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Earthly 144,000 proof text

Posted by Sherwood on Sat - Jul 19 - 4:21pm:

In the 144, 000 thread recently posted, it was established that the 144,000 rule "upon, on, over" the earth. Some 'proof text' scriptures in the NT can make the Earthly Hope for the 144,000 confusing due to the powerful machinations of the Great Apostasy foretold by Jesus and his Apostles. To get the ball rolling, I entreat you to examine the context of the 144,000. We've already established that they rule "upon, on, and over" the earth. Now let's consider:

NASU Rev 14:2-3

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.

Why would humans care about the details of the 144,000

A) playing of their harps

B) singing a song that no one else could master

Who in the bible is famous for playing on a harp.

Is it not King David!.

Now, when King David was playing on his harp, what was he doing?

Singing a song which we understand to be many of the Psalms.

The connection is here that King David played on his harp and was allowed to be given Jehovah's inspired utterances for the benefit of mankind..

A person may conclude that the 144,000 are given a special place where only they can communicate with God and his Christ. Communication is the key word, a person may gather, is being expressed when concidering the symbols used in Revelations. It is a special channel of communication that only the 144,000 are permitted to have during their reign "upon, on, over" the earth.

PROOF TEXT 1

NASU John 14:2-6

2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Notice that there is no mention of a Heavenly abode or dwelling place used in these scriptures. Notice Thomas (a 144,000 member - if Jehovah wills) is asking how they will "know the way" to communicate and be with Jesus. Jesus emphasizes his position as mediator between our imperfect "flesh and blood" and our Holy Father, Jehovah God. Next, Jesus teaches "who comes to whom."

NASU John 14:22-24

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

Notice that it is not the 144,000 that come to Jesus, rather it is Jesus who comes to the 144,000. Jesus calls the place where He and his Father come to meet them "Our abode." I would estimate from the context that Jesus is telling the disciples (144,000) that the Father has set up a communication channel where only the 144,000 can go. Just as David (a King) was able to speak God's word while playing his harp, so will the 144,000 kings and priests.

PROOF TEXT 2

When the Apostle Paul wrote about the "flesh" or "flesh and blood" he was writing to an audience who considered such word(s) to mean our imperfect flesh and state or condition before Jehovah God. With that in mind, I entreat you to consider:

NASU 1 Cor 15:50-54

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

Does this tell us that any type of rapture will take place? No! It tells us that at the last trumpet, God will resurrect those faithful and chosen by God in the 1st Resurrection The ones resurrected are 'chosen ones' who fell asleep in death after John the Baptizer (see Matthew 11:11,12) up to the present time. Those 144,000 members who are asleep in death will rise first. Those living during his presence who are God's chosen ones (individuals don't choose for themselves) will be changed from their imperfect "flesh and blood" bodies to that which is spiritually perfected "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."

It should be noted that when Jesus performed his miracles during his 3 1/2 year ministry, the imperfections that were ailing those lame, blind, deaf, crippled, demon possessed people were "immediately" healed, No gradual healing of their ailments had taken take place. So it will be in the Resurrection. The 144,000 are resurrected with a special blessing from Jehovah. The second death has no authority over them. So when they are resurrected, they are raised up perfected and incorruptable on earth. They will be kings and priests for 1,000 year Judgment Day (Rev 5:10) then they will be kings forever (Rev 20:6) on earth.

PROOF TEXT 3

NASU 1 Thess 4:15-18

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Jesus left the earth while the disciples were looking up into the clouds.

NASU Acts 1:9-11

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

So then, Jesus will leave Heaven once again and come to the earth's level in the cloud realm (abode). The disciples will meet (or communicate) with Jesus in the cloud realm (abode). If one take this literally, the disciples can still breathe in the cloud realm. Whether one takes this event as a visible or invisible communication reality, we still know that Jesus came down to the cloud level. There is no mention of "Going to Heaven" with the lord. In light of this event, notice those wicked during that time also see Him in the clouds, however they are not allowed to communicate with Him. They will be punished by a death sentence at that time.

NASU Rev 1:7

7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

So, the righteous will shine brightly during this event while the wicked are to be judicially executed by Jehovah. The wages of sin is death. The time of enlightenment for the unrighteous will happen in some time during the 1,000 Judgment Day. They will feel ashamed in the resurrection of the unrighteous (Luke 6:23) and it will be up to them to repent, turn around and do God's will.

May the mannerism of Christ be in the spirit you show ;-)

Sherwood.