The number "144,000" is mentioned in two passages in the Scriptures, both in the book of Revelation (Rev. 7:4; 14:1-3). In Rev. 7:4, the 144,000 were the faithful who were sealed on earth as shown in verses 2 and 3. The "seal" signifies ownership and consequent protection (Ezek. 9:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).

In chapter six of Revelation we see the saints under the altar (9-11) and a terrible judgment coming upon the earth which was closed with the question, "Who shall be able to stand?" (12-17). In view of this one might ask, "Will the saints on earth be able to stand and what will happen to the souls under the altar?" John's vision (an interlude of two parts between the six and seventh seals) answers these questions. The saints on earth are sealed and those martyred are before the throne of God. Thus, the first part of the interlude is to permit the sealing of the saints in order that they will be able to endure the afflictions set forth in chapter six. The judgments seem to be altered so that they will not hurt Go d's children.

In chapter seven, the four angels standing at the four corners (used to designate the four directions) were holding the four winds of the earth(the four winds of judgment--conquest, war, famine, and death--as in 6:1- 8 and as seen from the word "hurt" in 7:2-3). (Compare Jer. 49:36-38; 51:1-2). They were given to hurt the earth and the sea, but another angel ascending from the sunrising (from the direction of the morning light; suggests a message of cheer and encourag ement), having the seal of the living God, said, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (7:3). Hence, God's people will not be affected by the forthcoming judgments as w ill the people of the world. (See Rev. 9:4).

After the vision of the 144,000, John sees a great multitude which no man could number out of every nation and from every tribe, people and tongue. (7:9-17). Jehovah's Witnesses try to teach that these are the saved who inherit the earth and the 144,000 are those who receive heaven. However, the 144,000 are those on earth who are sealed and the great multitude are those souls with God who had come out of the great tribulation (6:9; 7:13-14). Furthermore, the expres sion, "before the throne" is used both of the great multitude (7:9) and later in the heavenly setting of the 144,000 (14:1-5). The white robes of the great multitude are symbolical of holiness, and justification (3:4-5; 6:11; 7:14), and the palms suggest a joyful, festive occasion (Lev. 23:40; John 12:13).

They cried with a loud voice saying "Salvation to our God, who sitteth on the throne and unto the Lamb" (an expression of praise and gratitude to both God and Christ for the salvation provided). They are followed by angels who fell bef ore the throne on their faces and worshiped God with a sevenfold praise similar to that given to the Lamb in Rev. 5:12. The angels stood around the throne, as well as the elders, and the four living creatures (7:11), which again shows that this occurred in heaven and is not something that is to occur on earth.

One of the elders speaks asking John, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" John did not know, but he was certain that the elder knew. The elder answered, "These are the ones who come out of the great tri bulation..." (7:14). The "great tribulation" here is the one that took place under the world wide persecution (not fully identified until the 13th chapter) in John's day. It was "world wide" because this great multitude with the white robes were of "all n ations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" (7:9). They are the same ones with "white robes" who cry for the avenging of their blood(6:9-11). They had been put to death for their faith, had gained the victory, and are now before the throne. They had wa shed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. By Christ's blood the saint is washed from his sins (Rev. 1:5), redeemed (Rev. 5:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19), given remission of sins (Matt. 26:28), has constant cleansing as he continually complies with the conditions (1 John 1:7-9), and is able to overcome (Rev. 12:11).

In chapter 14 of Revelation, the victorious Lamb stood on mount Zion and with Him were 144,000 who had the Father's name written in their foreheads (14:1). These are those who were sealed earlier and are now also before the throne (14: 5). The term "before the throne" is figurative of the place of comfort or paradise. Thus, the 144,000 represent the complete number of the martyred saints including the rest of those who were to come out of the great tribulation (6:9-11). They were the holy city that would be tread underfoot (11:2); the beast had made war with them and overcome them (14:3).

They had obtained the victory over the beast (15:2) and their blood would soon be avenged (16:5-6; 17;6; 18:24; 19:2). They were the martyrs living and reigning with Christ (20:4). Again, the number "144,000" must not be taken literally. It simply re presents the complete number of the martyred saints. If one makes the number literal, he must also make their description literal. This would mean that only virgin men will go to heaven (14:4). On the contrary, these were the "firstfruits" to God and the Lamb (14:4) indicating others would follow. The Bible speaks of heaven for every faithful child of God (2 Cor. 5:1-2; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Pet. 1:4-5). Those who limit heaven to only 144,000 have completely misunderstood the Bible, not to mention John's teac hing in Revelation. As we explained, the sealing of the 144,000 in chapter 7 was done to those living on earth and does not refer to those in heaven at all. We pray that all those who are presently striving to serve God, will someday be in heaven with all the redeemed of the ages.

The besetting sin of the human family is a lack of confidence in God, manifested in every kind of departure from the word of God. If our confidence in God were what it should be, we would never want to turn aside from his way.

Eve lacked confidence in God, and so she followed the devil; Adam lacked confidence in God, and so he followed his wife. Why did Abel do what God said and why did not Cain do what God said? Abel had confidence enough in God to follow his commands; Cain did not.

No man today would depart from the plain word of God if he had full confidence in God; and the elders of Israel would not have asked for a king, had they not lacked confidence in God's way.
-- Robertson L. Whiteside

It is a peculiar thing that some brethren think they can fill the church with worldliness (worldly things that attract) and cause it to grow spiritually. IT IS NOT SO! Things of the world and of the flesh n ever arouse any kind of response but a fleshly and worldly response. Why would anyone think bringing "loaves and fishes" or entertainment would attract the spiritually minded or make anyone more so? The more banqueting and partying and entertainment is brought in, the more it will require, and worldly and fleshly things will only make the church more worldly until it is swamped and spirituality is lost sight of and forgotten.
-- Roy E. Cogdill

Many times man has attempted to destroy the Bible. In AD 303 the Roman emperor Diocletian issued an edict to destroy the Christians and their Bibles. The persecution that followed was brutal. Over a burned and ex tinguished Bible, Diocletian built a monument on which he wrote these triumphant words, "extincto nomene christianorum" which translated is, "The name Christian is extinguished." Twenty-five years later, Diocletian was dead and the new emperor Constantine commissioned fifty copies of the Bible to be prepared at government expenses. In 1776, Voltaire, the French philosopher, announced, "One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian cu riosity-seeker." A hundred years later, Voltaire was dead, and his own house and press were being used to print and store Bibles by the Geneva Bible Society. One hundred years from the day of Voltaire's prediction, the first edition of his work sold for 1 1 cents in Paris, but the British government paid the Czar of Russia a half million dollars for an ancient Bible manuscript. Let me read to you Peter's words concerning the eternal nature of God's word: "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the t ruth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of comfortable seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as gras s, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:22-25). God's word is the Bible, and it will abide forever.
-- Tom Sutherland

According to 2 Corinthians 13:5 we are to examine yourselves to see whether we are in the faith. We need to examine ourselves on a regular basis. We can do this by asking ourselves various questions. A good quest ion to ask is, "Am I denying myself for Christ?"

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." The cause of Christ should come first in our lives. We are to seek the welfare of H is kingdom above our own welfare. To do this it will be necessary for us to forego worldly pursuits and pleasures which would hinder our service to the Lord.

I may have habits which must be broken and abandoned in order for me to be acceptable to Jesus. If I’m not willing to deny myself these unworthy practices, I’m unworthy of Christ’s love and leadership. Until I realiz e that my life is supposed to be an example of good, I can’t properly follow Christ.

In order to follow Christ it may be necessary that I give up my job or position because many jobs are unethical or immoral. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus teaches that we must love Him more than anyone or anything else. In view of this, I need to ask myself another question: "Am I willing to deny myself of the comforts or pleasures of my easy chair, and meet with my brothers and sisters on Sunday and Wednesday nights so I can help them and they can help me?"