A few years ago I received an email containing a question regarding the End Times as mentioned in the Bible. The question was specific regarding the identity of a certain group of people: “Who are the 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelation?” I had studied the book of Revelation in the past and I assumed that I could read the relevant passages afresh regarding the 144,000 and come up with a sensible answer. I opened the Bible, read the applicable verses, and researched the subject at hand, however, I could not come to a reasonable understanding for this group of people who are commonly called the 144,000. 

I responded to the email which I received in humility as I could not provide an adequate answer. The Bible is filled with mystery and some of these mysteries are revealed to us while others remain hidden, at least for a time. When it comes to the book of Revelation in the New Testament, there seems to be a plethora of hidden mysteries and “the 144,000” appears to be one of them.

Who Are The 144,000?

Over the years I have heard many explanations regarding the identity of the 144,000. In fact, there are too many to mention in this article, however, in short there are generally two camps of thought regarding the 144,000:

1. 1. There are those who teach that the 144,000 is a symbolic number which represents the church, meaning all true believers in Yeshua.
   2. There are others who teach that the 144,000 is a literal number which indicates the exact number of the Jewish people who will be saved during the time of the great tribulation. 

There are certainly many other opinions regarding the 144,000, however, I have just listed two of the main explanations that I have heard over the years. There is also a religious group called the Jehovah’s Witnesses who at one time taught that only members of their sect are the 144,000! 

• How should we understand the meaning of the 144,000?
• Does the 144,000 refer only to the church (Gentile believers), only to Jewish believers, or does it refer to both groups?
• Is the counting of the 144,000 to be understood literally or symbolically?

The 144,000 are only mentioned in the book of Revelation and within this book this unique group of people is only spoken of in two chapters: chapters seven and fourteen. Although there is limited information regarding the 144,000 in the book of Revelation, there are several key details which are provided in these two chapters. 

We are introduced to the 144,000 in Revelation chapter seven:

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed. – Rev. 7:1-8

The context of Revelation chapter seven is clearly during the final seven years before the return of the Messiah and within the last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. Who is specifically being referred to in these verses?

First and foremost, the 144,000 are those who are sealed on their foreheads as being bond-servants of God. They are marked with the seal of God and are identified as belonging to the living God. It is clear from the text that the 144,000 are identified as being from the twelve tribes of Israel. It is also interesting to read the specific tribes which are mentioned and the two tribes which are not mentioned (Ephraim and Dan), however, we will not focus on these details at this point. Since the twelve tribes of Israel are listed in relation to the 144,000, there is no reason to think that the people referred to here are anyone other than the Jewish people. 

The Jewish People

Evidence that the 144,000 is only referring to the Jewish people is further confirmed from the continuing text which clearly speaks of other people groups from the nations of the world in addition to the 144,000:

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; – Rev. 7:9

The flow of Revelation chapter seven specifically identifies the 144,000 as those from the people of Israel who are set apart to the Lord in comparison to the Gentile believers from the nations. 

• Who are these 144,000 Jewish people?
• Should this number be taken literally or symbolically?
• Are there only 144,000 Jewish believers who come out of the Great Tribulation? 

The Role Of The 144,000

As we move from chapter seven to chapter fourteen of the book of Revelation, we are given more specifics about these Jewish people who have been sealed on their foreheads and set apart to the Lord:

Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless. – Rev. 14:1-5

In these verses we read how the 144,000 Jewish people are believers in Yeshua as they have both the name of the Lamb and the name of the Father written on their foreheads. 

The 144,000 are described in the above verses as standing with the Lamb (Yeshua) on Mount Zion and they are said to follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Mount Zion is the Mountain of the LORD and we read in the book of Psalms how God’s appointed King will reign on this hill: “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:6) The 144,000 appear to take part with Yeshua after His return to Jerusalem when He comes to take His rightful position as King of Israel and King of the world. The 144,000 are worshippers of Yeshua and they are granted the unique privilege of learning the new song which is song before the throne in heaven.

The Identity Of The 144,000

The 144,000 are described as men who are virgins and who have kept themselves pure in regard to morality. They are said to be men and not women. They are Jewish males from the twelve tribes of Israel who have not given themselves to the sensuality of this world but rather are described as chaste men. They are also described as being blameless, “…no lie was found in their mouth…”. In a world marred by lies, deceit, and immorality, the 144,000 are shining stars as God-fearing men who stand with Yeshua at His return. 

We read twice in Revelation 14:1-5 that the 144,000 were “purchased.” In the first occurrence we read how they are “… purchased from the earth…” (Rev. 14:3) and in the second occurrence how they are “… purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:4) This Greek word for “purchase” is the same word used in Revelation chapter five in describing the action of the Lamb who is found worthy to open the book:

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” – Rev. 5:8-10

In the same manner that each person who believes in Yeshua from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation is purchased by the blood of the Lamb, even so these 144,000 Jewish men who have kept themselves chaste will be purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

There is nothing else specifically written about the 144,000 other than what we have read in these two chapters of the book of Revelation. This being true, we do know from other Scriptures that there will be a great day of salvation for the Jewish people in the last days, as we read in the letter to the Romans:

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” – Romans 11:25-27

The 144,000 would certainly fit the description of a great salvation of the Jewish people in the last days, however, if the prophecy of “…all Israel will be saved…” is fulfilled through the salvation of the 144,000 Jewish men, it seems to be a very narrow fulfillment. What about Jewish women and children?

Where Are The Jewish Women & Children?

I believe it is wise to follow the principle of taking God’s Word literally as long as the context of the Scriptures supports this understanding and this seems to be the case regarding the 144,000 in Revelation chapters seven and fourteen. Just to confirm, I am stating that I believe the 144,000 will be men who will be descended from the Jewish people. This being true, where are the Jewish women? Surely there will not only be Jewish men who are saved in the last days! I believe there is a common sense solution to this mystery regarding the missing women and children of Israel which is found here in the text of Revelation together with Scriptures found in this week’s Torah Portion reading.  

First Fruits

In Revelation chapter fourteen we read how the 144,000 are purchased from among men as “…first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:4b) In the Bible we see how “first fruits” can be used for anything that is devoted to God and there is also the agricultural meaning of “first fruits” which anticipates a greater harvest (Lev. 23:17). In this manner, it seems that the 144,000 are the first fruits of the Jewish believers in Yeshua in the last days who represent a greater number of Jewish believers who will also be saved at that time as well. What about the Jewish women and children?

Counting The People Of Israel

This week’s Torah Portion begins in Numbers chapter one. In the first few verses of this chapter we are given instructions from the LORD in regard to how the people of Israel are to be counted:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies…” – Num. 1:1-3

When the LORD explained to Moses how the children of Israel were to be counted He said that it was to be according to the number of males, aged twenty years old and upward with a qualifier of those who were able to go out to war.

The whole nation of Israel was to be numbered through their military men. It was only the males of a certain age and those who were able to go out to war who were to be counted in respect to the whole congregation of the nation of Israel:

So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, even all the numbered men were 603,550. – Num. 1:45-46

The nation of Israel was counted by means of numbering their military men. The women and children were not to be counted during a census of the nation of Israel. The people of Israel as a whole, including all of the men, women, and children, were numbered according to the stipulations given by the LORD.

The 144,000 – God’s Army

Whether or not the 144,000 Jewish men who are spoken of in the book of Revelation will be an active military army in the last days is not made clear in the biblical text, however, in keeping with the whole counsel of Scripture and the manner in which the nation of Israel is to be counted, the 144,000 will most likely be military-aged men who represent the greater number of Jewish people (men, women, and children) who will be living in the last days and who will also be purchased by the blood of the Lamb. We also know that the 144,000 will be active worshipers of Yeshua who will sing a new song to the Lord (Rev. 14:3). In this manner the 144,000 will be a mighty spiritual army for the glory of God.

In the last days, God will set apart 144,000 Jewish men who will faithfully follow the Lamb and play a significant role leading up to Yeshua’s return to earth when He comes to reign as King. The uniqueness of the race, gender, and number of the 144,000 in no way nullifies a greater number of Jewish people (both male and female) in coming to faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. There is still much mystery regarding the last days as explained in the book of Revelation but hopefully the identity of the 144,000 is now more clear. 

Shabbat Shalom!

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*All Scripture take from NASB Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

**The Hebrew name “Yeshua” is used in the biblical quotations in place of the English name “Jesus” to give emphasis to the meaning of this name, salvation. The word “Messiah” is also used in place of the word “Christ” to bring clarity to the office of Yeshua.

Torah Portion: Num. 1:1 – 4:20

Haftara: 1 Samuel 20:18-42

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