Revelation 7: The 144,000

Revelation Chapter 7 - Verse 4-8

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.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

🔹1. Who are the 144,000?

The actual number 144,000 appears only twice in the Bible (Revelation 7:1–8 and Revelation 14:1–5). However, the concept appears in several other places in the book of Revelation and elsewhere in Scripture.

•Revelation 7:1–8: Emphasizes the sealing of the 144,000 for their protection during the time of trouble.

•Revelation 14:1–5: Emphasizes the character of the 144,000.

•Revelation 15:2-4: Emphasizes the victory of the 144,000 over the beast, his image, and his mark.

•Revelation 19:1–8: Emphasizes the 144,000's joyous singing as a result of the harlot's judgment and God's people's vengeance.

• They are overcomers: The sealed ones are from Israel's tribes. Jacob first received the name Israel as a result of his powerful encounter with God (Genesis 32:28).

Revelation Chapter 7 - Verse 9 to 17

9 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.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 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.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

🔹2. Is the 144,000 a literal or symbolic number?

• Most of the book of Revelation presents its message in symbolic language. 

• Persons, names, places, and numbers are usually symbolic. 

• Numbers such as seven, three and a half times, three and a half days, 42 months, 1260 days, 666, and two hundred million are all symbolic. 

• Revelation 7 and 14 (where the 144,000 appear) are saturated with symbols such as the Lamb, winds, trees, tribes of Israel, seal, four corners of the earth, earth, sea, white robes, virgins, first fruits, etc.

🔹2.1. Are the 144,000 and the great multitude the same group?

It might appear absurd or even contradictory to say that the 144,000 and the great multitude are the same group. 

Question: How can this be possible when the number 144,000 is a computable number while the great multitude is beyond computation? 

Answer: In the book of Revelation the association between seeing👀 and hearing👂 is common.

Example 1

•👂According to Revelation 1:10, a voice spoke to John that sounded like a trumpet, and he heard the names of the seven churches in their proper order.

•👀However, John then saw the seven churches under the illustration of a seven-branched candelabrum (Revelation 1:12).

•Therefore, what John heard in verse 10 is what he saw in verse 12.

Example 2

In Revelation 5, we find another example of the introductory vision to the seals.

• 👂John first heard one of the elders say that the lion of the tribe of Judah would be able to break the seals and open the scroll (Revelation 5:5). 

•👀However, when John looked, he saw a Lamb that had died and triumphed, making it qualified to break the seals and open the scroll (Revelation 5:6).

•The Lamb represents Jesus at His inauguration as Priest/King of the kingdom of grace. The Lion represents Jesus at the end of His sanctuary ministry (Hebrews 8), when the Lamb pours out his wrath (Revelation 6:17). Therefore, the Lamb and the Lion both represent Jesus at two different stages of His saving work.

Example 3

•👂We can say the same about Revelation 19. In verses 1-9, John heard the songs of the great multitude in heaven.

•👀However, in verses 11-21 John saw Jesus coming with his angel hosts to rescue the multitude from destruction at the hands of Babylon.

144,000 and the great multitude

A similar phenomenon occurs with the 144,000 and the great multitude. 

• 👂In Revelation 7:1-8, John heard about the 144,000. He did not actually see them but only heard their number (Revelation 7:4-8). 

•👀However, then John saw a great multitude that no one could number (Revelation 7:9). 

•God sealed the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1–8 in order for them to survive the great tribulation (Revelation 7:9–17). The great multitude portrays the same group after they came out victorious from the tribulation.

Therefore, the 144 000 are not a literal number, but represents the Great multitude of Christians that cannot be numbered.

Next: Revelation Chapter 7: Why The 144 000 Are Not Literal Jews 

Previous: Revelation Chapter 7: Who Shall Be Able To Stand?