Divulging the 144,000: Servants of God Sealed as First Fruits of the Living

Thoughts for Prayer:

Decide on the weight of evidence

“God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith.” [Testimonies for the Church 4:232, 233 (1876).] {5T 675.3}

Convinced by the Weight of Evidence

God is presenting to the minds of men divinely appointed precious gems of truth, appropriate for our time. God has rescued these truths from the companionship of error, and has placed them in their proper frame-work. When these truths are given their rightful position in God’s great plan, when they are presented intelligently and earnestly, and with reverential awe, by the Lord’s servants, many will conscientiously believe because of the weight of evidence, without waiting for every supposed difficulty which may suggest itself to their minds, to be removed.—Manuscript 8a, 1888.{Ev 122.2}

Background of the Study:

As a concerned candidate citizen of His Kingdom, I would rather go through the whole essence of the message - the Purification of the church –Who are to be sealed? -  the sealing of the 144,000.

Let me share the 144,000 

 The first fruit of the Living quotes from SOP - The Kingdom stone of Dan. 2 which smite the Great Image and became a great mountain as it grows into a great mountain and filled the whole earth, the preaching of the last warning to the world (Dan. 2:35, 44, 45) - The Servants of God who will bring their brethren in a clean vessel (Isa. 66:19, 20), the Bay Horses of Zech. 6, etc. a special company who will be translated without tasting death (from the modern Israel-SDAs) - 116 times or more -  mentioned in the SOP.

>>>"If you are faithful, you, with the 144,000" 

AH 543.2; EW 39.3; Hvn 88.3; ExV 22.2; Mar. 368.7;  PT August 1, 1849, par. 18; Broadside2 January 31, 1849, par. 8; 1BIO 173.5

>>>"Living saints, 144,000 in number "

 CET 58.1; CCH33.1; EW 14.1; LDE 272.2; LS 65.1; ExV 10.1; 1T 59.1; WLF 467.2; Mar 287.4; OFC 335.6; RH July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 2; 1BIO 57.2; WV 24.2; LSMS 83.1

>>>"144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united"  

CET 58.2; CCh 33.2; EW 15.1; LS 65.2; 1T 59.2; 1BIO 57.3; WV 24.3; LSMS 83.2; 

>>>"144,000 shouted “Alleluia” 

 CET 59.1; CCh 34.1; EW 16.1; LS 66.1; ExV 11.1; 2SG 32.1; 1T 60.2; WLF 14.3; DS January 24, 1846.par. 1; Rh July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 3; 1BIO 58.3; WV 25.1; LSMS 83.2 

>>>"144,000 stood in a perfect square" 

CET 59.2; CCh 34.2; EW 16.2; Hvn 47.2; LDE 282.1; LS 66.2; 1T 60.3; Mar 305.3; LSMS 84.3 

>>>"Only the 144,000 enter this place" 

CET 63.2; CCh 35.4; EW 18.2; Hvn 88.1; Hvn 137.1; LS88 217.1; ExV 14.1; 2SG 53.1; 1T 68.2; WLF 14.3; RH July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 5; LSMS 87.1LSMS 133.1

>>>"Names of the 144,000 were engraved"  

 CET 63.3; CCh 36.1; EW 19.1; Hvn 88.2; Hvn 137.2; LS 88 217.2; ExV 14.1; 2SG 54.1; 1T 69.1; WLF 17.2; Rh July 21, 1851; Broadside 1 April 6, 1846, par. 6; LSMS 87.2; LSMS 133.2

>>>"144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted" 

EW 36.2; ExV 19.1; Mar 279.7; PT  August 1, 1849, par. 14; Broadside2 january 31, 1849, par. 2 

>>>"And would be with the 144,000" 

 Hvn 85.2; LDE 222.4; 2SM 263.3; FLB 173.3; 14Mr 53.1 

>>>"The 144,000 – We were on our way to Mt.  Zion" 

 Hvn 87.4

>>>"The 144,000 Sing the Song of their experience" 

 Hvn 179; LDE 268

>>>"Who would constitute the 144,000" 

 3SM 51.2;

>>>"The 144,000 without Guile" 

 3SM 424.2

>>>"Strive to Be Among the 144,000" 

 7BC 970.8

>>>"And with Him 144,000 having His Father’s name" 

7BC 978.1; RH March 19, 1889, par. 6

>>>"Identity of 144,000 Not Revealed" 

 7BC 978.4

>>>"Issue that the 144,000 were those raised at Christ; coming" 

2SG 97.2; 1BIO 141.2 

>>>"Can learn save  the 144,000 redeemed from the earth" 

 SS 305.3

>>>"Song of the 144,000 These are they that stand upon Mt Zion" 

 VSS 467.2 

>>>"And gave the 144,000 the day and hour" 

 DS March 14, 1846, par. 2; Boadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 8

>>>"The representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth was found no guile" 

 14MR 93.1

>>>"Why were the 144,000 so specially singled out?" 

 1SAT 72.3;

>>>"Her first vision, there were 144,000 “living saints” 

 1BIO 261.1

>>>"White’s reference to the 144,000 living saints" 

 1BIO 270.2

>>>"How can a church numbering 144,000" 

 1BIO 443.5

144,000 - 116 times mentioned in the SOP

If you are faithful, you, with the 144,000 

AH 543.2; EW 39.3; Hvn 88.3; ExV 22.2; Mar. 368.7;  PT August 1, 1849, par. 18; Broadside2 January 31, 1849, par. 8; 1BIO 173.5

Living saints, 144,000 in number 

CET 58.1; CCH33.1; EW 14.1; LDE 272.2; LS 65.1; ExV 10.1; 1T 59.1; WLF 467.2; Mar 287.4; OFC 335.6; RH July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 2; 1BIO 57.2; WV 24.2; LSMS 83.1

144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united  

 CET 58.2; CCh 33.2; EW 15.1; LS 65.2; 1T 59.2; 1BIO 57.3; WV 24.3; LSMS 83.2; 

144,000 shouted “Alleluia” 

CET 59.1; CCh 34.1; EW 16.1; LS 66.1; ExV 11.1; 2SG 32.1; 1T 60.2; WLF 14.3; DS January 24, 1846.par. 1; Rh July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 3; 1BIO 58.3; WV 25.1; LSMS 83.2 

144,000 stood in a perfect square 

 CET 59.2; CCh 34.2; EW 16.2; Hvn 47.2; LDE 282.1; LS 66.2; 1T 60.3; Mar 305.3; LSMS 84.3 

Only the 144,000 enter this place 

 CET 63.2; CCh 35.4; EW 18.2; Hvn 88.1; Hvn 137.1; LS88 217.1; ExV 14.1; 2SG 53.1; 1T 68.2; WLF 14.3; RH July 21, 1851; Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 5; LSMS 87.1LSMS 133.1

Names of the 144,000 were engraved 

CET 63.3; CCh 36.1; EW 19.1; Hvn 88.2; Hvn 137.2; LS 88 217.2; ExV 14.1; 2SG 54.1; 1T 69.1; WLF 17.2; Rh July 21, 1851; Broadside 1 April 6, 1846, par. 6; LSMS 87.2; LSMS 133.2

144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted 

 EW 36.2; ExV 19.1; Mar 279.7; PT  August 1, 1849, par. 14; Broadside2 january 31, 1849, par. 2 

And would be with the 144,000 

 Hvn 85.2; LDE 222.4; 2SM 263.3; FLB 173.3; 14Mr 53.1 

The 144,000 – We were on our way to Mt.  Zion 

 Hvn 87.4

The 144,000 Sing the Song of their experience 

 Hvn 179; LDE 268

Who would constitute the 144,000  

3SM 51.2;

The 144,000 without Guile 

 3SM 424.2

Strive to Be Among the 144,000 

7BC 970.8

And with Him 144,000 having His Father’s name 

 7BC 978.1; RH March 19, 1889, par. 6

Identity of 144,000 Not Revealed 

7BC 978.4

Issue that the 144,000 were those raised at Christ; coming 

 2SG 97.2; 1BIO 141.2 

Can learn save  the 144,000 redeemed from the earth 

 SS 305.3

Song of the 144,000 These are they that stand upon Mt Zion 

 VSS 467.2 

And gave the 144,000 the day and hour 

 DS March 14, 1846, par. 2; Boadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 8

The representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth was found no guile 

14MR 93.1

‘my belief that the 144,000 will be Jews who will acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah 

14MR 175.1

Why were the 144,000 so specially singled out?

 1SAT 72.3;

Her first vision, there were 144,000 “living saints” 

1BIO 261.1

White’s reference to the 144,000 living saints 

 1BIO 270.2

How can a church numbering 144,000 

 1BIO 443.5

one hundred and forty-four thousand – mentioned 19 times

>>>I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance.This was the time of Jacob’s trouble.1 Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The one hundred and forty-four thousand triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. {CET 100.3; LS 117.1)

>>>“Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him.” It is also used of the redeemed one hundred and forty-four thousand,Revelation 14:4, where it is said, “these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” .{GC 693.1; GC88 685.3}

>>>As we were about to enter the temple, Jesus raised his lovely eyes and said, Only the one hundred and forty-four thousand enter this place, and we shouted Alleluia.{LS80 217.1

>>>It is not His plan that His people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word. It is not His will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question.{1SM 174.3; 2NL 164.4)

>>>The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. 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.”{3T 266.2; 1TT 335.2; RH September 23, 1873, par. 4; RH June 8, 1886, par.  1)

>>>Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1

>>>O that every one of our youth would realize the evil of foolish conversation, and correct the habit of speaking idle words! Let every one who has indulged in this sin repent of it, confess it before God, and put it far from him. In speaking foolish words, you have dishonored the name of Christ; for you have misrepresented Him in character. No word of guile was found in His lips, no word of prevarication or falsehood. The people that are described as making up the one hundred and forty-four thousand, have the Father’s name written in their foreheads, and of them it is said: “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5.{OHC 292.4; YI June 27, 1895, par. 4)

In Original Greek rendering is it symbolical?

No, it is reckoned number.

ἀριθμός

arithmos

ar-ith-mos'

From G142; a number (as reckoned up): - number.

What is a number?

Number means a representation of a particular quantity and used in counting and making calculations and for showing order in a series or for identification.  

Conclusion:

Now, the 144,000 are the identified special company who will receive eternal life - even they were the last being called in the vineyard (see: Mat 20 - the 11th Hour Call study), and they were also the stone in Daniel 2 ( See: Daniel 2 - The Mighty Stone study), and they were also the wheat who will stand faithfully during the harvest ( Mat. 13 - the harvest Study), and they are also the Bay horse in Zechariah's prophecy (See: Zech. 6 - The Paradox of Ages).

 As inspired by the Lord, Ellen G. White saw the 144,000 in a perfect square as it was mentioned above quotations.  A candid mind could conclude that 144,000 is literal number of those who will be ready for translation with out tasting death.