The 144,000 – Parts 1-3

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Prophetic mystery is behind us. I believe the book of Daniel has been unsealed and truth has blossomed. The more sure word of prophecy has become our possession because we are the last generation and God wants us to know His plans. Let’s go back to the topic of text alignment according to Rule 1. Look at these verses with chronological order in mind:

 

Revelation 6:16  They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

 

Revelation 6:17   For the great day of their wrath had come, and who can stand?”

 

Revelation 7:1   After this (that is, after watching the sixth seal take place) I saw four angles 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.

 

Revelation 7:2   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 the sea:

 

Revelation 7:3   “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a sealon the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

 

Revelation 7:4   Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

 

Do you suppose the 144,000 are sealed before the Second Coming? Of course! The sealing of the 144,000 and the destruction that waits their sealing occurs before the Second Coming. The point here is that when chronological order is broken, a new prophecy begins. Since, Revelation 7:1 does not chronologically follow Revelation 6:17, Revelation 7:1 is the first verse of a new prophecy.

 

Demonstrate textual alignment. (Scissors and Bible verses / cut and tape)

 

For fun, make some copies of Daniel and Revelation and see if you can parse all the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation according to Rule 1. See if you can actually find the start and stop points of each apocalyptic prophecy.

 

When you can accurately do this, you will be able to demonstrate textual alignment and the chronological order will produce a matrix showing incredible harmony!

 

The timing of Revelation 7

Here’s a very provoking question: “What is the date (or timing) when the four angels in Revelation 7 are told to wait?” Look at these two verses:

 

Revelation 7:2   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 the sea:

 

Revelation 7:3   “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.”

 

Again, what is the date of this event? This is an important question because it is the beginning point in time for the prophecy (7:1-8:1). I believe the Bible indicates that the date for Revelation 7:1 is 1994. Let’s look at three important indicators:

 

1.   The Bible, in its entirety, speaks of approximately 7,000 years.

 

When I add up the genealogical records of the Old Testament (From Adam and Eve to the Flood (1,646 inclusive years) and then to the Exodus (931 inclusive years)….

 

When I add up the years since the Exodus from Egypt in 1437 B.C. (3,443 inclusive years),

 

When I add up the 18 prophetic time-periods found in Daniel and Revelation (including the 1,000 years of Revelation 20),  

 

I find a total of 7,020 years thus far. I assume that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden for 30 or 40 years before sinning. If this is the case, the Bible only speaks of 7,000 years for the duration of sin.

 

Since the saints will spend the last 1,000 years with the Lord, this puts the Second Coming at the end of the 6,000^th year of sin. If my calculations are correct, we have a maximum of ten years to go until the 6,000^th year for sin is reached. If my calculations are true, this would put 1994 near the time of the Second Coming which occurs at the close of the 6,000^th year. Why is 1994 important?

 

2.   The second indicator pointing to 1994 as the date when the angels were given the seven trumpets and told to wait until the 144,000 are sealed is the termination of the Jubilee Calendar.

 

If you closely followed my presentation on the Jubilee Calendar in our study on Daniel (March, April, May, June, 2004), you should remember three things:

 

a.   God’s patience with the nation of Israel – as trustees of His gospel – lasted exactly 30 Jubilee cycles. (From the Exodus in 1437 B.C. to the close of the 70^th week in A.D. 33, equals 1,470 years.)

 

b.   God’s patience with the Gentiles as trustees of His gospel (the times of the Gentiles) amounted to 40 Jubilee cycles (1,960 years.)

 

Thus, God’s patience with Jews and Gentiles as trustees of His gospel amounts to 70 Jubilee cycles. Seven “Great Days” of 70 weeks each ended in 1994. Does the fullness of 70 indicate anything important?

 

c.   Yes, I think so. Do you remember why the exile to Babylon lasted 70 years? When Israel violated 70 Sabbath years, God sent Israel into captivity for 70 years to atone for their sin.  Do you remember how the nation of Israel was given a second chance that lasted 70 weeks? Do you remember that 7,000 years is 70 centuries? I believe the Bible indicates the number 70 reflects the limits of God’s forbearance. The number 70 is 7 x 10. When these two numbers are brought together, we find God’s limits. For example, we find the beast in Revelation with 7 heads and 10 horns. This beast represents the limits of rebellion against God. We also find the Day of Atonement to be on the 10^th day of the 7^th month. This represents the limit of forbearance.

 

3.   The third indicator in the Bible that makes 1994 important is the necessity of terminating the Jubilee Calendar and its day/year translation of time according to the weekly template. In other words, the Jubilee Calendar did not end at the Cross as many pastors claim. If the Jubilee Calendar had ended at the cross, the prophecy of Daniel 9 would have amounted to 69 ½ weeks instead of a full 70 weeks. Furthermore, the 2,300 day prophecy of Daniel 8 continues from 457 B.C. (the beginning of the 70 weeks) without interruption until 1844! But, we can’t close the Jubilee Calendar with 1844 because “The Great Day of Sabbath” doesn’t end until 1994.

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