August 19, 2007

THE 144000 AND BIBLE PROPHECY

Bible prophecy can be divided into past fulfilled and future unfulfilled events. In the past, Bible prophecy has always been where a disaster of Biblical proportions would be looming and out of this impending disaster God would deem that certain individuals would survive. So God would go and communicate to those individuals two things which make up the criteria for Bible Prophecy:
1. He would forewarn them of the impending disaster (the prediction).
2. He would provide them with instructions on how to physically escape.
Noah’s Ark is the classic example.

God could have just let these certain individuals perish and start over, but He didn’t. Also, God could have diverted the disaster or He could have supernaturally raptured those individuals out of harms way, and again He didn’t. And the reason He didn’t was because these individuals faith was being tested. They had to have faith that God’s prophecy was going to happen, and to show they had the faith they had to physically follow His instructions. In short, they exercised their faith in God.

Future Bible prophecy is the same in that there is a disaster of Biblical proportion looming in our future. And out of this future disaster God has deem that certain Christian individuals will survive to Christ’s advent. Futuristically speaking, God has already communicated to the body of Christ the two criteria that make up Bible prophecy:
1. He has forewarned the future flood of persecution, Armageddon, the apocalypse etc found in the book of Revelation and other parts of the Bible (the prediction).
2. He has provided instruction of how to physically escape this future disaster.
What Christians fail to see is that God has provided these instructions on how to physically escape the coming apocalypse, to test those chosen individuals faith.

THE PLACE OF SAFETY

Jerusalem fell to the Romans, in 70 A.D., after a 143 day siege. Over 600,000 Jews were slain with many more thousands taken into captivity/slavery. This tragedy, one of the worst to happen to the nation of Israel, provides “the end time” saints with vital survival information.

A Roman tactic for fortress sieges were similar to a modern day military tactic used in the Gulf War. Iraq attacked and occupied Kuwait under hostile circumstances in 1990-1991. The United States coordinated a multinational force for the liberation of Kuwait. The multi-nation force, prior to the conflict known as The Gulf War, spent months transporting troops and supplies to the region. When the military leaders decided that there were enough troops and supplies to fight Iraq, they attacked. The conflict was over in forty seven days.

Similarly, Roman legions, before a siege, would stage a reasonable distance away from the fortress. Rome’s military leaders would attack after accumulating enough troops and supplies. Roman roads and aqueducts that still stand today, attest to their commitment to conquering a region. These roads and aqueducts were built by the legions, not as benevolent gestures to those conquered nations, but as supply lines.

One could be sure the zealots in Jerusalem were well informed of Roman tactics. One could also be sure that the zealots were aware that Jerusalem was not an impregnable fortress. The armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem five hundred and fifty seven years earlier, leaving the city in ruin.

If you were alive in Jerusalem just before the 70 A.D. siege, would you have stayed or would you have fled early when Rome began to accumulate troops and supplies? If you are like most people that I’ve asked this question, you probably would have fled. So why did the Jews stay?

A FORTRESS SIEGE ON JERUSALEM

600,000 Jews died with the belief that the 70 A.D. Roman siege on Jerusalem was fulfilling Old Testament prophetic passages. They also believed, according to the predictions, that MESSIAH would protect Jerusalem against the assault.

Zech 14:1-3
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
(KJV)

They were correct about MESSIAH coming to protect the inhabitants of “Mount Zion” from a fortress siege. MESSIAH, unfortunately for the 600,000, did not come then. Their misfortune, however, did not negate this prediction of a future siege on Jerusalem. So what is the implication?

DELIVERENCE ON MOUNT ZION

‘The Prophetic Scriptures’ graphically describe “Mount Zion” in Jerusalem as a haven for a pocket of saints which will survive to the advent of MESSIAH.

Joel 2:32
32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
(NIV)

The Jews have known this for thousands of years. This is why 600,000 Jews stayed in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and this is why they flock to Jerusalem today.

GOD PROTECTS MOUNT ZION

GOD will protect the inhabitants of “Mount Zion” during “The Great Tribulation” (with a column of smoke and a pillar of fire),,,

Isa 4:5-6
5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
(KJV)

...just as HE protected Israel against Egypt while in the wilderness.

The 144,000

According to The New Testament, the only individuals recognized to be on “Mount Zion” at the time of MESSIAH’s advent are “The 144,000.”

Rev 14:1
1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
(NIV)

THE REDEEMED

Rev 14:3
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
(NIV)

“The 144,000” will be the only saints alive (redeemed from the earth) at ‘The Second Coming.’ This statement can be verified by simple deduction.

1) GOD’s “Wrath,” when initiated, is designed to affect only those who do not obey HIM.

Micah 5:15
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me.
(NIV)

2) GOD promises that no saint will experience HIS “Wrath.”

1Thes 5:9
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
(KJV)

3) The effects of the fifth “Trumpet” (which is “GOD’s Wrath” in partial strength) are designed to harm all of humanity, except those that have the “seal of GOD on their foreheads”

Rev 9:1-4
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.
2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.
3 And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
(NIV)

......which are “The 144,000.”

Rev 7:3,4
3 .......Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
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.
(KJV)

If isolated pockets of saints were located throughout the rest of the world, then those isolated saints would also suffer in “GOD’s Wrath” at the sounding of the fifth “Trumpet.” Since no saint shall suffer “GOD’s Wrath,” then it can be deduced that all saints (except “The 144,000” that will be protected by the “Seal of GOD”) will be martyred during “The Great Tribulation.” Conclusion: The only saints that will be alive at the advent of MESSIAH will be on “Mount Zion” in Jerusalem.

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

“The 144,000” will consist of 12,000 men from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Rev 7:4-8
4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
(NIV)

“The 144,000” represent the 12 tribes of Israel. However, this group of survivors is not exclusively male. During the Old Testament times, census’ only counted the males over the age of accountability. The female counter parts are known as:

THE DAUGHTERS OF ZION

According to Isaiah, there will be seven women on Mount Zion to every one man.

Isaiah 4
1 In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, "We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!"
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit [a] of judgment and a spirit [b] of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

ABRAHAM’S SEED

Gentile-Christians are not excluded from this group. The Bible contains many references that support the idea that part of “The 144,000” will be made up of Gentile-Christians. According to the scriptures, Gentiles become “Abraham’s seed” and equal heirs to the promises made to Israel when they accept MESSIAH.

Gal 3:28-29
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(KJV)

GRAPHED OLIVE BRANCHES

Gentiles that accept MESSIAH are the wild olive branches that are graphed to the olive tree (Israel).

Rom 11:17
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
(KJV)


EQUAL INHERITANCE

The promise of equal inheritance was extended to the Gentiles even in the times of The Old Testament.

Ezek 47:21-23
21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.
(KJV)

According to these and other references, Gentiles have not been excluded from being part of “The 144,000.”

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

“The 144,000” will have to be on “Mount Zion” before “The Great Tribulation” begins. This is because no one will be able to travel (once “The Great Tribulation” begins) without “the Mark of the Beast.“

Rev 13:16-17
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
(KJV)

What you have read are excerpts from The Whitestone Chronicle

For more details contact me at guysmith123@yahoo.com

Copyright1999 by Guy Smith
All rights reserved.
ISBN 0-9668308-2-2
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