You are wrong. If you take the time, you will find that the Tribes in Rev. do no agree with the Tribes in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Rev. 7:4: “I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” (But in the verses that follow, mention is made of “the tribe of Levi” and “the tribe of Joseph.” These were not included in lists of the 12 tribes of natural Israel. Interestingly, while it is said that people would be “sealed out of every tribe,” the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not mentioned. [Compare Numbers 1:4-16.] Reference must here be made to the spiritual Israel of God, to those whom Revelation 14:1-3 shows will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom.)
The 12 tribes mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 must refer to this spiritual Israel for several valid reasons. The listing does not match that of natural Israel at Numbers chapter 1. Also Jerusalem’s temple and priesthood and all the tribal records of natural Israel were permanently destroyed, lost forever, long before John had his vision in 96 C.E. But more important, John received his vision upon a background of the aforementioned developments from and after Pentecost 33 C.E. In the light of such events, John’s vision of those standing on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb (whom natural Israel had rejected) revealed the number of this spiritual Israel of God to be 144,000 “bought from among mankind.”
No tribe of Dan is included in Revelation 7:4-8, but apparently not because of any unsuitability on Dan’s part. The inclusion of Levi would also serve to show that there is no special priestly tribe in spiritual Israel, the entire spiritual nation being “a royal priesthood.”
After the apostle John was told in vision about this group of 144,000 individuals, he was shown another group. John describes this second group as “a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” This great crowd refers to those who will survive the coming “great tribulation,” which will destroy the present wicked world.
Note, however, the contrast that John draws between verses 4 and 9 of Revelation chapter 7. He states that the first group, “those who were sealed,” has a definite number. However, the second group, “a great crowd,” is without a definite number. With that in mind, it is logical to take the number 144,000 to be literal. If the number 144,000 were symbolic and referred to a group that is actually numberless, the force of the contrast between those two verses would be lost. Thus, the context strongly indicates that the number 144,000 must be taken literally.
2007-02-03 17:59:57
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answer #1
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answered by BJ 7
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It sounds like you are listening to Jehovah's Witnesses, which is always a bad idea. These people are amongst the most confused there are when it comes to what the bible is saying. Although it's a mystery to me why they claim only 144,000 will be in heaven. The bible clearly speaks of the 144,000 being Jews that will serve Christ during the tribulation period. They have nothing to do with the numbers in heaven. They are, as you said, from the twelve tribes of Israel. Stick with the bible, as you are doing. You won't go astray then.
2007-02-03 17:11:38
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answer #2
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answered by Esther 7
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The entire body of Christ will be saved, including the 144,000 (12 thousand each of the 12 tribes of Israel).
The 144,000 are sealed that they are those who are "alive and remain" (1 Thess.4:16-17).
The rest of the body of Christ will be slain during the tribulation under the beasts of Revelation chapter 13.
2007-02-04 13:23:22
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answer #3
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answered by BibleProphecyOnTheWeb 5
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The 144,000 are 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. If, you read on Revelation 7:9 you see there many more there and I not try to hurt anyone's feelings, but, they not all Jehovah Witnesses. Luke 9:49-50 "Should" explain this, if, certain people would read their Bible and not just what an Awake magazine tell them.
2007-02-03 17:23:36
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answer #4
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answered by Snaglefritz 7
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I believe that anyone, regardless of their beliefs, can gain entrance into heaven if they are good people... that is, this afterlife existence that we have come to believe heaven to be... nobody can really know what heaven is until they die (and no, I don't believe that those who have had near-death experiences have actually "seen heaven"). The number of people who are actually "good" enough to get into heaven could range anywhere between 0 and several billion; there is no set number.
While it would help to follow the teachings of a prophet such as Jesus, or Buddha, or some other peaceful religious icon to attain the level of "goodness" necessary to enjoy a blissful afterlife, I do not think it is necessary. I don't think athiests will "burn in hell"... "hell" is a state of pain and torment that affects the soul for eternity, from life onwards. Those who have hurt others or committed unforgiveable acts without feeling shameful and/or seeking forgiveness will inevitably cast themselves into a state of hell. On the other hand, anyone who lives a good life and tries to treat others with humane decency, can die with a clean and pure soul, knowing that they have done good deeds. Such a person is in perfect sync with the balance of the universe and will therefore upon death enter into the state of existence that we call heaven.
2007-02-03 17:23:09
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answer #5
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answered by . 3
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Romans 2:28-29 says, he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, but he is a Jew who is one on the inside. circumcised of the heart. Also see Romans 9:6-8 which shows that not all that are of Israel are Israel. It is not the children of the FLESH who are the children of God, but the children of the promise ( Jesus Christ ) who are reckoned as descendants/seed . No Jew who rejects Jesus Christ will be part of the 144,000. Plus last minute believers will not be part of the 144, 000 either . The New Testament is clear of what types pastors are to be; of one wife, not youngsters in the faith etc. All Christians are Jews and all Christians are Israel and all the righteous of the Old Testament are also Israel. And we are all united in Jesus Christ/YHWH . There is no replacement, just continuation as "Israel" . Jews of Judaism did not continue in Israel cause they rejected Jesus Christ who is /was YHWH . Jews who accepted Jesus Christ remained Israel .
2014-06-27 16:30:30
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answer #6
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answered by ? 3
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The Bible is the symbolic account of the fall and restoration of the human soul to its divine origins. Genesis is the symbolic testimony of humanity's fall from heaven and paradise lost. Revelation is the symbolic testimony of humanity's restoration to heaven and paradise found.
For an analysis of the literal and symbolic interpretation, consider the following:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/cayce10.html
.
2007-02-03 17:14:23
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answer #7
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answered by MyPreshus 7
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Harpazo = Rapture
END-TIME BIBLE PROPHECY
The Messiah Lord Jesus said BIRTH PANGS would signal the time of the end (Matthew 24:8). There are NINE birth pangs, they are all PRE-TRIBULATIONAL and the 1st three already occurred.
The first birth pang was worldwide conflict coupled with famines and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7-8). Worldwide conflict was fulfilled in 1914-1918, major famines happened in 1918-1921 and most of the world’s major earthquakes began to occur since 1900.
The second birth pang was the restoration of a Jewish State (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Ezekiel 22:17-22; Ezekiel 36:22-24; Zephaniah 2:1-2). This was fulfilled in 1948.
The third birth pang was Jewish control of the Old City of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:1-2). For the third Jewish Temple (Tribulation Temple) to be rebuilt, Jerusalem needs to be under Jewish control and this was accomplished in the Six Day War in 1967.
The fourth birth pang will be the Ezekiel 38 war. Russia, allied states of Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia will invade Israel. God will miraculously destroy the invading army by earthquake, civil war among the invading soldiers, pestilence, blood, flood, hailstones, fire and brimstone. This will bring a revival in Israel where many Jews will turn to the Lord, and Israel will spend 7 years and 7 months burying the bodies and burning for fuel the military equipment left behind (Ezekiel 39:9-16).
The 5th birth pang will be the development of a one world government (Daniel 7:23-24).
The 6th birth pang will be the splitting of the one world government into 10 kingdoms and this Ten Kingdom Stage will continue until mid-Tribulation (Daniel 7:24).
The 7th birth pang will be the revelation of the Antichrist (II Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 7:24).
The 8th birth pang will be a period of peace and false security that will be shattered by the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).
The 9th and final birth pang before the Tribulation is the signing of the 7-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist. THIS EVENT IS WHAT BEGINS THE (7-year) TRIBULATION - NOT THE RAPTURE!
The Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) is also a pre-tribulational event (Luke 21:34-37; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 19:6-8). The fact that the Church is not mentioned in any of the Tribulation Scriptures proves the Rapture is pre-tribulational. All raptured Christians will receive glorified bodies (Romans 8:22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54)) and it can happen at any second.
THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES IN REVELATION 6-9 AND 17)
The Ministry of 144,000 sealed Jewish believers will bring many throughout the world to accept Christ.
There will be a powerful Ministry of Two Witnesses who will also be anointed Jewish believers.
A one world religious system (Babylon the Harlot) will rule. Under this one world religious system, many who are saved during the Tribulation will suffer persecution and death.
The Political system of the 10 kings of the one world government will continue.
During the first half of the Tribulation there will also be war, worldwide famine, death (1/4 of the world’s population will die), a huge earthquake, a blackout and a meteor shower. 1/3 of earth’s dry surface will be destroyed, 1/3 sea life and salt water will be destroyed, a fallen angel called Wormwood will make 1/3 of earth’s fresh water bitter, 1/3 of earth’s natural light sources will be destroyed, there will be another blackout and demons in the form of “locust-scorpions” will come up out of the abyss led by Abaddon their king and they will inflict harm and pain for five months upon those who are not sealed by God (unbelievers). Another demonic invasion will occur and the demons involved will be led by four fallen angels who will be released from the Euphrates River and this army will kill 1/3 of the earth’s population.
MID-TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES IN REVELATION 10-14 AND 17)
The Antichrist will war against the 10 kings, and during the war the Antichrist will be killed.
Satan will be cast out of the atmospheric heavens onto earth and will resurrect the Antichrist.
The Antichrist will kill 3 kings (the kings of Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia) and the 7 other kings will submit to him.
The Antichrist will kill the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem and the wicked people will celebrate this event. Three and a half days afterwards, God will resurrect the Two Witnesses and take them up to Heaven and the people who celebrated will become terrified. The city of Jerusalem where the murder of the Two Witnesses occurred will then suffer an earthquake which will kill 7,000 people.
The False Prophet will receive from Satan the power to perform great miracles and will deceive many. The False Prophet will command all people to worship the Antichrist and have persons create an image to the Antichrist. The False Prophet will use his satanic powers to give it life and the ability to speak. The False Prophet will cause those who refuse to worship the Antichrist and the image to be killed.
The False Prophet will issue his own counterfeit seal known as the Mark of the Beast and it will be placed on all those who surrender to the Antichrist’s authority and accept him as god. Those who refuse to take this mark will not be able to buy or sell. Those who take this mark will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
The Antichrist will break the seven-year covenant he made with Israel, cause the sacrifices to stop, sit in the Jewish Temple, declare to the world that he is really God and set up an idol called the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15-16; 11Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:11-15).
Through the Antichrist and the False Prophet, Satan will attempt to destroy the Jews once and for all but he will fail because 1/3 of the Jews will succeed in fleeing into the wilderness. These Jews who escape will accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour during the Tribulation (Zechariah 13:7-9) and while they are in hiding, God will miraculously provide for them (Zechariah 13:8-9; Isaiah 41:17-20). Divine intervention will also destroy the pursuing army.
THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION (SUPPORTING VERSES FOUND IN REVELATION 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
In the second half of the Tribulation, those with the Mark of the Beast will suffer skin sores, the remainder of sea water and fresh water will be destroyed, the sun will cause terrible burns and the wicked will blaspheme God. There will be yet another blackout and persons will suffer gnawing pains.
Babylon will be the center of world economy and political system but Babylon will be swiftly destroyed by fire and become uninhabitable for man.
The Antichrist will locate the Jews who sought refuge in the wilderness and surround them with his armies to wipe them out. The Lord Jesus will then descend from Heaven with His angels and Saints. He will come with great glory riding upon a horse and will destroy the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all of their armies. After this, a loud voice will cry out “It is done!” followed by the greatest earthquake in the earth’s history and hail weighing 120 pounds will fall.
At the end of the Tribulation, there will be another blackout, the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matthew 24:29), the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be thrown into the eternal Lake of Fire and Satan will be cast into the Abyss and bound for 1,000 years.
THE MILLENNIUM
The Lord Jesus will reign over the entire earth during the Millennium. The Jewish and Gentile believers who survive the Tribulation will go on to populate the Millennium. Believers who died before and during the Tribulation and believers who were raptured will be present on earth during the Millennium and because they will have glorified bodies they will not reproduce. All believers will be given special tasks by the Lord Jesus (Revelation 20:4-6). There will be no wars (Isaiah 2:2-4), animals will return to the Edenic state and become vegetarians (Isaiah 11:6-9), people will not labour in vain but eat what they plant and inhabit what they build, there will be renovations in the heavens and earth and there will be righteous and unrighteous children born during the Millennium (Isaiah 65:17-25).
At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed from the Abyss and will deceive and gather the unrighteous for a war against the righteous. This will be his final attempt to destroy the righteous and when the unrighteous of the Millennium surround the good people, God will send fire down from Heaven which will suddenly and massively annihilate all of the wicked people. Satan will then be cast into the Lake of Fire where he will remain in torment for eternity (Revelation 20:7-10).
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
The Great White Throne Judgment will be the next main event. The old heavens and earth will be done away with and all will stand before God’s throne to be judged (Revelation 20:11-12). Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire which will be their final and eternal abode (Revelation 20:14-15).
THE ETERNAL ORDER (REVELATION 21 AND 22)
Those whose names are found in the Book of Life will enjoy paradise with God forever. The heavens and earth will be made new and the New Jerusalem will come down upon the earth making the earth like Heaven. All curses from the fall will be removed and the earth will be inhabited by the Triune God (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit), all angels and all of the righteous. The seas, moon, night and sun will be done away with and the glory of God will illuminate the earth. The River of Life will flow from God’s throne, the Tree of Life will bear health-giving fruits and leaves and the name of Jesus will be on the foreheads of all of the righteous.
God’s Plan of Salvation for Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZkDk1GZ7do
2015-03-21 05:31:26
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Yes you are right .You know John saw a number no man could count .That should tell us many, many,many more will go to Heaven and I plan on being in that number.
2007-02-03 17:47:14
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answer #9
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answered by gingerbell 2
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144,000? U can't bump yourself up to get a in. God already knows who's coming. YOu can't take anyone's place. Sadly but true.
2007-02-03 19:43:38
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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