Why is it sound doctrine to believe that the 144,000 of Revelation 7:4 and 14:1 represent the church and not literal Israelites? The reasons (some better than others, but cumulatively strong) are as follows:

(1) The very fact that Revelation 7:4 says “of all the tribes of the children of Israel” is reason to believe that it means something else. We are clearly told in Revelation 1:1 that this message has been “signified” – put into signs and symbols. This is not a literal book, and very little of it says what it means. (The numbers seem to be literal, but not the words they modify. For instance, there are seven trumpets, but while there really are seven, they are not really trumpets.)

(2) Revelation 7:3 defines the 144,000 as servants of God. Since this was written more than 60 years after the crucifixion, it seems that only Christians would now be called servants. That this class existed during the age is clearly manifest by Revelation 9:4, where those sealed in their foreheads are found under the fifth seal-probably the time of Wycliffe.

(3) Revelation 7:4 seems to use “Israel” much as it was used by the Apostle Paul. In Romans 9:6-8 Paul wants it clearly understood that the name rightly belongs not to Abraham’s descendants after the flesh, but to the faith seed. He continues the concept in Romans 11:26, where it is clear that the gentile church is the first part of “all Israel” the part which will turn ungodliness away from the rest of Israel, the fleshly seed, here symbolized by Jacob. It seems no accident that spiritual Israel is here associated with Zion, even as the 144,000 are with the lamb on Zion in Revelation14:1.

Paul continues this usage in I Corinthians 10:18, where he found it needful to refer to natural Israel as “Israel after the flesh:’ knowing that his Corinthian hearers considered themselves “Israel” even though they weren’t “after the flesh” Galatians 6:16 carries on the same practice in reverse, where he calls the church “the Israel of God” (Jew and gentile alike), since Israel after the flesh had mostly rejected the gospel.

(4) Revelation 14:1 (in addition to identifying spiritual Israel with Zion as in Romans 11:26) says that the 144,000 have “His name (the Lamb’s) and His Father’s name.” (The King James does not so read, but the old manuscripts do.)This again establishes the Christian character development of this group.

(5) Revelation 14:3 gives more pertinent information regarding the 144,000. Only they could learn the “new song” Is it reasonable that the church cannot learn this song? Note also that they are “redeemed from the earth.” Now compare this verse with Revelation 5:9, 10. The lamb redeems the new reigning priesthood (the church) – and, it is again associated with the “new song.”

(6) In Revelation 14:4 is a convincing list suggesting the identity of the 144,000. They are not defiled with women (churches) – suggesting that, though they may have been associated with or identified with these “women ‘ ” the pollutions did not rub off. They are “virgins” (as in the Wise and Foolish Virgin parable). The symbol of spiritual virginity seems applicable only to Christians who wait for their Bridegroom, not to Israel after the flesh who was married to God! Jeremiah 31:32) These are “followers of the Lamb,” ie., disciples. These are firstfruits – a term used clearly in the New Testament only as a symbol of the Church. (1 Cor. 15:23; James 1:18)

(7) Revelation 14:5 could be a problem. The church is not “before the throne,” but on it. Fortunately this phrase is spurious, not being in the old manuscripts.

(8) Lastly, consider the import of the number. Of what consequence would it be to know 144,000 Jews would be faithful to God suddenly at the end of the age? The information seems worthless. However, to know the size of the true church is information of great value – something to spur us on to faithfulness. The “size” of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-17) makes use in various ways of the number. Is this an accident? Is it not unusual that as early as Genesis 15:13 the number is implied? (400 years of 360 days each = 144,000 days.) It may even be that the Lord selected the number 40 as the symbol for a complete period of trial because it has 14,400 days. (Many scriptural numbers appear to have significance only when multiplied by 10 or by 100 or by 1000.)

In summary, it is much easier Scripturally to justify 144,000 as the size of the Church than as a number of Jews at the end of the age. Not only are the evidences compelling, but the results have more significance.

– David Doran

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