected, each whisper of advice and their implications studied. the believer Bride will know that only the Spirit of God can chaperone us perfectly and keep us from slipping into temptation, even unknowingly. To understand the Word we must first understand that this requires a believer to become a legitimate Holy Ghost respondent and then proceed to walk in stride following the Spirit intently. The road that leads to the Rapture, the only one which is paved and on sound footing, is the one on which the Spirit walks and we follow closely behind.
When prayerfully received and honestly considered, the many faceted doctrine of the Rapture will reveal that the fulfillment of that rapturous salvation day will be as much a judgment on the church as it is a warning to the world of lost sinners. Though it is not often thought of in this way, The Rapture will stand as more than just a sign that Jesus is going to soon return from heaven to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth; it will also serve as an announcement, or better yet a pronouncement, from heaven itself. It will serve as a notice to the slip-shod and fence-sitting believers on earth who have taken Christ’s love for granted and callously disregarded their personal relationship with Him in favor of their own selfish desires, that there is no longer time to dawdle around or play footsie with the world. For those who miss the call it will not be too late to be saved; albeit they will have to endure the persecution and martyrdom that awaits the foolish virgins who did not prepare themselves for the coming of the Bridegroom and missed the radiant instant of the Rapture day. This moment can happen at any moment. Only those who have sought to live a godly brand of ‘spiritual perfection’ (the perfection of heart and not our earthly conception of perfection) will be called to be in that number. The fidelity and complete love of the holy people of God is what makes up the company of the Bride. Do not let the fact that we only see the Bride in its full glory at the very end of God’s Word (Rev. 21) confuse or disorient your faith. We use the word it to refer to the Bride because it is not a gender thing. It is God’s own Bride redeemed from among men with a capital M. God expects a certain perfection, according to the rightly divided word and His ideas of spiritual perfection, which is wrapped in love which is the fulfilling of the Law. This God expects from His people, though many of His children will not ascend this lofty height. This love’s perfection is both badge and gown that the Bride will be wearing at the time of the trumpet call and the moment of the marriage when Jesus beckons the Bride from heaven to come home to glory with Him. Not all the saved will be fitted with the wedding ring, though there remains a place for bridesmaids, porters and quests at the wedding and the marriage supper of the Lamb which will be conducted with joy in heavenly realms at Tribulations end. God told those primitive believers in the city of Diana (Ephesus), the pagan goddess of fertility and love, that it is Jesus who is the true suitor and righteous Bridegroom of all holy and true believers. Of the Bride ‘group’ God’s Word speaks specifically. We rightly divide the word this biblical quote from Ephesians. The bible says that Christ gave Himself for the church “that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.“ It is upon the day of the Rapture that we see the group of special and particularly numbered saints assembled. Fittingly they hold their private party, have their private ‘pictures’ taken. It is the scene which we are given a vision, in the portrait setting of Revelation 14, on the top of heavenly Mount Zion. What a moment in history this is. Surely the greatest prize must be reserved for those of greatest courage of faith and purest and complete fidelity to Christ alone. Thus, the Bride is depicted a virgin in the sense that it has forsaken the adulteries of idolatry and cleaved only to the one true God for all its need and warmth of salvation. Like any bride she is in need of her husband and be privileged to be with Him forever. The final judgments of the Antichrist and His Kingdom, rendered in stone in the prophetic word of the Bible even today, remain yet unfulfilled awaiting the final series of judgments of the Tribulation. The Bride is lifted out of harm’s way. On the wedding mount God snaps off the wedding pictures. He takes the photos and places them in His eternal album to record the great day in the life of His Son. The Bride poses in all her glory atop the glorious house of the Father, Mount Zion. As this hour approaches, my heart should be saying. “Let my face be found in that wedding picture along with the rest of the Bride of Christ. In essence we are going to take a look at the Rapture as a sign of the return not from an earthly perspective, as all of us are naturally inclined to do, but rather from a sweeter, clearer vista, in heaven itself.
SCENE OF THE RAPTURE
Before we get to the passages of the Olivet Discourse from Matthew, Mark and Luke let's make a careful and considered stop in Revelation 14:1-5 where we see a picture of the betrothed of Jesus, preparing for the "marriage supper of the Lamb", the marriage which is depicted in Revelation 19. The scene in chapter 14 is one taking place after the bride has been raptured.
"And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. And 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: 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. These 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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. "
It must be pointed out that these 144,000 are not the same 144,000 that appear earlier in Revelation chapter 7. That group of 144,000 is from the twelve tribes’ of Israel; they are Jews and they are standing on the earth. They are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes and they are sealed in their foreheads so they will not be harmed by the antichrist and the false prophet. Therefore there must be two groups of 144,000. The distinction here is between those of Israel and those of the Church. The group we are discussing, from Revelation 14, is seen on the "heavenly Mount Zion", not on earth and we are forced to believe, is only a portion of the Church. This is the chaste virgin, the bride (If anyone is interested in more on this subject, I recommend Gordon Lindsay's Revelation Series. He has an entire booklet on the 144,000 on Mt. Zion.).
There has been a lot of confusion in prophetic teachings about these numbers so it bears checking out. If we have accepted Christ we are part of the Church of the living God. So what is it that will determine our being found worthy of this great escape so that we will be found standing on the heavenly Mt. Zion as part of this scene depicted in Revelation 14? To find out the answers to this profound question let's take a deep, verse by verse, word by word, and phrase by phrase look at this chapter. We will see that it tells us pretty clearly who these people are and how they came to be a part of that group or company.
A CLOSE LOOK AT REVELATION 14
The scene opens with Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing in heaven on the heavenly mount Zion. Then we see that there is a group with Him which numbers 144,000. We also see that they have the Father's name written in their foreheads (I would like to point out here that this whole scene is shown right after we are warned of the mark of the beast (Antichrist), and that no one will be able to buy without it, and the number of the beast, 666, is given.). It is my opinion that these events are given in Revelation in this order to show that while a joyous reunion is taking place in heaven, the earth is under siege by the kingdom of the Antichrist and False Prophet.
Remember, saints, that before the GREAT TRIBULATION gets into full swing, Jesus promises those of the "Philadelphia Church" this; "…I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev. 3:10) I am convinced that the PHILADELPHIA CHURCH, the FIRSTFRUITS, the 5 WISE VIRGINS, the RAPTURED BRIDE, and this 144,000, which we see here on the heavenly Mount Zion following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, are one in the same. If that is correct, the number is confirmed again in Jesus' letter to the Philadelphia Church for He says; "for thou hast a little strength". One hundred and forty-four thousand is a small number compared to the total number to be saved from all time.
This could mean that those who have the right to sing the "new song", which no one else can learn, are those saved in a special way, from the final judgment of the earth, by being "caught up", without having seen the death of the body. I feel sure that, if so, it will be because they were willing to bring death to themselves, spiritual death, by total surrender to the Holy Ghost, before the death of their bodies came. All of this says to me that these singers have had an experience that no other group has had, and it is this, which gives them the ability, or right, to sing this song that no others are able to sing.
Remember, Jesus encourages us in this way; “Watch ye therefore, and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36) What things? The things of the tribulation! Now verse three tells us those 144,000 are singing a "NEW SONG" and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand. These people are "redeemed from the earth".
The Greek word used for redeemed here is used sparingly and has many implications, but it tells us a great deal about this group. First we see that they have been purchased, bought, redeemed (by the blood of the Lamb.) Where from? They have been gathered out of the market place, town square, public resort, and the street. How has this been done? They have been awakened, roused from sleep, from sitting or lying. (Read Matt. 24 & Luke 17... grinding, on housetop, sleeping in one bed ... one taken the other left.) They are saved from disease, from DEATH: also from obscurity (being unknown), inactivity (no works, just waiting) ruins (tribulation of the world) non-existence (eternal damnation).
How are they saved? They are awakened, lifted, and raised up.
I must confess that the Greek translations that I found in Strong's Concordance make what I believe by the Spirit much clearer than I had hoped to find. I believe more strongly than before that this group in Revelation 14 are the firstfruits, the "raptured" bride of Christ.
This is the chaste virgin which Paul to the Corinthians he had espoused to one husband. “These were they which were not defiled with women”. This is speaking of spiritual purity, those who have not had relations with false religions, such as the "Scarlet Woman...The MOTHER OF HARLOTS", or any other spiritual harlot. Once they have been purified by the blood of the Lamb they want to be pure. They have remained faithful and spiritually chaste. They have remained true to their betrothal to Jesus; they have been faithful in their new life and commitment to Him. They have given up religion for their relationship with Jesus! They have not "known" any other spiritual lover since giving themselves to Him.
So they have been redeemed from AMONG men. The implications of the words used in this great chapter establishes that they were taken from a group, leaving aside the rest of the number of the group, singled out and taken away by being lifted up, The word used here for men is; man-faced, i.e. a human being. I do believe that from among men signifies that these saints are redeemed from Mankind is that they are not to be confused as being angels or anything other than people. Though it is the obvious it should be pointed out here that in order for this group to be the FIRSTFRUITS resurrection there will have to be more resurrected at a later time, larger harvest type resurrection. This again supports the point of view that this initial resurrection is a relatively small part of the overall number to be resurrected.
What I get from this is; these FIRSTFRUITS are separated from the rest of their kind by departure. Their "catching up" completes one phase and it also begins a "dress rehearsal" of sorts for the new beginning of praise "Unto God and to the Lamb”!
The last verse of this glorious passage reads this way; "And in their mouth was found no guile.” The Greek implications for this word, guile, are these: "A trick (bait) i.e. (fig.) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtlety." Therefore, they are honest and just. These saints had put aside all these devices which are the tools of Satan. "...for they are without fault before the throne of God." Their clean and righteous stance before God speaks for itself, except it should be emphasized that this small group is found without fault, for they have been redeemed, they were chosen, and drawn out of the crowd because they met the qualifications for brideship. Not just any unsavory woman, or hag, or unwise virgin, or witch will be permitted to be granted to be part of this number.
Do Not Be Dissuaded Because Of False Prophets
The Scriptures tell us "many are called but few are chosen". Jesus in Matthew 7:13 & 14 says; "Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." When the Master comes for His bride it is very possible that the number of believers who are "caught up" without seeing death could be 144,000. Just a few. Satan has done his best to discredit that number with such false teachings and half truths, for example, as have been carried door to door by the followers of Charles T. Russell, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses. We know that the number isn't filled yet, and won't be until the "trumpet call to come up hither", and that the door in heaven is open for that brief moment. Until then God has promised us if we meet the conditions and qualifications for "brideship" that He will do for us as He did for Noah. He will keep us from "the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the World". He will open the door to salvation as He did to the ark, and He will close it at the appropriate time and no one else will be able to enter into it.
The next scene we see in heaven has thrilled my heart since the Lord showed me its meaning years ago. I heard, as a young Christian, by some, that Jesus would not return until the so called, "great commission" had been fulfilled. That we must preach the gospel to all the world before He would come back. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:"
What About The Great Commission?
He showed me that many haven't rightly divided the word and have mistakenly thought that Matthew 28:19 and Matt. 24:14 are speaking of the same time period. The mistake has been made to think that these two Scriptures fit together, thus saying that the "great commission" has not been fulfilled and the end won't come until it is. Notice the commission actually says baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commanded. This is to be done by people on the earth, not angels in heaven. The amazing thing is preaching isn't mentioned at all in this verse, only baptizing and teaching. The preaching comes later - from heaven. I am not saying preaching hasn't gone on and isn't now, but to use the preaching of the Gospel to all nations as an argument to prove that Jesus won't come back until this preaching is supposedly complete, and especially using that particular verse to back it up, is faulty! Matthew 28 speaks only of baptizing and teaching. The prophetic passage uttered by Jesus in Matthew 24 speaks of preaching to ALL the world and then the end shall come. One is a prophetic chapter the other is one of instruction for the age of grace. I believe Matt. 28:19 is speaking about the time period known of as that dispensation of grace, from the first Christians until the dispensation of judgment during the Tribulation. Because of this problem in dividing the word of God properly, the importance of prophecy as a living part of our faith has suffered in many quarters of the Church and mistaken ideas of good works and a carnal notion of preaching has too often prevailed. Matthew 24:14 says, "This gospel of the KINGDOM shall be PREACHED in all the world for a witness to all nations; and THEN SHALL THE END COME.” Instead of it being a companion to Matthew 28:19 it ought to be coupled with Revelation 14:6 & 7 because these verses are speaking of the preaching of the gospel from heaven, not the earth. Take notice that both Matthew 24:14 & Revelation 14:6 say the "gospel of the kingdom (Matt.), and the everlasting gospel (Rev.) shall be preached in all the world and then the end will come. “
The Preaching Of The End Comes From Heaven
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:6 & 7)
This is when the preaching of the everlasting gospel will be done from heaven not the earth and then shall the end come, as mentioned in Matthew 24:14. Everyone on the face of the earth will have a last chance to receive salvation preached from heaven itself. After this MERCY of the gospel being preached from heaven is shown, judgment takes place and the mighty judgment of God's own wrath is poured out on the earth. Babylon falls, those worshiping the beast will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, and fire and brimstone will fall. As God's judgment is about over, JESUS, THE KING OF kings and LORD of lords shall return upon a white horse, followed by His saints upon their white horses!