The 144,000

2023-08-24

The Jehovah’s Witnesses believed their members were the 144,000 in Revelation. When their numbers exceeded that many, it was their elite “little flock” that comprised that number. But who really are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation?

After the first six seals were broken and heaven opened in preparation for the Lord’s coming, we see that there is a pause to ensure that 144,000 people would be sealed with the seal of God: “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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Revelation 7:2-3). These 144,000 will be special servants of God.

We know there are 144,000 of them: “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” (Revelation 7:4). Moreover, we see these are people of the tribes of Israel. This means they are not Gentiles who got saved. These are ethnically Jewish. To ensure this interpretation, the Bible says that this group is divided into 12,000s from the 12 different tribes of Israel. (Dan is missing and Ephraim is called Joseph).

In the second half of Revelation, the narrative is repeated, and we learn a little more. We see them with Jesus the Lamb on Mount Zion: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). This seal is the Father’s name, which includes His authority.

These men learn and sing a new song that only they knew. “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3).

These 144,000 are all unmarried men and closely follow Jesus. “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4). They were taken from among men and were first fruits. This could mean they were the first of the Jewish revival in turning to Jesus Christ, since we normally think of the first fruits as the believers at Pentecost.

These were men of dignity and spoke truth. “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:5).

If you are a woman, married, or not Jewish, you are not one of these 144,000. It will be only on the eve of Jesus’ coming that these men will be revealed. They may be instrumental in turning Israel to Jesus during the wrath period.