WHO ARE THE 144,000 MENTIONED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION? Is it the BRIDE OF CHRIST Composed of the Saints of the Old and New Testaments?

WHO ARE THE 144,000 mentioned in the Book of Revelation? I would like to know your thoughts on the 144,000 in revelations who are they?

Thank You. 

-- LOLA RUTHERFORD
   Salem, Oregon, USA
 

The number 144,000 is one of several numbers in the Book of Revelation that has caused much speculation. Who are really the 144,000?
 
And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:  (Rev 7:4)
 
The above 144,000 appear to be a census of every tribe of Israel. Each tribe has exactly 12,000 listed. When the first census was taken of the tribes they had to pay a ransom (Exo 30:12), so those in the census were ransomed people. 
 
The 144,000 are found again in Rev 14:1 where they have the name of the Lamb and the Father written on their foreheads.

Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads.  (Rev 14:1)

What is that Father's name on their foreheads?

In the description of the new Jerusalem, Rev 22:3-4, we also find God's servants with his name on their foreheads.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  (Rev 22:3-4)

The 144,000 ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS (JEWS AND GENTILES) COMBINED AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST!

According to the Zohar: When Adam rose after receiving the Living Nefesh, his Female was stuck by his side and the holy Neshamah within him expanded to this side of the Male and that side of the Female and sufficed for both of them, the Male and the Female. Therefore, it included both Male and Female. Afterwards, God sawed Adam and prepared his wife.

And the rib (H6763 = Tsalah = SIDE), which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (Gen 2:22 KJV).

Almost all Bible translations use the word "rib" as the source of the woman. But in the original Hebrew Bible, the word used is Tsalah, which should be properly translated as "SIDE."

The Hebrew word Tsalah is also used in Exo 26:20. Here, it is properly translated as the "SIDE."

And for the second side (H6763 = Tsalah) of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:  (Exo 26:20 KJV)

"And brought her to the man" ((Gen 2:22): He brought her adorned like a BRIDE under the Chupah (Eng. 'marriage canopy').

The BRIDE IS THE NEW JERUSALEM -- THE NEW ISRAEL (IN SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH)

Then one of the seven angels...came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the BRIDE, the wife of the Lamb."  (Rev 21:9)

He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God's glory. (Rev 21:10)

I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.  (Rev 21:2)

This number of 144,000 from the list of the 12 Tribes of Israel are composed of both the Old Testament and New Testament Jews and Gentiles made into one new man -- the BRIDE OF CHRIST -- now being built by Christ and the Father into the heavenly Temple -- to be called the New Jerusalem, the Holy City.

The 144,000 IS NOT THE STAGNANT CHURCH; IT IS THE PURIFIED, DYNAMIC, AND ELEVATED BRIDE BUILT BY CHRIST -- THE BRIDEGROOM!

But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.  (Eph 2:13 MKJV)


For He is our peace, He making us both one, and  He has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them;  and so that He might reconcile both to God (the Father) in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself.  (Eph 2:14-16 MKJV)

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  (Eph 2:17-18 MKJV)

...you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (Eph 2:19-20)

...We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.  (1Th 4:15)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ will rise first.  (1Th 4:16)

Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.  (1Th 4:17)

THE FOUNDATIONAL 12 APOSTLES AND THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

The city wall had 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the Lamb's 12 apostles.  (Rev 21:14)

The 12 Apostles represent 12 powers that we have to develop, not only in the physical world, but in all the internal worlds. This is how Christ develops within us.

Christ, is the Torah (Law), and the root of the human being. When the human being obeys Christ, he becomes immortal. Death and suffering happens because of disobedience toward the law. As the Sun sends all its power to all planets and lands, likewise, the heart sends its Spirit and blood to the whole body.

... thou art Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (Petra = Christ) I will build my church...  (Mat 16:18 KJV)

in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord;  in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.  (Eph 2:19-22 MKJV)

WHY THE TRIBE OF JUDAH IS THE FIRST IN THE LIST

12,000 sealed from the tribe of Judah, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben... (Rev 7:5)
 
The first born of the 12 tribes of Israel is Reuben who is normally mentioned first, but here, he is listed second to Judah. Why?

It is because Christ, who is from the tribe of Judah (Heb 7:14, Rev 5:5), is the first born of the dead (Rev 1:5) ). He is the firstborn of many brothers (Rom 8:29). Thus, Christ, became the Chief Cornerstone of the heavenly 3rd Temple -- the New Jerusalem (Eph 2:20).
 
...Jesus Christ...the firstborn from the dead...  (Rev 1:5)

...be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.  (Rom 8:29) 

In the list, the tribe of Dan is missing, and Ephraim is not mentioned. This is because they have gone into idolatry. There are no idolaters in the BRIDE -- the New Jerusalem. Members of the BRIDE are all without spot and blemish.

Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb's book of life.  (Rev 21:27)

...God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  (Rev 21:3)

THE BRIDE = 144,000 = OVERCOMERS

...who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.  (Rev 15:2 HNV

They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.  (Rev 14:3)

They sang the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb...  (Rev 15:3 HNV)

He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.  (Rev 2:26 HNV)

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.  (Rev 3:21 KJV)

These are the ones not defiled with women, for they have kept their virginity. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from the human race as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.  (Rev 14:4)

Continued on PART 2: ARE THE GENTILES INCLUDED IN THE 144,000 OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION? The Answer is YES and NO!

NOTE: Bible verses used in this article is based on the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). If not, the quoted translation is indicated.

-- LOPE COLUMNA --
The BIBLE EXPLAINER AND REVELATOR