Revelation 7: Why The 144,000 Are Not Literal Jews 

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 Manassah 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.

🔹Are the 144,000 literal Jews?

The 144,000 sealed ones from the twelve tribes of Israel are not literal Jews. 

The Bible verses intertwine the texts that speak of the 144,000 with those of the numberless multitude, stating that the sealed ones will be from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

The four angels hold the four winds of strife until God’s servants are sealed. God places His seal on the foreheads of His people, who live in the four corners of the earth. When Jesus returns, He will gather his elect from the four winds of heaven (Matthew 24:30). This indicates that God’s people lived in all the world and not literally in Israel.

🔹The 144,000 are members of spiritual Israel.

Romans 2:28-29 - "28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Romans 9:6-8 - "6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

The final sealing occurs under the 6th seal of the 144 000. This is the final seal before probation closes.

🔹Another reason why the number is not literal Israel

If we compare the list of the tribes of literal Israel to the list of the ones included in Revelation 7, you will see Ephraim and Dan have been left out and the names of Joseph and Manasseh added in.

- The reason for excluding Ephraim is that they were heavily into idolatry (Hosea 4:17), and Dan was regarded as a backbiter (Genesis 49:17).

- There will be no backbiters or gossipers in heaven. (Romans 1:28-32)

Therefore, the 144 000 cannot be literal Israel, as the two lists do not agree.

🔹The 144 000 go through the tribulation

- Later, after the sealing of the 144000, John sees the redeemed, a great multitude from all nations, around the throne, clothed with white robes (Revelation 7:9). Each one has been sealed. One of the elders does ask John: “What are these that are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?” (verse 13). The elder gives John the answer in verse 14: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. 

- God did not promise us only roses on this earth. John says: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. Paul says that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). 

But Paul assures us that nothing will separate us from the love of God, not even tribulation (Romans 8:35). 

🔹Summary

1. In Chapter 6, they are those who will stand at the second coming.

2. They pass through great tribulations (such as the seven last plagues).

3. All 144,000 are a part of spiritual Israel, not literal Israel.

4. They are righteous.

5. They sing the song of Moses, which is the experience of deliverance and victory over their enemies, and also the song of the Lamb, which is the experience of living a life of sacrificing of self (Revelation 14:3; 15:3).

6. All of the 144,000 gain the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name (Revelation 15:2).

We can see that the 144,000 are a group of righteous Christians who embody the Father's character and are living in the end times, experiencing great tribulation and the seven final plagues. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is given to those who keep God's commandments, including the 4th (John 14:15–17).

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