The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the only book of prophesy in the NT.
It is considered one of the most difficult books in the Bible to understand.
It takes a lot of time to study the passages of this prophetic book. It requires patience and a teachable spirit to grasp its contents.
The 144,000 is one of these difficult passages.
Many people have attempted to put their interpretation on these passages about the 144,000 and it doesn't make sense or line up with the rest of the passages associated in the book of Revelation concerning the 144,000.
As a rule, literal interpretation is to be accepted unless otherwise noted.
In Revelation chapter 7, we see the first mention of the 144,000.
12,000 out of each tribe of the nation of Israel were sealed in their foreheads.
Then in Revelation 9 we see this....
Revelation 9:1-4 (NKJV) Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads."
The only ones that have the seal of God on their foreheads were the 144,000.
The next time that we see a mention of the 144,000 is in the 14th chapter.
Did you catch it?
14, 144,000.
Is it just a coincidence for the 144,000 to be mentioned in the 14th chapter.
7 plus 7 is 14.
The first mention of the 144,000 is in the 7th chapter. Coincidence?
Nonetheless, we see that the 144,000 is with the Lamb and we see that the Father's name is what's on their foreheads. Did you also notice that the 144,000 are not on the earth but they were redeemed from the earth.
How did they get from the earth to enter into heaven?
Good question for which the Bible doesn't give us a clue or a definitive conclusive answer.
But notice this passage.
Revelation 14:3-5 (NKJV) "...who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God."
The Lord Jesus mentions men being eunuchs in Matthew 19:11-12 (NKJV)
"But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
Now many have interpreted that the ministry of the 144,000 as those who would be preaching the gospel on the earth but we don't see a concrete passage of Scripture that undeniably say that they would be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But we can't rule it out either.
Recap.
So the 144,000 were sealed on the earth. After the breaking of the 5th seal by the Lord Jesus, the locust from the bottomless pit comes to torment men for 5 months, EXCEPT those that have the seal of the Father on their foreheads.
Then in the 14th chapter, the 144,000 are in heaven before the throne of God, the four living creatures, the 24 elders, singing a song that they only knew and that's the last we hear about the 144,000 in the Book of Revelation.
Were they killed?
If they were redeemed from the earth, were they taken from the earth like the church was raptured before the Antichrist appeared? Were they taken from the earth as Enoch? Were they taken into heaven like the two witnesses?
Is it possible that the 144,000 did preach the gospel and became martyrs?
It remains to be seen.
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