The 144,000 of Revelation 7 & 14

Greetings, brethren! This is the Feast of Pentecost. We're very happy for being able to have this Feast. This Feast has a tremendous meaning for us. This actually puts us half way through the Holy Day seasons, because there are seven Holy Days.

It starts out with the Passover; but the Passover is not a Holy Day. And the reason that it isn't a Holy Day is because when you look at what happened with Jesus Christ and all that had to be done, and all the beatings, lacerations and crucifixion that He had to go through, it could not have been on a Holy Day. God was very wise in making the Passover not a Holy Day. But it is still counted as one of the Feasts of God.

With the Passover and the two days of Unleavened Bread, that is three; by the time we get here to Pentecost, that is four and that puts us halfway through. The other four are Trumpets, Atonement, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day. So, 4+4=8. We're halfway through.

Today as we begin, we're going to start out as we always do on the Holy Days, that we do take up an offering. God commands us to take up an offering as we find there in Deut. 16, which we covered yesterday.

Let's see something very important that we need to understand, because since we are the firstfruits, and that's what this Feast pictures. We are going to be harvested when Christ returns, let's look at a living principle that is true in relationship to taking up an offering; this applies to our whole way of living. It's also reflected in what we are giving.

It is a truism in everything that we do. For example, one of the things that we know today, inspiration is 99% perspiration. In other words, you have to do all the preparing and then you are inspired. So, it's the same way with God's Word. If we don't prepare then we won't be inspired. If we don't do as it says here then we're going to be finding ourselves in difficult position.

2-Corinthians 9:6: "But this I say: the one who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly..." Absolutely true!

If you throw a few seeds into the ground you're going to get some plants. As we covered last time, some fall by the wayside, some fall in the stony places. But some fall in the thorns and thistles. And finally some fall into the good ground and yield thirty, sixty, a hundred fold. And those that do so, they sow bountifully, as Paul says:

"...and the one who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Each one as he purposes in his heart..." (vs 6-7).

This is something even though God requires it, like He did with the burnt offering, which God requires a burnt offering to be given in a certain way. Whether it be of the bovine, the sheep, or the turtledoves. But it was to be given of one's own voluntary free will. So likewise, in preparing an offering for Pentecost, since it is the harvest Feast, we need to consider and ask:

• How are we sowing?
• Are we sowing sparingly?

if so, then look in your lives and see

• Are you sowing sparingly spiritually?

or

• Are you sowing bountifully spiritually?

Likewise with an offering!

Verse 7: "Each one as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, but not grudgingly or by compulsion… [or just because we take up an offering every Holy Day]...for God loves a cheerful giver."

If you take the very opposite of that, does God love a grudging giver? You need to think about that and understand:

• what's happening
• what's taking place
• how that is

that may help us understand a little bit more:

• what we need to do
• how we need to do it
• the attitude we need to do it

Here is a blessing!

Verse 8: "For God is able to make all grace abound toward you so that in every way you may always have sufficiency in all things, and may abound unto every good work."

In taking up the offering we also need to understand that there are some other things that go with this. This is also a truism that continues in everything that we do. Not just in taking up offerings, but in our relationship with God:

• how we serve Him
• how we love Him
• how we do the things that we do

Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel… [that means the inner part of your being] …and marrow to your bones.…[because that's where new blood is produced] …Honor the LORD with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your increase; and your barns shall be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst with new wine" (vs 5-10).

Those are some things we need to consider in bringing an offering, because God says in Lev. 23 that we are to bring an offering. We are to bring that to the Lord. We'll see a little bit more about the offering, another special offering that was brought on Pentecost.

(pause for the offering)

As I said yesterday, we counted seven full weeks, and how the seven weeks reflect the church harvest. Now there is one more day, the 50th day, and that day is the Day of Pentecost.

I want to read something that has puzzled people for a long time. Why did Jesus say it, and what does it mean? The reason is because this is very easily confused with the Feast of the Last Great Day, that is, the 8th day, the day after the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 6:40: "And this is the will of Him Who sent Me: that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

What does this mean? He says the same thing in:

Verse 44. "No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."

• What is the last day?
• Is that the Last Great Day? No, it is not!

In counting to Pentecost, what is the last day of the count? The 50th day! That is the last day for those who will be in the first resurrection! Just think on that!

Let's see what else that they did on the Day of Pentecost. We will see what was to be offered, what was to be done, and the meaning of it and the symbolism of it and why God required it.

Leviticus 23:15: "And you shall count to you beginning with the next day after the Sabbath, beginning with the day … [including the day] …that you brought the sheaf of the Wave Offering..."

Now it has to begin there because Christ was the First of the firstfruits. On the first day He ascended to the Father. So, He is the first. Now we're going to be resurrected at the last, the last day of the count to Pentecost, which is the 50th day.

"...seven Sabbaths shall be complete. Even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath..." (v 15).

There is absolutely no way for those who still believe in a Monday Pentecost—and there be a great number who do—that Monday is the morrow after the seventh Sabbath. It just cannot be.

"...you shall number fifty days..." (v 16)—the 50th day is the last day!

Since the count begins on the 1st day of the week, the count ends on the 1st day of the week, with seven complete weeks ending in a Sabbath all the way down to the 50th day. That is the last day of the count, and that's what Jesus is talking about.

"...And you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD" (v 16).

Now it says meat offering in the KJV, but don't confuse that with the flesh of animals. This is a meal, cereal or grain offering. Here's what they were to do. This is very unusual when you consider that we just finished the Feast of Unleavened Bread here just six and a half weeks ago. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, leaven is a type of sin. God does not tell us to eat unleavened bread all year long. Leaven is a type of sin during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Now we're going to see an offering that is given, which is also given with the peace offering, they are allowed to use leaven in a peace offering.

Verse 17: "You shall bring out of your homes two wave loaves of two tenth parts...."

Some people argue and say that you can't be doing that on a Holy Day because that is work. But you know, they don't even read the Scriptures. Because it says you are allowed to do whatever is necessary for the keeping of the Feast. IF God commands that these be made on the 50th day, THEN they should be made on the 50th day just like God says. IF God commands it, THEN how can it be breaking the Sabbath Day? It cannot; spare me! As we read earlier, lean not to your own understanding. Follow what the Scriptures say!

"...They shall be of fine flour. They shall be baked with leaven..." Why are they baked with leaven? We'll see in just a little bit! There were to be two loaves.

• Why not one loaf?
• Why not three loaves?
• Why not ten loaves?
• Why two loaves?

We'll see what the meaning of that is in a little bit!

"...they are the firstfruits to the LORD" (v 17).

So these two loaves symbolize the completion of the firstfruit harvest unto God and the making of the finished product. Furthermore, they are baked with leaven. When you put leaven into any bread dough, and you allow it to rise, you change the nature of the bread, don't you? We will see a parable in just a minute, where Jesus showed the Kingdom of God is like unto leaven.

So, they were to bring this offering plus the other animal offerings that were there.

Verse 21: "And you shall proclaim on the same day..."

Not the day before, not the day after, but on the self same day, which is the 50th day, the last day of the count of fifty.

"...that it may be a Holy convocation to you. You shall do no servile work therein.… [that is work for hire or pay] ...It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations" (v 21).

Let's see, after one of the parables of the harvest, and so forth, then what we're going to see is a special little parable that Jesus gave.

Matthew 13:33: "Another parable He spoke to them: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to leaven..."

This has to be the good use of leaven. If leaven is always sin all the time, then God surely would not have asked them to bake those two loaves with leaven. He surely would not have said, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to leaven..."—would He?

Can you say the Kingdom of God is like unto sin? No you can't! Just during the Feast of Unleavened Bread leaven is a type of sin.

"...which a woman took... [What is the Church likened to? A woman!] ...And hid… [mixed in] …three measures of flour, till the whole was leavened" (v 33).

Here is the good use of leaven. This pictures the change of nature that we will permanently have when we are resurrected! Just like leaven in bread dough leavens the whole thing, that's what it says here. Then when it's baked it is permanent. If it's leavened and you don't bake it you can beat it down again, can't you, and make it flat again, can't you? Yes! But when you let it rise and then you bake it you permanently change it.

• Why do we have the two loaves in Lev. 23? It's likened unto the Kingdom of Heaven! Therefore, it's likened unto the resurrection.
• What happens at the resurrection? You have the finished product!

That's why you have the two loaves! And these were to be presented before the LORD on the 50th day.

Now the parallelism and the symbolism here is very profound; let's understand this. One loaf has got to mean all of those who were part of the firstfruits before the beginning of the New Testament Church! Going clear back to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, all of those who are listed that are going to be in the first resurrection! We know David will be there. We know some of the kings will be there. We know that all of the prophets will be there.

So, the first loaf symbolizes all of those from the time of creation coming down to the first resurrection.

The second loaf pictures all of those from the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to the resurrection, which is on Pentecost. That is the final product of the saints! As we have seen, they will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. Now we will cover some of those Scriptures in just a bit. that's the meaning of the two wave loaves that were to be brought before the Lord on the 50th Day.

Now let's understand something very important. Here's a principle that we can also apply in relationship to the Church, in relationship to the resurrection. Jesus said in the book of Revelation chapters 1 & 21: I am the First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the Ending. I am Alpha and Omega.

When did the Church officially begin? It began on Pentecost! Therefore, it follows that it will end on Pentecost. That's an important principle that we can keep in mind.

Acts 2:1—let's understand how this should be properly translated, because this is in a present tense articular infinitive, which means:

Acts 2:1: "And when the Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, was being fulfilled..."

Some people, to justify a Monday Pentecost, they say, 'When the Day of Pentecost had come to an end...' How do you celebrate it and observe it if it came to an end?

Since days end at sunset, this would have to have occurred after sunset at the temple. That doesn't make any sense at all. One minister even went to the 1539 Great Bible—also called the Cramner Bible—where he translates it, 'And when the Day of Pentecost had ended...'

That's obviously an improper translation. All one has to do is just check the Greek and understand that it means, when the fiftieth day was being fulfilled! It was being fulfilled with strength, power, and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Now let's understand something also that's very important. God began the Church at the temple. Why did He begin it there? Because that's where God placed His name! If anything was going to be done so that everyone would know that this was of God, it had to start at the temple. It had to be when the day was being fulfilled. That is, as everyone was bringing their two wave sheaf loaves that they would bring and give to the priests. The priest would wave them before the Lord to be accepted, obviously then, and give them to the people, and then people could go ahead and consume those during the Feast of Pentecost for the meal that they would have. Now then, let's notice what happened with all of the hundred and twenty being assembled there.

"...they were all with one accord in the same place" (v 1).

That was on what was called Solomon's Porch, which was one of the alcove meeting halls that they had to the side of the temple.

Verse 2: "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound..."

Just like the power of giving the Ten Commandments on Pentecost, God came from heaven, in person, in power and glory and spoke the Ten Commandments; and you can read of that back in Exo. 20. Likewise, this came from heaven, showing that it came from God.

"…a sound like the rushing of a powerful wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and sat upon each one of them" (vs 2-3). That was the appearance!

This is not a baptism by fire. But in order for the disciples to understand that this came from God, God manifested it in that manner, and to show that it was of the power and the source coming from God. He expected them to go out and work and preach and have zeal and power, just like the fire here indicated.

Verse 4: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and they began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to proclaim."

So we know that these are languages that were to be understood. It wasn't confusion; it wasn't babbling; and furthermore, in this miracle there were two aspects of it:

• the apostles spoke in tongues, of whatever language it was that the other Jews were hearing
• it was also in the hearing

So, we have two miracles that took place!

Verse 5: "Now, there were many Jews who were sojourning in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven."

Why were they there? To observe Pentecost! They were there on the 50th day. But let's understand that God inspired a huge, bigger than usual crowd to come. Why?

Let's look back at the events: You have the three and a half year ministry of Jesus. Every year the Jews would come to the temple. Every year they would hear about Jesus. You could read of that, especially in, and also in John 11 & 12.

What were they talking about? All the miracles of Jesus! All the works that He was doing!

They were wondering, was He the Messiah? Then they all heard that He was crucified and He died. They were wondering, what was God going to do now on the next Holy Day, the Feast of Pentecost? Maybe they had even heard those nations that were close by, and you know news travels fast even without a phone. Maybe they even heard that some of the disciples were already saying that they had seen Jesus raised from the dead.

Then you know Jesus ascended to heaven on the 40th day during the 50th day count. The disciples went back to Jerusalem and waited for this very event here. They were there observing the Feast of Pentecost. I just imagine they were wondering:

• What's going to happen?
• Where those men are who followed Jesus?
• Where are these disciples?
• What are they doing?

God inspired the whole event!

Verse 6: "And when word of this went out, the multitude came together and were confounded… [they were amazed] …because each one heard them speaking in his own language."

• What is it that the Jews like?
• What is it that Jesus said the Jews demand?
• They demand a sign!
• They demand a miracle!

God gave it to them! Here's the miracle of speaking in their language. Notice what they say:

Verse 7: "And they were all amazed, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?'"

That's why God called Galileans. God doesn't call the rich and the mighty and the educated. Jesus was accused of being unlearned, because Jesus was not taught at any of the rabbinic schools. You can read in Isa. 50 that He was taught directly, miraculously, by God the Father.

• Who else would teach Jesus?
• Do you think any lying, deceiving Pharisees and Satan-followers can teach Jesus the Truth of God? No!

Then Jesus got the Galileans, because those in Jerusalem didn't care for the Galileans. These were hicks from the back sticks; dirty, smelly fishermen from the lake.

Verse 8: "Then how is it that we hear each one in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya, which are near Cyrene, and the Romans who are sojourning here, both Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians…" (vs 8-11).

So, long, long before Mohammed came the Arabians had the Truth preached to them. They were Jews out of Arabia.

"…we hear them speaking in our own languages the great things of God" (v 11).

So right here on the Day of Pentecost God performed a tremendous miracle. God made it clear that the beginning of the Gospel was going to start right here at the temple where God placed His name.

Therefore, what the apostles did had the full stamp and the visible proof of the authority and the power of God, Who had established the temple and placed His name there. God was not going outside of the authority that He established. So, He made it clear. This was a miraculous event. It was showing the beginning of the spiritual preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. Let's notice what happened.

Verse 12: "And they were all amazed and greatly perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' But others were mocking and saying, 'They are full of new wine.' Then Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them: 'Men, Jews, and all those of you who inhabit Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. For these are not drunken as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day'" (vs 12-15).

That's nine-o'clock in the morning. That's when the two loaves of the Wave Sheaf Offering was to begin to be offered.

Verse 16: "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…"

We are going to see, not everything was fulfilled in what the prophet Joel said, in this first Pentecost. But we will see that it will be fulfilled in the last Pentecost. That is, when Christ returns.

Verse 17—Quoting the Lord from the book of Joel: "'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, 'that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; and even upon My servants and upon My handmaids will I pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy; and I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapors of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord'" (vs 17-20).

We are going to see where that will be fulfilled, and how it will be fulfilled.

Verse 21: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Verse 22—Peter continues: "Men, Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarean, a Man sent forth to you by God, as demonstrated by works of power and wonders and signs, which God performed by Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know."

They had a three and a half year witness; they knew! There was no doubt! Then he talks about how He was delivered and crucified. He makes it clear that God raised Him from the dead; that He did not allow His body to see corruption. Peter made it clear that David had not ascended into heaven, and that the resurrection of Christ was the powerful thing that took place, and that was the basis of their ministry.

Jesus said, 'You're going to be witnesses to Me of the resurrection unto the ends of the earth.' That's still true today! Because preaching the words of the apostles, their words and preaching, goes to the end of the earth today in Bibles.

Peter goes on and says that God raised Him up to His right hand. Let's see a parallelism that takes place here in relationship to the command in Lev. 23.

Verse 36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance…"

Many of those who were of the house of Israel were counted Jews because they came to the temple, though they were of the other tribes. Let them know assuredly:

"…that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Now, after hearing this, they were cut to the heart…" (vs 36-37).

Here's God moving them to repentance. A spiritual operation on the Day of Pentecost to move them to repentance, because Rom. 2 says that it is God's graciousness that leads you to repentance.

Verse 38: "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

That's then when God gave the Holy Spirit to all of those who repented. Obviously the Holy Spirit in power to preach was given to the apostles on that day.

Verse 39: "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God may call."

God is the One Who has to do the calling, and God is the One Who called these people on the first Pentecost when He gave the Holy Spirit and began the Church.

Verse 40: "And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who joyfully received his message were baptized; and about three thousand souls were added that day" (vs 40-41).

Which day? In the fulfilling of the fiftieth day!

Leviticus 23 21: "And you shall proclaim on the same day that it may be a Holy convocation to you."

There we go! There's the beginning of it, right here. A tremendous thing that took place. There were 3,000 that were baptized that day. I imagine that many of the 120 were there baptizing them, as well as the apostles. We can understand, out of the 120 that surely 70 of them were of those that were sent out in addition to the apostles, as we find there in Luke 10. So, there were plenty of people there to baptize them. Obviously, they received the laying on of hands for the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

We've seen the beginning of the fulfillment of it. Now let's come to the book of Revelation, and let's follow along, and let's look at another fulfillment of the Day of Pentecost. Let's see how that comes and what's involved with it. We will also answer the question about the 144,000 that are called firstfruits."

We came through Rev. 3 and the seven churches; each church is symbolic of the seven weeks of harvest! Then we have a scene of things that are in heaven, Rev. 4 & 5.

Let's begin with the seals. Who is the One Who is opening the seals? Jesus Christ is!

Revelation 6:1: "And I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seals… [first seal] …and I heard one of the four living creatures say, like the sound of thunder, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a white horse; and the one who was sitting on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer" (vs 1-2). This is not Christ! This is the false christ.

Christ is still in heaven; He opens the seal and this takes place on earth. This is the great false religion that is going to encompass the whole world. That seal has probably already been opened. We know that the second seal is going to be opened at a particular time. We will see when that will be. But we need to look at some other Scriptures.

Let's look at the end of the church harvest, because the seven weeks of harvest have a specific harvest, separate from the 50th Day harvest. Let's see what takes place right at the end.

Rev. 12—this is what happens next before the second seal is opened. It says:

Revelation 12:7: "And there was war in heaven…"

Verse 9: And the great dragon was cast out…"

Verse 10: "…because the accuser of our brethren has been cast down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb, and through the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death" Therefore, rejoice you heavens and those who dwell in Them. Woe to those who inhabit the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has only a short time" (vs 10-12).

"…a short time" is probably equivalent to a little bit more than three and a half years.

Verse 13: "And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had brought forth the man-Child."

So, just before the second seal opens, which is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, there is a time of persecution. And this time of persecution is going to be against the Church. The time of persecution will precede the beginning of the martyrdom.

As we will see a little later, the martyrdom is going to close the Church Age. It is going to close the harvest of the seven weeks. Now here's why:

Verse 14[transcriber's correction]: "And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly to her place in the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." That's three and a half years!

So, let's see what happens during that time. We can conclude that the "short time" that the devil knows that he has is a little longer than three and a half years. Now here's where everyone wants to go: a place of safety. But what we're going to see, not everyone's going to go. All of those who think they are going to go are not going to go, because those who seek to save their lives are going to lose it. Those who lose their lives in Christ will save it. Now that's just a principle involved that we can apply here.

Besides, how are they going to get there? Well, if there are two wings of a great eagle, that shows that God is going to do it supernaturally. This is not a rapture! This is being taken, probably, by angels to the place of safety, wherever it will be.

A lot of people like to know where it is. Well even Jesus didn't say where it was. But here's something that is absolutely true:

• if you go to a place of safety, when you get there you'll know where it is
• if you don't go, but you get there, then you'll know where it is

So the knowledge of where it is will do you no good prior to getting there!

• if, on the other hand, you know where the place of safety is, and you don't go there, God doesn't take you there, THEN all the knowledge about it does you no good, does it? Absolutely not!

What we need to do is take God at His word!

• those who are going to go, God is going to select
• those of us who are not going to go, something else is going to happen

What will happen to the rest will end the church harvest!

Verse 15: "And the serpent cast water out of his mouth as a river, so that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed up the river that the dragon had cast out of his mouth. Then the dragon was furious with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her seed… [these are the ones who have the Holy Spirit of God] …who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (vs. 15-17).

What's going to happen to them? If the devil makes war against you, that is a martyrdom!

When he comes to make war, he not only makes war against the Church, but he also makes war beginning against Israel. When that takes place, when he makes war against the remnant of her seed, that's when the second seal is opened, and that begins the Tribulation against Israel. The whole duration of time at the end is three and a half years. But as we are going to see, the duration of the Tribulation against Israel is just a bit over two years.

The second seal is opened, a great sword is given to him, he takes peace from the earth. Then immediately follows the third seal, which then is famine, shortage of food. The fourth sealis the resultant death that takes place with all of this. These are opened in quite a rapid fashion.

The fifth seal takes a little longer, because here is the martyrdom of the saints, and when this occurs the harvest of the church age ends.

• that ends the seven weeks harvest
• that ends the equivalent of 49 days.

But there's still the harvest of the 50th day, which we'll cover in just a bit.

Revelation 6:9: "And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony that they held."

This is a symbolic vision! This doesn't mean that the souls are under the altar, in a direct sense that immortal souls go to heaven. This is just in vision to tell John so he can write it down as to what is happening.

Verse 10: "And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, Holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'"

These are all of the ones that have been martyred down through time, up to the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

Notice what happens here, v 11: "And white robes were given to each of them; and they were told that they should rest a short time…"

That's almost the duration of time that we find there in Rev. 12. But the war comes now against the saints.

"…yet, until it be fulfilled that both their fellow servants and their brethren also would be killed, just as they had been" (v 11).

It's going to be very easy at that time, especially given the technology and the advances in technology between now and the time this occurs, to know exactly where everyone is who is a true Christian. They will be martyred! You don't find them fighting. A true Christian with the Holy Spirit of God should not war. Now there are many worldly professing Christians. They can go ahead and fight, because they're a part of the world. But if you have the Holy Spirit of God, you're going to do just exactly as Christ, Who went meekly as a lamb. And after all, didn't Paul write we are all like lambs led to the slaughter? That's talking about martyrdom.

Now when this happens, and all of those who have the Holy Spirit of God are martyred. Now God will give you strength to endure it. But every one of us has to have in our mind already prepared

• that we love God with all our heart and mind and soul and being
• that we love the way of God more than anything else
• that we love not our lives unto death
• that God will strengthen us so we can endure the martyrdom.

When the Church Age closes with the martyrdom of the saints, then there is still time! Now we're going to see this. We're going to see how the rest of the prophecy that Peter quoted from Joel is fulfilled.

Verse 12: "And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains…" (vs 12-15).

Because this earthquake is literally, as it says there in Isa. 20, the valleys are going to be raised and the mountains are going to be lowered! It's going to absolutely be a fantastic, phenomenal earthquake. Not as great as the one that occurs in Rev. 16. All during the time of the Tribulation and the three and a half years we find that there are different earthquakes and different events going on.

Verse 16: "And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of His wrath has come, and who has the power to stand?'" (vs 16-17).

Here comes the harvest of the 50th day. It has to do with the 144,000. There are some people who believe that all there are going to be is 144,000, that that's all that God is going to have in the first resurrection. You can let them dream on, because they're giving their own misunderstandings. Everyone who has said that has totally failed. All you have to do is look at the Jehovah's Witnesses. That's how they began their denomination, by saying that they were the 144,000, and now they've got over a million people in Jehovah's Witnesses. How do you count the 144,000? So much for men's interpretation of prophecy!

Concerning the sealing of the 144,000 (Rev. 7). So, right after the heavens open up and the sign of the Son of Man appears, we are going to see a fantastic thing that will take place. When this occurs this is going to startle the whole world. It's going to be quite a sign. It is going to be a thing that will shine in the heavens for a period of about 18 months. There's going to be no doubt that Christ is returning, although the prophecies of the Roman Catholic Church say that the return of Christ is the antichrist.

Here is how it's going to happen. They will be saying, 'Here is Christ, there is Christ.' Jesus said don't go forth, even if it's in the secret chamber or if it's in the desert. He says, 'Believe it not!'

Matthew 24:27: "For as the light of day, which comes forth from the east…"

Not a bolt of lightning as we would understand a bolt of lightning! That goes up and down, north and south, from the earth up to the clouds, and in through the clouds, and so forth. This is the light of day coming out of the east! That's showing that it is the light of day, the sun!

"…and shines as far as the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be" (v 27).

Right when the heavens roll back, all of a sudden they see this new sun out there in the heavens. What's going to happen all during the last 18 months that will be coming closer and closer to the earth. Those on earth are going to feel as though we're being invaded from outer space, which will be true, because Christ is coming from outer space. He is going to invade the world. Of course, He's going to destroy all the armies that the beast and the false prophet gather. Well, we're getting ahead of our story.

Let's look at the 144,000, and let's understand where they come from, and the great multitude.

• Where do they come from?
• How do they get there?
• How do they receive salvation?

Revelation 7:14: "Then I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' And he said to me, 'They are the ones who have come out of the Great Tribulation; and they have washed their robes, and have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.'"

These are people who are still living. It doesn't say that they are martyred. But they repent! When they see the heavens roll back as a scroll, they repent. God does a miraculous thing. This is the 50th day harvest! Could it be that this begins on the next to the last Pentecost during the three and a half years? Very likely!

Verse 3: "Saying, 'Do not damage the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.'"

None of us are of the 144,000! The reason is that we have already been sealed with the Spirit of God. We don't need to be sealed. These are people who have not received the Spirit of God. These are people who are God's personal harvest, the 144,000 and a great innumerable multitude. God shows how He gives them the Holy Spirit, by sending an angel to signify that they have received the Holy Spirit of God. Supernatural conversion!

• just like God did with the apostles and disciples there on the Day of Pentecost

He sent His Holy Spirit right to them

• just like He did with Cornelius when Peter went and preached to them. He sent the Holy Spirit, and then they were baptized

These people have no ministers to baptize them, do they? There's no church to go to. The church harvest is over! Now let's look and see about the 144,000:

Verse 4: "And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel."

Who are the 144,000? They're from the tribes of the children of Israel, 12,000 from each tribe! This also fulfills another prophecy that God gave back in Zech. 12. Who is the first to receive salvation? God says in:

Zechariah 12:7: "The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first…"

Revelation 7:5 "From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed…"

Then Rueben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin—144,000 each.

Let's see something important concerning the timing of this. Remember that Israel goes into captivity at the end. There are some people who are saying that Israel does not go into captivity at the end. So much for human prophecies! Even though they use the Bible, they misapply it.

Hosea 5 will give us an inkling of the timing of what takes place here. Because now these are physical people, the physical children of Israel, and the physical great multitude of many languages, and tribes, and nations, and so forth, that are going to be saved, and they come out of Great Tribulation. They wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

Hosea 5:15: "I will go; I will return to My place… [God says of Israel] …until they confess their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will seek Me earnestly."

Israel always does that. Just like when '9/11/2001' occurred. All of a sudden God is back in the vocabulary of Israel. Well that's what's going to happen here.

Hosea 6:1: "Come and let us return to the LORD… [that's repentance] …for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up."

They went through Great Tribulation, didn't they? Yes! They went off into captivity, like Ezekiel and Jeremiah and Isaiah have said.

Verse 2: "After two days… [if a day in prophecy is one year, this is after two years] …He will revive us; in the third day… [beginning of the third year] … He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."

Let's look at the timing of this. In the beginning of the third year means that in a three and a half year Tribulation period at the end, at the end of the second year, beginning the third year, that means there's one year and six months left, or 18 months. Or approximately from Trumpets to Pentecost to Trumpets. They are sealed on Pentecost, the next to the last Pentecost; then when it comes around the next year they will be resurrected, or changed, either one. Depending whether they live the full year or not.

Let's look at the great innumerable multitude, they also will receive salvation! They will also be raised up, probably at a timeframe very close to what Israel was. This is God's special harvest. This is God's 50th Day harvest! We don't know how many this will be. But surely, if there's a great innumerable multitude, or a multitude, which no one can number, that's got to be more than 144,000, because this is in addition to the 144,000.

Revelation 7:9: "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one was able to number, out of every nation and tribe and people and language…"

Isn't this almost a repeat of the first Pentecost? Yes indeed! Here we have the next to the last Pentecost, the beginning of the 50th day harvest. It runs from Pentecost to Pentecost, which is one year; which is one day, the 50th Day fulfillment, being one year long.

"…was standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and holding palms in their hands" (v 9)—showing they're going to receive salvation! That's projecting forward to the time of the resurrection.

Now then, coming down in time, the trumpet plagues are blown. We won't go into each one of these, because what we want to do now is look at the 144,000 in Rev. 14. What we are going to find, there are two groups of 144,000:

• those of the children of Israel (Rev. 7),
• this special group in (Rev. 14).

Revelation 14:1: "And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb standing on Mount Sion…"

Tie in Heb. 12, where it talks about that we come to Mount Sion, where the names of the saints are written in the Book of Life in heaven.

"…and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. Then I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of great thunder; and I heard the sound of lyre players playing their lyres. And they were singing a new song before the Throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one was able to learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth" (vs 1-3).

We'll come back and we'll analyze all the aspects of this and see that this 144,000 is a different 144,000 than those in Rev. 7.

Verse 4: "These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; they are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no guile wasfound in their mouths; for they are blameless before the Throne of God" (vs 4-5). Now let's analyze what we just read here:

• they have the name of the Father written in their foreheads

We don't find that listed of those of the 144,000 in Rev. 7. Let's just understand there is only one qualification of the 144,000 in Rev. 7 that there are 12,000 from each one of the tribes of the children of Israel, the physical children of Israel. That's it! This is another group.

• they sing a song that only the 144,000 know; no one else knows it

now a distinct difference:

• they were redeemed from the earth, not from the children of Israel
• these were not defiled with women

• What does that mean?
• How does Rev. 2 & 3 and Rev. 17 show how the saints get defiled with women? Through false religion! In other words, they never followed any of the false religions!

• they are virgins

They were faithful like the five wise virgins who were called in to the wedding supper. They are virgins.

• These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. In other words, through thick and thin they followed Christ, whatever it was.
• these were redeemed from among men; redeemed from the earth; not restricted to the twelve tribes of Israel. Could be from any group of people
• firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb
• in their mouth was found no guile
• they are without fault before God

• Who are these?
• When we view the seven churches in the book of Revelation, what do we find? We find that certain ones had certain sins that Christ told them to repent of!

As we noted yesterday, there were only two churches that were noted as not having to repent: Smyrna and Philadelphia. Let's notice something else: What is said here concerning the Philadelphians? We find a similarity between the 144,000 of Rev. 14 and what it is said here to the Church at Philadelphia! The Church of Philadelphia fits all of the qualifications, those ten qualifications of the 144,000 in Rev. 14. Now let's understand something. This also helps us substantiate something very important. The churches not only were the seven churches in existence at that time, but also the churches down through history. In Rev. 14 those 144,000 it is given no special timeframe. They're redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 3:12 concerning the Philadelphians: "The one who overcomes will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall not go out anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God… [hat's what we find with the 144,000 of Rev. 14] …the New Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name." 

"…he shall not go out anymore…" means they follow the Lamb wherever He goes!

Now could it be that the 144,000 constitute the actual Bride that Christ is going to marry? Because we know that even though Eph. 5 says it's of the Church, we know that all of those that are going to be resurrected are not going to be of the Bride. Let's see that. They will be part of the harvest, but they will not be the Bride.

Let's come to the book of Matthew here. In Matt. 22 we'll see about the wedding.

• What do we find at the wedding besides the Bride and the Groom? We find guests!
• Who are the guests? God doesn't tell us, but He gives us an indication!

                                                            
Matthew 22:2: "The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who was a King, who made a wedding feast for His Son… [God the Father and Jesus Christ] …and sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast; but they refused to come. Afterwards he sent out other servants, saying 'Say to those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatted beasts are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, and another to his business…" (vs 2-5). Tie in Matt. 13, that there are some whom the seed didn't take hold!

Verse 6: "And the rest, after seizing his servants, insulted and killed them. Now, when the king heard it, he became angry; and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city…. [the destruction of Jerusalem in 70A.D.] …Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; therefore, go into the well-traveledhighways, and invite all that you find to the wedding feast.' And after going out into the highways, those servants brought together everyone that they found, both good and evil; and the wedding feast was filled with guests" (vs 6-10).

Not everyone in the first resurrection are going to be part of the Bride. There are going to be a lot of guests!

Verse 11: "And when the king came in to see the guests…"

Now it has to be in parable to show this. It's not going to happen that someone is going to be resurrected and then going got be cast out after they're resurrected, obviously! But this is to show that even if you're going to be a guest, you've got to prepare yourself to be a guest. You've got to be dressed for it.

"…he noticed a man there who was not dressed in proper attire for the wedding feast" (v 11).

You can liken that to the Laodiceans and the Sardisites. It says that they will be clothed in white.

Verse 12: "And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you enter here without a garment fit for the wedding feast?' But he had no answer. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and take him away, and cast him into the outer darkness.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen" (vs 12-14).

So then, there have to be a lot of those who are resurrected who are going to be the guests. Christ is not going to marry those who, even though they are in the church, have gone astray and come back. Yes, they will receive eternal life when they have gone astray and come back. That is true, because they have repented. But if they have gone out and been defiled by women, like:

• Ephesus lost its first love
• Pergamos got all wrapped up in satanic ways and organization; they had sins that they had to repent of
• Thyatira allowed Jezebel, that prophetess, to seduce the servants of God and to commit fornication

Obviously, if that happens

• they have not remained virgins
• they didn't follow Christ wherever He went
• they were detoured part of the time

• Sardis was dead
• Laodicea was not even clothed

So when the resurrection takes place there are going to be the 144,000, which will probably be of those who are going to be the particular Bride that will marry Christ.

Then there will be all the others. They will be guests. But they will be in the first resurrection. They will receive eternal life. Now then, let's come to Rev. 14 and let's see that the harvest, then, is the resurrection. So we have the 144,000 of Rev. 7, which then are converted for one year along with the great innumerable multitude. Then they're all resurrected to meet Christ in the air. Then we have the 144,000 who will be the particular Bride of Christ. The wedding ceremony will take place, undoubtedly, on the Sea of Glass.

Now let's look at it here; let's see the harvest of the firstfruits.

Revelation 14:14: "And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and one like the Son of man sitting on the cloud, having a golden crown on His head; and in His hand was a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, 'Thrust in your sickle and reap, because the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' And He Who was sitting on the cloud thrust forth His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped" (vs 14-16).

When that happens, then the trumpet of the Day of Pentecost will be blown. Because, you see, every Feast Day the trumpet is blown. And here, the trumpet of the Feast Day, which then will be the seventh trumpet of the trumpet plagues coming down through Rev. 8 & 9, that is blown. That is the time of the resurrection. Now let's see this going back to Rev. 11. Now there are many other things that we can tie in with it. But I wanted this Pentecost to focus on the 144,000 and the difference between them, and also the resurrection.

Let's see what happens when the seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet:

Revelation 11:15: "Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.' And the twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned. For the nations were angry…'" (vs 15-18).

The seven last plagues are going to come after the resurrection.

"…and Your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth.'…. [that covers those who fear Him, small and great, the great innumerable multitude] …And the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen in His temple; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake and great hail" (vs 18-19).

Let's see what happens when the trumpet blows, when the seventh trump blows.

Matthew 24:30: "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

This great orb that was seen, it comes closer and closer to the earth; then all of a sudden it comes down right over Jerusalem, and then becomes the Sea of Glass. Then the resurrection takes place.

Verse 31: "And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

They're going to be raised, and the angels are going to take them up and they are all going to meet Christ in the air.

Where are they going to meet Christ in the air? Let's see that it is going to be on, the Sea of Glass. There's a reason for it. Let's see that.

Revelation 15:1: "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is filled up. And I saw a Sea of Glass mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the lyres of God" (vs 1-2).

That's where all those who are resurrected going to be, right on the Sea of Glass!

Verse 3: "And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God…"

That's showing those who qualify for the first resurrection up to the time of the beginning of the Church!

"…and the song of the Lamb…" (v 3).

That shows all of those from the time of Christ to the resurrection!

"…saying, 'Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints'" (v 3).

What's going to take place on the Sea of Glass? Well, we have a lot of things that are going to take place!

• there has to be the marriage of the Lamb and the Bride
• all of us have to receive our rewards
• we have to understand what our assignments are
• while we are there the seven last plagues are poured out before we come down to the time of returning to the earth on the Feast of Trumpets

All of those things have to take place!

Now then, let's see the finale of it just before we return to the earth. This also tells us some of the things that are going to take place.

Revelation 19:7: "Let us be glad and shout with joy; and let us give glory to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And it was granted to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints" (vs 7-8).

So, all the guests have to have the righteousness of the saints, and the Bride has the fine linen, clean and white, because she is the virgin, because she followed Christ wherever He would go.

• Who's going to perform the wedding?
• Why not God the Father?
• After all, didn't it say there in Matt. 22, that He had prepared the wedding?
• Why not, if we see God the Father at that time, and the wedding performed?
  • we'll be spirit beings
  • we'll be able to see Him

So, this is going to be a great wedding feast! We're going to have the wedding feast there while we're on the Sea of Glass. Then the seven last plagues are poured out. We're getting onto the time when we come to the Feast of Trumpets, so we'll continue the rest of the story as the Holy Days unveil God's plan down through time, and what happens after the wedding. So, have a wonderful Pentecost!

Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
• Proverbs 3:5-10

• John 6:40, 44
• Leviticus 23:15-17, 21
• Matthew 13:33
• Acts 2:1-22, 36-41
• Leviticus 23:21
• Revelation 6:1-2
• Revelation 12:7, 9-17
• Revelation 6:9-17
• Matthew 24:27
• Revelation 7:14, 3-4
• Zechariah 12:7
• Revelation 7:5
• Hosea 5:15
• Hosea 6:1-2
• Revelation 7:9
• Revelation 14:1-5
• Revelation 3:12
• Matthew 22:2-14
• Revelation 14:14-16
• Revelation 11:15-19
• Matthew 24:30
• Revelation 15:1-3
• Revelation 19:7-8

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 1:1; 21
• Exodus 20
• John 7; 11; 12
• Isaiah 50
• Revelation 4; 5
• Romans 2
• Luke 10
• Isaiah 20
• Hebrews 12
• Revelation 8; 9

FRC:
Original transcription date unknown
Reformatted: bo—4/2022