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THE 144,000 BOND SERVANTS ARE EVANGELISTS
BACKGROUND STUDY
Principle of Romans 10:8-17.
Verses 14-15, "How
then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to
believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a
preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is
written: “How
beautiful are the feet of those who BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
Thus, from the beginning, we have the administration of the Gentiles or more specifically, the
family priest. It was various family priests - spiritual heads - who were
responsible for representing God's word to others; Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, Melchizedek, Jethro. And of course, various prophets came on
the scene as well (Balaam).
Then God instituted a national priesthood via the newly formed nation of
Israel after the Exodus. And the nation of Israel became the formal agent to
administer the word of God to others. Thus the administration of Israel.
Rom. 9:17; Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 4:6.
After Israel was temporarily set aside because of their rejection of Jesus
as the Messiah, God established the church as the new administrator of the
word of God; the evangelistic agent.
Mat. 21:43
Heb. 9:1-9, There is the present time period (kairos) and the previous time
period.
Thus, the administration of the church vs. the administration of Israel.
The church is the evangelistic agent for God on the earth until the rapture.
1 Peter 2:9-10
After the rapture, God will once again use Israel as the formal evangelistic agent
to carry the gospel throughout the world. Thus, God does not leave Himself
without a SPECIFIC, formal witness to His character and plan.
There needs to be a FORMAL evangelistic agent on the earth after the church
is removed. Rom. 10:14-15, "How
then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to
believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a
preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is
written: “How
beautiful are the feet of those who BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
THAT IS WHY Rev. 7:1-8 describes a SPECIFIC group of Jews who are called
SERVANTS.
There is really no other reason to signal out these 144k servants except
that they are the ones who will TAKE OVER from the church as God's
representatives on the earth. As God's representatives on the earth, they
will be PROCLAIMERS OF GOD'S GOOD NEWS. That is what the word evangelist
means; thus, 144k evangelists.
We know nothing about them at Rev. 7 except that they are designated as Jews
AND as servants.
We get more details when the same group is shown to John at Rev. 14:1-7
The "symbols" that appear in the vision will not occur - BUT the images and
events portrayed by the symbols WILL occur.
The specifics of the "end times" period given to John in The Revelation
should be viewed as "teaching aids" and not actual historical details. These
teaching aids are SYMBOLIC of actual things, personages and events, but the
symbols that portray those things do NOT actually exist IN THE FORM seen in
the vision; nor will the events symbolized in the vision actually occur IN
THE FORM of those symbols when the events are fulfilled.
Jesus is not really a LAMB.
There are not LITERAL seals that must be opened.
There will not be LITERAL trumpets blown or bowls poured out.
There will not be a LITERAL "beast" (animal) out of the sea and the land.
Satan does not look like a dragon.
At Rev. 14:1, the 144k are seen standing on Mt. Zion with the Lamb. I view
this as symbolic of an earthly location.
1. The description of the 144k is given in verses 4-5 gives information that
is pertinent in an earthly context.
It describes their character and their way of life.
2. They are seen as having the names on their foreheads. This is something
that is only pertinent for people who are alive on the earth. And these
should not be seen as resurrected people.
3. IF they are in heaven, there is really no significance to that. In other
words, to put it rudely, SO WHAT?
The raptured OT and NT saints are there also.
BUT there IS significance to seeing them on the earth.
4. There is clearly a voice FROM HEAVEN that is in CONTRAST to what is seen
on the earth. The harpists sing the new song IN HEAVEN "before" the throne
and the elders and the living creatures. I don't think that this is the same
new song at Rev. 5:9. There, it is very restrictive and applies only to the
24 elders who are symbolic of believers who are there - yet un-resurrected.
Likewise, I think it is the song that is sung by the harpists of Rev.
15:2-4, all the elect who were raptured and are in resurrection bodies.
5. Apparently it is a song just FOR the 144k as they are the only ones on the
earth who can learn it. I suggest that the song has something to do with
their servant activity.
Here is the significance of His name and the name of His Father written on
their foreheads.
It amplifies the SEALING mentioned at Rev. 7:3. The point of equation
between the two verses is the phrase, “on their foreheads.”
But what John sees is a SYMBOL. In actuality, these 144,000 (and all
believers, both before and after the rapture) do NOT have a visible STAMP of
God’s name on the forehead. They have the ACTUAL seal IN THE HEART, which is
the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This is not a VISIBLE seal, but a spiritual FACT that is known only in a
“spiritual” context and not known or seen by humans on the earth.
God knows and the angels involved know and divine protection will not let
the demon oppressors of the 5th trumpet judgment hurt anyone who has that
divine seal.
The SEAL is a claim of ownership that is represented in John’s vision by the
NAME of Christ and of The Father on the forehead.
(1) The name of Christ is involved because HE is the one who executes the
plan of salvation, and it is through Him that a person enters into the plan,
and THROUGH Him that the Father is glorified.
(2) The name of the Father is involved because HE is the author of the plan,
and ultimately all things are for HIS glory.
The seal is a claim of divine possession (2 Tim. 2:19) and ownership (1 Cor.
6:19-20). It is actually the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor.
1:22; 1 Cor. 6:19-20). It is not something that is given to them by an
angel. John is seeing a vision of symbols that portray events.
The symbol, an angel sealing the believers, will not occur, but the EVENT
ITSELF, THE SEALING, which is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit,
will occur.
Thus, here at Rev. 14:1, John sees the 144,000 AS HAVING THE SEAL.
They are saved and BELONG to God. The VISIBLE seal that John sees is the
SYMBOL within the vision of the INVISIBLE claim that God has on the soul of
the believer. The symbol will not occur but the FACT of the believer having
the seal does occur.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes:
Again, the SYMBOL will not occur, but the image that the symbol communicates
will occur. There is no LAMB to follow behind. The issue of following JESUS,
is to be diligent in His service on a daily basis. It does not mean that
they LITERALLY follow behind him “step by step,” but they follow His word
and guidance in faithfulness to the evangelistic commission.
This description indicates proper understanding of the will of God.
The purpose of the 144k servants is evangelistic. There is NO OTHER reason
for them to be described as servants. There is no other SERVICE that is
needed except that of reaching the remaining non-beast worshippers for
Christ.
THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
The gospel message that they will take to the world is described in verses 6-7.
John sees in His vision another angel who brings “the eternal gospel to
proclaim to those who live on the earth.” This is still a VISION showing
John SYMBOLICALLY what will happen. The angel is seen to SYMBOLICALLY have
the gospel. This is simply to show to John that the message of the 144k will
be the same gospel that has been proclaimed all throughout history. It is
the ETERNAL gospel.
This is the message of the 144k servants. It does not refer to an angel who
proclaims the gospel. It does not say that the angel proclaims the gospel;
it says that the angel HAS the gospel. It is the ones who follow Yahweh who
will be responsible for proclaiming the message.
The content of the message is described at verse 7, “fear God, and give him
glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made
the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
Reverencing (fear) God is the attitude of humility that recognizes His
authority. To give Him glory refers to accepting His plan of salvation. And
worship is the expression of love and devotion shown to God in view of being
saved, and in recognition of His Creator status.
Notice that this exhortation to respond to God is associated with the THREAT
of judgment. This is as it is with all the gospel messages. That is in fact,
what the idea of SAVED is all about; saved from judgment. John 3:16-18, 36.
But more specifically, it has in mind the coming of God's wrath through the
judgments of the trumpets and bowls (1-5). The "HOUR of His judgment has
come" corresponds with "the HOUR to reap has come," of verse 14:15. And Rev.
6:17, "the hour of their wrath has come." And Rev 8:5, FIRE from the altar.
(Has come in all 3 verses is an aorist indicative of erchomai, which means
it has now arrived; it is here).
And that judgment from God will culminate when Jesus descends PHYSICALLY
ONTO the earth to RESCUE the Jews in Palestine and to destroy the nations
assembled in Palestine to attack Jerusalem. (first to Edom, then to
Jerusalem, and then to Megiddo).
In the chronological progression, this message of the 144k is announcing the
time of divine wrath and judgment that will be expressed during the DOL, and
is portrayed in Rev. 8-9 for the trumpets, and chapters 15-16 for the bowls.
This is the same focus that we find at Rev. 6-8.
1. Yahweh arrives and it is time for God's wrath to begin.
2. The 144k are converted and sealed before the wrath begins.
3. After they are sealed, the judgment begins with the trumpets.
Here at Rev.14, the same thing as at Rev. 7 occurs.
1. The 144k are converted.
2. They are given the gospel which includes the message of judgment.
3. The judgment begins to be poured out at the reaping of verses 14ff.
It begins with the trumpet and bowl judgments (vs 14-16) and concludes with
the battle of Armageddon (vs 17-20).
As a result of Israel fulfilling her evangelistic commission through the
144k servants, as well as the ministry of the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3-6,
there will be many people who believe in Christ after the rapture.
1. At Rev. 11:13, there is a large group of Jews in Jerusalem who respond to
this gospel message and become believers in Jesus. “And the rest became
reverent and gave glory to the God of heaven.” These are probably the ones
seen in Zech. 12:5-8 as "the inhabitants of Jerusalem," being strong
“through Yahweh of hosts, their God.”
Probably they had been in hiding in Jerusalem during the tribulation and may
have been stirred out of hiding by the visible appearance of Jesus in the
clouds of the sky in power and great glory. Then because of the ministry of
the two witnesses and their ascension, as well as the great earthquake in
the city, these "the rest" trust in the gospel and later become instrumental
in defending Jerusalem against the invading armies. These are the
inhabitants of Jerusalem and the clans of Judah of Zechariah 12:5 and 14:14.
2. There are also many Jews who have gone to hide in the wilderness of Edom
to escape the persecution of the beast. Rev. 12:13-16.
These flee at the midpoint of the week but are not believers at that time.
They are given protection for the 1260 days that follow the midpoint of the
week, and will become believers at some time after the 6th seal arrival of
Jesus and the rapture. Some of these may in fact be part of the 144k
servants, but I think that most of the 144k will be scattered throughout the
nations.
3. When Armageddon is over and Messiah’s earthly kingdom is established,
there will be many Gentile believers within the nations who will be part of
that kingdom (Zech. 14:16; 2:11; Is. 2:2-4; 11:10; 56:6-8; 60:10-14; Micah
4:1-3). These will be among those evaluated to be believers through the
“sheep and goat judgment” that takes place during the 45 days before the
kingdom officially starts. Mat. 25:31-46 with Dan. 12:12.
FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
Isaiah 40:9-11, Evangelism by Jews proclaiming good news anticipating the
PHYSICAL coming of the Messiah onto the earth.
"Get yourself up on a high mountain, O ZION bearer of good news;
Lift up your voice mightily, O JERUSALEM bearer of good news.
Lift it up, do not fear."
What is the message:
"Say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold Yahweh Yahweh will come
with power, with His ARM ruling for Him, Behold, His reward is with Him and
His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His
arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently
lead the nursing ewes."
This anticipates Rev. 11:17-18, which will occur at the end of the 70th week
and looks to the PHYSICAL descent of Jesus ONTO the earth in less than 30
days in connection with bowl judgments 6 and 7.
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have
taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations have become enraged,
but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged,
and to reward your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear
your name, both small and great, and to destroy the destroyers of the
earth.”
Isaiah 52:6-10
Verse 6, "in that day" is the time period when God will deliver Israel from
her oppressors.
"Therefore, My people shall know My name; therefore in that day, I am the
One who is speaking, here am I."
This is a salvation invitation through proclamation of the gospel.
Verse 7, "How
delightful on the mountains
Are the feet of one who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”"
This is the proclamation of the gospel BEFORE the arrival of
the DOL.
It is fulfilled by the church and by the two witnesses.
This ministry will result in many converts before and after the arrival of
Jesus, and among those converts will be the 144k
servants who are saved right after the arrival of Jesus and the rapture of the elect.
See commentary on Malachi 3:1-6.
Verses 8-10,
"Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When Yahweh restores Zion."
Be cheerful, shout joyfully together,
You ruins of Jerusalem;
For Yahweh has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem."
Yahweh has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
So that all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God."
This refers to the proclamation of the gospel AFTER the
arrival of Jesus and the start of the DOL, and of course DURING the DOL
judgments.
Isaiah 62:1-16
INSIDE THE CITY: V. 6, "on your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed
watchmen; all day and all night they will not keep silent."
OUTSIDE THE CITY: V. 10, "go through the gates; clear the way for the
people; build up, build up the highway; remove the stones; lift up a
standard over the people. Behold Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the
earth.
Say to the daughter of Jerusalem, Behold your salvation comes, Behold, His
reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him."
This looks to the PHYSICAL descent of the Messiah onto the earth to rescue
the Jews who are in Jerusalem.
And then THAT physical descent to the earth is described in 63:1-6, going to
Edom first, then to Jerusalem, and then to Megiddo.
Rev. 14:4
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes:
Again, the SYMBOL will not occur, but the image that the symbol communicates
will occur. There is NO LAMB to follow behind.
The issue of following JESUS, is to be diligent in His service on a daily
basis.
It does not mean that they LITERALLY follow behind him “step by step,”
but they follow His word and guidance in faithfulness to the evangelistic
commission with which they have been entrusted.
This description indicates proper understanding of the will of God.
The purpose of the 144,000 bond servants is evangelistic. There is NO OTHER
reason for them to be described as servants. There is no other SERVICE that
is needed except that of reaching the remaining non-beast worshippers for
Christ.
4. and no one could learn the song except the 144,000:
That is, no one ON THE EARTH could learn it except the 144,000.
The NEW song is a song of praise reflecting God’s deliverance of His people,
both spiritually (through redemption) and physically (through protection on
the earth).
At the rapture of the church, the BATON of evangelistic service will be
passed to the new priestly agent (bondservants of God). The “spiritual”
priesthood of the church will be removed and God will RETURN to the previous
NATIONAL priesthood of Israel. This NEW evangelistic agent will be EQUIPPED
with (1) protection, (2) specialized instruction, and (3) the gospel message
itself.
The protection is from the judgments of God’s wrath that will be poured out
on the unbelievers of the earth, as well as protection from the beast.
The specialized knowledge will be the MYSTERY truths based on the
crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, as at 1 Cor. 2:6-9.
The gospel message which IN VISION FORMAT is symbolized by the angel who has
the everlasting gospel at Rev. 14:6-7.
This "passing on" of evangelistic commission does not require an IMMEDIATE
transition. The image that I (and others) have used is not a biblical image
and does not require STRICT adherence to the idea of a literal RACE where
one person "hands the baton" to another.
If the "delay" between each agent's evangelistic function is a day or two,
or even three, does not mean that God is without representation. But I
believe there will be many converts IMMEDIATELY when people have realized
what has happened.
For that matter, the MESSAGE of God's judgment (and conversely, His
invitation for blessing) will be clearly seen through the signs and the
arrival of the Son of Man. This is indicated by the response of the people
at Revelation 6:15-17.
It is also indicated by the principle of Romans 10:18 via Psalm 19:1-6.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."
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