The 144,000 – Parts 1-3

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Therefore, I conclude that at the end of the 70 cycles of the Jubilee Calendar, the limits of divine forbearance with mankind, God’s patience ended in April 1994. The termination of the Jubilee Calendar in 1994 means that all prophetic time-periods in Daniel and Revelation that occur after 1994 must be measured in literal time…. That is, there is no day/year translation anymore.

 

When Rule 4 is applied (Rule 4 concerns the absence or presence of the Jubilee Calendar) all of the elements in apocalyptic prophecy perfectly align and the result if total harmony from the sum of all the parts!

 

So, it appears to me that 1994, the seven angels were given the seven trumpets and as the first four angels went of Heaven’s temple to inflict harm on an unsuspecting earth, the seas and the trees, they were told to wait until the 144,000 were sealed.

 

You may disagree with me on the timing of 1994 for Revelation 7, but Rule 1 demands that you provide an answer – a beginning point in time: When did the four angels begin holding back the four winds?

 

If 1994 is the correct answer, a couple of interesting questions surface:

 

Question #1: Why do we even need to know about this delay? What is God’s purpose in telling us about this delay?

 

Question #2: Will the sealing of the 144,000 be determined by character or by timing? In other words, is Jesus waiting for 144,000 people to become totally sanctified and “pure in heart” before He will seal them or is Jesus waiting for the appointed time to arrive to select 144,000 people and seal them?

 

Question #1 Examined

The delay in Revelation 7 is foretold because the final generation needs to know that God’s wrath is long overdue before it is released. Later on, this delay in God’s wrath will help us understand the special service tat take place at the Altar of Incense recorded in Revelation 8:3-5. In essence, God’s patience with sin and sinners expired in 1994. Earth’s cup of iniquity reached full that year, and His seven angels were empowered to hurt the Earth. As they prepared to hurt the land, sea and the trees (the first items to be hurt), they were told to wait until Jesus seals the 144,000. The phrase, “Holding back the four winds of Earth” is a powerful word-picture of DELAYED global destruction and upheaval.  

 

Remember the powerful winds of hurricane Katrina and Rita along the Gulf coast in August and September 2005? The release of the four winds in Revelation 7 (simultaneously blowing from the north, east, west and south) implies deadly and unforeseen forces that will chaotically scatter and sweep away everything built by man. At this very moment, these four angels are waiting to act…. Held back by divine decree…. Soon to impose destruction which is long overdue. If only our world could “Wake Up!” 

 

Again, the point here is that God wants the last generation to know that His wrath is overdue before it is released because this knowledge should motivate those who are preparing for the return of Jesus “to make spiritual preparation.” Jesus wants us to know that He has put global destruction on hold until the time comes for His 144,000 servants to be sealed.

 

Years ago, I heard evangelist Billy Graham make a comment that went something like this, “If God doesn’t do something soon about the decadence and degenerate behavior of the United States, He will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.” Dr. Graham was right. The only reason that Jesus has not done something about Earth’s degeneracy at this time is timing. Jesus imposed a short delay in Revelation 7:3 and the inhabitant of Earth have been living on borrowed time since 1994. It’s time to “Wake Up!”

 

Question #2 Examined

Will the sealing of the 144,000 be determined by character or by timing? In other words, has Jesus been waiting for 144,000 people to become sinless so that they can be sealed, or is Jesus waiting for the appointed time to arrive to select and seal 144,000 people? The correct answer is that Jesus has been waiting for the appointed hour.

 

Jesus has been waiting for the appointed time to arrive before selecting and sealing 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. How does the Bible indicate the delay is due to timing? Look at this verse:

 

Revelation 9:15   And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and yearwere released to kill a third of mankind.

 

Contrary to what some denominations teach, Jesus is not waiting for 144,000 people to become sinless so that they can be sealed. If Jesus was waiting for the 144,000 people to become sinless, one could argue the Great Tribulation will never start because a sinner cannot become sinless. Yes, a sinner may go for a period of time without deliberately or accidentally sinning, but this doesn’t make him sinless! Once a sinner, forever a sinner! This is precisely why Adam and Eve had to be cast out of the Garden of Eden.

 

Because we have carnal natures, we are sinful from within. We can’t remove our carnal natures. At best, we can subdue our carnal natures through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 7-8), and millions of people experienced victory over besetting sins for centuries. Fact is, Jesus could have sealed 1444,000 people centuries ago if He wanted, because at any given time there are enough people on earth who love the Lord with all their hearts, mind and soul, to accomplish all the Lord wants to do.

 

Remember how Elijah thought that he alone had been faithful to the Lord during Israel’s apostasy and the Lord informed the beleaguered prophet that He had seven thousand (70 x 100) in Israel that had not worshiped Baal? (1 Kings 19:18)

 

When the sealing of the 144,000 occurs, the Bible indicates that each tribe of Israel is larger than 12,000 people. In other words when the time comes for the sealing, Jesus will have more than 12,000 people in each tribe to choose from! Jesus only takes 12,000 from each tribe. Look at this verse: 

 

Revelation 7:6   from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 

 

The size of each tribe affirms that Jesus is not waiting on 144,000 people to become sinless. At the appointed time, He will choose the best from each tribe (as first fruits) to be His servants and they will answer His call and endure the trials and tribulations of being His prophets. Bottom line: Jesus is  waiting for the appointed time of the end to arrive (Daniel 8:19), the time set by the Father. (Acts 1:7)

 

When we get close to the day that is 1,335 days from the end of the sixth millennium of sin, the 144,000 will be selected and sealed and the delay imposed in Revelation 7:3 will end right on time.

 

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