Servants of God (sealed)
Are the 144,000 of revelation 7 a different or separate group than the 144,000 of Revelation 14? A study has been put forward supporting the idea that they are two separate groups and evidence was offered to support that idea. It seems that we just took it for granted that the Revelation 7 and 14 were referring to the same people. After looking into the question more carefully I have found that they are the same. The "proof" of that finding centers around the question of; who are the servants of God and Jesus Christ? What I have found is that when servants are spoken of when relating to God or Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, it is always in the context of the "church of God". Romans 6:22 and Philippians 1:1 may be considered indirect references to the church. I found seven more direct references of servants of God being the church of God. I offer three of them as examples. The first is Revelation 1:1. The "servants" belonging to seven specific "churches of God" are given knowledge of things to come.
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
The second is Revelation 22:3-5 (Rev 3:12 helps us understand the context of Rev 22:3-5 to be throne of the Father and Son in New Jerusalem). Verse 3 of Rev 22 speaks of Jesus being served by his "servants" who are his wife by this time. Verse 4 speaks of having "his" name written in their foreheads. Verse 5 shows that these servants, will reign, not for a thousand years, but for ever and ever.
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
The third example is found in 1 Peter 2:16
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
These verses help us understand that the church of God is equated to being the "servants of God".
Revelation 7:1-4 essentially says the "servants of God" will be sealed before the earth, sea, or trees will be hurt. The number that will be sealed will be 144,000. It is most important to recognize that the evidence has shown that the "servants of God" is the church of God. And it will show they're the firstfruits of the Father and Jesus.
Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 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.
Now we come to the verses in Revelation 14 that speak of the 144,000. It was indicated that the "mount Zion" spoken of in this chapter is located on earth. Hebrews 12 shows us that there is a spiritual Mount Zion or heavenly Mount Zion. Hebrews 12:18-24 is speaking to the Church of God (general assembly) as it existed then, through the centuries and as it exists now. Hebrews 12:23 is a prophecy relating to the "firstborn" Christians. We don't know, for a fact, who will be in the heavenly Jerusalem with God. Mat 25:1-10 shows us that 1/2 of the very end of the end time "virgins" will not become a "firstborn". Those of us in God's church have an abiding hope that we will be a part of the "church of the firstborn which are written in heaven".
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Revelation 14:1-5 speaks of 144,000 being the first fruits of God. The context shows that they are now spirit beings standing on the heavenly Mount Zion with Jesus. They are united in singing a song that no one has heard before. And as far as I can tell we don't know if this song is sung before or after they are married to the Lamb. They were redeemed from the earth being the firstfruits.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 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.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 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 song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
I believe that the evidence has shown us that the 144,000 of Rev 7:4 is the same 144,000 of Rev 14:1. They include the "servants of God" who make up the church of God through about the last 2000 years and those of the Old Testament who are in the first resurrection. They will be ruling with Jesus for 1,000 years and beyond.
It was noted that the tribe of Dan was omitted from the list of tribes in Revelation 7. We can know that through Hebrews 11:32 that Samson will have his part with the resurrected ones spoken of in Rev 11:18. Since he was from the tribe of Dan and the tribe of Dan is not listed in Rev 7 it had been concluded by some that Rev 7 could not be the same group as Rev14. It should be noted that the 144,000 and the twelve tribes listed in Rev. 7 have unique memberships. They are servants of God where some have been grafted in and they are virgins. They have become " of all the tribes of the children of Israel". They are not representative of the original tribes. There will be "gentiles" included with the 144,000. Each person of the 144,000 will be assigned to one of the tribes listed in Rev. 7.
It is interesting that the 144,000 of Revelation 7 are all assigned to a tribe and that the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not included in the list, yet Manassas and "Joseph" is. There is actually no tribe of Joseph. Ephraim being a son of Joseph and a tribe would be included. The commentaries give reasons for this wording. The commentaries also say that the tribe of Dan is excluded because of its close association with paganism. My heritage is Finnish and English and I have no idea which tribe I might be assigned to in my hope to be a first fruit.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
A person is judged by the nature of their "spirit" rather than by any physical criteria. That is how Samson will be judged. God knows where each of those who are included in the number will best fulfill the work that would be given to them.
Next we should consider the wall that will be a part of the spiritual city of "New Jerusalem".
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The 144,000 of Rev 7 and 14, being the saved of the Old Testament and the firstfruits, make up the foundation and wall pictured in Rev 21:12&14. In verse 12 of Rev 21 the twelve tribes are not named. My understanding is that the foundation and wall represent the 144,000 and the tribes that make up the wall are named in Revelation chapter 7. Rev 21:14 states that the wall of the city had 12 foundations which have the names of the 12 apostles on them. The church of God is built upon the foundation of the apostles. The foundation, wall and possibly the gates that are pictured in these verses represent's the bride, the Lambs wife. Rev 21:9 states that the bride will be shown and it was shown by Revelation 21 verses 10-14.
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
As a final note the innumerable multitude should be considered. It has been stated that the 144,000 of Rev 7:4 and the innumerable multitude both "came out of great tribulation" (KJV-Rev 7:14). This is not a credible statement for several reasons. First, the 144,000 and innumerable multitude are two separate visions. The first one is Rev 7:1; "And after these things I saw". Then the second is Rev 7:9; "After this I beheld". It is of the utmost importance to understand that the KJV translation for 7:14 is abysmal and very misleading. It would be worth the time for anyone, who would be inclined, to prove the fact that the "Young's Literal Translation" is correct.
YLT Rev 7:14 and I have said to him, `Sir, thou hast known;' and he said to me, `These are those who are coming out of the great tribulation, and they did wash their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb;
This "innumerable multitude" that the time the vision is referring to, is "coming out" of the great tribulation. This verse is the only time in the Bible that tribulation is referred to as "the great tribulation". Commentaries correctly recognize that this phrase is a "title". It is the tribulation that mankind has be subjected to since Satan first influenced Adam and Eve. It is important to understand that the end time tribulation is never called "the great tribulation". The innumerable multitude are those who come up for the great white throne judgment period. They have endured the millennia of tribulations exacted by Satan. As we all know it takes time to replace our self serving spirit with the serving "spirit of God". I believe that for those who experienced extreme trauma time would be needed for recovery. This innumerable multitude is shown to be well into the "great white throne judgment" period. They have received the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and are living according to God's ways. They are awaiting their transformation to spirit life on the "eighth day". As such they have the Spirit of God living in them and are written in the book of life, being "passed over" from being cast into the "lake of fire".
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.