end times

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . . Psalm 119:18 (ESV) 

1. Sealing of 144,000 witnesses during the tribulation.
   • Revelation 7:4 (ESV) And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

The topic of the last days is a constant subject among Christians today. We see so much change morally and intellectually. We have touched on the end times discussions numerous times over the last three years. The role of the church, the rapture, and traits of men in the last days as described in 2 Timothy chapter three.
Recently I was asked about the witnesses sealed in the book of Revelation. Consider the thoughts of a favorite writer from Dallas Theological Seminary, Roy Gingrich.  

              2.   The two visions connected with this interlude

             a.   The first vision—The vision of the sealing of the 144,000 (7:1–8)

     (1)  The four angels of judgment (7:1)
           These four angels hold back God’s judgments (the “four winds” from the “four corners of the earth”)     until God’s cup of wrath is full. Then they execute God’s wrath (which hurts the earth and the sea).

     (2)  The angel of restraint (7:2, 3)
            He restrains the four angels from releasing the four winds of judgment until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.

     (3)  The sealed one hundred and forty four thousand

          (a)  Who are they?
                   1).  Negative—This group is not the church, as some theologians teach, neither is it a cult group, or a group of sinless overcomers, as some cult leaders teach.
                    2).  Positive—This group are saved Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (they are called Christ’s “brethren” in Matt. 25:40).

Note that the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are replaced by the tribes of Joseph and Levi. Probably this is because Ephraim and Dan were the first of the 12 tribes to turn aside to idolatry in the Old Testament era. Note that they are again listed as two of the 12 tribes during the Millennium, Ezek. 48:1–5.
Also, note that God knows the location of the so-called “ten lost tribes” and that He knows the tribal identity of every living Israelite.

          (b)  Is the number 144,000 literal?
                      Yes. There is no good reason for believing otherwise.

          (c)  When were they saved?
They were saved during the first half of “the Seventieth Week of Daniel.” If they were saved before the beginning of the Seventieth Week, they would have been in the Rapture. If they were saved after the midpoint of the Seventieth Week, they would not be called “the servants of God” at the mid-point of the Seventieth Week.
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           (d)  How were they saved?
They were saved by the Holy Spirit through the word, the way all sinners are saved. The Holy Spirit will no longer be resident on the earth after the Rapture but in His omnipresence He will yet be present on the earth. During the whole period of the mediatorial Kingdom of Christ, the Holy Spirit has been, is, and will be, present to convict sinners and to regenerate them.

           (e)  How did they hear the gospel?
Through one or more of three ways: (1) through the testimony of church-age saints (before these saints were raptured); (2) through reading their Bibles (Bibles won’t be raptured); or through a personal revelation from Jesus Christ, Jn. 1:43.

           (f)   When are they sealed?
They are sealed “after” the opening of the first six seals, 7:1, but before the opening of the seventh seal, 8:1, which begins “the Great Tribulation.”

          (g)  Why are they sealed?
They are sealed that they may be made immune from death that they may be God’s witnesses throughout the period of “the Great Tribulation.” Many other saved Israelites, Zech. 13:8, 9; Ezek. 34:11–16, and many saved Gentiles, Matt. 25:31–46, will also come through the Tribulation without dying but the 144,000 are a special group chosen to carry out a special assignment, to conduct a worldwide revival before Christ comes in His Second Advent.

           (h)  What is the connection between this group and the 144,000 spoken of in chapter 14?
The 144,000 of chapter 7 and the 144,000 of chapter 14 are the same group. In chapter 7, this group is seen before the Great Tribulation; in chapter 14, this same group is seen after the Great Tribulation, in the Millennial Kingdom. In chapter 7, we see them ready to enter the fiery furnace (the Great Tribulation); in chapter 14, we see them emerged from the fiery furnace, unhurt.

We gain confidence in our present day situation from the Bible. God is in control! He knows what is coming and how it will be handled. We can be thankful for his promises.
 
Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
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Gingrich, R. E. (2001). The Book of Revelation (pp. 45–46). Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing.
v  Dan. 8:17, 18; 10:9, 10, 15; [Luke 24:37; John 21:12]
v  Dan. 8:17, 18; 10:9, 10, 15; [Luke 24:37; John 21:12]
w  Matt. 17:7
x  ch. 2:8; 22:13; Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12
y  Rom. 6:9; 14:9
z  [ch. 9:1; 20:1]
a  ver. 2, 11
b  ver. 12–16
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Re 1:17–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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