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The 144,000 Are Marked
1-2 After this I saw four angels. Each one was standing on one of the earth's four corners. The angels held back the four winds, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. These angels had also been given the power to harm the earth and the sea. Then I saw another angel come up from where the sun rises in the east, and he was ready to put the mark of the living God on people. He shouted to the four angels, 3 “Don't harm the earth or the sea or any tree! Wait until I have marked the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
4Then I heard how many people had been marked on the forehead. There were 144,000, and they came from every tribe of Israel:
512,000 from Judah,
12,000 from Reuben,
12,000 from Gad,
612,000 from Asher,
12,000 from Naphtali,
12,000 from Manasseh,
712,000 from Simeon,
12,000 from Levi,
12,000 from Issachar,
812,000 from Zebulun,
12,000 from Joseph, and
12,000 from Benjamin.
People from Every Nation
9 After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, 10as they shouted,
“Our God, who sits
upon the throne,
has the power
to save his people,
and so does the Lamb.”
11The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God 12and said,
“Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom,
thanks, honor, power,
and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen!”
13One of the elders asked me, “Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?”
14 “Sir,” I answered, “you must know.”
Then he told me:
“These are the ones
who have gone through
the great suffering.
They have washed their robes
in the blood of the Lamb
and have made them white.
15And so they stand
before the throne of God
and worship him in his temple
day and night.
The one who sits on the throne
will spread his tent
over them.
16 They will never hunger
or thirst again,
and they won't be troubled
by the sun
or any scorching heat.
17 “The Lamb in the center
of the throne
will be their shepherd.
He will lead them to streams
of life-giving water,
and God will wipe all tears
from their eyes.”
Reflect
Reading Revelation is a challenge, but in the end the message is very simple: heaven is for real. Not a remote destination beyond death, but a present reality always promising to break into our earthly life. Heaven, God’s space as it were, is so very close.
Today the roller-coaster shoots us back to the throne room. So far we have seen seals being removed, now we see a seal being fixed in place as an angel marks God’s people. John sees what appear to be two separate groups of people: the 144,000 (v 4) and the great multitude (v 9).
Closer inspection reveals that there is only one group, seen from different perspectives. The 144,000 represent the Church on earth, the great multitude the Church in heaven. In both cases the numbers represent completion and inclusion, and the really good news is that the seal means God’s people are secure in his hand. Maybe that’s something you need to know today.
John now describes an awesome scene. A multi-national throng of worshippers, joined by our old friends the creatures and the elders (ch 5) and by millions of angels. “Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honour, power and strength belong to our God,” they cry. (v 12) John gets caught up in the scene as a passing elder asks him a rhetorical question.
The answer leads into a passage of lyrical beauty as Jesus, the Lamb turned shepherd, presents his faithful people to the Father who steps from the throne to dry their tears. Now, on earth, we are secure, but not necessarily safe. Then, in heaven, we shall be safe and secure. No more hunger, no more thirst, no more distress. This is our destiny. Read the words again and give thanks for all that is to be.
Respond
Father I long to be safe, but I know in this troubled world there is no guarantee. But, Father, I know I am secure in your hands, both in this world and the next and for that I give you heart-felt thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
David Bracewell
After 40 years of ministry in the Anglican Church in England I retired and set up Zoe Ministry through which I teach and preach and encourage leaders in the task of building healthy churches. I am an attentive (?) husband and contented father and grandfather, love soccer (only watching of course), play the organ, enjoy writing, and relish driving my MX5 Sports car. Publications: '15 minutes to wake the dead' : a selection of sermons; Gentle Encouragement for Becalmed Preachers and Bewildered Congregations, Zoe Ministry 2009