Who is qualified to be one of the 144,000?

Question

What are the qualifications for the 144,000 mentioned in the Bible book of Revelation Chapter 7 & 14?

1) They are all Jews- Rev. 7.4 .

2) They are all men- Rev. 14 : 4.

3) They are all identified by tribe-Rev. 7:4- 8.

4) None of them are married- Rev. 14:4.

5) They have the Father's name written on their foreheads- Rev. 14 : 1.

6) They are all seen with Jesus on Mount Zion, on Earth - Rev. 14: 1.

7) Their appearance is after the Great Tribulation, as Christ will not return to earth until the beginning of the Millennium or at the very end of the Great Tribulation. (See Matt. 24:29 & 30, Rev. 1:7, Acts 1:10&11.)

This is all "figurative" you say? We may conclude then, that the number 12,000 following the name of each tribe in Rev. 7: 4- 8 is also "figurative", thus the 12,000 X 12,000 being the 144,000 becomes multiplied figurative thinking !

The truth is that there is not a single person on earth today that meets the qual-ifications of the 144,000 of Revelation chapters 7 & 14.

Each year at the annual "Memorial" only the elite Anointed Class of members partake of the emblems. Being that some have died since the proceeding celeb-ration, naturally each year there should be less participants. According to the Watchtower book "Revelation, It's Grand Climax At Hand" page 125 , only 8,808 partook of the emblems at the 1987 "Memorial". In the Watchtower magazine March 1, 1992 page 19 referring to the 1991 "Memorial" 8,850 partook of the emblems . Does this mean that now there are 144,042 of the Anointed Class? What do you think?

Answer 1

They have to be descendants of the original 12 tribes.

Answer 2

This "math" kind of thinking is the rough equivalent of the parables Jesus taught with "born again" having physical connotations to those that would not see what Jesus was really talking about. All it did was lead to confusion for them as it was meant to do.

All Jews?
- No, the "new Jews" - God's Elect, Jew and Gentile.

All men?
- No, way too literal to call this a sound interpretation.

Identified by tribe?
- Still God's Elect, those He has chosen to come unto Him.

None married?
- That one's not even close. Women themselves are not objects of defilement.

Father's name written on foreheads?
- Tattoed, perhaps?

Seen with Jesus?
- I don't doubt that. But not exactly 144,000.

Appearance after Tribulation?
- Again, you're taking this literally. How do you know it is to be taken literally? It could also mean a "larger picture" involving comfort for the believer throughout history.

Figurative?
- You're multiplying where you shouldn't be multiplying. If the Bible is a mathematics/puzzle book for you, then you've missed the whole point of the Gospel message.

No one meets the qualifications?
- Well, there you're partially correct, no one is going to meet those qualifications because your starting points are invalid.

Answer 3

Most important is to Know what the Greek Language Says... in this Verse...which Agrees in Person, Number and Gender!

(Rev 14:4) These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, as a firstfruit to God and to the Lamb.

They are All..... Male... Virgins... 12000 from Each of the 12-Tribes...!

No women in the 144,000.

None that have defiled themselves by Fornication or Adultery!

I guess that Leaves out that CULT... That FALSELY Claims that they are... THEM...!

Thanks, RR

Answer 4

They weren't all Jews. Only 12 thousand were Jews. don't forget there were 11 more tribes that stemmed from Jacob (Israel).
Not to mention John used numbers to represent something. 12 was the number of the Priesthood, and to show the character of those chosen they he used 12000x12000. These men are strong, and worthy priesthood holders.
Just my opinion

Answer 5

Let's talk some reason!!!
All souls go directly to God when we die.
The Book of Revelation was based on a dream!!!
Some of that dream rings very true (The eagle did overcome the Bear--The United States overcame communist Russia).
God's Zadock (God's Elect) may only number 144,000 and the Zadock are God's chosen people to help him fight and overcome the Battle of Armegedon. But many of us will fight.
God's chosen will come from all tribes He sees fit!!!
Joan of Arc was a woman who fought for God, and God was also with Thecla and protected her. Men and Women will fight for God.
The first Levite priests were allowed to marry and reproduce.
Not being allowed to marry is a tradition of men.
Nothing will be written ON a forehead!!! It is what is IN our foreheads (our thoughts) that is the issue.
Satan is coming to Earth first, and he will stand and try to tell people that he is Christ. He will be allowed to sway as many people who are ignorant of God's word (The Bible) as he can in a 5 1/2 month period of time.
People who believe in a "fly away" doctrine will be Satan's first victims, because they will believe him because they aren't taught differently.
Who are you to say that no one is fit for God's qualifications???
Our Polar ice caps are melting. When all of the islands disappear, we can then start looking for the beginning of the End Times.
When the number 144,000 was imagined or thought up, the Earth was not as populated as now. That must have seemed like a huge number back then!
After the 5 1/2 months of Satan's reign, Christ is coming back to overcome Satan and set things right, and his tongue will be as a double edged sword. Jesus Christ is going to be very angry.
When Jesus Christ was only about 5 years old, He was very powerful. He destroyed a little boy with only a thought!!!
I'm sure that Mary and Joseph had a hard time keeping the Power of Jesus under control. Jesus Christ could model birds from clay, breathe on them, and the birds would fly!!!
Read The Lost Books of The Bible to learn more of Jesus Christ! The bathwater of Jesus Christ could cure a child of disease! My God is an awesome God!!! And Jesus Christ is our Savior!!! I love them both with all my heart!!!
Blessed be the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.
I hope God chooses me to fight for Him!!! I wear the Gospel Armour!!!
I recommend to anyone that they read The King James version of the The Bible, The Lost Books of The Bible, and Reader's Digest's ATLAS of the BIBLE (an illustrated Guide to the Holy Land). For Bible study, watch Shepherd's Chapel with Pastor Arnold Murray. He studies the Bible chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse, and goes back to the original meanings of words in the Bible, so that anyone can understand the word of God. www.shepherd'schapel.com.
Good luck and may God bless you.

Answer 6

Some people partake of the emblems even though they are not of the anointed. They still have to be counted.

Revelation 7:4-8 does not stick to the list at Numbers 1:17, 47. Also, those tribes do not exist any more, no-one could prove which tribe they descended from since all the records were destroyed when the Romans razed the city to the ground in 70 C.E.

Jesus said to the cheif priests and the Pharisees at Matthew 21:43 "This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits." The members of the 144,000 would be 'spritual' Israelites.

This is made clear at Romans 2:28, 29 "He is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God."

It must also be kept in mind that the revelation was presented to John in signs, so we cannot assume that the phrase "every tribe of the sons of Israel" is literal.

It was also revealed to John that the 144,000 "were bought (not from among natural Israel alone but) from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:1, 4)

Revelation 5:9, 10 makes this clearer: "With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth."

Considering that Jews do not believe Jesus to be the Messiah, why would they be accepted to rule with him as kings and priests?

I am unsure how you conclude form Revelation 14:4 that the 144,000 are men. All it says is that they "did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins." As Galatians 3:28 highlights, "there is neither male nor female" as far as the spiritual relationship of Christ’s joint heirs is concerned. Again, these 'women' are no doubt symbolic since the Bible does not condem marriage for the anointed.

Hebrew Christians were told: "But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant." (Heb 12:22-24) It is evidently on this heavenly Mount Zion that the Lamb, Christ Jesus, stands with the 144,000 who have been purchased from the earth.

At Revelation 7:9, after listing the twelve tribes, John says: "After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands."

If the number 144,000 were not literal it would lack meaning as a contrast to the “great crowd.” Viewing the number as literal agrees with Jesus’ statement at Matthew 22:14 regarding the Kingdom of the heavens: "There are many invited, but few chosen."

Psalm 50:6 says: "And the heavens tell of his righteousness, for God himself is Judge." God determines who is worthy to be part of the 144,000 and who is worthy to be of the great crowd.

Answer 7

The 144 000 is a figurative number and comes from 12 tribes, 12 disciples etc. I really means all God's people and not a set number.

Answer 8

Why worry about it. Why complicate your life. John 3:16 says all you really need to know. Who really cares who will make up the 144K? Sometimes I actually wonder of Revelations really belongs in the bible. It causes so much consternation when being a Christian can be so easy.

Answer 9

it will be 12,000 Jews out of the 12 tribes of Isreal to preach the word of God to other jews..to make them believers of Christ

Answer 10

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