Who are the 144,000 of Revelation 7?

Question: Who are the 144,000 of Revelation 7?

Answer: The 144,000 are mentioned in the Apocalypse of Jesus called the Book of Revelation, Revelation 7. The sealed of Israel are mentioned in verse four. To the student of God’s Word, if the literal sense to you makes good sense, look for no other sense. Take God’s Word for what it says! It reads, “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” NKJV

The 144,000 are most likely evangelistic witnesses during the Tribulation Hour. Revelation 7:9-17 speaks of a great multitude saved out of this time. Since this follows the sealing of the 144,000, it is possible they are meant to be seen as the witnesses who reached this great multitude, which no one could number. A multitude of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues are redeemed (Revelation 7:9). They may specifically be those who lead the nation of Israel as a whole to salvation in Jesus as Messiah (Romans 11:25-32).

The wicked get their seal of 666 in Revelation 13:17, 18 under the super-deceiver, the great imitator, the Antichrist. The 144,000 genuine believers in chapter 7 of Revelation during the Tribulation Period receive their seal from the angel of God. The seal is principally a guarantee of ownership and security.

The 144,000 cannot be the church, for the church is already in Heaven. Here we have Jews with Jewish names to head up Jewish tribes in a Jewish nation – Israel. The 144,000 Jewish servants are anointed by the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28,29). These verses describe the situation as these Spirit-filled servants of God proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. The message of the 144,000 centers on the person and work of Jesus (Acts 10:43). They preach the message of His shed blood and proclaim the advent of the King (Matthew 24:14). This advent is the Revelation or revealing of Christ as King (19:16).

Who are the 144,000? They are 144,000 Jewish “Billy Grahams” sealed by the Spirit of God and preaching the good news of Jesus Christ for the age and dispensation called the Seven Year Tribulation Period.

Terry Burnside