One Hundred Forty and Four Thousand

We find these mentioned in Revelation 7:4‑10:

4: And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5: Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6: Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim (Naphtali) (Naphtali) were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

7: Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8: Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

NOTE: In this numbering of the Children of Israel, the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not listed. Joseph is listed and so is Manasseh, why was Ephraim one of the Birthright Tribes not listed? And why was Dan not listed?

Some will say that Joseph was listed so he took the place of Ephraim but that simply cannot be the case because of the importance of his position in the tribes.

Some say that Dan was destroyed and assimilated into the other tribes; but this too cannot be the case for Dan is one of the lions mentioned in the scriptures along with Judah. Therefore, he was NOT assimilated.

The only answer is in the following:

9: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

They are also mentioned in Revelation 14:1:

�And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.�

In this scene John�s attention is turned from the sordid evils resulting from the domination of Babylon (the Jews) to behold the vision of the King upon His throne, ruling in Mount Zion. But the King does not stand alone.

With the Lamb on Mount Zion John saw �An hundred and forty and four thousand having his Father�s name written in their foreheads.� (Revelation 14:1) The fact that they are with the Lamb in Mount Zion designates these 144,000 as those WHO ARE TO REIGN WITH HIM IN THE RESTORED KINGDOM. The Father�s name written in the foreheads is in contrast to the mark placed in the foreheads of those who worship the beast. The Father�s name indicates that they are completely in accord with Yahweh in all their works, for His Spirit dominates their intellectual faculties and controls all their acts.

This number, one hundred forty and four thousand, IS NOT THE ACTUAL NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF THIS TROOP. The same number appears, as we have shown, in the seventh chapter where Israel is numbered for Divine protection. It is used here, as it was used there, for IT IS THE NUMERICS OF COMPLETION, denoting the summation of that which is numbered. Those in this group are His Body, for they are composed of the Overcomers in Israel, the �called-out ones,� constituting a Royal Priesthood unto God.

Mark 10:42‑45

42: But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43: But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The voice John hears from heaven �as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder,� (Revelation 1:15; 14:2; 17:1; 19:6) accompanied by the sound of many harpers, would indicate that the restoration (Revelation 14:2; 18:22) of the Kingdom administration over His people has become an accomplished fact.

This restoration is further indicated by this multitude singing a �New Song,� (Revelation 5:9; 14:3) for only in such a changed condition, with the Kingdom functioning in perfection, could such a new song be sung.

�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 son but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.� (Revelation 14:3) This song indicates great rejoicing and its theme has to do with the administrative affairs of the Kingdom over which these one hundred and forty thousand have been given charge. No one but they could learn that song, for they alone are the spirit-filled followers of Yahweh who are ultimately to take over the Kingdom and rule with Him in Mount Zion.