MidnightCall Magazine
In this issue:
- Hear theWord of the Lord — By Thomas Lieth
- FirstThessalonians 3 and the Rapture — By Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.
- Popular Prophecy:CheckingDogmaTwice — By Wilfred Hahn
News From Israel MagazineIn this issue:
- Why Jerusalem is Jewish — By Arno Froese
- ON THE HORIZON:
- Analysis: Birthright Needs to Transform on Larger Scale
- Israel Praises Turkish Authority for Preventing Hezbollah Attack
- Relationship with American Jews Is Changing
- A Festival of Discrimination—Funded by the EU
- The Cyrus Cylinder
The 144,000
Dear Arno Froese,
I am again researching a subject for our upcoming newsletter and, as in the past, I pose a question to twenty-four (24) prominent, well-known pastors and preachers of the Gospel, collect their answers and put them into newsletter form as the “feature of
the month.”
The questions for this particular edition pertains to the 144,000 Jewish witnesses from the 12 tribes of Israel mentioned in Revelation 7:3-8 and Revelation 14:1-5. My questions are as follows:
1. Are these 144,000 to witness to the Jewish people only or will they also witness to the Gentiles and all who are left behind after the Rapture?
2. Will they be located exclusively in Israel or, since there are Jews in nearly all countries of the world, will they be located all over the world?
3. God selected 144,000 but will they be protected from the Antichrist and will the 144,000 remain unharmed until the end of the Tribulation Period?
4. I assume these 144,000 will be Jews who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I know “with God all things are possible” but 144,000 living Jews that are not defiled by women? So will some come from other parts of the world or will they be old or deceased Jews who are resurrected from the dead?
I thank you so much for participating in my survey/interview. You may write, fax or e-mail your responses. And I know my small flock will benefit from your biblical knowledge and insight.
Dick Ainsworth, New Franklin, MO
Answer: It is generally assumed that the 144,000 will be evangelists who preach the Gospel. That conclusion is drawn from Revelation 7, which describes the 12 tribes being sealed, followed by verse 9, which shows the great multitude of all nations, kindred, people, and tongues that stood before the throne and the Lamb. But unless I’m missing something, I do not see any scriptural evidence that the 144,000 are preaching the Gospel. We read in Chapter 14 that they are in heaven, and the text specifically says that they “were redeemed from the earth.” Doubtless these are Jewish people from the 12 tribes of Israel. Then it says, “These are they which are not defiled with woman for they are virgins.” This refers to their purity, meaning they did not participate in Churchianity, which I believe will be very active during the Great Tribulation. Churches, synagogue , mosques and other socalled houses of worship will be filled. I understand the words “virgin” and “woman” with 2 Corinthians 11:2: “ For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” This speaks of the spiritual position not being defiled by the “woman.” And that woman is, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” ( Revelation 17:5).
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