The last time we were together I asked, "How did Jesus fulfill the Levitical Law when He presented the 144,000 firstfruits of His salvation to His Father in Mount Zion?" When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He became the firstborn of humanity to enter Heaven. All human beings who had died prior to this time were residing in Sheol - place of the dead. When referring to the waiting saints, Jesus called this place Abraham's bosom...Luke 16:22.
When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He carried the waiting saints of Abraham's bosom with Him to Heaven, and presented them to His Father in Mount Zion, as the firstfruits of His salvation...Is. 26:19. And they sang a new song before the throne...and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand who were redeemed from the earth...Rev. 14:3.
The 144,000 firstfruits of salvation sang a new song before the throne of God because of the great work Jesus Christ had accomplished on the Cross. They were the first to open Heaven's gates, because they have been reconciled to God the Father - sins are blotted out. From that day forward, when a believer dies on the earth he will go directly to Heaven - a new song was sung because a new things had been accomplished - old things have passed away.
During the annual Feast of Firstfruits, the farmers were required to give the firstfruits of their harvest to God, before they were allowed to partake of their own labors. Following this requirement of Levitical Law, Jesus Christ presented the fristfruits of His salvation to His Father in Heaven - the firstfruits of the New Covenant. Now a harvest of virgins - born again believers - can be harvested from the earth. Jesus fulfilled the Law.
The 144,000...are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins...these are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth...these were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb...Rev. 14:4. This text reveals that the 144,000 were...redeemed from the earth...but now they are seen in Heaven.
Not defiled with women; for they are virgins is a beautiful metaphorical description of the 'born again' experience...if anyone is in Christ, he is as new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new...II Cor. 5:17.
The blood of Jesus Christ washes away the sins of mankind, purifying them, making them a brand new spiritual creation. The spirit of man, which was dead in trespasses and sins, has been made new again, restored to the pure and natural state that he was when he was created in the Garden of Eden - a virgin. Since virgin means pure and natural state, this is exactly what happens to a human being when he is 'born again' by the Spirit of God.
The 144,000 symbolize the first 'born again' human beings - virgins - to follow the Lamb right into Heaven, presented to the Father by Jesus Christ as the firstfruits His salvation - sealed by His blood when He resurrected them. Mankind was now reconciled to God...clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands...and crying out with a loud voice, saying, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!...Rev. 7:9-10.
The 12 tribes of Israel, to whom the promise of a coming Messiah had been given and preserved for centuries, have been rewarded as the firstfruits of His salvation for their faithfulness. The promise to Abraham of a holy nation under the old covenant, has now been fulfilled by the new covenant.
...Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife...he showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God...having the glory of God...her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal...Rev. 21:9-11.
Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west...Rev. 21:12-13.
Chapter 21 of Revelation describes the eternal city of New Jerusalem, where peace and safety will be enjoyed by all who enter this celestial realm. This chapter describes the walls, gates, and those who guard the gates of the heavenly city. The text above clearly explains that there are 12 gates to the heavenly city, with the name of each tribe of Israel written on the 12 gates. This study will reveal the significance of the symbolism of the number 144.
A gate describes an entrance into somewhere, or a passage way. The 12 tribes of Israel were the gateway to salvation for the human race. Because salvation was first promised to the 12 tribes, they became the gates to the eternal city of God. Their faithfulness to the first covenant that birthed Jesus Christ the Messiah - first born from the dead - was not for themselves alone, but also for the Gentiles. The twelve gates were twelve pearls...Rev. 21:21.
Why were the 12 gates made from pearls? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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