As we continue our series explaining the scriptural meaning of the 144,000, we find that the 144,000 had to be sealed - explained in #2. How did the sealing of the 12 tribes of Israel fulfill God's promise to Abraham that He would provide a holy nation through him, earthly and spiritual?
The 12 tribes of Israel honored and preserved the first covenant given to Abraham, which looked to the future of a coming Messiah who would shed His blood for the sins of all mankind - once and for all. They died believing in the promise, yet did not see it fulfilled.
Because of their faithfulness to the promise...one hundred and forty-four thousand of all tribes of the children of Israel were sealed...with the Holy Spirit of promise, whom Jesus deemed cleansed from sin by His blood because they had died believing in His coming. Now they can receive their full inheritance that was promised to them. The 144,000 were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb...Rev. 14:4. Firstfruits of what?
And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads...and they sang as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand who were redeemed from the earth...Rev. 14:1 & 3.
First of all, we must determine where the scene described in this text takes place: the earthly realm or the spiritual realm. The first big clue...the 144,00 were redeemed from the earth. If they are no longer on the earth, they must be in Heaven. So this whole scene takes place in Heaven.
These men were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. The 144,000 were redeemed (purchased) from men on the earth, and presented to God as firstfruits of salvation. The Lamb is a metaphorical description of Jesus Christ, who became the sacrificial lamb for the sins of all mankind.
After Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, that moment, He sealed the 144,000 with the Holy Spirit, who had been waiting in Abraham's Bosom (Luke 16:22) for their redemption, and presented them to His Father on Mount Zion, as the firstfruits of His salvation whom He redeemed from the earth. Where is Mount Zion?
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel...Heb. 12:22-24.
This text answers our question, by clearly describing Mount Zion as the city of the living God in the heavenly Jerusalem - Mount Zion is in Heaven. So when we see the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, He is presenting the 144,000 firstfruits of His salvation to His Father in Heaven. The 144,000 have the name of God written on their foreheads - what does this symbolize?
It does not mean that a literal imprint with the word God is stamped on their foreheads, no more than the 'mark of the beast' is a literal imprint on the forehead of a human being. The name of God written on their foreheads is a metaphor to describe their allegiance to God alone - they made up their minds to follow God, the Father of Jesus Christ. The 'mark of God' is invisibly stamped on the life of a believer who weeps over the sins of his nation...Ez. 9:4.
Mount Zion is where the church of the firstborn are registered (names written) in the city of the living God - New Jerusalem. Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, whose shed blood sealed the 144,000 - 12 tribes of Israel - so they would receive the promise made to Abraham long ago. The 144,000 are the firstfruits of that promise now fulfilled. They were the first to open the gates of Heaven to all mankind - previously closed by the sin of Adam and Eve.
When Jesus walked the earth He obeyed the requirements of Levitical Law. How did Jesus fulfill Levitical Law when He presented the 144,000 firstfruits of His salvation to His Father in Mount Zion? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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