Beginning of Sorrows: Part 10 -- 144,000 & The Great Multitude

We have been looking at the End Time events as depicted by the seven seals of the great scroll that was in the hand of the One who sits on the throne and how it could only be opened by the LAMB of God who is the only one worthy.  The First four seals are depicted as four horses and their riders.  They are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; and represent events that correlate with Matthew chapter 24; “the signs of the end of the world (age).”   Seal five revealed the saints who were martyred who cry out “How long until our blood is avenged?”  The LORD says, “Wait just a little longer.”  The events of the sixth seal are great and horrific; a time of the Great Tribulation to occur just before the seventh seal and the return of Jesus Christ. 

144,000 Sealed and Protected From Tibulation

It is at this juncture that a 144,000, thousand from all of the tribes of the children of Israel are sealed in Christ.  They are true Christian believers.   Four angels from all four corners of the earth hold back the four winds from harming the earth, sea or any tree; until the servants of the LORD are sealed; this is the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe of Israel).  These specifically chose; twelve thousand from every tribe of Israel are sealed.  The Greek word means to be stamped for preservation (literally or figuratively) and by implication; to keep secret; to seal up, attest.  Since the New Testament Jew is one inwardly; whose heart has been circumcised; these 12,000 from every tribe may represent each tribe.  Seeing how God directed the genealogy of Mary and Joseph to give Jesus the direct descent from both the house of Aaron (High Priest) and David (Royal Kingship) as well as Jew and Gentile;  It would be in keeping with how God orders things to make every Christian of the 144,000 to perfectly have a direct genealogy that will perfectly represent 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes; regardless of which race may seem physically dominant.  After all; this would be the perfect fulfillment to Abraham and preserve Abraham’s direct lineage as God’s chosen people for all eternity.

Revelation 7:1-4 KJV  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.  (2)  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.  (4)  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Once the servants of God of Israelite descent, are sealed and protected (12,000 from each tribe); then the Tribulation; and the fullness of the End Time events will be unleashed. 

The Great Multitude of Believer’s Saved

Out of the Great Tribulation, God will call and save a Great Multitude of people from all nations, from all tribes and peoples and languages.  This will fulfill Joel’s prophecy that  whosoever will call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered and Paul’s prophecy that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Joel 2:31-32 KJV The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.  (32)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Romans 10:13 KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

These are people who will have washed their lives in the blood of Christ and will be clothed in the white linen of Christ’s own righteousness.  They will have had to endure the Great Tribulation.  They are the people left behind to witness during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 7:9-10 KJV After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  (10)  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Revelation 7:13-15 KJV And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  (14)  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  (15)  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

7 Messages to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor

We Studied the Messages to the seven churches earlier this year.  These were actual churches at the writing of the Book of Revelation.  They are also seven types of church (good & bad traits); they also represent seven attitudes and possibly seven eras with Laodicea being the church of the Great Tribulation and Philadelphia being the church of brotherly love of the Rapture.  It is clear that all seven types and all seven attitudes will be extant at the return of Christ.

The Church at Ephesus – They Lost Their First Love.

The Church at Smyrna – Was rich in God’s grace in terrible tribulation & persecution.

The Church at Pergamum – Allowed members to be pagans and Nicolaitans.

The Church at Thyatira – Practiced sexual immorality & idolatry.

The Church at Sardis – Was a church of dead works; weary of well doing.

The Church at Philadelphia – Had a little faith and was known for brotherly love.

The Church at Laodicea – Was lukewarm and was going to be tried in the fire.

Friends; we could be 200 years away from Christ’s return or it could happen at any time.  God will choose His perfect timing.  You don’t want to be cut short; you don’t want to be tried in the fire of the Great Tribulation; you certainly don’t want damnation for all eternity.  NOW IS THE TIME TO GET RIGHT WITH JESUS CHRIST!