THE 144,000 OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

In the Book of Revelation, the divine judgments are executed, on earth, with the opening of seven seals, the sounding of seven trumpets and the pouring of seven bowls. Between the sixth and seventh seals that seal the book, the Apostle John described two visions. One refers to 144,000 people "from all the tribes of Israel" who receive on their foreheads the seal that identifies them as "servants of our God". And the other refers to "a great multitude that no one could count, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and the Lamb" (Revelation 7). 

These visions are found in chapter seven of Revelation. Many see in them two groups of people: Israel and the people saved in the Great Tribulation, for the Church would already be with Christ, since it was secretly caught up before the beginning of this time of suffering. According to Horton (2016, p.971) this is the interpretation of the "dispensational pre-milenarism" created by John Nelson Darby (1800 - 1882), minister of the Anglican Church of Ireland. However, for Horton, Baesley-Murray (2009, p.2148) and many other scholars "this is a dubious interpretation". 

Dispensational pre-milenarists think this way because they interpret the Bible from a dispensational system with seven dispensations, the millennium (Revelation 20:1-6) being one of those dispensations. In fact, Paul speaks of "the dispensation of God's grace" (Ephesians 3:2), which may lead one to infer a dispensation from the Law, but nothing more. To speak of seven dispensations is to force the interpretation of the text and create an artificial system of understanding of Scripture. Another reason for understanding this passage in this way is the emphasis they place on the clear distinction between Israel and the Church. For them, after the rapture of the Church, the Great Tribulation will begin, when God will then deal with Israel again. 

Baesley-Murray, however, understands that Revelation 7:1-8 does not concern Israel, but rather the Church which was not caught up and which is in the Great Tribulation. It must be understood that the last book of the Bible was written in a highly symbolic literary genre that often uses Old Testament images (CARSON, MOO and MORRIS, 2006, p.533). Thus, it cannot be understood literally and its interpretation needs to consider the ways of reading this kind of literature. For Baesley-Murray (2009, p.2148), John had in mind an image common to the early Christians that the Church is the Israel of God, according to Romans 2:28,29, Galatians 3:29 and 6:16, Philippians 3:3, 1Peter 1:1 and 2:9. 

The Apostle Paul also thinks so. Speaking to the Romans, he said that "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). It is not known when this will happen, but the meaning of this statement is that the Israelite nation will one day receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the expected Messiah and will join the ranks of the Church. Thus, it can be understood that the two visions of Revelation 7 refer to the Church of Christ. Since "there is neither Jew nor Greek ... all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). For this reason "now, the key designations of the people of Israel 'chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, people exclusively owned by God' (Ex. 19:6; Deut. 7:6; 10:15; Is. 43:20; 61:6; 66:21; Mal. 3:17) are applied to all who have faith in Christ (1 Pet. 2:9)" (HORTON, 2016, p. 991). 

The purpose of the seal on the forehead of the 144,000, identifying the people who follow Christ, was to protect them from divine judgments. In chapter nine, for example, John speaks of a cloud of locusts that had power like scorpions to wound people "who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads". In this passage and in many others, the saints of God, that is, the Church are noted in the Great Tribulation, giving testimony of Christ. Why would God remove from the earth those who were called to be "light of the world" and "salt of the earth" at the most crucial moment in the history of redemption? This number 144,000 is symbolic. It corresponds to 12,000 people from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Thus, it represents the totality of the faithful in the midst of the tribulation, which is an innumerable multitude. 

Notice what Jesus said: "Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:29-31). See that only at the end of the Great Tribulation does Christ come to gather his elect, and also there is no mention of a "secret rapture". On the contrary, the servants of the Lord will be gathered "with a great sound of a trumpet" and all the earth will see Jesus, in his glory, doing it. 

The Church needs to prepare for the future events of Bible prophecy. It is well known that no one wants to say this, but it must be said: following Christ involves a certain burden. The Apostle Paul said: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17). On another occasion, addressing the Philippians, who were going through certain struggles and difficulties, he said: "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have (1:29,30).

Antônio Maia - M. Div.

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