CHAPTER SEVEN - SEALING OF THE 144,000 AND SERVICE OF MULTITUDES OF SAINTS

7:1-8 After the first 6 seals have been opened there was a quiet upon the earth. After a nuclear disaster or war there

would be a time of quiet among men as they contemplated the terror of what had just occurred. An angel appears and tells other angels who had the power to hurt the earth and the seas to wait. The angel tells them to wait until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. (Deut 6:4-9) The number of them were 144,000 or 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

This is a difficult chapter to say the least. It appears that the 144,000 are Jews proclaiming Yeshua the Messiah. Presently a major move of God taking place in our time is the restoration of the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. This is not a movement of Jewish people becoming Christian, but it is main line Christians of many denominations returning to the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. For instance in New Mexico there is a group called Hebraic Communities of New Mexico. This group is made up of former Christians who now worship on Saturdays and celebrate the Feasts of the Lord (Lev 23). This is not an isolated group of people. This is happening all across the nation and the world. I believe understanding the Old Testament and our Hebraic roots is God’s end time revelation to the church. Could some of the 144,000 include these? An understanding of Hebraic roots and especially the feasts of the Lord enhances our understanding of the end times. He who has ears let him hear.

Therefore I see the possibility that the 144,000 could also represent those believers who are open to Hebraic roots. Understanding our Hebraic roots opens the word in a fresh way. This is a teaching for another day. See: Feasts in the Early Church and Judah, Jews, and the House of Israel, and History of the 12 Tribes for a brief but not complete explanation. I see these believers having a deeper understanding of what God is doing today and this represents the sealing of the 144,000 for me at this time. Remember we are grafted into Israel (Rom 9-11).

7:9-17 After this we see a great multitude of believers from all nations and tongues before the throne worshipping the
Lamb. They are clothed in white robes with palms in their hands. There is a glorious celebration in heaven around the throne. An elder tells John these are they which came out of great tribulation and serve the Lord day and night in His temple. The Lamb will feed them and lead them to fountains of living waters. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

These represent the multitudes of saved peoples down through the ages. Many of them have gone through tribulation in their time and others who are going to go through the tribulation which is yet to come. Rev 6:11 These will be priests unto the Lord and serve in the temple of the Kingdom of God. Read Ezekiel 40-48. They are priests unto the Lord in the Millennial Kingdom. There are varying rewards in heaven. 1 Corinthians 3:8 Matt 16:27