Who are the 1, 44, 000 in the book of Revelation 7 and 14? (Ch.

Jamkhokai Mate)
Who are the 144000 mention in the book of Revelation? Many cults like Jehovah witnesses and some messianic assume this figure to
themselves. But a question can still be asked who are they? The bible itself gives us the answer and we shall see and follow a sound
exegesis and hermeneutical approach.
Firstly, 144000 are the physical Male descendant of Israel
Rev 7:4: Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5. From the tribe of Judah 12,000
were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6. from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali
12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7. from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar
12,000, 8. From the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. We can see all the
tribes of Israel are listed with 12000 each, but Dan and Ephraim is out the list and the tribe of Joseph replace it. It is interesting to know
that the tribe Levi is again listed. In the OT when God divided the Land for each Tribes Levites were not given a portion as they were the
chosen priest (Number 34) yet in Rev their priesthood is taken away and they are treated as other tribes. There is a wide spread reason to
why Ephraim and Dan are not listed within the tribes mentioned in Rev. It could be because Dan means "judgment" and the implication
of the omission of his name is that those included in the 144,000 will escape the judgment, Gen 49:16-17: Dan shall judge his people
As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse' sheels So that its rider shall fall
backward. Another reason could be because Dan and Ephraim happened to be two tribes who often led their brothers to idolatry. Ive
excerpted some relevant parts: Hosea 7: 1-3 "When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, And the
wickedness of Samaria. For they have committed fraud; a thief comes in; a band of robbers takes spoil outside...The last mention of the
tribe of Dan in the Old Testament can be found in Amos 8:11-14. Within this passage we see God expressing His distaste for His people
Israel to the Prophet Amos 8:14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of
Beersheba lives!. They shall fall and never rise again. We may accordingly remember that Dan was the first tribe to fall to idolatry
after Israel was let into the Promised Land (Judges 18:30: and the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan). As for
Ephraim, he was Joseph's son. Jacob blessed Ephraim and put him ahead of his brother Manasseh (Genesis 48:17-20), meaning that
Ephraim received Joseph's birthright. For all intents and purposes, then, Ephraim is hidden in the list by simply being part of the tribe of
Joseph. Perhaps another explanation why Ephraim is not in the list can be found in Psalms 78:9: The men of Ephraim, though armed
with bows... they did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law vs. 65-67 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man
wakes from the stupor of wine.... Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. Hosea 5:9, 11: Ephraim
will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain. ... Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in
judgment, intent on pursuing idols. The simple reason why Ephraim is missing can be because he was involved in idolatry or the tribe
of Joseph in Rev represents the other missing tribes which are done consistently in the OT. But it seems more likely that the book of
Revelation is concern about their identity rather than their practices. So, the tribe of Joseph could represent the tribe of Dan and Ephraim
to arrive at 12 tribes which can represent all the house of Israel.
Secondly, they are Male unmarried and virgin (Rev 14:4; These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have
kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first
fruits to God and to the Lamb. The Greek word virgin is parthenos simply means physically not having sexual life yet, even Orthodox
Jews Bible says These are those who with nashim (women) are not tameh (unclean, defiled), bochrim ki betullim (physically virgin)
they are. Most of the Messianic and Jehovah Witnesses are married, and even if this is spiritually interpreted most of them were once
Christian (whom they called as pagan) and therefore they cannot be a virgin or undefiled at all. This figure excludes their women and
there is no spiritual way to interpret male virgin in the light of women.
Thirdly, these figures 144000 are in Heaven not on the earth: Many cults like Jehovah witnesses and Sabbatarians (who call
themselves as Messianic) believed they are this figure chosen to reign with the Messiah on this earth. Some even dont believe there is a
place call heaven (detailed is discussed in another article). But John informs us that this people or the chosen people are in heaven not on

this earth: Rev 14:2: And I heard a voice from Heaven.and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their
harps. 3. And they are singing as a new song BEFORE THE THRONE the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders.
And no one was able to learn the song, except the 144000 having been redeemed from the earth. In the First place John experienced his
vision of the events taking place in heaven when he refers to this group. Second the Throne is in Heaven and 144000 are before the
throne in heaven. Rev 4:2: And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in HEAVEN and someone sitting on it), the 24 elders
and four living creature are also before the throne in heaven Rev 4:6, 9: Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of
glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in
back, 9. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and
ever).Therefore, the idea of literal earth interpretation is simply a false assumption.
Fourthly, 1, 44,000 are not only the saved people, Rev 7:9: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one
could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white
robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Myriads of people that no one can numbered are also saved not just 144000
people and that they are all in heaven before the throne which is reinforced again in vs Rev 7:15. "they (uncountable number) are before
the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. The concept that only few or 144000 goes to heaven is smashed down by
John himself.
Fifthly, Gods temple of Rev is in heaven in Rev 11:19: Then God's temple in heaven was opened.and goes on to tell us that in that
Temple is the women who he identified as Covenant in chapter 12. Meanwhile when Rev talks about Mount Zion in chapter 14 it is
precisely a heavenly Jerusalem (Ref Heb 12:22) which he explained it as in Heaven in later verses. In short Rev is an apocalyptic
literature in which John hide or concealed everything he knows in symbol and interpreters are those who knows nothing. In conclusion
144000 is not about messianic members who consider their number as a proof who would reign on the earth. If this is literally interpreted
it would be a future Israelites who would evangelize during the Great Tribulation and cannot be applied to any other group of people.

Some interprets 144,000 as those infants killed by Herod

Some scholars believe that this mysterious figure could be the infants (virgin) that got killed by Herod. We have no idea about the exact
figure of infant that Matthew 2 records. Before I explain what I believe is a logical let me clarify that I do not claim my explanation to be
the final authority on the subject. I am ready to accept and incline if there are better interpretations. I am only willing to simply put in
writing a helpful treatise designed to clarify many misconceptions regarding these male, Jewish virgins who play an important role in the
Time of Jacobs Trouble, i.e. The Tribulation Period.! Firstly, if any member or any cult claims this figure to themselves and if the
person is not a male, then dont bother with the question because its moot at that point. Secondly, ask them from which of the 12 tribes
were they sealed? If they are not a physical Jews their claim is a hoax. God takes 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes (as stated in
Revelation 7) hence equaling the 144,000 total. Now to continue on, lets look at some relevant verses which shed light on the subject
which I claim is to some degree sensible. The first of these verses is found in Jeremiah 31:15: This is what the LORD says: "A voice is
heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.
This is what the LORD says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the
LORD."They will return from the land of the enemy. 17. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come
again to their own border.(Note bold letter are done for emphasis). The only time this prophecy was fulfilled is written in Matthew but
people stop reading half of the prophecy. In Matthew 2:16-18, Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in the coasts thereof, from two years old and
under, Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and
weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. If we now know the
author is quoting Jeremiah 31:15, lets go to that prophecy to better understand what was spoken of and just what part was fulfilled. All
looks to be in order. The verse is almost identical to what Matthews account says. A closer look also tells us that there is more to that
prophecy than that verse. Verses 16-17 of Jer 31 are quite revealing giving us insight into how God intends to use these first martyrs for

the Lord Jesus Christ. The end of verse 16 says, and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. The they of the verse
obviously refers to the children who were slaughtered at the behest of Herod! To continue the thought, look at the next verse 17, which
says, And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. If this slaughter is the
fulfilled prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15, when will the other part of that prophecy be fulfilled? Verses 16-17 complete Jeremiahs
thought. Many times, a prophecy may be fulfilled at one point in time, and in other cases, only a part of the prophecy may be fulfilled
while the remaining part still awaits future fulfillment. Consider the following example: In Luke 4:19, Jesus is in the Temple quoting
Isaiah 61:1-2, but interestingly enough, when one looks at the prophecy found in Isaiah, he will find the clear and purposeful omission
by our Lord in not finishing the prophecy which says, and the day of vengeance of our God; Well now, with the benefit of
hindsight, we understand that Jesus ministry on earth was to bring in the kingdom Israel had been promised, and in so doing, he was
setting the captives free from their sins! He did not plan on executing vengeance his first time around; that will be fulfilled at his Second
Advent! There are many other examples, but for brevity sake, I believe this should satisfy my point sufficiently. Now lets look at the
verse that started me going on this many years ago Revelation 14:4b: These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits
unto God and to the Lamb. The firstfruits? How can these Tribulation Saints after the rapture (where many souls resurrected) be
part of the firstfruits which are connected with Jesus at his ascension? First, Corinthians 15:23 says, But every man in his own
order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christs at his coming. In verse 20 of the same chapter, it also states But now is
Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Lets now look at the verse in its entirety, which says: These
are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth. These
were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are
without fault before the throne of God. (Rev. 14:4-5). As I understand these verses, they are plainly saying that those who ascended up
with Jesus after he rose victoriously from the grave were the firstfruits of the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5). Clearly then,
the firstfruits of Revelation 14 must have something to do with the firstfruits which rose up with Christ. To say they are
the firstfruits of the Tribulation Period would be a far stretch because when were they redeemed from among men.? This, not
to mention that their ministry brings them to the end of that time period, seems highly unlikely that the firstfruits reference has
anything to do with them being the firstfruits of the Time of Jacobs Trouble or at the Tribulation. Another fact to bear in mind is that
they are without fault. Well, if they were killed at two years old, they certainly would be without fault; notice it doesnt say
without sin! Any Bible-believer knows that all men are born with an Adamic nature but not responsible for their sin until an age of
accountability. Romans 5:13b says, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. In addition, James 5:16 tells us to Confess your
faults one to another not your sins! Well here is a perfect example of innocent children (without fault and with no guile) yet
still part of humanity and, thus, providing us with the missing piece to this spiritual puzzle! Thats why the 144,000 are without
fault and guile! Could it be that those innocent, slaughtered children in Matthew 2 are, in fact, these 144,000 Tribulation Jews who
would show up in Revelation 7 & 14, having already been redeemed and sealed by virtue of the time placement of their deaths, would
certainly qualify for being part of the firstfruits? (They are killed prior to Jesus sacrifice at Calvary and, therefore obviously, not part
of the body of Christ but part of the first resurrection.) They were butchered because Herod was trying to kill the Christ child, thus
making them unwitting martyrs for Christ! If we believe Romans 8:28, that all things work together for good for a Christian, is it not
reasonable to think that God, too, does all things with a purpose regarding his people, Israel? To believe this slaughter had no other
significance than just that of a paranoid, megalomaniac is to shortchange Gods power and providence! So when does the remaining
portion of his prophecy receive fulfillment? I believe right here in Revelation when the children return (just as Jeremiah said) with the
Lamb (Jesus), on Mount Sion, sealed and ready to fulfill their ministry during this time of trouble or Tribulation. That is why we can see
them after they accomplished their work during the tribulation they are before the throne in heaven. Indeed Christ is also called Firsts
fruits (plural) and so is this figure; it also says there were purchased among mankind and first fruits to the Lamb. If Christ is the only
person he could be Firstfruit (singular) but it seems like when Christ died he could have taken the souls of this infants who died for Him
for future prophetic fulfillment. As Bible-believers, we have no problem believing in the rapture of the Saints or any other supernatural
occurrence, provided there is scriptural support, amen? As far as the feasibility of that many babies being killed, one only needs to read

the Old Testament where many examples of such slaughters are cited. For example, the battle in 2 Chronicles 28 between Israel and
Judah where, Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one dayWow, did you see that! If that
happened in one day, the reality of Herods decree, as gruesome as it may be, should also be accepted by those who claim to believe
Gods word! Another incident, which is unfathomable, is a battle between the North and South kingdoms of Israel recorded in 2
Chronicles 13. Here, 500,000 men of Israel were slain by Judahs army! This represents more casualties than WW1, WW2, Korean,
Vietnamese, and the Gulf Wars combined! There are other incidents but, again, I believe these will suffice. Thus, the 144,000 figure is
certainly attainable. One last point to consider is those who might argue that Herod had no way of knowing how many to kill or precisely
eliminate 12,000 from each tribe! Well, as far as human reasoning goes, Id be the first to say, Amen! Please bear in mind, Herod had
no understanding that he was fulfilling prophecy, but that never stops our Lord from accomplishing his will! An example is when
Caiaphas, the high priest at the time of our Lords crucifixion, also unknowingly helped fulfill scripture recorded in John 18:14 You
do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. 51. Caiaphas did not say this
on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, That was exactly what Jesus
sacrifice was all about! The fact that Caiaphas was used to help fulfill scripture should cause us Bible-believers to rejoice, proving once
again, Gods providence and will wins out, regardless of mans attempt to thwart! Therefore, Herod did not need to devise a precise
paradigm of killing, but rather a decree to do so, allowing God to turn this atrocity into part of his plan of redemption for Israel! So in
conclusion, I believe the 144,000 Tribulation Saints, who show up with a Lamb upon Mount Sion in Revelation 14, are the innocent,
slaughtered children of Matthew 2, spoken about by the Prophet Jeremiah. Finally here is another line of evidence Ezekiel 37:2-14: He
led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. And he said unto
me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knows. Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and
say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter
into you, and ye shall live: 'I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you
may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'"So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise,
and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon
them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son
of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they
may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an
exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are
dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off (killed) for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And
ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put
my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and
performed it, saith the LORD. [Note: cut off means kill Isa 53:8-9]. Here Ezekiel experienced a vision in which a dried bone come to
alive and were sent back to their own lands. It is interesting that this figure represent the whole nation of Israelite. Notice the wording
resemblance with Rev which John used to describe the 144000. Rev 7:1: After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the
earth, holding back the four winds of the earth,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..There is a striking resemblance what Ezekiel
experienced about the bones coming from four winds and what John experienced from four winds representing both the house of
Israel. This put me to conclude that what Ezekiel vision is about those infants martyr who would show up in the last day of tribulation [if
there will be future tribulation] which the book of Revelation records. Some may disagree with me but I am open with their view if
enough bible verses are cited to back up.