THE 144,000
Isn’t it true that the New Testament is dealing with the salvation of all those who have been given and been true to fulfilling the way of God’s Spirit?
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
As we will see, most of the New Testament is directed to the development of the “firstfruit” or the first that receives the Spirit of God to dwell within them. In the first chapter of Ephesians there are several verses that show us the way God has been creating that firstfruit.
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Verse 8 points out that wisdom and prudence accompany the understand of the mystery of His will that has been given. In verse 9 we are reminded that God’s work with humans is a mystery. The Bible speaks much about the “mystery” or hidden information regarding how we are to obtain salvation. But who is it a mystery to?
Mar 4:10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.
Mar 4:11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Eph 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
It is fairly clear “the mystery of the kingdom of God” was given to the disciples but through Satan’s work that clarity has been significantly concealed. An example of Satan’s work is made plain by the miss understanding of when THE GREAT TRIBULATION, which is spoken of later, occurs.
Now, verse 10 shows us there will be a gathering, or resurrection of the saints. This being what the Bible calls the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Verse 12 points out that there are the first who became aware of and trusted in the salvation that comes through Christ. Then verse 13 reveals that Paul was speaking to those Christians who would receive their salvation because of trusting in truth. They believed the truth and were sealed, meaning they will obtain their salvation. And finally verse 14 shows us that we have been given an earnest or initial portion of the Spirit of God, looking forward to our redemption or resurrection and are a purchased possession by God. We are purchased by the death of the Christ.
Now to get to the subject of this paper. There is a prominent group of people that the Bible speaks of as being sealed. Or in other words, their salvation is secured. They are the 144,000 that appear in Revelation chapters 7 and 14. And this is what Google AI Overview has to say about them.
The exact identity of the 144,000 is one of the most debated topics in biblical theology:
The number that are sealed is given in Revelation 7.
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.
There are various ideas of who the 144,000 represents even though the Bible does define them. There are those who are Sabbath keepers that believe 144,000 represent the last generation of the redeemed at the second coming of Jesus. The following web-site gives a few more thoughts.
https://www.gotquestions.org
These 144,000 Jews are “sealed,” which means they have the special protection of God.
The 144,000 Jews seem to be a sort of “first fruits”.
It is true that there will be people (all professing Christians) ruling in the millennium with Christ.
Yet the Bible places no numerical limit on this group of people.
So then, we can ask who are the 144,000? And who do they become? There are several things I would like to point out in Rev 7. First, Rev 7 is a unique future event; “after these things I saw”. Notice in Rev 7:2 there will be angels that will hurt the earth.
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.
Wouldn’t the fact that the earth should not be hurt in Rev 7:3 have a relationship to Rev 11:15 and 18?
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
After the resurrection of the saints the wrath of God begins. The wrath of God will “hurt the earth”. Rev 7:3 said; “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads”.
Another thing I would like to point out is the following in Rev 7:4, “there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel”. Another way of looking at this verse is from this viewpoint; of all the tribes of Israel that ever existed, there are 144,000 who were sealed.
Being “sealed” is a direct reference to salvation. Also it is very important to recognize the sealing is in the past tense. The 144,000 have been sealed. Therefore, if the “sealed” have received salvation and are now spirit beings then the 144,000 are, at the time of this prophecy, “spiritual” tribes.
There will be other verses that the “spiritual” nature of the 144,000 will be shown. But first, Paul has given us very important information in Romans 11. When the Gentiles accept Christ, they are grafted into Israel — if they continue in the faith. Rom 11:22-24 helps us to understand.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Also Rom 2:28-29 would be helpful in understanding the spiritual conversion to Israel.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
When the following verse speaks of the “fulness of the Gentiles be come in”, wouldn’t it be referencing the salvation of the Gentiles who become “firstfruit”? Also, when the spirit of God is made available to all Israel, at the beginning of the millennium, Israels current blindness will end and Israel will then flourish.
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.
With all this in mind, we can conclude that the 144,000 of Rev 7 are the firstfruit.
Revelation 7 goes on to describe the tribes that make up the 144,000. I might add, they are spiritual tribes. But there are two verses in Revelation 14 that state, in the most the clear and direct way, who the 144,000 are. Yet, these two verses have been interpretated in ways other than the simplicity of its wording. Rev 14 is speaking of the tribes in spiritual terms. The future “physical” tribes of Israel will be directed by the “spiritual” tribes. See Ezekiel 48:1-8 for the future locations of the physical tribes. —- The simplicity of wording of Rev 14 is made more clear when one understands that all the tribes of Israel exist as physical nations today and will continue as Israel’s physical tribes in the millennium. The physical tribes, in the millennium, will be directed by those of the spiritual tribes.
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 14:4 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.
The word “being” is not in the original. The verse simply says “the firsfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. It is very clear that Verses 1 and 4 shows us that the 144,000 were not just a part of those who were “redeemed from among men” and they were not just a part of the “firstfruits”. It so clearly says; “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. Revelation 14:4 reveals the 144,000 are God’s finished work in the creation of the firstfruits.
Jesus is the very first of the firstfruit of God and those who “are Christ’s at his coming” are also called firstfruits.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Being a “kind of firstfruits” cause me to remember the saints are not the only firstfruits. The resurrection, at the sound of the seventh or last trump of Rev 11:15 occurs. Then the information of Rev 11:18 shows us: “that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great;”. We are “a kind of firstfruits” with the prophets and others also being firstfruits, such as Sampson of the tribe of Dan in the Old Testament (Heb 11:32). The saints being the firstfruits of the New Testament.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Notice that “are Christ’s at his coming” is in reference to the first resurrection and are the first of mankind to enter into eternal life. According to Revelation 14:1,3&4 the 144,000 are in Heavenly mount Sion where a new song was sung “before the throne”. With the 144,000 being the first to have entered into eternal life. Hebrews 12:22 speaks of mount Sion being the heavenly city of God.
Then, Matthew 22:14 tells us few are chosen. What does it mean to be chosen?
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
And that for the elect’s sake this world will not be destroyed.
Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Now we can ask; who are the elect?
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (the last trump), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
There are those who do not understand Jesus comes to gather his saints at the time of the resurrection of the saints and then later returns to earth to rule the nations,
Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
We see that verses Mat 24:30 is speaking of the time of the resurrection of the saints and verse 31 is the actual gathering of the saints to be with Jesus. I believe we can, in truth, say the saints, the elect, the chosen, the sealed, the firstfruit are the 144,000. I believe it’s important to add that I had to leave the term virgins out of the list of who will be the 144,000. The term “virgins” is included in Rev 14:4 and will be firstfruits. But not all “virgins” will become firstfruit. We are familiar with the ten virgins of Matthew 25. The door to the wedding supper of the bridegroom was shut to five of them. Therefore, the 5 virgins are representative of the 144,000 who will become the Bride of Jesus the Christ.
I left out several verses in the first chapter of Ephesians that show God’s devoted interest in the formation of the firstfruit. It is so important to recognize these verses are directed to the saints or firstfruit of that time. All of the references to “us” and “we” make this so clear.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Also, the distinct perspective of predestined from the beginning of the world are given time and time again in the New Testament.
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
It is my understanding, with all this in mind, that the Father and the Son have, from the beginning, had a deep need to create, in the firstfruit, a reflection of the righteousness of themselves. To be examples and also ambassadors to mankind of the love and righteousness that abides in the Father and the Son.. And with that nature, the firstfruit are able to help guide all those, who are willing, to their own salvation. The 144,000 then provides the means that God will accomplish the rest of their awesome intentions.
Next, we can see the marvelous connection between the wall in Revelation 21:12 of the spiritual city of Jerusalem of and the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 7:4-8 .
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 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Verse 12 of Rev 21 reveals there will be 12 tribes with their names written on 12 gates. Verse 13 shows that there four sides to the wall that surround the city. We are not left wondering which tribes of Israel make up the wall. We are given the evidence that gives us that information and more. First, verse 14 tells us: “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb”. Second, Ephesians 2:19 & 20 state:
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;
The saints are built upon the foundation of the apostles.
This is direct evidence that the wall is composed of the “saints” that are mentioned in verse19. Since it has been shown that the saints, the elect, the chosen, the sealed, the firstfruit are the 144,000, we can know the saints makes up the spiritual 12 tribes of the wall. The saints include Gentiles. We know that Gentiles will also be a part of that wall. Our God will place each one, as he see fit, to fulfill his desire in the wall. Yes, in the list of Rev 7 the “tribe” of Dan is left out and for good reason. Also, there is not a “tribe” of Joeseph but it is represented by the tribe of Ephraim This is shown to us in Rev 7:4-8. It is interesting that Ephraim is called “My firstborn” in Jer 31:9
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.
Rev 7:5 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.
Rev 7:6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:7 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.
Rev 7:8 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.
A principle job of the firstfruit is going to fulfill the need for an awesome wall for spiritual Jerusalem. Being that wall they will protect the city from unwanted intrusion.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
There is a seemingly a universal belief that is markedly misleading. The belief that Matthew 24:21 is in reference to “the great tribulation” is in error.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This verse states there will be “great tribulation”. It does not say “the great tribulation” as many in Gods church and so many others believe. The significance of this error is of great importance. There is a singular place in the Bible that does speak of “the great tribulation”. It’s found in Revelation 7:14, but you would never know it by the KJV and other translations.
KJV – Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The word “the” is missing in both the KJV of Mat 14:21 and Rev 7:14 and has caused very much miss understanding. In addition the use of the words “came out” is also misleading. These errors make it impossible to understand the true significance of Revelation 7:9-17. Yes that whole section of the Bible, and other areas, have been perverted by what I would say are Satanic influences. The following are literal translations of this verse which include Youngs Literal Translation, Literal Standard Version and the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible. And I might add that this verse is the only time that the term “the great tribulation” occurs in the Bible by the literal and other translation except for the KJV.
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;
LSV: Rev 7:14 And I have said to him, “Lord, you have known”; and he said to me, “These are those who are coming out of the Great Tribulation, and they washed their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb;
LITV: Rev 7:14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are those coming out of the great tribulation; and they washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.
All of this is in answer to the question of who the great multitude of Rev 7:9&13 are?
Rev 7:9 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;
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
The answer to Rev 7:13’s question is that there are those, of the great multitude, who have accepted Jesus and are now in the process of recovering or “coming out” of that tribulation. They “made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb” and are growing in the grace and knowledge of God. “The great tribulation” is all the time Satan was given rulership, which includes today.
John Gills commentary does a very good job describing “the great tribulation”!
:and he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation: seeing this company designs all the elect of God, that ever were, are, or shall be in the world; “the great tribulation”, out of which they came, is not to be restrained to any particular time of trouble, but includes all that has been, is, or shall be; as all the afflictions of the saints under the Old Testament; from righteous Abel to Zechariah; and all the troubles of the people of God in the times of the Maccabees, Heb_11:35; all the persecutions of the Christians by the Jews, at the first publication of the Gospel; and the persecutions under the Roman emperors, both Pagan and Arian; and the cruelties and barbarities of the Romish antichrist, during the whole time of the apostasy; and particularly the last struggle of the beast, which will be the hour of temptation, that will come upon all the world; and in general all the afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, and many tribulations of all the saints, and every member of Christ in this world, who in the new Jerusalem church state will be come out of them; which supposes them to have been in them, and yet were not overwhelmed by them, and lost in them; but, by divine support and assistance, waded through them, and were now quite clear of them, and never more to be annoyed with them.
I have never read in God’s word about tribulation occurring during the time of the 1000 years of the reign of Jesus. In fact when Satan is loosed at the end of the 1000 years, all those who are aligned with him will be summarily dispatched.
Rev 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
Rev 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
Now is the time to go into the Great White Throne Judgment period. Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. — It now seems to be a good place to reinforce the fact that the Feast of Tabernacles is a 7 day feast and the Great White Throne Judgment is on the feasts last day.
Lev 23:33 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev 23:34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD.
And that Jesus made the following statement.
Joh 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
Is there any question that “the last day”, or “that great day” is on the 7th day of the feast? There are so many that believe that the feast is an 8 day feast and the Great White Throne Judgment occurs on the 8th day. The 7th day, “that great day”, is the time when the greatest of blessings for “the dead” will happen.
The “8th day” or the last Holy Day is the time when the “lake of fire”, that is so often spoken of, will devour the ungodly and eternal life is given to those who then possess God’s Spirit. The joy of eternal life will be restrained when so very many are cast into the lake of fire.
Num 29:35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly H6116: ye shall do no servile work therein:
Strongs H6116 From H6113; an assembly, especially on a festival or holiday: – (solemn) assembly (meeting). H6113 Brown-Driver-Briggs Definition: to restrain, retain, close up, shut, withhold, refrain, stay, detain to be restrained, be stayed, be under restraint
Why is this definition ignored by so many churches? Why can’t one see the joy of eternal life be restrained by the fact that acquaintances and possible relatives are thrown into the lake of fire. Why are so many wanting the Great White Throne Judgment period to be a time of great of great blessings on the eighth day? Of course it is impossible for the blessings of that judgement period to occur on the 8th day. Yes, Jesus made it so very clear when he sed “On the last day, that great day of the feast”. You can–not have a last day for a one day Holy Day, being the eighth day. It is interesting that the eighth day is never call a “feast” in God’s Word. The last day of the seven day feast of tabernacles is great because, for so many, it is the time that the dead will live again and have their opportunity to possess eternal life. —- Continuing the Great White Throne Judgment and the verse that speaks about it.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:12 speaks of the resurrected dead that have a period of time to repent of their ways. This is after the 1,000 years of God’s rule and after Satan is permanently delt with. They were brought back to life so that they all may receive their personal opportunity for salvation. They will have been guided by the firstfruit and there will be those with white robes, in the midst of that period, that have accepted Jesus and all that He stands for.
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;
The books are understood to be the Bible being opened to full understanding and “the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works”. And the book of life was opened for additional names to be abundantly added to. We can ask again, who is the great multitude and who are those who are coming out of it? The great multitude are the ones that in their previous lives have been subjected to the tribulations of Satan. Some of those works of Satan have been as evil as evil can be. There is a strong likelihood their spirits or memory will be left intact. Will the effect of Satan be all forgotten? The literal translations and other translations do say “coming out”. That being true, there are those who have accepted Jesus and are over coming Satan and his ways.
Everyone has suffered to one degree or another from Satan’s ways. They have experienced a world where they were ruled by lies and deceit and there are those who have experienced unimageable abominations. Our God has made sure that the saints of God have been fully prepared to give them the help they need. This is the work that is ahead for all those who were called and chosen to be the 144,000 firstfruit of God’s creation. There are those who will say: this looks like it all might be but, ——- ——- or, ——- ——-.
