The Biblical Institute

20/31

19 THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND

AS we investigate the third angel’s message, we naturally feel an interest to know if the prophecies anywhere intimate what the effect of this message will be; or what measure of success will attend it. We think we find this clearly indicated in the seventh chapter of Revelation. We have shown that the angel ascending with the seal of the living God here brought to view is the same as the third angel of Revelation 14. And as the result of this work, in Revelation 7, it is declared that 144,000 were sealed as the servants of God. TBI 235.1

But says one, the 144,000 cannot belong to the present generation, or be gathered in the gospel dispensation; for they were sealed out of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. A sufficient answer to this is found in the testimony of James. He, writing in A.D.60, to Christians, and for the benefit of Christians, and carrying us down even to the coming of Christ, addresses his epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. It is evident, therefore, that Christians are counted as belonging to the twelve tribes. TBI 235.2

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
1. What scripture indicates the result of the third angel’s message?
2. With what is the sealing angel of Revelation 7, identical?
3. What is the result of the sealing work of Revelation 7?
4. From whom are the 144,000 gathered?
5. What do some conclude from this?
6. Where do we find an answer?
7. When did James write?
8. For whom and to whom did he write?
9. Under what title does he address them?
10. What does this prove?
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In what sense are they so considered? for there are no genealogies of tribes preserved in this dispensation. Paul illustrates this by a beautiful figure in the eleventh chapter of Romans. He sets forth the people of God in the former dispensation, the literal Israel, under the figure of an olive tree with twelve branches. These branches represented the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. These branches were broken off, which signified that the Jews by rejecting Christ ceased to be God’s people. TBI 235.3

The Gentiles, who accepted Christ, were taken by the Lord as his people; and Paul represents this movement by branches of a wild olive grafted into the tame. Where the natural branches, the Jews, were broken off, there the wild olive, the Gentiles, were grafted in. Now, how did this effect the tree? There were, at first, twelve branches, representing the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; and after they were broken off, and grafts were inserted from the Gentiles, or Christians, there are still twelve branches, or tribes, in the household of faith. TBI 236.1

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
11. Where and by what figure does Paul illustrate this matter?
12. By what are the people of God in the former dispensation represented?
13. What did the twelve branches signify?
14. What became of these branches?
15. What did this illustrate?
16. What then was done?
17. When the Gentiles are grafted in, what is the condition of the tree?
18. What kind of a seed are these Gentiles?
19. Name and explain, the texts which prove that they are a spiritual seed?
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These are not the literal seed, but spiritual; because they are brought in by faith. So we hear Paul saying in Romans 2:28, 29, “He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.” Again, Paul says, Romans 9:6-8, “They are not all Israel which are of Israel; neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” And he adds in Galatians 4:28, that, “We, brethren, [Christians] as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” And he adds in the next verse, that he was born after the Spirit. TBI 236.2

Nothing could be plainer than these testimonies, that there is a spiritual seed, reckoned as the true Israel, perpetuated, not in a literal, but a spiritual, sense. TBI 237.1

Because the twelve tribes, therefore, are mentioned in Revelation from whom the 144,000 are sealed, that is no evidence that they are not taken from the gospel dispensation; or even from the closing portion of it. But we have still clearer evidence to present upon this point. TBI 237.2

The New Jerusalem, which John saw coming down from God out of Heaven, in which there was the throne of the Lamb, as well as the throne of God, will not certainly be considered a Jewish city; for in the twelve foundations were the names of the twelve apostles. But on the twelve gates of that city, as described in Revelation 21:12, there are names written, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. TBI 237.3

Now all the people of God, from Adam to the close of the gospel dispensation, will go into that city through some one of those twelve gates; hence, all will be reckoned, both Jews and Christians, as belonging to some one of the twelve tribes. TBI 237.4

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
20. May the 144,000 therefore be sealed from Christians even at the close of this dispensation?
21. What city did John see coming down from God out of Heaven?
22. Was this a Jewish or a Christian city?
23. What proves it a Christian city?
24. What does it have upon its twelve gates?
25. What does this prove?
26. Where is the genealogy of the tribes now kept?
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No genealogy is kept of those tribes here upon earth, as it is not necessary that men should now understand these distinctions. But Paul speaks of the church of the first born written in Heaven, giving us to understand that the record is kept there. The only object of preserving the tribes distinct in the former dispensation was that the prophecies concerning Christ, who was to spring from a particular tribe, might be fulfilled; and the Jews might thus be able to identify the Messiah. But since Christ has come, that necessity no longer exists; and hence the genealogy of the tribes has been irrecoverably lost. TBI 237.5

This company, the 144,000, are again brought to view in Revelation 14:1-5. And here we have indisputable evidence that they are gathered from the last generation of the living. John says, A Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him, a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads, This name is the same as the seal of God brought to view in Revelation 7; hence this company is the same as the 144,000 of chapter 7. TBI 238.1

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
27. What was the object of preserving the genealogy in the former dispensation?
28. Does that object any longer exist?
29. Where are the 144,000 again brought to view?
30. What conclusion can be drawn from this reference?
31. What does John say of this company?
32. What is the Father’s name?
33. What does this show?
34. From what are this company said to be redeemed?
35. What does this expression prove?
36. To what prophecy do the first five verses of Revelation 14 belong?
37. Through what conflict, therefore, do these 144,000 pass?
38. What is the two-horned beast, and when does he do his work?
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And of these it is said, that they were “redeemed from the earth,” and “redeemed from among men.” This can mean nothing else but the translation from among the living. These first five verses of Revelation 14 belong to chapter 13, and are a continuation of that prophecy. This 144,000 are the ones who pass through the terrible conflict with the two-horned beast power, described in Revelation 13:11-17. But we have shown that this power is a symbol of our own government, is now upon the stage of action, and is the last power which persecutes the church of God. Therefore the 144,000 are the ones who are developed by the third angel’s message, and who will be translated from among men at the second coming of Christ. TBI 238.2

The sealing work of Revelation 7 results in sealing the number here specified; but as this is identical with the third angel’s message, this sealing work has for many years already been going forward; and some whose whole religious experience has been connected with, and is owing to, this work, have fallen asleep since the message commenced. Will they be reckoned with this 144,000? If so, how can it be said that they are redeemed from among men, or translated? TBI 239.1

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
39. To what conclusion does this lead respecting the 144,000?
40. How long has this sealing work been going forward?
41. What has taken place with some who have been brought out by this message?
42. Will they be numbered with the 144,000, or help compose that company?
43. How can they be said to be redeemed from among men?
44. How is it shown that Daniel’s words apply before the general resurrection?
45. At what point are they probably raised?
46. In what condition are they raised?
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We answer, before Christ comes, there is a partial resurrection to take place, according to Daniel 12:2, and Revelation 1:7. Daniel says, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” This is not the general resurrection of either class; for at the general resurrection of the righteous there are no wicked ones to be raised, and at the general resurrection of the wicked there are no righteous ones included. But here is a mixed resurrection, taking some, a few, of both classes; and this occurs in connection with the standing up of Michael, and the closing time of trouble. We, therefore, infer that at this time, probably when the voice of God is heard, Joel 3:16, Hebrews 12:27, and Revelation 16:17, some of the pre-eminently wicked will come forth, and all those who have died in the third angel’s message. Being then raised from the dead, and taking their place with those who have not died under this message, they are translated when the Lord appears; and hence, with the others, may also be said to be redeemed from among men. TBI 239.2

CLASS QUESTIONS ON LESSON X1X., WITH ANSWERS.

1. Are the Seventh-day Baptists included in the 144,000? If so, then what will be done with the 7,000,000 Sabbath-keepers in China as reported lately in the REVIEW, and many in other portions of the world, who are keeping the Sabbath? TBI 240.1

ANS. The question is not properly put. We cannot tell now who will be included in the 144,000, when that number is developed. In regard to the 7,000,000 Sabbath-keepers in China, there is considerable doubt hanging over that matter, and we wait for more definite information before accepting the report. Should it be asked, (which would be the proper way of putting the question), will the Seventh-day Baptists be included in the 144,000, we answer that before the end we understand that the religious world will be divided into just two classes, those who keep the Sabbath, and those who oppose it; and we believe that all the Sabbath-keepers of whatever name, or perhaps having dropped all distinctive names, will compose that number. TBI 240.2

2. Do you understand that all that are saved from 1844 to the end of time will be included in the 144,000? TBI 240.3

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON LESSON NINETEEN
47. How do they gain immortality?
48. Can they, like others, be then said to be redeemed from among men?
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ANS. By no means. For multitudes of honest, sincere, godly people have died since then who knew nothing of this message. And they, living up to the best light they had, will undoubtedly be saved. According to the Scriptures, a person is accountable for the light he receives. And when in all sincerity they serve God according to their best light and knowledge, he accepts them. But when light is brought before them and from selfish or worldly considerations they reject the light, they bring themselves into condemnation, and without repentance and reformation can never be saved. This principle holds in regard to every new truth that has ever been introduced into the world from the days of John the Baptist to the present time. TBI 241.1

3. Are the 144,000 the ones which come out of great tribulation mentioned in Revelation 7:14? Are not those that come out of great tribulation the saints mentioned in Daniel 7:21? TBI 241.2

ANS. We think the 144,000 are the ones referred to in Revelation 7:14;for John had just seen the great multitude of the redeemed, and says that they came out of all nations, kindreds, peoples and tongues. He understood who these were; but then a company is singled out who were so peculiar that he knew not from whence they came, and when the angel asked him, he simply replied “Thou knowest.” The martyrs who are the ones spoken of in Daniel 7:21 are brought to view again in Revelation 20:4, but yet as distinct from those who did not worship the beast, neither his image, nor receive his mark, who are the 144,000. It may be asked then how the 144,000 who were not put to death by persecuting powers can be said to come out of great tribulation in comparison with the martyrs. We reply, they pass through the time of trouble and witness the seven last plagues as they are inflicted upon the wicked, which will present the most fearful scenes ever beheld upon the earth. Those who die in the message escape this fearful trial, and are hence said to be “blessed,” Revelation 14:13, are exceptions to this declaration about coming out of great tribulation. TBI 241.3

4. Will children of Sabbath-keepers help to constitute the 144,000 of Revelation 14:1? TBI 242.1

ANS. This depends upon the standard of computation. If the number is computed according to the rule followed with the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt, it will include only the adult males, the women and children not being reckoned in the number, though still being among the saved. This idea has been suggested, yet we have always supposed that it would take all the Sabbath-keepers, both men, women, and children, to make up the 144,000 when the Lord appears. TBI 242.2

5. What is the song sung by the 144,000 which no others could learn? TBI 242.3

ANS. The song of their experience. It is called in Revelation 15:3 the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. The song of Moses was the song which he sang when delivered from his Egyptian oppressors. It recounted their marvelous deliverance and the utter overthrow of their enemies. So the 144,000, passing through an experience such as no others in all the history of the world have had, are able to sing a song recounting their experience, such as no others are able to sing. It is not only the song of Moses, recounting deliverance from their outward enemies, but the song of the Lamb, recounting their victory over all inward and spiritual foes; for Christ says, “To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.” TBI 242.4