The 144,000 -- what a mysterious, unique group of people they are! For centuries, people in and out of YEHOVAH God's church have wondered and argued about who they are. Many people in the Churches of YEHOVAH God believe that the appearance of the 144,000 in Revelation 14 is something yet to happen in the future. Some individuals feel they were called to train the 144,000 in the “last days,” one having gone so far as purchasing property in the desert for this purpose, while another purchased a large ranch in the mountains!

Back in the early 1950s, a Los Angeles preacher claimed the Messiah appeared to him in a vision and commanded him to build a huge church, and that 144,000 manifested sons of YEHOVAH God would be raised up. Millions of dollars poured in for the building, which was never constructed, and the part about the 144,000 was proved to be untrue.

Probably the most popular and widely circulated interpretation about the 144,000 is the so-called futurist-dispensational view. According to this scenario, the 144,000 will not make their appearance until during the last seven years (or three and a half years, as some say) of this age. It is claimed by some that they -- like 144,000 “Jewish Pauls” -- will preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world -- “after the church is gone”!

However, when we look at what the Bible says about them, their identity becomes clear. The Bible explains itself!

The 144,000 have very special qualities; Revelation 7 and 14 mention them as highly favored of YEHOVAH God. They:

(1) Are sealed by an angel of YEHOVAH God

(2) Are specially selected from the tribes of physical Israel

(3) Stand on Mount Zion with "a Lamb"

(4) Have YEHOVAH God's name written on their foreheads

(5) Sing a new song no one else can sing

(6) Are redeemed from the earth

(7) Are called "virgins"

(8) Are not defiled with women (false churches)

(9) Are considered the firstfruits of YEHOVAH God's harvest

(10) Are guileless and without fault

What a select group of people! Who are they? Is it possible you could be one of them? Are they all that will be saved or are there others? Will they be in the first resurrection? If so, will there be any others?

The second point shows their identity -- they are physical Israelites. We see this where Paul is addressing the Galatian Church, which was made up of physical Israelites living in Galatia (Galatians 3:29). The opening verses of the Book of Galatians states: "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for OUR sins, that he might deliver US from this present evil age..." (Galatians 1:3-4). At this point we need to clarify who the "Gentiles" are that are frequently mentioned in the New Testament.

The Word Gentile

Now, if there is any book in the New Testament that proves who the Gentiles really are, it is the book of Romans. When you study this book, it sure seems like Paul is addressing a group of fellow Israelites! Starting in Romans 1:13, we find that Paul called the Romans Gentiles -- "Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other gentiles." Since Paul refers to "other Gentiles," that would make the Roman Church Gentile also.

Moving now to Roman 2:14-15, Paul states that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law, and that they were showing the works of the law "written in their hearts":

Romans 2:14-15: "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them."

This passage also states that their conscience was bearing witness of this fact. WHO were these Gentiles?

In whom did YEHOVAH write the law in their hearts? According to Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8 and 10, it was the House of Israel and the House of Judah! Notice these verses:

Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days are coming, says YEHOVAH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah..."

Hebrews 8:8: "Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming, says YEHOVAH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah..."

Hebrews 8:10: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Did you notice what YEHOVAH said in verse 10? "I will be their God, and they shall be My people." This statement could only apply to a "people" called ISRAEL, since these were the "people" that the covenants were made with and belonged to. Did you also notice that the new covenant was made to both the Houses of Israel and Judah? These verses alone should prove who the Gentiles are!

Now look at Romans 4:1, where Paul refers to Abraham OUR father "as pertaining to the flesh":

Romans 4:1: "What shall we say then that Abraham OUR father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" (KJV).

What does this statement mean? The phrase "as pertaining to the flesh" could only mean that Abraham was a real flesh and blood biological father to the Roman "gentiles"! Paul stated "Abraham OUR Father" when writing to the Romans, so the book of Romans is clearly addressed to the Roman descendants of Abraham.

We are also aware from Romans 11:26 that YEHOVAH God will save all Israel -- notice!

Romans 11:26: "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [Israel]; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

The Messiah only lost one of those YEHOVAH God gave him to be apostles (John 17:12), and he was soon replaced (Acts 1:23-26). That one that was lost, Judas Iscariot, was known ahead of time. We are also assured:

John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

To correctly understand this verse we need to have a clear understanding of what the term "world" actually means. Does all mankind belong to that “world”? Do only certain men belong to that “world”? Who are those people, then, that YEHOVAH God loves? Where do they come from?

The Term "World"

These are very important questions which have to be answered and faced up to, like it or not. A very solid foundation has been established from both Testaments to build upon, and this shows the world of an exceedingly exclusive, chosen, called, predestined, and elect race of people. Most people have some thought about the existence of a “chosen people”, and somehow they come up with the label “The Jews” for these people. “The Jews” is a generalization which cannot equate to Israel! And, the Messiah always condemned “the Jews” for what they were (John 8), so “the Jews” (as the popular term) cannot be Israel!

John 8:37-41: "I know that you [the Edomite Jews] are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your father [Satan]. They answered and said to him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father [Satan]." Then they said to him, 'We were not born of fornication; we have one Father -- God.' Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of myself, but He sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word. You are of your father the devil..." (NKJV)

Here, in John 3, the Greek word for world is kosmos. The “whole” is holos, which means every bit and every whit of the kosmos it refers to. The context shows John is saying that the propitiation applies to all of Israel. Also, in John 3, the Messiah was talking to Nicodemus, a Master of Israel. In context, Israel is the “world” they were talking about. Consider, "For God so loved the world"; the word “for” refers to the immediate, preceding discussion. This provides the context. To whom is the Messiah speaking? This tells us which kosmos is under discussion. The whole subject matter concerns Israelites and a master in Israel, Nicodemus.

Verse 3: They have to be “begotten from above” [not "born again" as translated] to be able to perceive [in their mind’s eye] the Kingdom.

Verses 5, 7: Unless this spirit is inherited from conception, none can enter the Kingdom (1 John 3:9).

Verse 8: Those who are thus born of the spirit [Israelites] respond to the call of the spirit.

Verses 14, 15: And even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

To which race did Moses lift up that serpent? Which race was then healed and cleansed from the serpent bites? It was only Israel.

So the "world" that John is talking about is the world or kosmos of Israel -- NOT the world at large.

YEHOVAH God is not a failure. His plan is right on schedule. Most of the world of Israel will be saved! The question is, "When?" Will most people of Israel be saved at the return of the Messiah, or does the order of resurrections (I Corinthians 15:23; Revelation 20:4-15) allow for a broader timeframe for saving all of Israel?

Crunching the Numbers

Before addressing the 144,000 specifically, let's examine some numbers. Why does Luke 12:32 say, "Do not fear, little flock..."? How big does the church need to be?

If YEHOVAH God planned to save hundreds of thousands or millions of Israelite people in the first resurrection, Acts 2 would have been a wonderful place to start. The Messiah had died some four months before; an earthquake had rattled Jerusalem; people physically rose from their graves and walked into town; the veil of the Temple had rent in two, exposing the Holy of Holies; and darkness fell at noon! Then came Pentecost: Tongues of fire appeared, the apostles spoke and people heard in dozens of languages. One would think the whole city would have heard and believed -- yet the "best day ever" in the church produced a mere 3,000 converts!

This fledgling church "multiplied greatly" (Acts 6:7; 9:31; 18:10), but Acts 21:20 (KJV) still describes "how many thousands of Jews there are which believe." The church did not need huge auditoriums, for they met in private homes (Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, Philemon 2), and they were served throughout the Israelite nations by twelve apostles and a small number of elders. Even considering these small numbers, many fell away from the truth (I John 2:18-20; II Thessalonians 2:3, 7), and many followed false apostles (II Peter 2:1)!

Before the fall of Jerusalem, the true Israelite believers who had not yet migrated north fled to Pella. When the curtain came up after the first century, false apostles had syncretized paganism with the truth of YEHOVAH God, forming a new and different church. The "little flock" of true Christian Israelites had disappeared. Most of those considered to be "Christians" -- including many who died as martyrs -- must have been syncretized pagans who believed a false gospel. We will see that the first resurrection does not have room to include these martyrs, who, over centuries of persecution, may have numbered in the millions.

How many of those YEHOVAH God will save are "firstfruits," and where do they fit?

In the Old Testament, the term “firstfruits” designated the FIRST gatherings of the crop which were presented to YEHOVAH God -- see Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 2:14 and Nehemiah 10:35. In the New Testament, Yeshua the Messiah, who was “the first that should rise from the dead” to immortality (Acts 26:23), is called “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The first Israelite converts that the apostle Paul made in Achaia (Greece) were called “the firstfruits of Achaia” (1 Corinthians 16:15). And so here, in a similar fashion, the 144,000 -- the firstfruits unto the Lamb (the Messiah) -- are the first Israelite converts to Yeshua the Messiah!

Let us now review the scriptural evidence that shows the gospel went first to ISRAEL and that the first converts to Yeshua the Messiah were Israelites. When John the Baptist introduced the Messiah, he spoke of him as “the Lamb of God” and as he who was to be “made manifest to ISRAEL” (John 1:29-31). When Yeshua originally sent out his disciples, he said: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles...but rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5,6).

A nucleus of believers from Israel was gathered at the Temple on Pentecost and were filled with the holy spirit. The Bible records that 3,000 Israelites were converted on that day alone -- men from all the tribes of Israel being represented on that occasion (Acts 2:5, 36). Now the preaching of the gospel began at Jerusalem (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47). The gospel went “to the Jew [Judahite] FIRST” and then also to the Greek Israelites (Romans 1:16).

When the apostle Peter spoke to a multitude of Israelites in the Temple, he said: “Men of Israel...so it is to you FIRST that God has sent His servant whom He has raised up, so that He might bless you by turning each one of you from your evil ways” (Acts 3:12, 26). Later this very same principle was involved in the statement made by the apostles Paul and Barnabas to the Judahites at Perga:

Acts 13:46: “It was necessary that the word of God’s should be spoken to you first; But since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles [House of Israel]. For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'”

Nevertheless, there were many thousands of Judahites which did accept the Messiah -- so many in fact that we read the following statement in Acts 21:20: “You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of believers there are among the Judeans, and they are all zealots for the Torah.”

It should also be noted here that the people of the twelve tribes of Israel were not in unknown parts of the world, inaccessible or lost to the outreach of the early Church of YEHOVAH God. Had this been the case, Paul could not have spoken of the “twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night” (Acts 26:7).

We should realize that converts to the Messiah came from all the twelve tribes, though scattered throughout the then known world. It was to such converts that the apostle James addressed the New Testament book which bears his name: “To: The Twelve Tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom!” (James 1:1). Also significant is the fact that James refers to these converts as “a kind of firstfruits of all that He created” (verse 18) -- a perfect cross-reference to the passage about the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel!

In view of the fact that there were “many tens of thousands of believers...among the Judeans” alone -- firstfruits to the Messiah -- it is not at all inconceivable that the total number from all the tribes could have been 144,000!

Paul includes himself and the Roman church as firstfruits (Romans 8:23), as does James, and the converted Israelites scattered abroad (James 1:18). In Romans 11:4-5, Paul refers to the 7,000 in Elijah's time who had not bowed their knee to Baal, and he uses this number to refer to his own time, saying, "Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Perhaps he did not mean exactly 7,000, but his quotation is consistent with the "thousands" we saw earlier.

He then explains that, because of the order of the resurrections, "all Israel will be saved" later, though YEHOVAH God had, for the present, "committed them all to disobedience" (Romans 11:16-26, 32). They are not included with the firstfruits at the Messiah's future appearance:

I Corinthians 15:23: "But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at his coming."

Revelation 20:5-12: "But the rest of the dead [of Israel] did not live again until the thousand years were finished...Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priest of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.....

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (NKJV).

Hebrews 12:23 addresses the "church of the firstborn," stating that he, Paul, and they, the church, will not receive their reward apart from the biblical heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:40). So the firstfruits, who will rise in the first resurrection, must include the servants of YEHOVAH God from the Old Testament, along with the converted members of the New Testament church.

There is a curious passage in Deuteronomy 33:2, 17:

Deuteronomy 33:2, 17: "The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; from His right hand came a fiery law for them....He [Joseph] shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."

We know YEHOVAH God gave the law to millions of Israelites. This prophetic passage about the futures of the tribes of Israel may not "prove" anything about "church" numbers of and by itself. It becomes more interesting, however, when we notice a few clearer passages. Jude, quoting Enoch, writes, "Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of His saints" (verse 14), meaning that the saints of Israel are numbered in the tens of thousands. Song of Songs 5:10 describes the Beloved, a type of the Messiah, as "chief among ten thousand." These numbers become very significant when we combine them with I Thessalonians 3:13, where Paul says the Messiah will return with "all his saints."

How Many Firstfruits?

Revelation 14:4 states unequivocally that these 144,000 are "firstfruits to YEHOVAH God and to the Lamb." Can YEHOVAH count? If these 144,000 are YEHOVAH's firstfruits, then no one else is included. The firstfruits are exactly 144,000, not one person less or one more! These numbers are consistent with the "thousands" and "tens of thousands" added together from the Old and New Testaments. As the Messiah says, "Many are called, but few chosen" (Matthew 20:16).

The bride of the Messiah is also exactly 144,000. Revelation 21:2 describes the bride as "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." At this point, she has risen to meet the Messiah, married him and is coming back to rule on the earth with him (Revelation 5:10). She will always be with him from this time on (I Thessalonians 4:17). This occurs at the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:50-52), the time of the resurrection of the "dead in Christ" along with those who are "alive and remain" (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Revelation 21 goes on to describe the bride further, beginning in verse 9: "Then one of the seven angels...talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.'" The angel refers to her as "the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" (verse 10).

He then describes her dimensions: Her wall is pierced by twelve gates -- each a great pearl -- having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them and twelve angels at them (verses 12, 21). Her twelve foundations, adorned with precious stones, are each named after the twelve apostles (verses 14, 19-20). New Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs in length, breadth and height (verse 16). Her wall measures 144 cubits (verse 17).

Twelve tribes times 12,000 each is 144,000, just as John describes the sealed servants of YEHOVAH God in Revelation 7! Twelve and the square of twelve is New Jerusalem's description! The bride is exactly 144,000, and the firstfruits are exactly 144,000.

Revelation 14:4: "These are the ones who were not defiled with women [false churches], for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb [the Messiah] wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men [of Israel], being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (NKJV).

More Details

Now let us add further detail about the 144,000, beginning in Revelation 14:1, where they are shown on Mount Zion with the Messiah, the Lamb of YEHOVAH God. They have risen to meet him and descended with him to the earth to be with, and rule with, him forever. They are the first resurrection. "Then I looked, and behold, a lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father's Name written on their foreheads."

Next we notice that the 144,000 were pictured as having the name of YEHOVAH God “written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). References to a name in the forehead are found several times in the Book of Revelation. Those who serve the “beast” are said to have his name or mark “in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16, 17). The “harlot” is seen with a name written upon her forehead (Revelation 17:5). In Revelation 22:3-4 we read that those who are servants of YEHOVAH God “shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be on their foreheads.”

What is meant by these strange verses about a name in the forehead? Writes Thomas Newton: “It was customary among the ancients for servants to receive the mark of their master...These marks were usually impressed on their right hand or on their forehead” (Dissertations on the Prophecies, Vol. 2, p. 296). Or, as the noted Biblical expositor Albert Barnes remarks, “Among the Romans, slaves were stigmatized with their master’s name or mark on their foreheads.”

When you understand the literal practice upon which the symbol in the Book of Revelation was based, it is easy to find the meaning intended by the use of this symbol. The mark (as literally used) showed that a person was a slave and to whom he belonged. In order to show that the 144,000 belonged to YEHOVAH God as His servants, they were pictured as having the name of YEHOVAH in their foreheads.

Notes Howard B. Rand in A Study in Revelation --

With the Lamb on Mount Zion John saw "An hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." The fact that they are with the Lamb in Mount Zion designates these 144,000 as those who are to reign with Him in the restored Kingdom. The Father's name written in their foreheads is in contrast to the mark placed on the foreheads of those who worship the beast. The Father's name indicates that they are completely in accord with God in all their works, for His Spirit dominates their intellectual faculties and controls all their acts (page 205).

We read in Revelation 14:4 that the 144,000 “were redeemed from among men.” The word “redeemed” here has the meaning of purchased, bought. The redeemed are those purchased to YEHOVAH God as slaves. They are His servants (in a servitude of love) and are “bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 7:23).

They sing a new song that, emphatically, not one other person can sing (verse 3). If there are to be others resurrected in the first resurrection in some other category, such as "guests," what a letdown that would be! They could not only be the bride, they could not even sing with her! (The "guests at the wedding" in Matthew 22:1-14 actually refers to those who make up the bride, not "others" besides the 144,000 who will be in the first resurrection. The real guests honoring the bride and Groom are listed in Revelation 5:11: many angels, living creatures and elders!)

Revelation 5:11: "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" (NKJV).

The 144,000 are called "virgins" (Revelation 14:4). Some have seriously thought these are people who never had sexual intercourse! Now, it would be a carnal interpretation indeed to claim this means only unmarried people. Even Roman Catholic expositors -- with their desire to exalt celibacy -- do not read this into it!

II Corinthians 11:2, however, supplies a more satisfying answer. The Corinthians had come out of as sexually active and perverted a culture as any in history, but Paul says that his goal was to present them "as a chaste virgin to Christ." Ephesians 5:24-26 shows the Israelite people of the church, defiled by sin, becoming unspotted, unwrinkled, holy and without blemish. Similarly, using Israel as a type, Ezekiel 16:9 shows YEHOVAH God cleaning up the Messiah's bride -- notice:

Ezekiel 16:9: Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil" (NKJV).

Cleansed sinners comprise the 144,000, and they are designated "virgin." There is hope for all of us of Israel!

These are the "redeemed from the earth" (Revelation 14:3-4). The Bible uses the name "redeemed" to describe those of Israel whom the Messiah's blood delivers from sin, purchasing them from death (Hebrews 9:12-16). Since these are the only ones who can sing the new song, they are the only ones redeemed from the earth at that time. Any others who are saved must be saved later. They "follow Christ" everywhere, being the bride with her husband, ruling on earth.

Are the 144,000 all males, as some have postulated? Paul refers to the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 as being part of the firstfruits (Hebrews 12:22-23; 11:40). Paul lists Sarah and Rahab as firstfruits awaiting resurrection when the Messiah appears! "Not defiled with women" cannot mean they are all men. The Bible often refers to churches as "women." Thus, the figure of speech means the 144,000 are not spiritually defiled with false doctrine.

Revelation 14:5 shows that the judgment of the 144,000 is complete; they have already "passed under the rod." Judgment is now on the saints of the house of  Israel (I Peter 4:17). YEHOVAH God and the Messiah come back to reward the prophets and the saints; their judgment will have been decided by the time they return, and YEHOVAH God changes them "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (I Corinthians 15:52). He will sit in judgment only of those remaining alive:

Revelation 11:18:  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the nations, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth" (ibid.)

This refers back to the Book of Daniel:

Daniel 7:10: "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him [Ancient of Days -- YEHOVAH God]. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousands times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened" (ibid.).

One Group or Two?

Some contend that there are two groups of 144,000, one in Revelation 14, the other in chapter 7. Apparently, the idea is that the ones in chapter 7 are physical Israelites that are the seed of physical government for the Millennium, and the 144,000 in chapter 14 are the bride, the firstfruits, the elect of YEHOVAH God.

First, we must ask why YEHOVAH God would see a need for physical rulers when He has prepared 144,000 humans-turned-spirit beings to rule as kings and priests? Isaiah 30:21 shows that they will be visible and audible to humans:

Isaiah 30:21: "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" (NKJV).

We can ascertain the truth of the matter simply by defining the "sealing" of those in Revelation 7. We will see that sealing has to do with protecting and setting aside for special use.

In II Corinthians 1:22, Paul describes himself and the spiritual Israelites, the church, as being "sealed...and given...the spirit in our hearts as a deposit" (see also II Corinthians 5:5). In a real estate transaction, earnest or "sincerity and serious intent" money is put down ahead of time. If the buyer fails to finish the purchase, he loses the money. Spiritually, YEHOVAH God gives us "earnest money" in the form of the holy spirit at conception. This "earnest money" was initially given to Adam in Genesis 2:7, "And the LORD God formed man [Adam] of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man [Adam] became a living soul."

The "Breath of Life"

This anointing of the spirit (the "breath of life") is given to those of us of Israel at conception -- it is in our genes passed down from Adam and Abraham. It is a deposit or earnest of the fullness of the spirit that we will receive in the future if converted and serving YEHOVAH God. As Paul says:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come [full measure of the spirit]."

The purpose of the anointing or deposit of the spirit at conception is to enable us of Israel to understand YEHOVAH's truth:

1 John 2:20, 27: "You, however, have an anointing [Gr. chrisma -- of the holy spirit] from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth...And as for you, the anointing [Gr. chrisma -- of the holy spirit] you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing [Gr. chrisma -- of the holy spirit] teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught"

Philo the Judahite had an understanding of this when he wrote in the first century A.D.:

"For when he [Moses] uses the expression, 'He breathed into,' etc., he [Moses] MEANS NOTHING ELSE THAN THE DIVINE SPIRIT proceeding from that happy and blessed nature [YEHOVAH God], sent to take up its habitation here on earth [in Adam and his descendants], FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF OUR [ISRAELITE] RACE, in order that, even if man is mortal according to that portion of him which is visible, he may at all events be [eventually] IMMORTAL according to that portion which is invisible; and for this reason, one may properly say that man is on the boundaries of a better and an immortal nature [after the resurrection], partaking of each as far as it is necessary for him; and that he [man -- descendants of Adam -- Israelites] was born at the same time, both mortal and immortal.

"Mortal as to his body, but immortal [eventually] as to his intellect" (The Works of Philo, translated by C. D. Yonge. "On the Creation, XLVI (134-135)).

This we find corroborated in Job 32:8 -- "But there is a spirit in [Adamic] man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding."

The Bible tells us that the "breath of life" is also termed an anointing -- notice!

Lamentations 4:20: "The breath of our nostrils, the LORD'S anointed, was captured in their pits [wombs], of whom we had said, 'Under His shadow we shall live among the nations'"

Going to Job we read,

Job 27:3: "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils..."

Redemption and Sealing

YEHOVAH God buys, redeems or purchases us with the Messiah's blood, which seals us or designates us as His. The holy spirit and the mind of the Messiah in us are the evidence of this, recognizable to Him and others. YEHOVAH God completes the transaction when He returns, and changes us into spirit beings as members of the God Family, and co-heirs with the Messiah (John 3:6; I Corinthians 15:42-55).

Ephesians 1:13-14 combines sealing, as in Revelation 7, with redemption, a characteristic of the 144,000 of Revelation 14:

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the holy spirit of promise, which is the guarantee [earnest, KJV, NKJV margin] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Here, sealed, earnest, redemption, and purchase are all included in one passage, showing they are inseparable! There is only one group of 144,000!

Ephesians 4:30 makes the same connection, showing we are "sealed [protected, set aside or apart] for the day of redemption" by the holy spirit:

Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the holy spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (NKJV).

Hebrews 9:11-15 shows the redemption from our sins is of the Messiah so that we can "receive the promise of eternal inheritance," which occurs at the return of YEHOVAH God and the Messiah (Luke 21:27-28).

The time element of Revelation 7 is the sixth seal and the day of YEHOVAH God's wrath (Revelation 6:12-17). The angels are instructed to hold back opening the seventh seal and seven last plagues until the sealing of the 144,000 is complete (7:1-3). YEHOVAH then resurrects them to meet Him in the air to form the bride and government of YEHOVAH God, the mother for the rest of Israel, who will then have the opportunity for salvation in their order.

The sealing is not just physical protection of 144,000 physical Israelites. The Bible clearly defines sealing as being of the holy spirit of promise toward inheritance of the promises. This includes the patriarchs and all true Israelite Christians right until YEHOVAH God and the Messiah return. Notice they are called "the servants of our God" (Revelation 7:3). YEHOVAH God does not use this term lightly in the Bible. Could we legitimately classify 144,000 people who had just endured Jacob's Trouble because of sin, barely surviving and not yet converted, "servants of our God?"

Those physical Israelites who survive into the Millennium will be humbled and ready to become converted -- not already converted and ready to rule. That opportunity is reserved for those who have already proved themselves worthy to rule, servants of YEHOVAH God, the firstfruits.

Why are they numbered by tribe? Because the apostles rule over the twelve tribes (Matthew 19:28) and, as we saw in Revelation 21, twelve is the governmental number of the bride. Whether we are physically of Judah, Gad, Asher, or whatever, is not important. Very likely, YEHOVAH places us spiritually in those tribes as He organizes His government.

We know this because the twelve apostles were not all physically from the tribes they will rule! They were apparently mostly of Judah, Levi, or Benjamin. Since there were several sets of brothers among the Twelve, it is impossible that all twelve tribes could physically be represented, so YEHOVAH God will place them over whichever tribe He chooses. He will do the same with us.

Are Non-Israelites Included?

When we read in John 1:17, "for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," we have a problem because the law is spoken in connection with Abraham, long before Moses was born. It is also clear that YEHOVAH God judged other non-Israelite nations -- so what was the basis of judgment? Some nations were judged before what some call the giving of the law, (for example, Sodom) and some were judged afterwards (for example, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Ammon, Moab, and Edom). We find Jonah being sent to proclaim repentance to Nineveh. We find law and judgment in respect to Adam and Eve, and the sacrifices made by Cain and Abel. To almost all Christians there is a conflict about what The Law means.

In connection with Abraham we are told:

Genesis 26:5: "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws."

The Scriptures show that the total law -- namely the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments -- were given exclusively to Israel as part of a covenant. There were promises made, and responsibilities given, to Israel that were not made to other races. Before the addition of the Law to Israel (Galatians 3:19), there were the promises made to the seed of Abraham through Isaac, the inheritance being made on the basis of promise, and not the keeping of “The Law”.

Psalm 147:19, 20: "He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and for his judgments, they [that is, the other nations] have not known them."

This verse is both limiting and specific, and relates exclusively to Israel as a race.

In verse 14, Moses was commanded to teach statutes and judgments "that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it." We are told that keeping these is why other nations would think, and know, that Israel was a great and a wise race. Here racial separation is clearly demonstrated!

Law Before Moses?

It is a common perception that none of the Law existed before it was given through Moses on Mount Horeb, but we have seen that YEHOVAH God knew Abram would obey the Law.

Reference to the requirement to obey the spoken words of YEHOVAH God starts right back in Genesis. The Scripture records that YEHOVAH did judge other races, and that obedience was required of them. When their iniquity was full YEHOVAH destroyed them. Iniquity/punishment is first found in regard to Cain in Genesis 4:13, and it has 236 occurrences in the Old Testament, most of which refer to Israel.

One of the cities YEHOVAH God destroyed for wickedness was Sodom. We read in Genesis 13:13 that "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." To be wicked, a Law must have existed for them to obey. The law of YEHOVAH God was flouted in a way that was open, deliberate, and public. Isaiah 3:9 puts it this way, "they declare their sin…they hide it not."

Jeremiah 23:14 confirms this attitude in reference to those in Israel who were openly prophesying in Baal. This is the national attitude we find in Israel today, leading to a judgment that will be greater than that against Sodom (Lamentations 4:6 and Matthew 10:15). Ezekiel 16:49 describes the sin of Sodom as being, "pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness…neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy, and were haughty and committed abomination before Me."

This is another picture of our society, where open abominations include breaking "thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Today this act is publicly accepted, legal, and open as it was in Sodom. 2 Peter 2:6 and Jude 1:7 picture this and say that similar open abominations are being worthy of eternal fire. On top of this, Anglo-Saxon Israel is openly flouting the word YEHOVAH God spoke to them -- namely the Ten Commandments.

So, Sodom was required to be in subjection to YEHOVAH’s laws, and it becomes clear that law existed before the time of Moses. Concerning judgments against sundry non-Israel nations, when we look at the language of Amos, his expression, "for three transgression…and for four, I will not revoke the punishment" is identical in wording, and is the same, for Israel as for non-Israel. The difference between Israel and the other races is the everlasting covenant YEHOVAH God made with His elect. For Israel YEHOVAH says:

Ezekiel 16:60-63: "Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish with thee an everlasting covenant. Then, thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed…and I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee for all thou hast done, saith the LORD God."

There are no such words addressed to any but Israel!

What About the Non-Israelite Races?

So we have to ask, What about those non-Israel people who are neither Canaanite, Moabite or Edomite, etc? What does Scripture say about these? It is safe to say that the Bible says very little. There is, however, a chapter in the Book of Isaiah that deals with this very question -- notice!

Isaiah 56:1-8: "For thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon My salvation will come, and soon My deliverance will be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this, and the person that holds fast, who observes the Sabbath without profaning it, and restrains his hands from doing any evil. Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely exclude me from His people'; and let no eunuch say, 'I am just a dry tree.' For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who observe My Sabbaths, and who choose the things that please Me and hold fast My covenant: to them I will give in My house and within My walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

"Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to be His servants, and to bless the LORD's name and observing the Sabbath without profaning it, and who hold fast My covenant: these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will rise up to be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the LORD God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered" (The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible).

Then, in Zechariah 2:11 we read --

"And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you."

It is important to notice what is NOT said here: no offer of salvation and eternal life. An everlasting name is promised, as well as joy in YEHOVAH's house of prayer. The very fact that foreigners (non-Israelites) will be offering burnt offerings and sacrifices on YEHOVAH's altar indicates that they are not under the Law. They were not given the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments that were given to Israel. Because they did not have the Law of Moses to break, why should they need redeeming from the curse of that broken Law? Through Scripture, redemption is spoken of only in regard to Israel. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" refers only to the "all" within those to whom the Law was given (Romans 3:19) -- in other words, Israel.

At first glance these passages tend to confirm that foreigners will become one with Israel as one people, that YEHOVAH's blessing upon Israel will overflow to other races. While it is true that foreigners, or non-Israelites, are blessed in their being joined to Israel, it is the manner in which they will be blessed that most churches fail to understand. They will be blessed as becoming "servants and handmaids"! This we clearly see in Isaiah 14:

Isaiah 14:1-2: "For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers [non-Israelites] shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors."

Mercy is “on Jacob,” and this excludes all the other races. The meaning of foreigners being “joined” to Israel says nothing about mercy to foreigners; “joined” having a different meaning. So, as we read on, many passages confirm that those joining themselves to Israel become “servants and handmaids” to Israelites. “Possess”, as in “shall possess them”, has the meaning of “take possession.” Israel takes “possession” of the foreigners.

The “people”, as a congregation is one unit, comprising of masters and servants, just as the “church in the wilderness” under Moses was, where the “congregation of the LORD” (edah) was comprised of Israelites, together with the “mixed multitude”. In the wilderness the two groups, within the one unit, were treated the same in regard to Law, but were treated differently in Temple service, with only the cahal (Israelites) being able to attend the tabernacle.

Should YEHOVAH God's Word Be Taught to These Others Races?

Although the Messiah was talking with Israelites when he said that the rain falls upon the good and the bad, it is obvious that the laws of science apply equally to all races, regardless of racial origins or racial mixtures. These laws of science are “laws of God” and, therefore, anyone of any race has the physical and mental benefit of obeying them. We are told clearly in Romans 3:19 "now we know that whatsoever things the law saith is said to them that are under the Law"; that is they are said only to Israel as those who were given the Law.

But there is more to this than meets the eye. The words of YEHOVAH God can be misapplied and misdirected when they are known. Would teaching the Word of YEHOVAH God assist in providing a right direction? But, to what degree could the Word be heard? We are told that the Edomites (modern-day Jews) cannot “hear,” and that the Canaanite races are to be exterminated, or separated completely. If we are told nothing specific about the non-Israelite races as a total group, how then can anyone presume anything? One thing we are told is that the good seed can “hear” YEHOVAH's Word.

We do hear stories of missionary activity where there are great deliverances among non-Israel races after telling them about the miracles the Messiah did. On appeal to emotions alone, we are told about persons being healed and delivered from oppression, but who have no change in conscience, and who have no shame for their past misdeeds. It seems that something is not written on their hearts. They seem to continue on as long as the missionary or the helper is with them; but if they are no longer assisted, then they either revert to paganism or go into a Catholic type of belief which is compromised with paganism or superstition.

The missionary activity of the churches is based upon their need to “witness” their religion. But there is no such requirement in the Bible! For example, YEHOVAH God said that Israel will always be a nation before Him. The people of the nation are not required to do anything to “witness” what YEHOVAH God said -- the very fact that they continue to live and die is witness enough. The revelation of Israel at the end of this age will be witness to the veracity of YEHOVAH’s word. To spend time, money and effort in missionary activity to other races is an exercise in stupidity from the Biblical point of view -- and one for which no reward will be tendered.

We know there are some people whom the Bible says will NEVER be resurrected:

Jeremiah 51:57: "And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts."

Hebrews 4:3: "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."

The first reference covers all who are under the heading of Babylon which, in connection with Revelation, we see is all who are opposed to Israel. The second reference covers all those Israelites that YEHOVAH God sent into the wilderness of Sinai to perish forever because of their refusal to believe Him.

We also know from Biblical statement that no one can enter the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God unless they are of Israel. Therefore, it means that people of other races have no eternal life in the Kingdom, and if there is no eternal life in the Kingdom, there is no eternal life of any kind available to them. It is not a case of them being “condemned”; it is simply a matter of them having no eternal life. Unworthy Israelites will die, be resurrected, condemned, and have their spirit taken from them (this is the message of the parable of the Ten Talents). Their lifeless bodies will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire. This should be a matter of concern to every individual Israelite.

Matthew 25:14-30: “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"

But if someone of another race is to die and never to be resurrected, what does it matter to them once they are dead? There is no awareness in the grave, only corruption of the body. If you go to sleep and do not wake up until lunchtime tomorrow, you will not know what time the sun rose. If you die in your sleep, you will not know you are dead.

Confirmation of this can be found in the Book of Psalms -- notice!

Psalm 17:14: "With your power rescue me from mortals [non-Israelite races], O LORD, from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied [with it], and they leave what remains to their children" (God's Word Translation).

The International Standard Version renders this verse in the following fashion:

"...from men, LORD, by your hand -- from men who belong to this world [non-Israelite races], whose reward is only in this life. But as for your treasured ones [Israelites], may their stomachs be full, may their children have an abundance, and may they leave wealth to their offspring."

Also, in the Book of Psalms we find:

Psalm 49: "[1] Hear this, all peoples [non-Israelite races]! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world...[7] Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit...[17] For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy...[19] he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light...he is like the beasts that perish" (Revised Standard Version).

Life after death is a mystical vision for most races, and involves speculation about a fabulous harem for Arabs on the one hand, through to re-incarnation for the Hindus, on the other. The Bible tells us nothing about the resurrected life, other than that we cannot even begin to imagine it. If we care about it, as Israelites, we will strive to attain it and will receive it. If we care not, we will see it momentarily and know absolute remorse, panic, and terror as we face oblivion in the Lake of Fire. But once that occurs, we will know nothing, and will be the same as any non-Israelite who dies. There is no such thing as Hell and eternal punishment -- only life and oblivion.

While these things are not spelt out in black and white in the Bible, but they are the corollaries of what is spelt out for Israel -- and Israel only.

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Preparing the Way for the Return of YEHOVAH God and His Messiah to This Earth!

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

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