The One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand

Rev. 14:1

I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.


Upon the crystal sea before the throne, ....are gathered the company that have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, "having the harps of God," they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, "the voice of harpers harping, save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb, a song of deliverance.

None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience, an experience such as no other company have ever had. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as "the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments.

But they have been delivered, for they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before God. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."

They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat." Revelation 7:14-16. {Mar 328}

I have heard, and was told on a few occasions, that this subject should not be presented before the people, because it is too controversial. I would like to send you also to a book, a web site, for further study.

http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/haskell_144000.html

It may sound a little far fetched, but when Jesus comes and redeems His people from amongst the billions of people now on earth, it is said that only 144,000 will be redeemed.

In the days of Noah, only 8 remained after the flood.

In the Day's of Moses, only 2 went into the land of Canaan.

Listen to what Sister White says:

Strive to Be Among the 144,000. Rev. 7:9-17 quoted.

Those whom the Lamb shall lead by the fountains of living waters, and from whose eyes He shall wipe away all tears, will be those now receiving the knowledge and understanding revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. . . ...We are to copy no human being. There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the pattern man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model.

Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding we may be changed into His likeness. We may behold Christ to good purpose. We may safely look to Him; for He is all-wise. As we look to Him and think of Him, He will be formed within, the hope of glory.

Let us strive, with all the power that God has given us, to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand (RH March 9, 1905).

We may have an idea when Jesus will come, but if He comes today, will we be among the 144,000.

That is a personal decision that has to be made.

Our prayers are with you all. Amen.