The 144,000 Epiphany

An epiphany; not mine but by someone close to me. There are many different theories floating around about who the 144,000 are from the book of Revelation. Some say that they are Christian Jews that are marked by God to be here as witnesses during the tribulation but whom will not be harmed by the plagues. One religious organization would have you believe that it is the number of their people that will be worthy enough to reach the Heavenly kingdom and everyone else will be left here on earth...There are probably others as well.

Here is the epiphany: What if this is the number of Christians that are still alive when the final seal is opened and the trumpets begin to sound? That doesn't sound so profound but what if they are the only ones still alive, as in have not been killed for the Gospel yet. Perhaps the rapture is not going to happen the way everyone says.

Rev 6:9 And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Until when, Master, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were ) should have their number made complete.

Those under the altar are Martyrs for Christ, perhaps from the past or perhaps from the future or both. It is the mention of the word number here that is interesting. In the next chapter the 144,000 are sealed. Are these the only Christians left on earth that have not been killed? We know that the world will persecute Christians and it does now, just not in America yet. At least not to the point of death. For now we are merely pushed aside to make room for the politically correct and we are made to look weak, and crazy by the media. The persecution will only get worse.

Let's look back a bit. Many would have you believe that by the time the 144,000 are sealed the Christians will have been raptured from the earth. However, does not II Thessalonians 2 say that concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, this day will not come until the son of perdition has come first? One would think that this means that the anti-christ will have to come first then. When he does he will bring with him great persecution to those that do not take his mark or worship his image. If there are no Christians left here then who will he persecute? He will begin to destroy the Christians. The world will be turned upside down in those days, the days of the first 6 seals. But the worst is yet to come.

What if 144,000 is the amount of Christians still alive. Think about that for a minute. It seems like such a high number. But when one looks globally, the current population of the world is estimated to be around 8 Billion people. Let's do the math; 144,000 is 0.0018 of 1% of 8 billion. That is 9/5000 of a percent. Take a penny which is 1% of a dollar and then cut that penny into 5000 pieces, now pick up 9 of those pieces...
This is a very small number when one looks at the big picture. Now I know that the bible says that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of Israel so they must be Jews right? But, we were all grafted into the vine by Jesus so perhaps this means spiritual Jews. Many of us will have been killed for our faith if we don't submit to the world.

This epiphany did not come to me but to someone close to me. Jesus reveals the truth of His word in mysterious ways sometimes and in this case it was merely during a conversation. I can't say for certain that this is the meaning of the number but I do know that the bible does not say explicitly that we Christians will be taken out of the world before anything bad happens. It says that God will keep us from that day of trial which shall come upon the earth. Keyword, Keep, this does not mean taken out but protected. Those that are sealed in Revelation are protected from the plagues that follow.

The point is this. In all things give thanks and praise to Jesus. Even if the rapture doesn't happen the way "we want" it to, we need to stay strong and vigilant for Christ. Preaching his word to the end. To be beheaded for Christ is better than to live as a trader to Him and face the ultimate death after judgment.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.