A Few Good Men?

Revelation 14:1 And 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.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Revelation 14 is an interesting chapter. Today's Futurist teachers identify these men as future Palestinian Jews and thus, create a numbers dilemma and a powerful gender question. May I suggest there are more than 144,000 completed (Born Again) Jews living today. If that figure is arguable, think about only 12,000, as specifically stated in the text! This opens some hard questions to ponder.

Would it seem odd if the Jews described in Revelation 14 were fewer in number than the Jews raptured away with the Church? What promise would future tribulation Jewry fulfill that is unrealized in today's born again Hebrews? How could Messianic Jews be of less prophetic importance than the apostate? Does anyone's rejection of Christ increase their value in the plan of God?

Frankly, I believe we need to evangelize an additional 144,000 Jews now. Because of present Jewish populations and conversions, we must either drop our literal interpretation of this figure, or go into a numerical pinch along with the Jehovah's Witnesses! We must finally ask, "Is this text speaking about a righteous race or a fleshly race?"

God's Israel on Zion is the product of two time periods and shall certainly increase in a third.

When the apostles received the Gospel they did not leave Israel. They rather entered the promise given to Israel through Abraham. Any Jewish person was welcomed to embrace and enjoy the blessings of Abraham. Outsiders were also invited into the family of God and the nation of promise. Paul confirmed this by saying, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:28-29)

The operative word in the Kingdom of God is Grace not Race! Heavens gate swings upon Faith not Fate!

Gentile converts entered these promises and joined God's true and lasting nation of obedience. This prophesied Israel of promise includes all races. "Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved." (Romans 9:24-25) During the Millennium ALL of fleshly Israel will believe. Their increasing faith will not remove our place in Christ nor our place in the eternal Israel of God.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Who are the firstfruits unto God?

1. All believers and resurrected martyrs are identified as God's firstfruits.

Israel on Zion is the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14: 4)

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1 Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

Teachers who divide Israel and the Church create a contradiction. How many firstfruits can there be without creating a secondfruits? There can only be one firstfruits which is Christ Jesus and we are all included in his body! True faith is the only way to participate in the Israel of God. Salvation and promise are only found in Jesus.

Forget race -- Forget an earthly priesthood --

Run to the Cross!

Eph. 2:14 For he (Christ) is our peace, who hath made both (Jew and Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

These 144,000 are the Church, God's Israel according to faith. (This is a symbolic number containing 12x12x1000. Remember the 24 elders, representing Old and New Testament saints and the cattle on 1000 hills, meaning all hills!) Yes, the remnant of the Jews are there with the converted Gentiles! All are made one in Christ Jesus. (Read Galatians) These are the wise virgins of Matthew 25. This true Israel is not defiled with the woman called Mystery Babylon. We shall stand on Sion with Christ as his faithful Israel.

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." (Hebrews 12:22)

Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

After we are safely upon Sion (RAPTURED) with the Lamb, there is trouble down below! God's wrath will be poured out on the kingdom of antichrist, for "the hour of his judgment is come." Matthew says this will be after a long time of apostasy, persecution and tribulation, which is the predicted persecution of God's Elect. Don't ever forget or be confused, we are not appointed to God's Wrath, but we are promised trials and persecution. Our trouble has been continuing since the days of the Apostles. It will keep on until Jesus comes. Speaking frankly, if persecution and trial are absent, it is possibly a reflection of our lacking charter or witness.

-- Oooh! OUCH! Please get off my toes! --

Therefore, the future tribulation of the wicked will be to their destruction. Our present tribulation is for our refining as gold and not a hair of our head will perish. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

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CAPITOL LETTERS ARE ADDED FOR EMPHASIS. J.M.T.

Bishop Newton of the 1700s wrote a very large section about the Jews. He catalogued the many prophecies that foretold of their continued destruction and bondage. Next Newton said., "Here are instances of prophecies, prophecies delivered above three thousand years ago, and yet as we see fulfilling in the world at this very time: and what stronger proofs can we desire of the divine legation of Moses? How these instances may affect others, I know not: but for myself I must acknowledge, they not only convince, but amaze and astonish me beyond expression. They are truly, as Moses foretold they would be, 'for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever." (vr. 45, 46) 'Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenest not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:' " pg. 94

After Newton seems to hold no hope for Israel based upon the prophets -- Next, he looks at the up side for the Jews that follow the prophesied messiah. He says, "But the prophet farther intimates, that this great revolution, effected by a few incompetent persons, and effected too in a short compass of time. 'A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time (Is. 60:22) Our Savior's commission to his apostles was 'Go, teach all nations:' and who were the persons to who this commission was given? Those who were best qualified and able to carry it into execution? The rich, the wise, the mighty of this world? No, they were chiefly a few poor fisherman, of low parentage and education, of no learning or eloquence, of no policy or address or no repute or authority, despised as Jews by the rest of mankind, and as the meanest and worst of Jews by the Jews themselves." pg. 112

In this next segment Newton connects the restoration of the Jews to the Gospel. God's promise to the Jew is not merle land but peace and so much more. The Jews can never have these good promises apart from the God they now forsake (70% in the Holy Land are atheist) and the Messiah they continue to refuse. (Soul Salvation and God's promises to Abraham are only available in Jesus Christ)

Newton says, "But neither the prophecies concerning the Gentiles, not those concerning the Jews, have yet received their full and entire completion. Our Savior hath not yet had "the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession,' (Ps. ii. 8) 'All the ends of the world have not yet turned unto the Lord,' (xxii. 27) 'All people nations, and languages, have not yet served him,' (Dan. vii. 14) These things have hitherto been only partially, but THEY WILL EVEN LITERALLY be fulfilled. Neither are the Jews yet made ' an eternal excellency, a joy of many generation,' (Is. lx:15) The time is not yet come, when 'VIOLENCE SHALL NO MORE BE HEARD IN THE LAND, wasting nor destruction within their borders,' (vr 18) God's promises to them are not yet made good in their full extent. 'Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant even they and their children, and their children's children for ever, and my servant David shall be their prince for ever,' (Ez. xxxvii 21,25) 'Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God who caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen; but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them anymore there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them, for I have poured out of my spirit upon the House of Israel, saith the Lord God,' (xxxix 28,29)

However, what hath already been accomplished is a sufficient pledge and earnest of what is yet to come: and we have all imaginable reason to believe, since so many of these prophecies are fulfilled, that the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled also; that there will be yet a greater harvest of the nations, and yet unconverted parts of the earth will be enlightened with the knowledge of the Lord; that the Jews will in God's good time be converted to Christianity, and upon their conversion be restored to their native city and country: and especially since the state of affairs is such that they may return without much difficulty, having no dominion, no settled country, or fixed property to detain them much any where. (p.113)

Finally, Newton warns against Jewish persecution while calling for their restoration to faith in Jesus. Newton says, "...They are only pretend friends to the church but real enemies to religion, who encourage persecution of any kind. All true sons of the church, all true Protestants, all true Christians will, as the apostle adviseth, Eph iv: 31) ; 'put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, with all malice;' and will join heart and voice in that excellent collect -- 'HAVE MERCY UPON ALL JEWS, TURKS, INFIDELS, AND HERETICS, AND TAKE FROM THEM ALL IGNORANCE, HARDNESS OF HEART, AND CONTEMPT OF THEY WORD: AND SO FETCH THEM HOME. BLESSED LORD, TO THEY FLOCK, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED AMONG THE REMNANT OF THE TRUE ISRAELITES, AND BE MADE ONE FOLD, UNDER ONE SHEPHERD, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.' " [p. 115-116)

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Bishop Newton looks for Israel to be restored but only as they receive faith in Jesus their Messiah. The blessings of Abraham only arrive through the Messianic Seed of Abraham. Jesus! So, If modern Israel were again dispersed, God's word would again prove true. When Israel is away from God great judgment follows. When Israel or another nation turns to God great blessing overtakes them.

Futurism, offers a pretty sad scenario for the Jews. It defines today's appearance of modern Israel as the key to:

• A restored but Christless temple,
• Antichrist on the throne,
• The betrayal and destruction of many Jews,
• And ultimately the conversion of 144,000 fleshly Jews.

That's not many in God's book. I see the literal interpretation of this number to be a curse because it is literally too few to fulfill prophecy. (The Bible promises that all of Israel will be saved.) I believe the Gospel message and the Holy Spirit alone draws men to Christ; and not suffering, fear, or the appearance of Antichrist. I view Dispensationalism as spiritual genocide (Spiritual Nazis) toward the Jewish race. They need Jesus like everyone else! Only the Messiah can bring redemption and hope.