144 000 Servants (Witnesses) - Will 48 000 (One Third) be Martyred?
(Revelation 6:9-11) When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne. 10 They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?
11 Then they were each given a long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the NUMBER SHOULD BE COMPLETE of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
I would like to share some thoughts on the 144 000 servants/bond slaves in Revelation (chapters 7 and 14), especially raising the question of whether a fixed number are likely to be martyred. This is not an easy topic, but given the Islamic State (IS) related persecution and killing of people in the Middle East, we need to look at this - something that will shortly and quickly come to pass. I would like to cover the following ground:
Who are the 144 000 servants? And why 144 000?
When are the 144 000 servants sealed?
What is the link to the Rapture?
When does the ministry of the 144 000 servants take place?
How do the 144 000 servants link to the Two Witnesses (Martyrs)
The six witnesses to the Transfiguration of Jesus
The principle of (at least) two to three witnesses confirming a word
Does the Book of Revelation indicate whether there is a fixed number of martyrs?
Will all the 144 000 be martyred?
What would happen to those servants/witnesses who remain alive?
Are there two groups of 144 000 servants?
Heaven’s view - the Lamb’s entourage of 144 000!
Two Martyrs (Witnesses) and 144 000 Servants/Witnesses
By way of clarification, it is worth noting the titles and roles of the Two Witnesses and the 144 000 Servants:
The Two Witnesses are first and foremost MARTYRS (Greek Martus), rather than Prophets - but the POWER of PROPHECY is given to them for 31/2 years (in Sackloth!!).
(Revelation 7:3,4) Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have SEALED THE BOND SERVANTS of our God upon their foreheads. 4 I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000.
The 144 000 are NAMED as SERVANTS (as above), from the Greek Word Servant or Slave. So they are in some respects misnamed as Witnesses! However, clearly their role is as WITNESSES - especially witnesses of the TWO WITNESSES.
Who are the 144 000 servants? And why 144 000?
The 144 000 Servants are drawn from the Tribes of Israel - I will not cover the issue of why Dan and Ephraim. I do believe they are literally from the Tribes of Israel - lineage not known to man, but known to God!!
As for the 144 000, there are many others who are more skilful at discerning the reason for this number. I can simply note that it is clearly (12*12)*1000 - a strong foundation and force!! Jesus appointed 12 disciples, then 70 others - although some translations give this number as 72. What is also clear is that 82 or 84 disciples (12+70/72) would have been enough for the ministry to Israel at the time - but many, many more would be needed to reach the world today!
Using the 84 number, there are 2000 TIMES MORE in the 144 000!
I used to struggle with the need for 144 000 Servants in a world of MASS MEDIA - getting more rapid all the time. Now I understand - Internet and other media censorship will prevent and distort the GOSPEL! Consider the Chinese Internet control below. Furthermore, terror related security tightening across the world will make it much easier to target and possibly persecute individuals and organisations, including fundamentalists and their Churches!!
(from Wikipedia) The apparatus of China's Internet control is considered more extensive and more advanced than in any other country in the world. The governmental authorities not only block website content but also monitor the Internet access of individuals.
When are the 144 000 Servants Sealed/What is the Link to the Rapture?
(Revelation 7:2,3) Then I saw a second angel coming up from the East (the rising of the sun) and carrying the seal of the living God. 3 Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads.
The important aspect of the Sealing of the 144 000 is that it appears to come during a pause in judgments - Harm neither…until we have sealed. More importantly, immediately after the listing of witnesses from the Tribes of Israel we read (Revelation 7:9) that a great host that no one could number APPEARS in HEAVEN!!! These came out of great TRIBULATION/PERSECUTION. So the sealing of the 144 000 (Messianic Jews) is apparently completed just before the Rapture!!
(Revelation 7) 9. After this I looked and a VAST HOST APPEARED which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
14 I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
I personally believe that the Rapture of the Bride will precede that of the broader Body of Christ. This great host could well be the second Rapture of the Body of Christ - those who will endure (great) persecution/tribulation - at the end of the Church Age, albeit not as part of the seven years of Jacob’s Trouble! While such persecution this seems improbable from a Western perspective, it is (sadly) a present reality for many Christians in countries such as Iraq and Syria today (and many other countries).
When does the ministry of the 144 000 servants take place? How do the 144 000 servants link to the Two Witnesses (Martyrs)
(Revelation 11) 3 I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1,260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth. 4 These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands which stand before the Lord of the earth.
The 144 000 have been kept on Earth even though they are believers in Yeshua! I believe that the ministry of both the Two Witnesses/Martyrs and the 144 000 takes place in the 31/2 years in Revelation 11 - the first half of the seven year Tribulation period to purify and prepare His people Israel for their Eternal Purpose in the Millennial Kingdom. This time of witnessing culminates in the death and ASCENSION of the two witnesses.
9 For three and a half days men from the races and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be put in a tomb.
11 But after three and a half days, by God’s gift the breath of life again entered into them, and they rose up on their feet. The two witnesses] heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them, COME UP HERE!! And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into heaven in a cloud.
Many of the 144 000 are likely to be martyred - I will return to this core issue later. What is the message of the Two Witnesses and the 144 000 - the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is coming!! In fact, as we read in verse 15 of Revelation 11, this ascension of the two witnesses into heaven is the very point at which the rule of the World becomes Christ’s Kingdom (see below).
15 The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has NOW COME into the possession and BECOME THE KINGDOM of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!
The Six Witnesses to the Transfiguration of Jesus/Link to End Times
(Matthew 17) And six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am delighted. Listen to Him!
The transfiguration is fascinating and laden with Eternal Truths! Jesus took just three disciples (Peter, James and John). All told there were six witnesses to the Transfiguration, including Jesus as the One Who lives in Eternity. Peter clearly had been bearing witness to the Transfiguration throughout his ministry - as we see in 2 Peter (below). However, James was killed by the sword (Herod) quite early in Acts. This left the minimum number of witnesses to confirm the Truth of the Transfiguration. James shifted from being an earthly to a heavenly witness!! John lived long as the last earthly witness to the Transfiguration.
(2 Peter 1) we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He was invested with honour and glory from God the Father and a voice was borne to Him by the [splendid] Majestic Glory This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased and delight, 18 We heard this voice borne out of heaven, for we were together with Him on the holy mountain.
There is an important end times edge in the Transfiguration. Straight after Transfiguration there was a discussion about whether Elijah would come first. Jesus said some quite powerful words about an Elijah to come (below) - even though the disciples considered that He was speaking about John the Baptist (who said clearly that he was not Elijah). Elijah will come and get everything RESTORED. I believe that the ministry of Elijah will include him being a catalyst in purifying Bride, and the broader Body of Christ.
10 The disciples asked Him, Then why do the Scribes say that Elijah must come first? 11 He replied, Elijah does come and will get everything restored and ready.
The Principle of (at least) Two to Three Witnesses (confirming a word)
(Matthew 18) 15 If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
The principle of confirming words with at least two or three witnesses goes throughout the Bible, so it is only necessary to share Jesus’ words above as an example. For the 144 000 Servants with their role as witnesses of Jesus Christ and the Two Witnesses, this could indicate that (up to) one third could be martyred (as was James as one of the three. However, the principle of a minimum of two witnesses could limit martyrdom.
Does the Book of Revelation indicate whether there is a fixed number of Martyrs?
Will all the 144 000 be Martyred?
(Revelation 6:11) Wait patiently a little while longer, until the NUMBER SHOULD BE COMPLETE of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been
We serve a GREAT MATHEMATICIAN!! We have His Word to guide us, but there are times when we have to acknowledge conjecture on our part. So it is here! Nevertheless, I do believe that the 144 000 will suffer persecution and many will be martyred!! It seems to me unlikely that all the 144 000 would be martyred - just that they would need to be willing to give their lives!! The example of James and the one third ratio is just one possibility.
What does appear clear is that even though the situation in many countries is already dire, including for Christian and Jews, this can be expected to get worse and more widespread. If one third, then the loss of 48000 lives is a large number!!
I am aware that already the number of Christians martyred in any given year is (sadly) already well above this figure.
Many military groups and nations suffered badly in the World Wars - for example, as a young nation fighting in World War I (a long way from home!) Australia had around 61500 fatalities, and over 100 000 Australians have given their lives in Wars.
What we do know from Revelation 6:11 is that there is a certain number of martyrs, including among the 144 000 Servants, hidden in the Mind of God (the One Who knows and cares even when a sparrow falls to the ground). Based on the minimum two witnesses principle (and the early death of James), this could be one third (48 000). The other thing we know from Revelation 20:4 (below) is the main (albeit not the only) way of martyrdom – beheading. This is so poignantly relevant for the world today!!
(Revelation 20:4) Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain with axes [beheaded] for their witnessing to Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived again and ruled with Christ (the Messiah) a thousand years
What would Happen to those Servants/Witnesses who Survive/Remain Alive?
There does not appear to be clear Scriptural guidance on this. However, if the 144 000 represent Israel, then at the time in the when the Abomination that makes desolate is set up (31/2 years into the final seven years), then one may be taken and the other left (Matthew 24:40,41). Put another way, another 48 000 of the 144 000 could be killed/martyred at this point.
What about the remaining 48 000 still alive. There are two possibilities: either they are Raptured around the same time as the Two Witnesses ascend, or they may continue as part of the Jewish remnant which is hidden by the Lord. I lean towards the latter, with the 48 000 strong remnant of the 144 000 Servants ministering to and strengthening the remnant of Israel – in much the same way as the work of Jesus Christ was continued in and by the early Church.
(Zechariah 13:9) I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God.
Are there two groups of 144 000 servants?
(Revelation 7 and Revelation 14)
(Revelation 14) Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 [men] who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; the voice I heard [seemed like the music] of harpists accompanying themselves on their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and before the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin]. No one could learn [to sing] that song except the 144,000 who had been ransomed (redeemed) from the Earth.
4 These are they who have not defiled themselves by relations with women, for they are [pure as] virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These are they who have been ransomed (redeemed) from among men as the FIRSTFRUITS for God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found to be upon their lips, for they are blameless (spotless, without blemish) before the throne of God.
http://www.discoverrevelation.com/Rev_14.html
Whether there are two separate groups of 144 000 is not something that I can address in this (already long) letter. However, I can refer interested Doves to the comments on the Discover Revelation website - link above. It is noted there that most commentators have a tendency to assume that they are identical with the 144,000 described in chapter 7.
This discussion notes that both groups total 144,000, and both groups have something written on their foreheads. However, there some differences are identified:
The Revelation 7 group is specifically Jewish, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. The Revelation 14 group comes "from the Earth" or "from among men."
The Revelation 7 group is sealed with the Father's seal. The Revelation 14 group has the name of both the Father and the Son.
The scene of chapter 7 occurs on the Earth. Chapter 14 takes place in Heaven, but only halfway through the Tribulation.
Additional qualifications for this group (verses 4 and 5), are not recorded in chapter 7. The 144,000 of chapter 7 are "Servants of our God"; the 144,000 of chapter 14 are people "purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb."
Verse 4 tells us "they follow the Lamb wherever he goes", indicating they have been faithful in abandoning their will to the will of Christ during their lifetimes.
In summary, we know from Revelation (chapter 7) that there is a group of 144 000 Jewish Servants/ Witnesses who should be viewed as literally from the Tribes of Israel (hidden from man but known to God). They will (probably) be sealed before the Rapture of the Church and will preach the Coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ in tandem with the Two Witnesses in the first 31/2 years of the seven year Tribulation.
There may be another group of 144 000 Servants (Revelation 14) who minister in the end days of the Church. They could be sealed before the first fruits Rapture of the Bride, but would remain to minister to the left behind Church, working with the Holy Spirit to prepare and purify the Body of Christ across the World!
By way of a personal sign, there is a road (11.5 kilometres long) that is being built on the edge of Canberra (where I live) that will complete a dual carriage way from Sydney and through to South of Canberra. The cost of this road is always put in the media as $288 million (not rounded up or down). Why 2*144 million? Just coincidence or something more? The road is due for completion in late 2015.
Heaven’s View – the Lamb’s Entourage of 144 000!!!
I would like to finish this letter with something simple but wonderful. Can our minds even begin to comprehend the Lamb’s entourage of 144 000! In Revelation 14:4. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These are they who have been ransomed (redeemed) from among men as the FIRSTFRUITS for God and the Lamb.
By way of comparison, the G20 (Group of 20 Countries) meeting will be held in Brisbane, Australia on 15 and 16 November 2014. Up to 4000 delegates (leaders with their entourage) are expected to attend. Just the entourage of the Lamb is 144 000!!!! A vast throng of the Redeemed, that no one can count, will be standing before the Lamb! What glory -He is coming quickly!!
Denis Maranatha!!!!