THE
TWO WITNESSES
Lesson 16
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Review
The purpose of the
trumpets has been examined. Jesus will
awaken and arouse the entire world with
spectacular events to draw attention to the
gospel story so that it can go to every nation,
kindred and tongue in a short period of time.
Notice the words of Jesus, And this gospel
of the kingdom will be preached in the whole
world as a testimony to all nations, and the end
will come. Matthew 24:14
The phrase, as a
testimony to all nations in the NIV is
translated for a witness unto all
nations in the KJV. The point is that
the gospel is a witness or a testimony that
either saves or condemns! Think about this.
The preaching of the gospel offers salvation to
those who receive it and condemns those who
reject it. Jesus told Nicodemus,
Whoever believes in him (the Son) is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because he has not believed in
the name of Gods one and only Son. This
is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. John
3:18,19
The gospel of Jesus is
polemical. The word polemical means
opposite or poles apart.
Jesus said, Do not
suppose that I have come to bring peace to the
earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a
sword. Matthew 10:34 The power and
clarity of the gospel during the time period of
the trumpets will be greater than anything the
world has ever witnessed. John says the
entire world will be enlightened with the full
gospel message. This message exposes the
false or fallen teachings of Babylon. John
saw a messenger from heaven bearing a powerful
message. He says, After this I saw
another angel coming down from heaven. He
had great authority, and the earth was
illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty
voice he shouted: Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the
Great! Revelation 18:1,2
A trumpet in one ear, the
gospel in the other
Who is worthy to give the
full gospel message during the trumpets? This
is a very important question. The answer,
like most answers from Revelation, requires some
background information. Revelation
identifies a very special group of people that
presents the plan of salvation to every nation,
kindred, tongue and people during earths
final hours.
Wonderment about the
144,000 has occurred ever since John wrote about
them. Who are the 144,000? What do
they do? Why are they so special in
Revelations story? Some denominations
believe the 144,000 are the only ones saved at
the second coming. Others believe the
144,000 are converted Jews that proclaim the
gospel to the entire world during the tribulation
before Jesus comes. Some people believe the
144,000 is symbolic and therefore, not a literal
count or number of people but actually includes
all people that will be redeemed.
The Bible answers all
these questions after some investigation. From
Revelation we learn seven important aspects
concerning the 144,000. They are:
Point 1.
The 144,000 are selected
and sealed prior to the sounding of the seven
trumpets and the opening of the fourth seal.
After this I saw four angels standing at
the four corners of the earth, holding back the
four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from
blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.
{2} Then I saw another angel coming up from the
east, having the seal of the living God. He
called out in a loud voice to the four angels who
had been given power to harm the land and sea:
{3} Do not harm the land or the sea or the
trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the
servants of our God. {4} The I heard
the number of those who were sealed: 144,000
from all the tribes of Israel. Revelation
7:2-4 The four winds that are held back are the
four terrible judgments contained in the fourth
seal; sword, famine, plague and wild beasts.
In other words, Jesus delays the opening of the
fourth seal until the development and selection
of the 144,000 is completed. Then the
angels having the seven trumpets begin their
work. Notice that the first four angels
affect physical elements. Specifically, the
first two angels have the power to harm the land,
trees and sea! See Revelation 8:7,8
Point 2.
The 144,000 come from
each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Are these
tribes from literal Israel? This author
says, No. We have already concluded that
literal Israel failed at the end of the 490-year
probationary period and the gospel was given to
the Christians. Even more, the gospel was
taken from the Christian faith and given to the
Protestants. (Lessons 7-9) We also know
that a true remnant of Israel remains that is
true Israel belongs to Christ. Paul wrote,
If you belong to Christ, then you are
Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the
promise. Galatians 3:29
The origin and identity
of the 144,000 has caused much discussion through
the years. Some religious groups are certain the
144,000 come from their denomination since they
claim to possess all of Gods
truth. A compelling point
might be understood here by drawing a comparison
from the book of Numbers. When Israel was
about to cross over to the Promised Land, a
census was taken of men twenty years and older
and the tribes totaled approximately 603,000 men.
(See Numbers 2.) Israel failed to enter
the Promised Land at that time due to the failure
of the spies to give an encouraging report, so
thirty-eight years later, when Israel prepared to
enter the Promised Land, a census was taken
again. This time the number of men twenty
years and older came to approximately 624,000.
This count included the Levites who were not
counted in the earlier census. (See Numbers 26.)
In Revelations
story, a definite parallel exists. Before
the people of God enter the heavenly Promises
Land, God assures the saints that 12,000 from
each tribe will be selected as first fruits or
choice specimens! The beauty of this
process is found in the fact that when the Israel
of God is redeemed, it will be a great multitude!
See Revelation 7:9
The number of people that
make up spiritual Israel will be like the sands
of the sea.
So, who constitutes the
true Israel that shall be saved? The
apostle Paul says, A man is a Jew if he is
one inwardly
for it is not those who hear
the law who are righteous in Gods sight,
but it is those who obey the law who will be
declared righteous. Romans 2:29
Pauls identity of who Gods
chosen people are clearly harmonizes
with Johns remarks on the identity of the
saints. He says, they have the
testimony of Jesus and obey the commandments of
God, and the saints remain faithful
to Jesus. See Revelation 12:17; 14:12.
The word Jew
is normally interpreted today as meaning a race
or nation of people. The actual origin and
meaning of the word refers to those chosen
or selected. James the author of the New
Testament book bearing his name understood the
literal meaning of those chosen or
selected. His book is expressly
addressed to early Christians suffering from
persecution by saying, to the twelve tribes
scattered among the nations. James 1:1
He was not referring to
the Jewish race, but to those early Christians
who had fled because of persecution.
Note: Following the
ascension of Jesus, the Jews and Romans severely
persecuted the Christians. (Historians believe
eight of the twelve apostles were either
crucified or beaten to death.) This
persecution lasted several decades for the Jews
intensely hated the Christians. Christians
preached a doctrine based on Jesus instead of
Moses. The Romans also hated the
Christians, because they refused to worship the
Emperor. As a result of persecution,
Christians were scattered from Jerusalem. When
James penned his epistle, he clearly addressed
his companions in suffering as twelve
tribes.
Point 3.
Then what is the
Christian significance of the twelve
tribes? As Jacobs 12 sons were
different and unique, each of the 12 tribes
represents a unique character and experience in
knowing, loving and serving God. See
Genesis 49. Jesus has apparently created
twelve varieties of people and He appreciates the
unique nature of each type of person. It is
reasonable to say that upon receiving Jesus as
our Personal Savior, we individually become
part of one of the 12 tribes of true Israel
based on our personally type and experience.
Point 4.
John describes the
characters of the 144,000. These are those
who did not defile themselves with women, for
they kept themselves pure. They follow the
Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased
from among men and offered as first fruits to God
and to the Lamb. No lie was found in their
mouths; they are blameless. Revelation
14:4,5
Comments on purity
What a statement! They
kept themselves pure
No lie was found in
their mouths; they are blameless. In
the past, some popular TV evangelists have caused
distress among Christians due to impropriety with
women. Men claiming to be servants of
God have been caught in slavery to Satan.
Perhaps the greatest sin in these cases is that
these men did not come forward to confess their
sins until caught. One wonders
how sincere a confession can be after being
caught in the act. Even
further, the world rightfully expects those
talking the talk should be walking the
walk. John says of the 144,000,
they are not defiled with women.
This doesnt mean they are unmarried for the
marriage relationship is holy, ordained by God.
This statement indicates that these people are
morally pure. The pure in heart shall represent
God!
One thing is certain
about these 144,000 servants of God. They
are blameless before God. Even the Old
Testament prophet Zephaniah says of the remnant,
The remnant of Israel shall not do
iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a
deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.
Zephaniah 3:13
According to John, the
Fathers name is written in their foreheads.
See Revelation 14:1. The Fathers
stamp of approval was represented to John as a
stamp on their forehead. This is a stamp
approving what is going on inside the forehead!
According to the Apostle Paul, those filled with
the Holy Spirit possess the mind of Christ.
See 1 Corinthians 2:16
The phrase
blameless before God means that these
men and women walk humbly in uprightness before
God like Noah, Abraham and others. They
speak truth, live truth and as a result of living
by faith, they fully reflect the loving character
of Jesus. They are sinners who have
overcome besetting sins. The key to their
being selected as the 144,000 is their
perseverance for overcoming.
Review the promises Jesus made to each of the 7
churches in lesson 12. Jesus said to the
church in Laodicea, To him who overcomes, I
will give the right to sit with me on my throne,
just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on
his throne. Revelation 3:21
John also says there are
offered as first fruits to God and to the
Lamb. What does this mean? First
fruits are a term describing a special offering
presented to the Lord at the Feast of
Tabernacles. Remember, the Feast of
Trumpets began on the first day of the seventh
month announcing the coming Day of Atonement.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of
Atonement occurred. Five days after the Day
of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles took
place. This final feast of the religious
year was a feast of thanksgiving to God for the
crops had been harvested and the choice or best
fruits were offered to the Lord at this time.
These best or first fruits does not
mean fruit presented first. Rather, it
means the best or choice fruits.
For example, the wife of our president is called
the first lady. This
doesnt mean she is the first lady in
America; rather, she is the most exalted lady in
our land!
The sanctuary sequence on
earth follows the pattern of the heavenly
sequence. So, after the seven trumpets and
the close of probation, Jesus comes to receive
His harvest. The 144,000 are the
first fruits or choice fruits of
earths harvest and they become the special
property of Jesus, our High Priest. This
elite group will form a special entourage
accompanying Jesus throughout the eternal
universe! John says, They follow the
Lamb wherever He goes. Revelation
14: 4 Think of the privilege that belongs to this
group of people being an attendant to
Jesus himself!
The Holy City, New
Jerusalem, has 12 gates and 12 foundations.
Each gate bears the name of a tribe and each
foundation, the name of an apostle. See
Revelation 21:12,14.
Apparently the saints
will enter through the gate corresponding to
their tribe or experience in the Lord! A
group of 12,000 elite servants of God from each
tribe leads the way through each gate!
Think about the
generosity of God. There will be an elite
group from each character-type of the human
family. Even more, God finds perfection in
differing character types!
Point 5.
The 144,000 sing a new
song in heaven that no one else can learn. What
does this mean?
Upon leaving Egypt,
Israel faced an excruciating moment on the shore
of the Red sea. Said in todays
vernacular, Israel was between the devil
and the deep blue sea as Pharaohs
advancing cavalry of 600 chariots. What a
predicament! What a moment of extremity!
The anguish of the moment
was so great that the Hebrews cried out in terror
for deliverance! The Lord looked upon His
children and delivered them! God parted the
water of the Red sea and the children of Israel
walked through on dry ground. When Pharaohs
army pursued the Israelites, God relaxed the
parted waters and swallowed Pharaohs best
solders, thus terminating Israels worry
with Egypt. Then Moses and the Israelites
sang this song to the Lord: I will sing to
the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and
its rider he has hurled into the sea. The
Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my
salvation
Pharaohs chariots and its
army he has hurled into the sea. The best of
Pharaohs officers are drowned in the Red
Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank
to the depths like a stone. Exodus
15:1-5 This song of deliverance relates to a
specific experience. Only those who went
through this experience can spontaneously sing
the words!
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