PARABLE 144,000
PASTORS ENJOY LUNCH
Enjoying an India buffet, four pastors gather each month for a Bible discussion. Pastor Dave with red hair lifts his hands saying, "Who are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation?"
Pastor Jun De replies, "Depends on how you interpret the Bible; whether literal, allegory, or Bible codes."
Pastor Dave speaks, "Let's look at the backstory. The sixth seal was broken. There was a great earthquake, a great wind storm, islands and mountains were moved out of place, and men hid in there bunkers in the mountains. What did God do next?"
Pastor Manuel speaks, "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:22 ESV - English Standard Version) "God wants to protect his elect, the Jewish nation."
Jun De reads: "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree." (Revelation 7:1 LSB - Legacy Standard Bible)
Pastor Frank comments, "The 144,000 can't be taken literal. Revelation is symbolic, poetic, and full of allegories."
Jun De adds, "I search for Bible codes and hidden meanings in numbers. In the Old Testament there were 12 tribes, and in the New Testament there were 12 apostles. 12 x 12 = 144. And if we times 144 by 1000 we have a multitude of all nations seen in Revelation 7:9."
Pastor Manuel remarks, "I examine scripture face value, reading God's word in context. Not everything in Revelation is an allegory or literal.
Pastor Dave adds, "Remember the letters to the seven churches and book of Revelation were sent to Gentiles who may not have had understanding of gematria and Bible codes."
Pastor Manuel reads: "Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel." (Revelation 7:2-4 NIV - New International Version)
Jun De adds, "12,000 were sealed from each of the 12 tribes of Israel: Judah, Rueben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin."
Pastor Frank blurts out, "What happened to the tribe of Dan and Manasseh and why is Levi included here and not other passages in the Bible?"
Pastor Dave replies, "That's a rabbit trail we can discuss on another day."
Pastor Frank responds, "If you read verse 9, it talks about a great multitude of every nation and tribe. 144,000 can't be literal! Is there only one ethnic group being saved?"
Pastor Jun De, replies, " Apostle John saw the 144,000 being sealed on earth, then in the next vision he saw the multitude in heaven. Both the dead in Christ and those who had been raptured are present worshipping God at His throne."
Pastor Dave says, "In Revelation 14, the 144,000 worship Jesus, and judgment is declared on those who worship the beast."
Manuel reads: "Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.
This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame." (Revelation 14:1-5 NLT - New Living Translation)
Pastor Frank says, "144,000 virgin men can't possibly be literal. This would exclude women and married couples from entering heaven."
Pastor Dave replies, "God is going to fulfill his promise with the people of Israel, establishing a kingdom with a new temple, with Jesus the Messiah ruling the earth during the Millennium. God has gathered pure and holy unmarried men from all twelve tribes in preparation of His coming kingdom."
Pastor Manuel adds, "Unbelievers who believe and trust in Jesus Christ any time during the Tribulation will be sealed by the Holy Spirit, being Born Again. Satan seals unbelievers with the mark of the beast. The 144,000 Jews will be sealed with the name of God the Father."
Pastor Jun De adds, "The 144,000 have Jewish DNA. The Church has not replaced Israel as God's chosen people, superseding the Old Covenant promises to the Jewish people."
Pastor Dave adds, "Revelation 4, Christ's church will be in heaven worshipping God before the Great Tribulation. During the 7 year tribulation Jews are going to find their Messiah, Jesus. And Gentile unbelievers receiving Jesus will be call Tribulation Saints.
Pastor Frank takes a napkin wiping his mouth, standing with a grin on his face, saying, "I can't take all of this...LITERALLY!"
Pastor Dave concludes, "If the two witnesses are a literal number, can you tell me why 144,000 can't be a literal number too?
Pastor Manuel's final remarks, "Will the 144,000 be sent in groups of 2 men to evangelize the world during the second half of the Great Tribulation?
Pastor Jun De adds, "Will they be gather in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount to Worship God, before the antichrist defiles the Temple and later flee to the wilderness?"
Pastor Dave remarks, "Is this a gathering after the Tribulation, worshipping God on Mount Zion at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Pastor Manuel adds, "Are they gathered on Mount Zion to be raptured and escape the last years of the Great Tribulation?"
Pastor Jun De add, "I am going back for seconds."
