144,000

Opening: Sowing in morning (369)

Topic – First Fruits

Scripture: Rev 7 and rev 14:1-5

Closing: Little is much when God is in it (print)

This is the third part of a three part series about the first fruits

Disclaimer: This study is not exhaustive, as a result it does not cover all possible angles nor ideas that may be associated with the subject of the 144,000.

These are my findings based on my study. I will hope that you will adhere to what the scripture and the Spirit of prophecy says and not my ideas.  As best as possible I’m going to try to present only what the word of God says and not so much my opinion. I ask that you ask questions i.e. question everything that you are not clear on, or anything that I say that does not seem to be corroborated by scripture please ask me to explain.

Understanding the First fruits

The cross and its Shadow

From our two previous studies we have looked at the first fruits ceremony performed as a part of the sanctuary service of the Passover, and we have looked at the fulfillment of the service in Jesus’ time.

Brief recap-

In the type the grain was waved in the temple, and to fulfill the anti-type Christ must present himself and the company who had risen with Him before God in the first apartment of the heavenly temple.

what happened on the 50^th day

Ten days after Christ’s ascension – roughly a prophetic half hour time period in heaven –

Christ presented himself and the company before the father, in the first apartment

John20:17

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Eph4:8

8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

**Further reading – last chapter -Desire of Ages

Who knows who else were among this group, i.e. since there was no number mentioned we cannot narrow it down to a finite number. That would be adding to scripture.

No number attached

Notice that in all places that the first fruits are mentioned in connection with Christ’s resurrection, no number is attached. Although no number was given to the saints that resurrected with Christ some have compared them to the 144,000 found in revelation because they were dubbed first fruits as well.

Please notice that the scripture did not give us a number.

We understand that the first fruits rose with Christ to fulfill the ordinance, but we have reason to believe that more than the first fruits arose.

I believe that the 24 elders are not the first fruits. Why then would the scripture have given them a distinguishing name if they were indeed just first fruits? We know the would not have given them a distinction. But it is a plausible idea that they arose with Christ, since we know that they too were redeemed from the Earth. (Rev5:9) However we cannot say this definitively as it is also possible that these elders could have received a special resurrection/translation as was the case with Moses/Enoch/Elijah.

The following quote is taken from - The cross and its Shadow

This company was comprised of individuals chosen from every age, from that of Adam up until Christ. They were no longer subject to death, but ascended as with Christ as trophies of his power to awaken all that sleep in the graves. As the handful of grain in the typical service was a pledge of the coming harvest, so these saints were a pledge of the innumerable company that Christ will awaken from the dust of the Earth when he comes the second time as Kings of Kings and Lords of Lords.

Our study today

Our study today will seek to clarify how it is that we are to understand these “first fruits”.

Before we do this however, let us look at the characteristics of the 144000.

Turn your bible to

Rev 7:4-8  & 14:1-5

Who are they?

1. First let us establish a timeframe when these people lived. It is easy to assume that these individuals are living at the end of time. However, there is a dual application here, or some amount of ambiguity. To me this is intentional so that it can be clear that these are both living and dead.

If we consider the fact that there is an angel flying out of the east Rev 7:2-3 having the seal of God, we would comfortably put these individuals at the end of time. Assuming that these individuals are sealed when they are alive. But sealing can also take place at the point of death.

This speaks more to the dual application, especially since the scripture lists the names of the tribes from which those that are sealed originate. Some argue that the listing of names suggests old testament times because the tribes were lost and scattered since then. Others argue that the listing of the names is only figurative and therefore it has application to end time.

To which I say, this is a group of individuals who were present in the past and will be present in the future.

Still others will say that these people pass through the great tribulation, which puts these individuals at the end of time. Note that the question in Rev 7:13 is specific to those dressed in white robes.

According to verse Rev 7:9 the white robes seemed to be associated with the great multitude that no one could number and not so much with the 144,0000. As a result, it is not feasible to interpret the great tribulation as the time of trouble described in Dan 12:1.

This further strengthens the point that the “great tribulation” here spoken of is simply trying times that every saint of God must endure. Rev 6:10-11

Other characteristics

Serve Christ in the temple

Acting out the role that they were ordained to do, a nation of priests. rev 7:15

Where did they come from?

From among the living and dead.

They were sealed from the twelve tribes

Gal 3:29   And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Two objections occur here at the time of Christ, the 10 tribes were already lost. And at the time mentioned in revelation, they were still lost.  How do we reconcile that they were sealed from the 12 tribes.  Our best understanding comes from Rev 21:12- the names allotted. Notice that these names do not refer to the original 12 tribes listed in Genesis.

Jesus separated twelve men specially, although he had many disciples. The twelve he chose were to fulfill a special function. Theses twelve we have come to call the apostles. matth 10:1

Of all the sons that Jacob had, (not only direct to him) only twelve were chosen  to fulfill the God given mission.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were known as the fathers/elders of the promise and the children of Jacob the heirs of the promise. Special men continually chosen throughout history to fulfill special functions

2. They have the Father's name written in their foreheads. 

Rev 14:1:…they have the stamp of approval, they have settled on truth, they have perfected the character of Christ, they have the faith of Jesus and the mind of Christ is reflected in their character perfectly.

3. They were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.

Virgins here members of the pure church, common terminology for pure doctrine

This seems to imply that they did not originate from any other religion and then come to the truth, but that they were born in the truth and never drifted.

As a result of this fact, it seems that the number may be a a literal number.

4. They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

Rev14- privilege, must have resurrection and translation

5. In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

When we understand what is guile, we understand what was the speech of these individuals like

6. Obtain victory over the beast and his image rev 15:2 

There is one question that is asked in rev 13:4, since this is the time of the beast, there is no a full fledge war and God appoints his agencies to fight with the beast and be victorious. They could not fight however before they were sealed in their foreheads

7. Sing a song that no one else can sing

The song is an experience of Moses and the Lamb. Moses was a type of Christ but this

It seems to me here that there are two groups singing. The first of Moses and the second of the Lamb. The resurrected and the translated.

Also remember the scripture says that they are the first fruits unto the Lamb and Unto God the Father.

In the Hebrew sanctuary the table of had two stacks, which seem to represent not only that there were two beings upon the throne but that each had their stack of bread

8. They were redeemed from among men, [being] the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Rev 14:3,4 (this is  our study will focus on this o

As you can well imagine each of these characteristics is a study by themselves. I have not invested the time to study every aspect of their characteristics, but that which I know or have found out, I will present to you today.

Study at hand

Our study today shall be focusing of them as the first fruits unto the Lamb and unto God.

1. They were redeemed from among men, [being] the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Rev 14:3,4

 You will remember from our second study that the saints which arose appeared unto many.

Math 27:52-53

For this to happen it means that they were not only resurrected, but also translated.

They preached after the came back down from heaven.

This pointed directly to the function 144000 mentioned in Rev. The 144000 also had two redemptions. They were redeemed from the Earth and from among men. Rev14:3 &4

Again this seems to me to be a direct connection to say that these are two groups

Two group of 12 elders

12 for the lamb nad then 12 for God. Or 12 that were translated and 12 that were resurrected.

Two groups of first fruits

Some were resurrected and translated and other were just translated.

At this point you may be wondering if the number is literally 144,000. And to this cannot say I know.

I will say this however, with God anything is possible.

The church in the 19^th century believed 144000 was too big, nowadays the church believes that number is too small.

It is a matter of dispute of many that the number…so we won’t get into that.

What do they do 144,000 do?

1. Obtain victory over the beast and his image rev 15:2 

There is one question that is asked in rev 13:4, since this is the time of the beast, there is no a full fledge war and God appoints his agencies to fight with the beast and be victorious. They could not fight however before they were sealed in their foreheads

They are empowered as the first disciples were empowered to go do a work on the Earth.  The 144,000 are the last set of disciples to walk the face of the Earth.

Not the only Christians alive, but the one who were appointed to give the Loud cry. God’s final warning to a dying world.

Again the number is brought into repute. Some contend that if you are not giving the loud cry then you are lost.

Which could be true, but it would also mean that a majority of the church would have to go to sleep, just as in Noah’s day right before the flood.

Many who helped build the boat (righteous people died before the flood)

When do they do it?

When the harvest is considered ripened

What do they represent?

On the mount of transfiguration Moses and Elijah come representing two groups. Why Moses, he represents all the saints that fell asleep, and there was a resurrection of them.  However there is now a need for the first fruits of those who are to be translated. Types of Elijah.

Heb11:35-40- that they without us cannot be made perfect.

In the same way that Israel did not harvest the crop until the first fruits were presented in the typical service. Both the living and the dead firs fruits have to be presented before the general translation of the saints.

We already understand that those that were resurrected have already been presented, and now the first fruits of those that are to be translated need to be presented before God without and intercessor.

This is where the 144000 come in and the designation first fruits.  As revelation records it the 144,000 are the living saints.

Great controversy 648

{GC 648.2}

     Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,--so resplendent is it with the glory of God,--are gathered the company that have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, "having the harps of God," they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, "the voice of harpers harping with their harps." And they sing "a new

                                                                            649

song" before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb--a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience--an experience such as no other company have ever had. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as "the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before God.