1. Revelation 7:1-7 introduces the 144,000, who are described more fully in chapter 14:1-5. Let us interpret these two passages together.

The first important question could be: Are these descriptions to be considered symbolic or literal? Let's first assume them literal.

John saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth. (The earth may be a rectangle, parallelogram, rhomboid, or trapezoid, but has exactly four corners.)

The angels were holding back the four winds. (Winds can be held back, at least by angels. There is not a breath of wind on the whole earth.)

He called out… "Do not harm…until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God" (Rev. 7:3 NIV). (God has servants, presumably people, whose foreheads are to be marked in some important way.) "I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel." (The servants in question were all descendants of Jacob, and their tribal origin could be known.)

Twelve thousand were sealed from each of the 12 tribes, which are then named. The tribe of Manassah is listed, while Ephraim is not, perhaps re-named Joseph for their common father. But from the tribe of Dan, not one is to be sealed. All other tribes have been preserved. Regardless of their population and apparent spirituality, exactly the same number, 12,000, are sealed from each tribe. The total number to be sealed is, by chance or intent, exactly the square of the number of tribes, multiplied by one thousand. The 144,000 stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Sealed on each forehead is the name of the Lamb and His Father.

John heard a sound from heaven that was simultaneously comparable to rushing waters, thunder, and massed harps. The 144,000 are singing a song before the "throne," "living creatures," and "elders" mentioned earlier in Revelation.

The song is new, the 144,000 all know it, but no one else can learn it. The 144,000 have been redeemed from the earth. They are described as "virgins," not having "defiled themselves with women." (These 144,000 Israelite men have been totally celibate.) They were purchased from among men. (The identity of the purchaser is not revealed.) They were offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. (We are not told by whom they are offered. Could they be both purchased by the Lamb, and offered to Him?)

Now, I don't know about you, but I have great difficulty imagining 144,000 celibate Israelite men redeemed from a quadrangular earth, each with identical literal marks in his forehead, singing a literal rushing, thundering, harp-like new song to a literal lamb.

Of course this description is in no way dependent upon my imagination. But in a book entitled Revelation, and billed as "faithful and true" (Rev. 22:6), acceptance of this description as literal, would seem to, in the words of the SDA Bible Commentary, "put too great a strain on one's credulity."

There are at least two more alternatives:

a. The passages could be partly literal and partly symbolic. But I'm afraid any division of the chapter into literal and symbolic portions would be completely arbitrary.

b. The passages could be totally symbolic. This alternative is much easier to accept. Again, to quote the SDA Bible Commentary: "If however, the 144,000 are not literal Jews but figurative Israelites, spiritual Israel, the Christian church, then the tribal divisions and other details are also figurative, and the difficulties vanish."

Of course this way, if the Israelites, tribes, and virgins are not literal, neither is their number. But that should not be a problem. Let's again try to imagine John's experience as these persons are introduced. "I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000" (Rev. 7:4, NIV). "After this I looked" (Rev. 7:9 NIV). And what did John see when he looked? No not exactly 144,000. (But how many of us could accurately number a choir of 144,000?) "And there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" (Rev. 7:9 NIV).

And just like the 144,000, the people who are part of the "great multitude" are "standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." They too sing. They are said to have come out of the great tribulation. And comparable to those who "follow the Lamb wherever he goes" (Rev. 14:4, NIV), "the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them" (Rev. 7:17 NRSV). It certainly sounds to me as though the 144,000 and the "great multitude" are the same people.

Are the joys of heaven offered to a select few or to "whosoever will"? Does our passage promise special privileges to an elite minority? Do you think Abraham, Moses, Job, and Paul will be members of the 144,000? What difference would it make to them? To you?

"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."–Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 978. Why did Ellen White caution us not to debate this point?

2. No lie was found in their mounts; they are blameless" (Rev. 14:5, NIV).

Do you feel perhaps that lies might have been found, but were hidden by the robe of Christ's righteousness? Or are the 144,000 people who can be depended upon to tell the truth? About the Lamb? About the Father?

3. "I saw four angels…holding back the four winds" (Rev. 7:1 NIV).

Why do the angels hold the winds? For how long? Until God's great clock strikes an hour previously and arbitrarily chosen? Until the world becomes sufficiently wicked? Until God's people can meet Satan masquerading as an angel of light and not be deceived?

© R. Wresch M.D. 1988, 1996.