The 144,000 – Parts 7-8

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When God called Ezekiel to speak for Him, Ezekiel didn’t have anything to say, He didn’t know what to say. In fact, we know that Ezekiel was very timid. He didn’t find speaking easy or desirable.

 

Ezekiel 2:7   You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

 

Ezekiel 2:8   But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

 

Ezekiel 2:9   Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll.

 

Ezekiel 2:10   which he unrolled before me, on both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

 

Ezekiel 3:1   And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what I have before you, eat this scroll [digest these words], then go and speakto the house of Israel.”

 

Ezekiel 3:2   So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

 

Ezekiel 3:3   Then he said unto me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted assweet as honey in my mouth [the Word of God is wonderful to understand!].

 

Ezekiel 3:4   He said unto me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.

 

Ezekiel 3:5   You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and different language, but to the house of Israel—

 

Ezekiel 3:6   not too many peoples of obscure speech and different language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

 

Ezekiel 3:7   But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.

 

Ezekiel 3:8   But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.

 

Ezekiel 3:9   I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified of them, though they are a rebellious house.”

 

Ezekiel 3:14   The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness [sour stomach] and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord upon me.

 

The “eat and speak” parallel is easy to understand!

 

We often associate the expression of eating and books as it is used in Ezekiel and Revelation.  If we say, “Bill eats up everything he can find on fishing…” You know what that means… So, the 144,000 will be given words of Jesus to speak.

 

Revelation 10:11   then I said, “You must prophesy again about [or before, KJV] many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

 

This command is given to the 144,000 for a simple reason  This command gives the 144,000 the authority to speak on God’s behalf. “Youmust prophesy again about [or before, KJV] many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

 

The idea of prophesying (or preaching) “again presumes an earlier installment or authority. This is the case:

 

Matthew 28:18   Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 

Matthew 28:19   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matthew 28:20   and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

The gospel commission given in Revelation 10:11 redefines the gospel commission given in Matthew 28:19,20. In other words, none but the 144,000 are speaking for God during the Great Tribulation.

 

Theologian’s scholars, pastors, teachers, etc. will not be speaking for God. None have the testimony of Jesus but the 144,000!

 

Revelation 11:1   I was given a reed like a measuring rod [a yardstick] and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, andcount the worshipers there. [In other words, speak the words I have given you. I will see who measures up. I will measure the hearts of those who claim to love God.]

 

Revelation 11:2   But exclude the outer court; do not measure it [Do not count those who do not measure up], because it has been given to the Gentiles [those who do not know me]. They will trample on the holy city [my people] for 42 months.

 

Revelation 11:3   And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy [through you] for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth (a time of distress].”

 

Let’s examine these three verses more closely:

 

First, notice that the temple is divided…. There is an “inner court and altar” and there is an “outer court.”

 

Two facts: This vision was given to John around A.D. 95. Second, Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed in A.D. 70.

 

So, John received this vision about 25 years after Jerusalem and the temple were burned to the ground. Prior to A.D. 70, when John lived in Jerusalem, the temple had two courts. “Pure Jews” could enter the inner court and the Gentile converts “impure Jews” had to stay in the outer court.” 

 

This practice arose from the distorted ideas that God wanted a pure race [instead of pure hearts]. The laws of Moses were maligned to justify this practice:

 

Deuteronomy 23:7   Do not abhor an Edomite [the descendants of Esau], for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country.

 

Deuteronomy 23:8   The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.

 

Deuteronomy 23:2   No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of the descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down to the tenth generation.

Deuteronomy 23:3   No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down to the tenth generation.

 

In other words, ancient Jews, and some orthodox Jews today, take these and other Scriptures from the Law of Moses to separate themselves from pagan “Gentiles” so they will not be contaminated by them. Some orthodox Jews will not speak to a Gentile for fear of contamination!  

 

Leviticus 15:31   “’You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’” So, the temple in John’s day was divided into two courts.

 

John was given a “yard stick” and was told to count the inner court, but he is to exclude the outer court. The profound point here is that outer court is never counted!

 

End Text: 

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