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Introduction

The mystical number 144,000 appears only in chapters 7 & 14 of the Book of Revelation which, as a genre of literature, is self-described as being both apocalypse (revelation, disclosure, unveiling - Rev.1:1) and as prophecy (Rev.1:3; 22:7,19,18-19 & 10:11; 22:9).

The Millennium Immortals

The subject material of the Book of Revelation is disclosure of the unseen heavenly or future realities presented in a highly symbolic form, its target audience a righteous remnant or minority who alone out of the great mass of humanity, both religious and irreligious, pursue holiness, and thereby qualify themselves as the rulers of the future, millenial earth. These former mortals, now resurrected and therefore immortal, are identified as the '144,000' - 144,000 men, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

A Change in Tribal Arrangements

Oddly, they do not appear to be the original twelve sons of Jacob/Israel that inherited the Land of Israel. Not only is Dan omitted and Manasseh included, but Levi as the priestly tribe under the Old Covenant, who never had his own territory anciently (barring some cities of refuge scattered throughout all the tribal territories), is also included, and Joseph (which as a tribe was sub-divided into two separate tribes - Ephraim and Manasseh - equal in inheritance rights with the others) is included instead of his son Ephraim. An explanation may be that Ephraim, as the head of Ephraim and Manasseh, is called 'Joseph' precisely to identify him as the leading tribe both of Joseph's two sons and of Messianic Israel, and is so taught by Messianic Evangelicals. Judah, the tribe of the Messiah (Rev.5:5), appears first rather than Reuben (the biological firstborn who lost his inheritance rights because of wickedness in massacring the inhabitants of Shechem).

The Ezekiel 48 Error

The distrubution of territories described in Ezekiel 48, a text commonly misinterpreted to mean there will be a Third Temple in the end-times, concerns a conditional prophecy that was never fulfilled, and never will be, because exiled Israel and Judah refused to repent and were, in consequence, left where they were - in exile without the promised Temple or new land distribulation for the returning 12 tribes. See, The 13 Scrolls of Ezekiel: How Wrong Ordering Has Led to Wrong Eschatology. As this was an anticipated Old Covenant tribal re-allocation, Ephraim and Manasseh remain separate tribal lands and Levi, the priestly tribe, has no territory again, even though the tribes are arranged in a different order from north to south to the ones assigned by Joshua during and after the Conquest.

A Change in Tribal Status

When Revelation 7:5-8 is compared with the list of Jacob's sons in Genesis 35:22-26 (or indeed with Ezekiel 48), a change of tribal hierarchical status may be observed, with promotion being given to tribes descended from Jacob's concubines Bilhah and Zilpah (Gad, Asher, and Naphtali) because of merit over the sons of Leah and Rachel, thus indicating that those once excluded from privilege are now included because of a change in status in the New Covenant of Messiah. The assignment of Levi to regular tribal status is explained by the change of Priesthood from Aaronic/Levitical to Melchizedek in the New Covenant.

What Happened to Dan?

However, the absence of Dan from the new list is more difficult to explain. A tradition - more a superstition - arose early in Christendom, without scriptural warranty, that the Antichrist or Anti-Messiah will arise from the tribe of Dan and it is for this reason, they say, that Dan has been excluded. Dan historically has had a bad reputation for his violence against the northern Canaanite city of Laish because he was not content with its assigned tribal inheritance in unconquered Philistine coastal territory (Judg.18). This is then given as a ground for not only his demotion but total exclusion, further backed up by the tribe's negative patriarchal blessing by Jacob:

    "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider shall fall backward" (Gen.49:17, NKJV) .

Dan in Denmark, Ireland and Scotland

Yet Dan's modern critics forget that this tribe "shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel" (Gen.49:16, NKJV) and therefore, apparently, the tribe is in good standing with the rest of the tribes of Israel. It is unreasonable, then, in our view, to claim that the future of a whole tribe would be in jeapordy either because of one historical misdemeanor in the days of the Conquest or because, allegedly, the Antichrist will comes through his lineage. Such a notion does violence to the biblical notion of justice. In addition, we have identified the Tribe of Dan in the modern world and the nations which it inhabits (mostly in Denmark but also in Ireland and Scotland) seem to be no more or less righteous or wicked than the other tribal nations also now identified.

A Scribal Transcription Error

The problem is resolved by the theory espoused by NCAY, namely, that a transcription error has occurred in Revelation 7:6 (perhaps between the Aramaic original and the Greek translation) where 'Dan' has been read as 'Manasseh. Also New Covenant Joseph represents the reunited tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh to make way for Levi (now no longer exclusively a priestly tribe in the new Melchizedek Order) because he is a regular tribe once again - see Olive Branch (OB) Section 88. This brings everything into proper alignment and harmony.

The 144,000 Remnant as Gatherers of the 12 Tribes

In Messianic Evangelical theology, the remnant of the 144,000 has, as one of its chief callings, to gather the righteous together in the end times into 12 'cities of refuge' (OB 68 & the 'Final Gathering'), each corresponding to one of the 12 tribes listed in Revelation 7, believed by Messianic Evangelicals to number 900,000 souls in total. This is a stage in the Final Exodus that preceeds the return of Messianic Israel to the Promised land immediately prior to the Second Coming of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) (OB 244:4-5).

The Assembly of the Firstborn, Divine Council and Sons of Elohim

The 144,000 as a collective fellowship is known as the "The General Assembly (Church) and Fellowship of the Firstborn" or the Chavurat Bekorot (Heb.12:23) which is another term for the Divine Council or "Benei Elohim (Sons of God)" in Heaven (Job 1:6) who have played a significant part in the governance of the world since the beginning along with the faithful malakim (angels) as executives of Yahweh. The last of the members of that council are being incarnated [1] or born in the final two generations prior to the Second Coming and Millennium.

Unmarried Jews or Warrior-Priests from All Twelve Tribes?

One thing the 144,000 are not, as commonly taught by Evangelicals who believe in 'dispensationalism' and the 'rapture', is that they will be 144,000 unmarried, virgin, celibate orthodox 'Jewish' missionaries, converted during the Great Tribulation and sent out from the Republic of Israel (which is not the final gathering of the 12 tribes). Most (90 per cent or more) of the inhabitants who identify as Jews are not related to Abraham and Jacob at all (see the Israel & Israelites page and the important 5-part series, Jacob's Trouble).

Undefiled Virgins

Their spiritual state as "undefiled...virgins" is explained in a revelation received by NCAY called, The New Olive Leaf III:

    "And now I speak unto you a little more concerning the Heavenly Assembly of the Firstborn, that ye might comprehend better what beings are the 144,000. These are they who are no longer defiled by the lower realms of matter, for they have ceased preying upon the souls of men for their nourishment, but have cast their whole faith upon the Father. These are they who are no longer defiled by women, which is the fallen matter of mother earth, because they have become entirely spiritual. These are they who have sublimated all the lower passions through the grace of Messiah and the Light thereof. These are they who no longer hunger and thirst after intellectual stimulation, emotional attachments, sexual appetite, food, drink, or carnal music, for they are sipping a finer nectar that bringeth them true joy. Have I not already told you these things? Verily, verily, I say unto you: Yea, but ye have not believed Me" (OB 214:92-97; also see vv.98-154) - also see Footnotes #446-449, pp.490-493) [2].

Undefiled Blameless Servants

Here 'undefiled' does not mean 'celibate' or 'unmarried' (as if marriage were something defiling, which it is not - Heb.13:4) but eschewing defiling relationships with the pagan world system or the 'whore of Babylon' [3]. It can also be viewed as soldiers' temporary sexual abstinence during times of warfare (Dt.23:9-11; 1 Sam.21:5). Either way, they resemble Yah'shua (Jesus), the blameless servant of Yahweh (Is.53:9).

The Overcomers

In short, the 144,000 are what the Bible calls overcomers (Jn.16:33; Rom.12:21; 1 Jn.2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; Rev.2:7,11,17; 2:26; 3:5,12,21; 21:17; OB 146:9-16; 231:16-18; 236:22-23). In Messianic Evangelical teaching, though the 144,000 are all men, this august body also includes their overcomer-wives so that in number 'the 144,000', whilst including literally 144,000 men, will be much larger when the women are numbered too. Thus the compliment of the elect Firstborn qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) could be between as many as 1,152,000 (Is.4:1) and 1,872,000 souls (using the 12 symbolism of the Book of Revelation) - see Eternal and Holy Echad Marriage.

The New Jerusalem

Finally, the number 12,000 (12,000 x 12 = 144,000) is found in the dimensions of the New Jerusalem (Rev.21:16) thus confirming that Israel and the elect of the Messianic Community (the 144,000) are one and the same. What most call the 'Church' is in reality Messianic Israel, the Messiah-trusting community of born-again Torah-obedient talmidim (disciples):

    "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion (Heb.12:22), and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand (144,000), having His Father's name (Yahweh) written on their foreheads (Rev.3:12). And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps (Rev.15:2-4; 4:6). They sang as it were a new song before the throne (Rev.5:9; 15:3; cp.Ps.96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 107:1-3; 1 Pet.1:12), before the four living creatures (Rev.4:2-8), and the elders (Rev.7:9-12); and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand (144,000) who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being bikkurim (firstfruits) to Elohim (God) and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of Elohim (God) (as overcomers)" (Rev.14:1-5, NKJV; cp. Rev.7:1-8).

For more material on this subject, see the articles in the Register below. Though numerous articles make passing references to the 144,000, these are not listed here.

Endnotes

[1] This has nothing to do with the false New Age/Occult doctrine of 'reincarnation'
[2] Please note that in the first printed edition (1997) these verses are misnumbered as vv.101-106 & 107-163, respectively
[3] Also see a discussion of Hebrew numerology in Footnote #165, p.148 for an alternative, symbolic explanation of who the 144,000 are

(20 April 2021)

144,000: The Firstborn of Israel
1. The 144,000: Who are They? (Art)
2. Yom haBikkurum - The Firstfruits of the Resurrection (Art)
3. Legalism II: Anarchistic Salvation vs. True
4. The Difference Between the 900,000, the 144,000 & the Remnant
5. The Final Gathering: The Other Redeemed Christians
6. Singing a New Song
7. Yahweh's End-Time Remnant Community for the 21st Century
8. Book of Revelation XXIX: Interlude I, Part A, Sealing the 144,000 - The Lamb's Élite Warriors (Revelation 7:1-8)
9. Book of Revelation XXX: Interlude I, Part B, The Great Rescue & the Great Multitude (Revelation 7:9-17)
10. Book of Revelation LII: Interlude III: The Lamb's Élite 144,000 Warriors, Part A: The True Followers (Revelation 14:1-5)

Key: Art=Article | FAQ=Frequently Asked Question | Sc=Science | St=Sermonette | Occ=Occult | OB=Olive Branch | PCM=Patriarchal Christian Marriage | NCCM=New Covenant Christian Ministries | Sab=Sabbath | Sal=Salvation | 5Com=Five Commissions | AI=Apostolic Interviews | HO=Holy Order

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This page was created on 26 September 1999
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