The 144,000-- Who really are they???

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Permalink Reply by Desmond Burke on October 15, 2010 at 7:34pm

Don't worry, strive to be in the 144 000. Never the lest remember the time of Noah, eight enter the
ark(the righteous living) methuselah was righteous.(meaning of his death then the judgement)
Enoch translation was an encouragement to those who would continue the work of spreading
the gospel.

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Permalink Reply by Stewart on October 15, 2010 at 8:15pm

I think I share your views on this subject Desmond.

"Our Saviour asks the question, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8), implying that true faith would be almost extinct." (Heavenly Places p.105)

I hold the view that the 144,000 is a literal number, and that the "great multitude" are ALL the resurrected and translated saints.

Revelation 7:9.
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands".

When John writes "after this", I understand that he is saying "after" the sealing of the 144,000, "after" the winds are loosed, "after" the plagues have swept through the earth, and the first resurrection has taken place, then he sees the "great multitude".

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Permalink Reply by Desmond Burke on October 15, 2010 at 9:14pm

Brother Stewart, look at Matthew.20:6, other their represent the 144 000, now notice what happen
in vs 8, the reward is from the last labourers to the first. yet, all are rewarded (eternal life).

The other were called just before the twelve hour. Therefore it is a call within a called. 16 millionseventhday Adventist is a literal number, what about a fraction of that (Remnant).144 000 must
be literal.

Remember this quote" many shall put to sleep"

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Permalink Reply by James A Kalua on November 12, 2010 at 9:39am

Brother Burke Thank you for mentioning Matthew 20. I will share with you and all those who are following this discussion on the 144k. Using Matthew 20 as the starting point. The study is a bit lengthy.

When we consider the penny of Matthew 20, from the view point as receiving eternal life and eternal life comes at the end of time. Then it opens up a whole new vista such as one we have never seen before.

This parable turns into a millennial day rather than a regular 24 hr. day. It is referring working in a vineyard in the fall during harvest time because the workers are hired so late in the day. When workers are hired late in the day, it is because the crushing of the grapes is on. In this day and age this work is 24/7 until the harvest is done. When the harvest in done: the vineyard owner celebrates a harvest moon feast(15th day of the lunar month). This coincides, within the time frame of the Feast of Tabernacles.

What happen 500 years ago? It was the beginning of the Reformation. The reformers would be the early morning workers and the 11th hour workers would be those preaching the third angels message at the end of time
.
Here are some statements from Ellen White out of the Great Controversy, which gives the parable the probability that it could be used as millennial.

"Except among the Waldenses, the word of God had for ages been locked up in languages known only to the learned; but the time had come for the Scriptures to be translated and given to the people of different lands in their native tongue. The world had passed its midnight. The hours of darkness were wearing away, and in many lands appeared tokens of the coming dawn ."

"In the fourteenth century arose in England the "morning star of the Reformation." John Wycliffe was the herald of reform... The Great Controversy, page 80.

So perished God's faithful light bearers (Huss and Jerome). But the light of the truths which they proclaimed--the light of their heroic example--could not be extinguished. As well might men attempt to turn back the sun in its course as to prevent the dawning of that day which was even then breaking upon the world." GC. Page115

"Steadfast to the gospel, the Bohemians waited through the night of their persecution, in the darkest hour still turning their eyes toward the horizon like men who watch for the morning." GC. Page 119

"In France, before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer, the day had already begun to break. One of the first to catch the light was the aged Lefevre.

In 1512, before either Luther or Zwingli had begun the work of reform, Lefevre wrote: "It is God who gives us, by faith, that righteousness which by grace alone justifies to eternal life."--Wylie, b. 13, ch. 1. GC. Page 212

“The day had already begun to break” in 1512 as the early morning, could 2012, be the beginning of the setting sun? Wouldn’t this be about the time the 144k would be proclaiming the “hour of his judgment had come”? Rev.4:6,7

Since the 144k is the first fruit of the living, and as first fruit, they go into judgment first. The verdict is they are holy and righteous, therefore they are called virgins. They have and proclaim the pure gospel in preparation for the harvest

Here are two lessons from the book of nature.
1. A lesson from the black berries: in the late spring when the black berry patch is red with berries, there are a few fully matured black berries scattered throughout the berry patch, this is the first fruit of the patch. Judgment is pronounced on the entire patch according to the first fruit. If the first fruit are large, the flavor is good and juicy sweet, then in a week or so, depending if there is warm weather, the patch will be full of black berries ready for harvest.

a. The 144k as the first fruit would be spread throughout the world as the first fruit of the black berries is dispersed throughout the berry patch.

2. Lessons from the grapes: As it goes with the first fruit of the black berries, so it is with the first fruit of the grapes. But the method of harvesting is different. While harvesting black berries may be random, not so with the grapes. The grapes in this day and age are up on long rows of trellises making it easier for the workers to harvest it in a very organized and methodical way.
a. In some ways the Grape Harvest is a prophecy of the time of trouble.
b. When it comes time to harvest the grapes, after the first fruit had been tested, the workers only harvest the cluster of grapes that is closes to the main vine (Jesus says I am the vine). These grapes are larger, it has more juice and the sugar content is higher. Those who are closer to Christ bear the fruits of the Spirit. A testimony against the world.

i. Grape juice in Deut.32:14…pure blood of the grape

ii. Rev.17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

iii. Dan. 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue(remnant) with his feet;(the old way of making grape juice by stomping the grapes with the feet.)


1. Grape harvest time is called the 'Crushing Time'.

iv. Rev. 12: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant (residue) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

v. Rev.13: [7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
[8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

vi. Rev.14: 13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” These are those who die in the three angel’s message.

1. From my research, my understanding is, this is where the great multitude comes from.

From the harvest: the great tribulation. Rev.7:14

a. Can you imagine the 144k is being blamed for all this carnage because of the three angels’ message?

c. The grapes developing further away from the main vine are left on the branches and will mature a month after the harvest. These grapes are left for the birds.

i. Rev. 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God


Does the Bible teach about a Special Resurrection anywhere else besides Dan 12:1?


Yes, in Matthew 20: [8] So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
[9] And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

• The 11th hour workers will deal with the Sabbath issue. Whereas the early reformers failed on the Sabbath issue at the council of Trent, when it was pointed out to them, by the Catholic Church, if they believed in “scripture and scripture only” they should be keeping the 7th day of the week as the Sabbath instead of insisting to worship on first day of the week: which the church had changed from worshiping on the 7th day to the first day of the week. Therefore the reformers themselves were guilty of following the traditions of the Church. Thus a deadly wound and not a fatal one.


The 144k will deliver the fatal blow and live to tell about it. Under the sub title: Protestant Victory Almost Won, But Lost, Why? http://www.yashanet.com/library/reformf.htm


Special Resurrection takes place on the Day of Atonement. And the General Resurrection which is far greater in number: on the Feast of Tabernacles.

Special Resurrection on the Day of Atonement


Ellen White says:

Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. GC 1911 pg 637

[jk]Covenant of Peace given on the Day of Atonement

o This feast (Feast of Tabernacles) was to be pre-eminently an occasion of rejoicing. It occurred just after the great Day of Atonement, when the assurance had been given that their iniquity should be remembered no more. At peace with God, they now came before him to acknowledge his goodness and to praise him for his mercy..PP pg.540

o With sacred song and thanksgiving the worshipers celebrated this occasion. A little before the feast (Feast of Tabernacles) was the Day of Atonement, when, after confession of their sins, the people were declared to be at peace with Heaven. Thus the way was prepared for the rejoicing of the feast. DA pg.448

o In like manner, when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God’s people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness. (covenant of peace completed) GC 1911 Pg658

“to hear God’s covenant of peace”

o Rev.14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

o Rev.19 [10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 God cannot say this about the early reformers or any of those who died believing in Christ to the best of their knowledge and kept Sunday. This is the reason why the early reformers are paid last and are resurrected in the general resurrection on the feast of tabernacles. These people will keep their first Sabbath on the seven days journey to heaven.

 The Feast of Tabernacles is seven days long. Lev. 23:34


 God can refer this statement only to the 144k and those who died in the 3 angels message: who are now resurrected to hear it. Not only will they hear it, they will see The Ten Commandments portrayed in the heavens. GC, 639

• What would these people say to Christ if the early reformers, the fathers of the protestant movement were resurrected with the 11th hour workers? They would say we know these people to be our church fathers and they were Sunday keepers, what’s up with this picture. Or how would the early reformers feel when they see the Ten Commandments displayed in the sky?

• Rev. 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,..

The host (those who died in the 3rd angels message/ the great multitude/the camp),
o This host, as Ellen White calls them, is taken to heaven for this is what the camp symbolized at the end of the Day of Atonement. The Vail was taken away because of the blood sprinkled on it throughout the year and the camp was at peace with God in preparation for the Feast of Tabernacles while the fit man was out in the wilderness with the goat.

1. God’s tabernacle dwelt in the middle of the camp without sin and this situation points to proclamation by the revelator. Rev. 21 [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
o As the fit man was separated from the camp so will the 144k be separated from the newly resurrected host (the camp). This host will enter heaven and yes the 144k will be left behind on this earth/wilderness to deal with Satan still in their mortal state after probation closed and there is no mediator on their behalf: just as Christ had no mediator on his behalf.

o Satan will point to 144k as the lost because they are left behind. But they have the assurance that Christ is coming back not for them only: but for all those who died in the faith from Adam on and the day and hour of the coming of Christ is given to them by the Father.

Change of the Priestly Garment

Just as Aaron changed his priestly garment at the close of the day of atonement so will Christ change his priestly garment at the close of the anti-typical day of atonement.
• Lev. 16 [23] And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
• …Then we heard the voice of God which shook the heavens and earth, and gave the 144,000 the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. Then the saints were free, united and full of the glory of God, for he had turned their captivity. And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood and he laid off his priestly garment and put on his kingly robe, took his place on the cloud which carried him to the east where it first appeared to the saints on earth, a small black cloud, which was the sign of the Son of Man. While the cloud was passing from the Holiest to the east which took a number of days, the Synagogue of Satan worshiped at the saints feet… Ellen G. Harmon. The Day-Star March 14, 1846


In: Chapter 40—God’s People Delivered

[jk]There is an invisible line that separates the anti-typical Day of Atonement from the anti-typical Feast of Tabernacles.

The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest thunder His words roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of victory.

The Anti-typical Day of Atonement is above this line.
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[jk]This line separates the anti-typical Day of Atonement from the anti-typical Feast of Tabernacles
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The Anti-typical Feast of Tabernacles is below this line.

Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which…

Translation of the 144k

Lev.16:26 "And he(fit man) who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.

The living righteous are changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. GC 645

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Permalink Reply by James A Kalua on November 29, 2010 at 6:19am

http://www.oceansidejc.org/sukkotmish/Mishna05.htm



Feast of In-gathering/ Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles Symbolically Points Toward the Second Coming.


Lev.31: [10] And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
[11] When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.


Isa. 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God;...NKJV


“When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God...” for the anti-typical feast of tabernacles. This is when all the redeemed will appear before the Lord without sin at the second coming.

On the fifteenth day of this seventh month

Lev. 23:33 The Lord spoke to Moses: 23:34 “Tell the Israelites, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Temporary Shelters 50 for seven days to the Lord. 23:35 On the first day is a holy assembly; you must do no regular work. 51 23:36 For seven days you must present a gift to the Lord. On the eighth day there is to be a holy assembly for you, and you must present a gift to the Lord.


In the seventh month came the Feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering. This feast acknowledged God’s bounty in the products of the orchard, the olive grove, and the vineyard. It was the crowning festal gathering of the year. The land had yielded its increase, the harvests had been gathered into the granaries, the fruits, the oil, and the wine had been stored, the first fruits had been reserved, and now the people came with their tributes of thanksgiving to God, who had thus richly blessed them. PP540

· the first fruits had been reserved,

· Olive: oil = 144,000 first fruit of the living

· Grapes: juice = those who died in the third angels message. First fruit of the New Testament.

The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth his reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into his garner. At that time the wicked will all be destroyed. PP 541

The people of Israel praised God at the Feast of Tabernacles, as they called to mind his mercy in their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and his tender care for them during their pilgrim life in the wilderness. They rejoiced also in the consciousness of pardon and acceptance, through the service of the day of atonement, just ended. But when the ransomed of the Lord shall have been safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan, forever delivered from the bondage of the curse, under which “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22), they will rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Christ’s great work of atonement for men will then have been completed, and their sins will have been forever blotted out. Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 542


Christ Understood the True Significance of the Feast of Tabernacles

Three times a year the Jews were required to assemble at Jerusalem for religious purposes. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, Israel’s invisible Leader had given the directions in regard to these gatherings. During the captivity of the Jews, they could not be observed; but when the people were restored to their own land, the observance of these memorials was once more begun. It was God’s design that these anniversaries should call Him to the minds of the people. But with few exceptions, the priests and leaders of the nation had lost sight of this purpose. He who had ordained these national assemblies and understood their significance witnessed their perversion… . The Desire of Ages, Page 447


When He spoke these words, Jesus was in the court of the temple specially connected with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles. In the center of this court rose two lofty standards, supporting lampstands of great size. After the evening sacrifice, all the lamps were kindled, shedding their light over Jerusalem. This ceremony was in commemoration of the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert, and was also regarded as pointing to the coming of the Messiah. At evening when the lamps were lighted, the court was a scene of great rejoicing. Gray-haired men, the priests of the temple and the rulers of the people, united in the festive dances to the sound of instrumental music and the chants of the Levites.

In the illumination of Jerusalem, the people expressed their hope of the Messiah’s coming to shed His light upon Israel. But to Jesus the scene had a wider meaning. As the radiant lamps of the temple lighted up all about them, so Christ, the source of spiritual light, illumines the darkness of the world. Yet the symbol was imperfect. That great light which His own hand had set in the heavens was a truer representation of the glory of His mission.. The Desire of Ages, Page 463



The Mishnah 4 compared with the writings of E. G. White.


Mishnah 4 type: Pious men and men of good deeds used to dance before them with burning torches in their hands and sang before them songs and praises. And the Levites on harps, and on lyres, and with cymbals, and with trumpets and with other instruments of music without number upon the fifteen steps leading down from the Court of the Israelites to the Women's Court, corresponding to "The Fifteen Songs of Ascent" in the Psalms; upon them the Levites used to stand with musical instruments and sing hymns.

Type: With sacred song and thanksgiving the worshipers celebrated this occasion. A little before the feast was the Day of Atonement, when, after confession of their sins, the people were declared to be at peace with Heaven. Thus the way was prepared for the rejoicing of the feast. "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever" (Ps. 106:1) rose triumphantly, while all kinds of music, mingled with shouts of hosanna, accompanied the united singing. The temple was the center of the universal joy. Here was the pomp of the sacrificial ceremonies.
Here, ranged on either side of the white marble steps of the sacred building, the choir of Levites led the service of song. DA 448

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Mishnah 4 type: And two priests stood at the Upper Gate which led down from the Israelites' Court to the Court of the Women with two trumpets in their hands.

Mishnah 4 type: At cock-crow, they sounded a prolonged blast, a quavering note, and a prolonged blast. (For now, the hour of Christ coming has been delegated to a rooster, until the Father announces the hour of His Sons coming Himself.)

Type: At the first dawn of day, the priests sounded a long, shrill blast upon their silver trumpets, and the answering trumpets, and the glad shouts of the people from their booths, echoing over hill and valley, welcomed Page 449 the festal day. DA

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Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance: Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man's hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it

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draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a "Man of Sorrows," to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. "Faithful and True," "in righteousness He doth judge and make war." And "the armies which were in heaven" (Revelation 19:11, 14) follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems filled with radiant forms--"ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. "His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. GC.641

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Mishnah 4 type: When they arrived at the tenth step they sounded a prolonged blast, a quavering note, and a prolonged blast.

Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance: Before His presence "all faces are turned into paleness;" upon the rejecters of God's mercy falls the terror of eternal despair. "The heart melteth, and the knees smite together, . . . and the faces of them all gather blackness." Jeremiah 30:6; Nahum 2:10. The righteous cry with trembling: "Who shall be able to stand?" The angels' song is hushed, and there is a period of awful silence. Then the voice of Jesus is heard, saying: "My grace is sufficient for you." The faces of the righteous are lighted up, and joy fills every heart. And the angels strike a note higher and sing again as they draw still nearer to the earth. GC 641

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Mishnah 4 type: When they reached the Forecourt, they blew a prolonged blast, a quavering note, and a prolonged blast.


Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance: Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: "Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!" Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. And the whole earth shall ring with the tread of the exceeding great army of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55. And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory. GC.644

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Mishnah 4 type: They kept up prolonged blasts and proceeded until they reached the gate that led out to the east;


Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance:

Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, "Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise." Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, "Alleluia!" as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. {EW 16.1}

The living righteous are changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels "gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers' arms. Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God.

On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the wheels cry, "Holy," and the wings, as they move, cry, "Holy," and the retinue of angels cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." And the redeemed shout, "Alleluia!" as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem.GC.645

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Type: Then the priest dipped from the flowing waters of the Kedron a flagon of water, and, lifting it on high, while the trumpets were sounding, he ascended the broad steps of the temple, keeping time with the music with slow and measured tread, chanting meanwhile, "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." Ps. 122:2.

Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance: We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. Maranatha (1976), page 305, paragraph 2

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Mishnah 4 type: They used to repeat the words, 'We are for the Eternal and to the Eternal our eyes are turned.'

Anti-type, the unseen, the true significance: Before entering the City of God, the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state. The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their King, whose form rises in majesty high above saint and angel,

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whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love. Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him, every eye beholds His glory whose "visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own "new name" (Revelation 2:17), GC.

Isa. 51 [11] Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away

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Last vision of E.G. White.

Statement made by E.G. White at her dinner table at St. Helena, Sanitarium, Calif., and reported by her stenographer Jennie L. Freeland.

“All heaven is astir making preparations for the coming of the Lord. When Jesus comes, not only the angels come with Him, but representatives from all over God’s universe will line the way on either side, from earth to the planet where they are to be entertained. They were all lined up on both sides, each one anxious to catch the first glimpse of the triumphant throng which Jesus was leading upward.

“The representatives from all over God’s universe which are to witness the triumphant are making preparation for their entertainment on the planet where they are to spend the first Sabbath.

“They are bringing fruits from all parts of the universe, and from all other worlds, storing them on this one planet, for the Sabbath entertainment of the redeemed.”

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Permalink Reply by llanro on October 15, 2010 at 10:38pm

Most but not all are written in symbolic language. They obviously represent God's last day Israel, government and church, .because to get their number you have to multiply twelve times twelve. They will comprise the last day purified leadership of the house of God. But they are not the only ones to be saved from among the living. Remember, there is the great multitude of Rev.7:9, which no man could number.


"The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus' coming, and delivering everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest
thunder His words roll through the earth.

He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words
as they came from the mouth of Jehovah and rolled through the earth like peals
of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. At the end of every sentence the
saints shouted, "Glory! Hallelujah!"

The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.

The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came
down from Sinai. The wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is
pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there
is a mighty shout of victory.

Then commenced the jubilee, when the land should rest. A glorious light shone upon them [the saints]. How beautiful they then looked! All marks of care and weariness were
gone, and health and beauty were seen in every countenance. Their enemies,
the heathen around them, fell like dead men; they could not endure the light
that shone upon the delivered, holy ones. This light and glory remained upon
them, until Jesus was seen in the clouds of heaven."(Maranatha p. 288)

Whereas, the great multitude live through all the end time events including the up-coming time of trouble(great tribulation-verse 14) and the 4th plague(verse 16)-so they must be living saints also who will be translated w/o seeing death like the 144T.Their difference from 144T (numbered saints from Israel(SDA)?-they come from ...
Rev. 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude (Gentile), which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; They certainly not the dead saints from time of Abel.

Therefore, this great multitude are to be the fruits of labor by 144T during the Sunday Law(Mark of the Beast)-they come from the world. They will be the ones who will suffer the persecution(that cannot buy or sell w/o the Mark of the Beast).
" The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. We came near having this realized in California a short time since; but this was only the threatening of the blowing of the four winds. As yet they are held by the four angels. We are not just ready. There is a work yet to be done, and then the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon the earth. That will be a decisive time for God's children, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Now is our opportunity to work. {5T 152.2} "-This was not imposed yet during Sis White's time because the 144T were not sealed yet...

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Permalink Reply by llanro on October 16, 2010 at 12:01am

Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God's professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."
267

" I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place--when
195
the mighty angel will come down from heaven and unite with the third angel in closing up the work for this world. My message is that our only safety is in being ready for the heavenly refreshing, having our lamps trimmed and burning.--1SM 192 (1892). {LDE 194.3} "

So, there are two closing work.First for His church then for the world.


Therefore, two sealings, and two close of probations.
Remember during the First Pentecost? The Jewish church was closed first, yet still open for the gentile. Type and anti-type.

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Permalink Reply by Margaretha Tierney on October 16, 2010 at 8:15pm

Dear Tony, Thanks for your comment about symbolism and narrative. It is very important. I agree entirely that the number 144,000 is symbolic. This being the case, we do not need to be concerned about numbers -- just with people becoming like Christ our righteousness. Blessings. Margaretha

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Permalink Reply by iamrobhualdjr on October 26, 2010 at 4:03am

In studying the bible sometimes we think that we knew it all as it is written in but we often found in the wrong interpretations.. Rev.7 however is the gathering of different groups of people.. one is from the 12 tribes of Israel then on the other is coming from nations,kindred,tongues etc.. If we consider the story of the ancient Israel then we will have the knowledge of this gathering... We should remember that in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah, king Sennakerib of Assyria scattered already the 10 tribes of the northern portion of the kingdom.. then in the time of Jesus the remaining 2tribe kingdom is being scattered by the Romans for rejecting Jesus as the messiah..(see great controversy 1st page for the reference).. This is to inform us that the ancient Israelites is already lost their real identity.. but sister white tells us that we the SDA's are the modern Israelites... meaning the first gathering is first to us as Peter record it (1Peter 4:17).. then regarding the great multitude.. they are not Israelites but came from other denomination.. Lets just study it further.. God bless..

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Permalink Reply by Desmond Burke on October 16, 2010 at 9:16pm

Then the angel said, 'You must go back, and if you are faithful, YOU with* the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.'"--Early Writings, pp. 39, 40.

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Permalink Reply by Desmond Burke on October 16, 2010 at 9:23pm

"with is different from among"

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Permalink Reply by sky on October 26, 2010 at 10:39am

The 144,000 are the remnant. But before they become the 144,000, who shall go through the time of Jacob's trouble after the close of pobation and be translated without seeing death, these must receive both the early and latter rain and take part in giving the loud cry to the world and overcome the beast and its image Thus they will receive the final seal of God at the close of probation. They will thus have been strengthened and they will be prepared for the time of Jacob's trouble.

sky

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