Who Are The 144,000?

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the 

mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty 

and four thousand,having His Father's name 

written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice 

from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and 

as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard

 the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

and they sang as it were a new song before the 

throne, and before the four beast, and the elders: 

and no man could learn that song but the hundred 

and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed 

from the earth. These are they which were not

defiled with woman; for they are virgins. These 

are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever 

He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, 

being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And 

in their mouth was found no guile: for they are 

without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14:1-5

     The number 144,000 has caused much controversy among those who claim to be Christian. The Jehovah Witnesses claim that they have the answer: Do they? Due to the fact that this number 144,000 is a hallmark doctrine of this cult I must address this so that we have a clear understanding. Remember: we are to be ready to give an answer for our faith to anyone who asks, but to do so with meekness and fear (1Peter 3:15).

     The teaching by Jehovah Witnesses is that only 144,000 people will get to go to heaven. God chooses these 144,000 and that this choosing began in the first century and was completed by the year 1935. The beginning of the Watchtower in 1879 and until 1935 only faithful Jehovah Witnesses were chosen. All others will remain for eternity on earth. Those not faithful will be destroyed. Those destroyed would also include any Jehovah Witness that had been disfellowshipped and not return to good graces with the Watchtower Society before Armageddon. What was their basis for such a teaching? It is based on Revelation 7:1-9.

      Is there a flaw in this teaching? First, the Watchtower takes a literal 144,000 in verse 4 but the numbers in verses 5-8 they say are figurative. They give no reason as to why they take 144,000 to be literal and say that verses 5-8 are figurative because the 12 tribes mentioned earlier do not match the 12 tribes of Israel. This a convenient way to support their theology and to say that verse 4 is literal and verses 5-8 are figurative then a problem arises. Only descendents of one of the tribes of Israel or of one of the tribes mentioned. Critical thinking must be used here and question the motive to choose one passage to be literal and the other to be figurative.

     What if they are correct? Let us critically examine if that is true. Jehovah Witnesses say that only 144,000 people go to heaven and it started with the Apostles. Jehovah Witnesses say that in 1935 52,465 of the 144,000 were still alive. This then means that God could only have chosen 91,535 faithful Christians and in the 1800 years that had passed this is all He could find to bring to heaven. Now here is something to ponder: in 56 years God was able to find 52,465. This does not seem reasonable that through all the preaching God would only have reached 91,535 and this does not take into account the next 1700 years. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that the 144,000 would have been filled long before1879 and this in the first century. Let us use a Scriptural example: "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. The they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellow ship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear  came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. And all htat believed were together, and had all thins common; and sold their possessions and good, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with  one accord in the temple, ad breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved " (Acts 2:40-47). God was adding daily to the Church and at one time 3,000 people so it would seem that God would have reached the number 144,000 rather quickly. Acts 5:12-16 mentions that more were added: God was at work. Read Fox's Book of Martyrs and you will see that thousand of faithful Christians were killed. The World Christian Encyclopedia estimates that be the year 100 A.D. there were some 1 million out of a population of 181 million and even if their estimates are off by 80% the number of Christians would have exceeded 144,000. If we follow the logic of Jehovah Witnesses we would have to say that God took time off choosing people to go to heaven and was saving this choosing until the Watchtower began by Charles Taze Russell. Now from 1879 -1935 God only chose those who were associated with the Watchtower Society.

      the absurdity of it all tasks my mind to say what Jehovah Witnesses say and not to have Scriptural support. Remember the Watchtower Society claims that the 144,00 had been sealed by 1935 and the age to be sealed was 35 years of age. If that is true that the number 144,000 was complete in 1935 why then does that number continue to increase? How does the Watchtower address this problem? They tell their constituents to not be concerned if a person begins to take of the emblems on Nisan 14, God knows who He as chosen. That is convenient to say that the number was complete then when it was shown that that could not be the case to say then that God must have chosen some but not others before 1935. A problem is that the Watchtower Society tells that those who wee sealed in 1935 would live to see the end of the world. Well, is that was true then how? Those people would be who were 35 would have to be 116 years of age in 2016. This theory of theirs is absurd and falls apart on all fronts. What new theory will the Watchtower Society come up with to meet this new problem? We will have to wait and see.

     The way to resolve difficulties is to examine the words and their uses in Scripture and in other writings. Notice the word "virgin" and wonder if this word means to be without sexual intercourse, to be celibate as it is with Roman Catholics. The numbers used in these verses are figurative so we must look at other words such as virgin and it is true that it does mean to be celibate, but more, it also means the "Church" as to what Paul wrote: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2Corinthians 11:2). We cannot use proof phrases to prove our theology, we must use the Bible. The Bible teaches that all faithful Authentic Christians will go to heaven, not just 144,000. All those in heaven will sing a new song, say new things, before the throne of God. These in heaven will have salvation and be without sin, without guile. The faithful will not have committed fornication with the world, and now after repentance have become clean before God and will follow Jesus Christ the Lamb for eternity. Christians, those who have died and will die before the coming of Jesus Christ, the firstfruits in heaven, the redeemed will gladly worship God. We who await our turn to go to heaven can now worship God in spirit and truth, we can now sing a new song for we are redeemed. Time will come when we are at the throne of God in heaven. Until then: we sanctify ourselves by following the Lamb, that is His commandments. 

Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts,

    the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me

of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.

     .....

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, 

           and her converts with righteousness

                                Isaiah 1:24, 27

You are of the redeemed: Heaven awaits you

Richard L. Crumb

The Deceptive Beast: He Abides With Us Now!

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; 

and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire  come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, 

that they should make an image to the beast,

 which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And 

he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,

 that the image of the beast should both speak, 

and cause that as many as would not worship the 

image of the beast should be killed. And he 

causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor,

free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, 

or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy 

or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name 

of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is 

wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the 

number of the beast: for it is the number or a man;

 and his number is six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 13:11-18 

     If there has been so much more speculation than these verses I do not know what there could be and anyone who watchers TV or goes to such Churches that speak about End Times know that the speakers speak as though they have been inspired of God and what they say is truth. It is not! It is speculation, nothing more, nothing less! 

     I do not pretend to know who or what this beast is that comes out of the earth and has two horns. I do know that Scripture says he speaks as a dragon. Now, I do know what the Bible says about a dragon, that this Dragon is Satan, and the Beast, unless you are watching Disney, is and always is noted for being evil. This beast has two horns, that is some power and he those horns seem to be deceptive as they look like the horns of a lamb. Who is known in the Bible as a lamb? Jesus Christ! So this Beast, this evil being speaks, acts like Jesus Christ but is only a dupe for Satan. This beast draws away to him men and women who come to worship him. Why this beast reminds them of the beast that died and rose again, was healed and the see all the wonders and signs even to make fire come down out of heaven. But all this is deception, and all the miracles, those so-called miracles that seem to make this beast to have power and power from God causes them to give power and worship and make this beast to have an image of the beast. 

     Too late! It will be too late! This deceptive beast has drawn immature people away from God and now by this power the beast controls their very life. They cannot but or sell, unless they have the mark of the beast, in their right hand, that is in all they do even if it seems good as the use of the right hand was to be used for good, and/or the mark on their forehead, that is, they have come to believe that they have knowledge of this beast that he is acting for God. Now, if anyone does not have that mark they cannot buy, sell and their life is one whereby they could be killed. Do we have an example in today's world that power, governments who control their subjects, to cause them to worship the god they say is true and if you do not you are killed? Yes! ISLAM! You do no have to look far to see that this is true no matter how a Muslim, or an Islam worshiper says they do not like what radical Muslims are doing, they have the mark of the beast on them in their right hand and on their forehead and if push comes to shove, they will kill you for not being a worshiper of Allah. We have some so-called Christian Churches that control their constituents by teaching such things as speaking in some gibberish sound as a mark of one who had true faith. They believe in healing, Yes God heals, but God heals not due to anything but according to His will and purpose, but to say that men and women have been raised from the dead, that many have been healed and all this without facts is to teach falsely. 

     Wisdom, yes, wisdom, use wisdom and that wisdom is wisdom from God as revealed in His word. The number 666, is simply failure multiplied to the utmost. Man's number is 6, short of 7 which is perfection. The beast seems to have perfection but is short of perfection and furthermore magnifies himself powerfully as truth but is only evil. Those who do not live according to the Word, that is Jesus Christ, that which is truly revealed in Scripture is only a person who is worshiping the beast, making an image of the beast. 

     Do you want to be an overcomer? Do you want to have the blessing of God? Miracles will not save you! Speaking in some gibberish tongue will not save you! Believing in anecdotal stories will not save you! You will not enter into the kingdom of God unless you do what Scripture says you must do: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). You must be holy! A holy person will do all they can to be like our Lord Jesus Christ, to become the image of Him, not the image of the beast. A holy person will deny himself and minister to others and be uncompromising in denouncing sin. A holy person will seed to be meek, longsuffering, gentle, patient, kind, and governs what comes out of their mouth. a holy persons denies lust, and curbs passions those carnal passion that attempt to lure him/her away from Jesus Christ. The beast will say that it is ok for homosexuality, for same-sex marriage for transgender life when Scripture plainly speaks against such things. A holy person follows after the fear of God, this leaves no room for any other teaching. A holy person communes with God, in prayer, in reading His word and to assemble with God's people regularly. A holy person now in this life is preparing for eternal life with Jesus Christ eternally. Live eternally now for if you truly believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you should be living now as though, for it is, accomplished, you now reside in heaven, but until Jesus Christ returns you have work to do, for yourself, for your family, friends, for your world and that is to bring the good news about Jesus Christ so by the hearing of God's word they come to faith. 

The righteous shall never be removed:

     but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

                       Proverbs 10:30

Grow in holiness: it is up to you!

Richard L. Crumb

Beast, Sea, Horns, Crowns, Heads, What Do They Mean?

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon  his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, 

and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

 And it was given unto him to make war with the

 saints, and to overcome them: and power was 

given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,

 whose names are not written in the book of life

 of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that

 leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity:

 he that killeth with the sword must be killed

with the sword. Here is the patience and 

the faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:1-10

     A problem that exists among those who attempt to give some meaning to symbols, and words is that they only apply that to a single event. For instance: Rome is used in many cases to determine Scripture. It may be true that Rome can be said to fit a symbol, or section of verses. But, the Bible exists several thousand years from the time Rome was a power. Can a symbol have more than one application? Yes, that is, if that application is the same in meaning and according to the original Greek, or Hebrew for that matter. Let us look with critical thinking these verses.

     A beast rises out of the sea. Who is the beast? Who or what is the sea? Well, we know the beast is not Satan, but receives power from the dragon who is Satan. The word sea often refers to people: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt" (Isaiah 57:20). Daniel under inspiration tells of a great beast that came upon from the sea (Daniel 7:3). Later we will study that the sea gave up the dead in it, and it does have a literal translation, but with all the Scriptures, and I only listed two. the sea represents people, both good and bad. This beast had seven heads, and on those heads ten horns and on those horns ten crowns. The beasts rises out of the sea of mankind and is complete, the number seven, and power as horns represent power and authority as crowns represent authority. We have had throughout the ages of Christianity men, and women, who teach what they say is the truth, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and other so-called "Christian" Churches that include heresy as with the Bethel Church and school here in Redding. This beast speaks blasphemy against God. These blasphemous Churches have such heresies as the "Sozo Movement" long determined to be heretical. They are like a leopard fast, quick and strong as it is with a bear, and they roar their blasphemy as a lion roars to scare up prey. The teach that they have authority, and they do: from the Dragon. How else can it be for they speak as hidden in a veil blasphemy, false teaching. This beast seems so wonderful that many come to them and believe in them, but not forever for it is only a short time that God will allow this blasphemy to occur. 

     We are in a war! We are to fight against such blasphemy! I am afraid that many, even Authentic Christians, have fallen asleep. We must remember: Our names have and are written down in the Book of Life, so live as what you are, overcomers. You cannot be an overcomer in name only, it takes action, and determination to bring the truth to your world. The Greek word translated as patience means in Greek: endurance. Yes! Endurance! There is no endurance to just come to Church on Sunday, or to some Bible Study, at least not in the United States, to go to Church and then leave never to discuss the sermon, but to go after fun things, those things that you have determined as OK, but leaves little time to worship God. Is this not what we are to do? Yes! Do you want to show your faith to all who will see or hear about you? Then live your faith. Do not be one who hears and then goes away to other things rather than to God. 

     The beast has risen, and the Dragon has given him power, but you have a power greater than the Dragon, the Beast, you have the Holy Spirit. Fight, or run! It is your choice!

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace,

     and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

until the righteousness thereof go forth as

     brightness, and the salvation thereof

as a lamp that burneth.

            Isaiah 63:1

Be an overcomer

Richard L. Crumb