Originally posted: 12/23/2021
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters,” (14:6-7).
The 144,400 are again mentioned, this time standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, marked and protected by the Seal of the Living God.
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, (14:4).
As mentioned previously, there is debate on who these 144,000 actually are. Revelation is a prophetic book and often utilizes signs and symbolic language. But when John wrote of them, he didn’t use language that points to symbolism. In Revelation 7:4, he wrote that he heard the number of those who were sealed; he did not use the phrase, “something like,” to describe this number.
“Revelation 7:4 seems to speak of 144,000 actual people living during the end-times tribulation. Nothing in the passage leads to interpreting the 144,000 as anything but a literal number of Jews—12,000 taken from every tribe of the children of Israel, according to verses 5–8.
These 144,000 Jews are “sealed,” which means they have the special protection of God. They are kept safe from the divine judgments and from the wrath of the Antichrist. They can freely perform their mission during the tribulation. It had been previously prophesied that Israel would repent and turn back to God (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25), and the 144,000 Jews seem to be a sort of “first fruits” (Revelation 14:4) of that redeemed Israel. Their mission seems to be to evangelize the post-rapture world and proclaim the gospel during the tribulation period. As a result of their ministry, millions—“a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9)—will come to faith in Christ,” https://www.gotquestions.org/144000.html
But however one chooses to interpret the meaning of the 144,000, the focus remains on His Eternal Gospel. In the three instances when John writes of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, it is in connection with the praise that is joyously offered for the gift of His Salvation, received through the message of His Eternal Gospel.
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...9 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; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,” (Revelation 7:4, 9-10 emphasis added).
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. 2 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. 3 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, (14:1-3 emphasis added).
And a new song erupts in praise for His Salvation; of course it does! For He has purchased with His precious blood all who have responded in faith to the message of His Eternal Gospel, foreknown before the foundation of the world.
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God, (1 Peter 1:18-21).
Consider His Eternal Gospel
His Gospel is Eternal, foreknown before the foundation of the world. And the message of His Eternal Gospel has not changed.
- His Eternal Gospel is to be preached and proclaimed to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
- And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. (14:7).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that the Creator God will be glorified in His Holy Judgment.
- and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters,” (14:7).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that the wicked kingdom that has influenced the nations in immorality will fall.
- And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality,” (14:8).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that His Wrath will be poured out on idolaters.
- Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb,” (14:9-10).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that the saints will persevere in obedience.
- Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus, (14:12).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that those who die in their faith are blessed as they rest from their labors, but their influence will continue.
- And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them,” (14:13).
- His Eternal Gospel proclaims that the Son of Man will return as King with His angels to an earth that is ripe for judgment.
- Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped, (14:14-16).
How do we respond to His Eternal Gospel?
Gospel means “good news,” and His Good News is Eternal, unchanging, and enduring; proclaiming His power to change and strengthen us to endure.
Oh, that we would respond to His Eternal Gospel in faith like the 144,000, that we would live emboldened and confident knowing that we are sealed and protected by the Holy Spirit of Promise.
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory, (Ephesians 1:13-14).
And let us respond to His Eternal Gospel in obedience like the 144,000, that we would unashamedly perform our mission to preach His power of salvation.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, (Romans 1:16).
His Gospel is Eternal, foreknown before the foundation of the world. And the message of His Eternal Gospel has not changed. It is only through believing in the One Who was appointed by God as Judge, the One of Whom the prophets bore witness, that forgiveness of sins can be received.
“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins,” (Acts 10:42).
Whatever our vocation, may we be found faithful in the mission He has given to all His followers. And like the one hundred and forty-four thousand, let us preach His Eternal Gospel to all people. Oh, let’s not miss any opportunities to share His Eternal Gospel that many would call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” (Romans 10:13).