After this I beheld, and , lo, a great multitude,
which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying,
Salvation to our God which sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all
the angels stood round about the throne,
and about the elders and the four beasts,
and fell before the throne on their faces,
and worshipped God, saying, Amen; Blessing,
and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power, and might, be unto our
God for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:9-12
The 144,000 has reference to the Church as a whole the number 12 meaning completeness is multiplied by 1000 and that is the pinnacle of multiplying as to add any other number is only to add to but not make the number anymore complete. Dan not in this number in Revelation of the twelve tribes of Israel may be due to Dan's idolatry and was replaced by one of Joseph's sons Manasseh who was given double honor by Jacob when he blessed all his sons.
Now in this portion of Scripture John sees a multitude of people which no man could number. It seems as though this number is yet complete and the full accomplishment is yet to come before Jesus returns for His bride. The 144,000 symbolizes all the Church and not literal Israel can be said as Paul wrote: "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel; Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. that is, They which are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the for the seed" (Romans 9:6-8). The old priesthood being taken away by the coming, death, and resurrection of Jesus was then replaced by a new priesthood and you are that priesthood: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1Peter 2:5).
People from all nations, tribes, languages, station in life are seen to be before the throne and the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ crying out in loud voices: Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne" (vs10). God, the First Person of the Trinity sent to earth His Wisdom to be clothed in flesh and He was Immanuel, God with us, and we call Him Jesus Christ is the means of Salvation. Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity is God, not another god, but God and only God can save and Jesus Christ is the Savior. Not as some means outside of God for only God can save and only God's salvation has eternal affect. We must believe, that is, if we are to be Authentic Christians, that God is our Savior through Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ being of the same essence as God is God and is the Savior and that salvation is eternal as Jesus is eternal. You must believe in God, and you must believe in Jesus Christ as the One sent to save and that you by your repentance and faith in Him receive that salvation and can be of the multitude around the throne where God sits and where Jesus Christ resides at God's right hand. Jesus rose bodily, and at the throne is Jesus, but Jesus is God and is the One who as God sits on the throne and as God sends to a child of God Himself the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit to guide you, to lead you, to secure you and as God He being also of the same essence as the Godhead can save you for He speaks to you, both by His small still voice to your soul and by the Word of God whereby faith comes. We will in our study find that Jesus Christ turns all over to God, to the Godhead and can do so for He being God and having completed the task for which He was sent now can simply be our God and Savior to all the multitude that becomes complete and the task accomplished, the will of God satisfied.
The question(s) is do you believe this? Do you love Jesus Christ? And how are you showing that love? Even Satan believes that Jesus is the One sent forth, and many so-called Christians believe that Jesus is the One sent forth, but do they, and do you love Jesus Christ? If so then, how are you manifesting that love? Jesus said: "Lovest thou Me" (John 21:16). Paul says: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,let him be Anathema Maran-atha" (1Corinthians 16:22). Man has the trait of emotions and a disposition to love somebody and this trait was implanted in you by God. Jesus Christ gave Himself Who loved us so much that He would do this just for you and by our loving we should then not forget to love Jesus Christ.
True love of Jesus Christ is not just a matter of forms to a particular denomination or to go to Church on Sundays, or whatever day your Church meets, and then to live the rest of the week as if there was no God. Formality is not Christianity! Simple lip service in worship is not true religion! A problem lies in the fact that not all are true Christians who are members, or are going to Church no matter how regular they go (Romans 9:6), all are not true members of the visible Church of Jesus Christ.
So then, what is an Authentic Christian? It is one whose religion is his heart and live, felt in his heart and is seen by others in his everyday life. Furthermore, an Authentic Christians feels his unworthiness, his sinfulness, guilt, his badness, and repents. He repents and feels all this when He sees Jesus Christ to be that Divine Savior whom his souls needs, and commits, and there is the crux, commitment, to himself and to Him. An Authentic Christian not only knows, trusts and obeys. An Authentic Christian goes further, he loves. The love of Jesus Christ is the inseparable companion of saving faith not a mere intellectual faith that a man may have without love. An Authentic Christian has as their mainspring is love of work for Jesus Christ, not of our work or duty, or even knowledge of what is right, wrong or proper, not some spasmodic activity, no for only those truly love Jesus Christ and are lovers of Jesus Christ will be used in the work of Jesus for Jesus and not for themselves. Love of and to Jesus Christ is the hallmark, the distinguishing mark of all saved souls in heaven. That number that no man could number are all of one mind, disputes now present in the church will be dissolved and all will be joining with one loud voice praise and worship to God and to the Lamb.
Will you be one of those shouting with a loud voice around the throne of God? Well, ask yourself: Do I really love Jesus Christ?
For the LORD taketh pleasure
in His people: He will beautify
the meek with salvation. Let the
saints be joyful in glory: let them
sing aloud upon their beds. Let the
high praise of God be in their mouth,
and a two-edged sword in their hand...
Psalm 149: 4-6
Give praise to God and the Lamb, now!
Richard L. Crumb
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