The book of Revelation says there are “four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back
the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against
any tree” until the 144,000 are sealed.[1]
Jesus had already told us that, at his return, he would
send out his angels to “the four winds”,
to “gather his elect”, and this would
be so complete as to encompass “one end
of heaven to the other”.[2]
This is a beautiful picture of God giving us a perfect
number, 122 x 103, to tell us that he has his elect
covered. Remember, child of God, this perfect, beautiful number of
completeness, that the elect are sealed unto God, and not even the red dragon
can do anything to stop God’s work of making a people in his own image and
likeness.[3]
The sealing of the 144,000 is an easy to remember picture
of this truth: “But God's firm foundation
stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’”.[4]
Revelation shows that, not only does he know those who are his, but he “is
able to save to the uttermost those who
draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for
them.”[5]
The
Lord Jesus Christ has known who are his from before the foundation of the world.[6] He
will not fail to gather those who are his to be with him forever, fully
restored to his own image and likeness.[7]
While we may not understand all the nuances of the prophetic timetable,[8] we
can live by faith in this promise of God that his beloved are sealed before “the great day of
their wrath has come,”[9] so we are never to interpret world events
or life-experiences in a contrary way.
God’s
word says that every believer in Jesus Christ has been “sealed for the day of redemption” by the Holy
Spirit.[10]
The number, 144,000 is one more way for God to remind his children that Jesus
is preparing a home for those who are his,[11]
and nothing in this world will keep him from bringing us home.
The
more we meditate on God’s word, storing up the words of God in our hearts,[12]
living “by every word that
comes from the mouth of God”,[13]
the more we see layer-upon-layer of divine revelation assuring us of this, that
the same Good Shepherd who took David safely through the Valley of the Shadow
of Death,[14]
and went out looking for that one lost sheep that had strayed from the other
ninety-nine,[15]
will shepherd us all the way home to his eternal presence. He cannot fail to do
what he has chosen to do.[16]
One
reason for all these pictures of God gathering to himself all those who belong
to him is that the world is constantly confronting us with discouraging
circumstances. Life is hard. Satan will try to use our distressing
life-experiences to dissuade us from enduring until the end. If he cannot stop
Jesus from claiming us as his own, he will do everything he can to destroy our
witness in this world, all to minimize the glory that Jesus Christ receives.
What
we must keep in mind is the contrast between this world and the next. Jesus
said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”.[17]When
do we see this with our eyes? When Jesus returns. We have seen it in the cross;
we know it by faith; and we will one day see it fulfilled.
God’s
word also says that, in his “presence
there is fullness of joy;”
and at his “right hand are
pleasures forevermore”.[18] The
two together, along with many other Scriptures, assure the believer that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed to us”.[19]
In
such a simple and symbolic number as 144,000, God had given his church on earth
the most easy to remember emblem of hope: “I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one
will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them
to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of
the Father's hand.”[20]
“Sealed unto the day of redemption”! As
the song-writer declared, “What a day,
glorious day, that will be!”[21]
© 2014 Monte Vigh ~
Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise
noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)
[1] Revelation 7:1-8
[2] Matthew 24:31
[3] Revelation 12 brings
this out in more of this book’s beautiful pictures. The plan of God to make a
people in his own image and likeness is revealed in the first book of the Bible
(Genesis 1:26-27). The last book of the Bible assures us that he will do what
he set out to do.
[4] II Timothy 2:19
[5] Hebrews 7:25
[6] Ephesians 1:3-4
[7] I John 3:1-2; Jude
1:24-25
[8] Acts 1:7 ~ Only the Father knows the times and seasons he has set
by his own authority.
[9] Revelation 6:17
[10] Ephesians 4:30
[11] John 14:1-3
[12] Psalm 119:11
[13] Matthew 4:4
[14] Psalm 23
[15] Luke 15:4
[16] Joshua 21:45, 23:14; I
Kings 8:56; Hebrews 10:23, 11:11
[17] John 16:33
[18] Psalm 16:11
[19] Romans 8:18
[20] John 10:28-29
[21] “What a Day That Will
Be” © 1955. Renewed 1983 Ben Speer Music (Admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC)/Jim
Hill composer
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