Who Are The 144,000 In Revelation?
Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.
Escape Rooms
Have you ever gone to an escape room? I did this with my husband and two of my kids. I would not recommend doing this with people you want to stay in a relationship with. It can bring out the sass in just about anyone.
Just in case you have never taken part in one, here is how it works. The person running the room locks you and your team in a room for a designated amount of time and you have to find clues that will help you escape before the times runs out. If you get out before times up, you win. If you don’t, you lose. You find lots of clues. Some are helpful, but many are not.
Clues
I have found the characters in Revelation to feel very much like an escape room. You seek to find clues of who they are. Sometimes these are helpful, but in the end we just don’t know. It’s like watching the timer run down and not getting any answers.
We have looked at the Four Living Creatures and the Twenty-Four Elders. Now we are going to look at the 144,000. Who will we find in this group and what do they do? Let’s look at the clues.
We only read of the 144,000 in two chapters of Revelation.
“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”
Revelation 7:4 NIV
“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among humanity and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.”
Revelation 14:1-5 NIV
The Seal Of The Living God
We know from chapter seven; they received the seal. What does this mean? If you go back a few verses, you will see four angels at the four corners of the Earth holding back devastation while another angel goes out, with the seal of the living God, to seal the servants of God, which will number 144,000.
Now, if any of us are alive during this moment, we will hope to be counted in this number, right? At least I know I would. But, the scripture continues by saying the 144,000 were from the tribes of Israel.
The seal seems like a type of protection. I compare it to the Passover. God had them put a mark on the door and the angel of death passed over the marked doors. In the same way, those with the seal will be passed over.
Mount Zion
The next time we read of the 144,000 is in chapter fourteen, where they have the amazing privilege of standing next to the Lamb on Mount Zion. Standing there, John sees the name of Jesus and the name of God written on their foreheads.
A New Song
Two verses later, the scene moves from Mount Zion to Heaven and we read of a new song in Heaven and the only ones who know the words are the 144,000. They sing the song before the throne, and before the twenty-four elders and the Four Living Creatures. Again, we see this beautiful picture of worship.
Redeemed
The next verse tells us they were redeemed from the Earth. Verses four and five tell us, “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.”
Looking Further
A few more verses that can help us get more clues.
“Israel is my firstborn son.”
Exodus 4:22b NIV
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5b NIV
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.’”
Romans 11:25-26 NIV
Our Best Guess
Most scholars would lean to the idea that the 144,000 come from the redeemed of Israel. But, as with all of these characters, we only get a part of the story.
The Mysteries
I love how God gives us these glimpses into Heaven to see the mysteries because it keeps us seeking, searching to learn more, to find more clues. When we do this, we get more and more glimpses of who He is. Fortunately, unlike the escape rooms, it’s not about the clues for winning. If we believe Jesus died for our sins, we are redeemed and we get the ultimate reward.
It does not matter if we know who all the characters are or if it is a literal 144,000 or symbolic. If we know the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we are redeemed and will join this amazing scene in Heaven.
It’s still a bit of a mystery to me, Jen, but that’s okay. Thank you for adding information to the thoughts swirling in my head about Revelation.
I like the valuable point you make: In the end, it only matters that we know the King of King and the Lord of Lords.
Since I find understanding Revelation very challenging, I am exceedingly grateful that the only things we really need to understand are God’s great love for us, the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and our response to this great gift–love our neighbor as ourselves. Am grateful for your messages which help unlock some of the mysteries, while emphasizing the greatness, love, and compassion of our God.