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The Different Ranks in Resurrection - Part D
In Revelation fourteen, we see that the 144,000 are in Heaven singing a
new song. In chapter seven, we saw only that they were sealed, not where they
were. Thus, between chapters seven and fourteen, this group was caught away
into Heaven. Let us first notice the wording in chapter fourteen. In verse one,
we read, "Having His Father's Name written in their foreheads." This
refers to "the seal of the living God," in Revelation 7:2.
In Revelation 14:3, we read that they sung a new song
which only they could sing. We also read, "The hundred and forty and four
thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." This establishes them
definitely as of Israel.
"Earth," in the book of Revelation, symbolized Israel; whereas, the
"Sea" or "seas," refer to either the Gentiles or the
nations. This may help in further study of this book.
These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God
and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault before the throne of God" - 14:4,5. Here is their description. You
could not find any greater commendation than is found here. This stamps them as
overcomers, even as the four living ones and the twenty-four elders. But why
are they in a different group? The answer is simple: They are strictly of the
nation of Israel,
although they are a part of the Church.
Let us note their overcoming qualities. They
"were not defiled with women." This means that they were not
connected with any religious organization. Religious bodies are symbolized by
women. This is not to be taken as a natural defilement, because that would mean
that these were all men. When we understand that these people are of the Church
because of the time in which they lived, we can see why it is important that
they were not defiled with women. The majority of Christians today are
"defiled with women," in symbolic language. They belong to some
church organization, and go by that name. They may be born again but still
retain the name of the organization, whether it be Baptist, Methodist,
Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc., etc. When we belong to a religious organization
we are defiled, because we go by the Name of Christ and also by another name.
It is as though a woman might be truly married to a man named Smith, and yet
would also go by the name of Jones. Thus, a believer who calls himself a
Christian (or, after Christ's Name) and also bears another name, is committing
spiritual adultery. These 144,000 were not defiled in this manner. They stood
apart from all man-made organization.
"For they are virgins." This explains
further the thought we have given in the above description. They have never
given themselves to another head. They have kept themselves spotless for
Christ. The Apostle Paul espoused the Church to Christ - "a chaste
virgin" - II Cor. 11:2. He knew that all believers would not stay true, as
he warns in the next verse. And they have not kept true. There are some who
have kept out of organization, or have come out after they learned the truth.
They are virgins, spiritually speaking.
"These are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth." This speaks of full surrender to the will of God.
They followed Him through suffering and death. They preached Christ without
fear, and could not be detoured from their one great purpose to follow Christ.
"These were redeemed from among men." This
denotes their humanity. It also means that they were called and saved
individually, and not as the whole nation. These people were saved during the
Church Age period when the commission is, "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature" - Mark 16:15. They were saved, not
because they were of Israel;
but because, as individuals, they realized their need of a Savior and accepted
the Lord Jesus. The nation of Israel
will be saved at the beginning of the Millennium - Isaiah sixty- five and
sixty-six.
Being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."
This statement sheds a lot of light upon them. We know from Paul's writings and
also from the accounts given in the book of Acts, that the Gospel went first to
the Jews and then to the Gentiles. "To the Jew first" was the pattern
in the beginning of the Church Age, which officially began at Pentecost but
actually began with the Cross. For the most part, this company includes all the
early Christians from the day of Pente- cost to the calling out of the Gentiles.
In studying the book of Acts, we note that there are
two purposes of God running parallel. The Lord was still dealing with the
nation of Israel, as we see
by the testimony which was constantly presented to the elders and rulers of Israel.
The door of the Gospel to the nation was closed officially, when the rulers
rejected Stephen's message and stoned him. Immediately we read that the
Christians were scattered throughout Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the
earth. We read that they went everywhere preaching the Gospel - Acts eight.
This was in fulfillment of Acts 1:8. Right away the great persecutor Saul of
Tarsus was converted, and became the Apostle to the Gentiles - Acts nine. Then,
in Acts ten, the door of faith was officially opened to the Gentiles.
The one hundred and twenty, who were gathered in the
upper room on the day of Pentecost, became the nucleus of the Church; for it
was on that day that the believers were baptized into one Body - I Corinthians
12:13. These included the twelve apostles, Mary the mother of Jesus, and other
disciples of that time. On the day that the Holy Spirit descended, Peter filled
with the Spirit preached to the multitude and three thousand were saved. The
next day five thousand were saved. These people never knew what organization
was. They were free to be led by the Holy Spirit; and we read over and over how
the Spirit led them. These were "the firstfruits" that we read of in
Revelation fourteen. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit on that day. The
erroneous teaching, that one need not be filled with the Spirit, had not been
introduced. They all preached this truth, beginning with Peter and continuing
with Paul. Read Acts 2:38 and Acts 19:2-6.
At the end of the Church Age, which is about here, we
have another period of time in which two purposes of God are running parallel.
The Lord is about through with this Age of Grace, and the Rapture is due any
day. But, He has another purpose to continue, after the Church is gone to
Heaven; that is, His dealings with Israel as a nation. When the
apostles asked Jesus before His ascension - "Wilt Thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel?"
- Jesus ignored the question and said, "It is not for you to know the
times or the seasons ... but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from
on high" - Acts 1:7; Luke 24:49. After the Church is gone, it will be time
for the Lord to restore the kingdom to Israel. That is why the great
tribulation must come, because the Gentile nations will be reigning after
Christ is reigning on His throne in Heaven. There will be seven years of
bringing everything into order, before Israel can be restored as God's
nation on the earth. All other rulers will have to be judged and dethroned. All
rejecters will be destroyed. God's archenemy Satan, along with his henchmen the
false prophet and the anti-Christ, will have to be put away. We say this to
show that, at the beginning and ending of each dispensation, there is a
transition period when God must work out two purposes.
It may be that some of the 144,000 will be garnered
out of this latter transition period. They would still be of the Church, but
also of Israel.
As we do not know just who Israel
are, we cannot say who of the present time would be in this group. Perhaps some
of these people who are receiving the Holy Spirit today, and yet who have no
interest in deeper teaching, may be in this group; but this is entirely
speculation on our part. We know for sure, however, that the bulk of this
number will have come from the beginning of this Christian era.
The great question now is, "When do they arrive
in Heaven?" There is only one answer for us, and we read about it in
Revelation twelve. This chapter concerns the nation of Israel during
the tribulation period. Read the whole chapter through once or twice before you
continue. First we see a great wonder, or sign, in Heaven. It is that of
"a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her
head a crown of twelve stars" - 12:1. This woman represents all the family
of God that are in Heaven. The sun, moon, and stars represent different
glories, as we studied in I Corinthians fifteen. In symbol, we see that there
is yet more of the family of God to be brought to Heaven. She is said to be in
travail and pain. This condition illustrates under what stress and persecution
these 144,000 were saved. The early Christians were in peril at all times, and
those of the end-time will be also. We find that this "man child"
will be "born" at the time that Satan will be cast out into the earth
with his angels. This will happen just before the anti-Christ will be revealed
to the inhabitants of the earth.
This puts us about in the middle of the week, or the
seven years of the tribulation period. We read that as soon as the man child
was delivered, he was caught up to God and His throne. Satan was there to
destroy this manly son. Most Bible teachers say this man child is Christ. This
cannot be so because, at the time this happens, Christ will have been in Heaven
almost two thousand years. And, too, He was not caught up to Heaven immediately
after His birth. He lived on earth for over thirty-three years, and was a grown
Man when He died on the Cross. We have seen Christ in Heaven already, in this
book of Revelation, sitting upon the throne. How then could He be this child
who was brought forth during the tribulation period?
At this time, the ones of this group will be raised
from the graves, and others who are alive at this time will be caught up to
God. No wonder Satan is after them! They will rule over the earth, which is his
domain. Christ will rule from Heaven, but He will have others to rule in
various capacities. We read that Jesus told His twelve apostles that they would
sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. It could be that each
apostle will be head over a tribe. These 144,000 all of Israel will, of course, have jurisdiction over
the Israel
on earth.
In Revelation 12:6 we read that "the woman fled
into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should
feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" - three and
one-half years, or "a time, and times, and half a time" - 12:14. This
group refers to those who endure the remainder of the tribulation period. The
devil will send forth his armies through the anti-Christ and try to annihilate
these saints, because they will refuse the mark of the beast. God will protect
them, and in miraculous ways too. These are the ones to whom Jesus refers when
He said, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved" - Matthew 24:13.
This may seem farfetched to some of you who have been
taught differently. But let us not take man's teaching without question. Do not
take this teaching without question either. Search the Scriptures, and ask the
Holy Spirit to guide you into the Truth. Some quote from noted men of the
Scriptures and say they did not teach that, so it must not be so. There were
many well-known teachers of years ago, who did believe in ranks in the resurrection.
Among the most notable ones were R. Govett, G.H. Lang, D.M. Panton, G.H Pember,
J.A. Seiss, and Austin Sparks. We do not teach this truth because these noted
students of the Bible have taught it, but we believe it because the Word of God
declares it to be so. The wise man can admit that he is wrong, whereas the fool
will never try to discover whether he is or not.
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This is the introduction to our article section. We'll have a list of the best articles on different topics here...topics on spiritual maturity and things not generally covered in other Churches/studies.