(Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith - 1897 Excerpts)
Revelation 7-
Verse 4 And I heard the number of them which were
sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe
of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe
of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
The Number to Be Sealed.--
The number sealed is here stated to be one hundred
forty-four thousand. From the fact that twelve thousand are sealed from each of
the twelve tribes, many suppose that this work must have been accomplished as
far back at least as the beginning of the Christian Era, when these tribes were
literally in existence. They do not see how it
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can apply to our own time, when every trace of
distinction between these tribes has been so long and so completely
obliterated. We refer such persons to the opening language of the Epistle of
James: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all
joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Those whom James here addresses
are Christians, for they are his brethren. Some were converts from paganism and
others were Jews, yet they are all included in the twelve tribes. How can this
be? Paul explains in Romans 11: 17-24.
(Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou
boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken
off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken
off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of
God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue
in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in
unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree
which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive
tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into
their own olive tree?)
In the striking figure of grafting which the apostle
there introduces, the tame olive tree represents Israel.
Some of the branches, the natural descendants of
Abraham, were broken off because of unbelief in Christ. Through faith in Christ
the wild olive scions, the Gentiles, are grafted into the tame olive stock, and
thus the twelve tribes are perpetuated. Here we find an explanation of the
language of the same apostle: "They are not all Israel which are of
Israel," and "he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, . . . . but he
is a Jew, which is one inwardly." Romans 9: 6-8; 2: 28, 29. so we find on
the gates of the New Jerusalem--which is a New Testament, or Christian,
city--the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the
foundations of this city are inscribed the names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb. (Revelation 21: 12-14.)
If the twelve tribes belonged exclusively to the
Jewish era, the more natural order would have been to have their names on the
foundations, and those of the twelve apostles on the gates; but no, the names
of the twelve tribes are on the gates. As through these gates, so inscribed,
all the redeemed hosts will go in and out, so all the redeemed will be reckoned
as belonging to these twelve tribes, whether on earth they were Jews or
Gentiles.
It will be observed that the enumeration of the tribes
here differs from that given in other places. In the text before us, Ephraim
and Dan are omitted, and Levi and Joseph put in
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their places. The omission of Dan is accounted for by
commentators on the ground that that tribe was the one chiefly addicted to
idolatry. (See Judges 18.) The tribe of Levi here takes it place with the rest,
as in the heavenly Canaan the reasons for their not having inheritance will not
exist as in the earthly. Joseph is probably substituted for Ephraim, it being a
name which appears to have been applied to the tribe of either Ephraim or
Manasseh. (Numbers 13: 11.)
Twelve thousand were sealed "out of" each of
the twelve tribes, showing that not all who in the records of heaven had a
place among these tribes when this sealing work began, stood the test and were
overcomers at last, for the names of those already in the book of life will be
blotted out unless they overcome. (Revelation 3: 5.)
*******
The number sealed.
Some say this is a figurative number, others a literal
number, and honestly I'm not sure. This is a book of prophecy with a lot of
symbolic truth and we need the Holy Spirit's discernment as we study. Our God
will NOT have us be ignorant to any truth we need to be His.
More and more as time goes on I am inclined to join
those who believe it is a literally 144,000 people who will be sealed as
Christ's and alive when He returns.
There are
7.349 billion people as of July 1, 2015 according to wikipedia. 7.349 BILLION people!
Out of 7 billion people a 144,000 is a mere
handful. And we know this--
Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the
way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Few will find that
narrow way. And it's NOT a narrow way because few can be GOOD ENOUGH. It's a
narrow way because we refuse to give up self and depend solely upon Christ our
Savior. We refuse to yield to the Holy Spirit
this is why we can't find the strait gate and the narrow way. We get in our own
way! Our pride, our arrogance, our selfishness, all of it keeps us from
submitting to our Savior!
"As of 2010, Christianity was by
far the world's largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third (31
percent) of all 6.9 billion people on Earth," the Pew report says.
"Islam was second, with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23 percent of the global
population."Apr 2,
2015
Out of 7 billion
people 2 billion are Christians.
Out of 2 billion
Christians- we know FEW will find that
narrow way.
We know this--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and
in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat
7:23 And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We must be KNOWN by
Christ, not just professed followers.
Please, Father,
please we would be known of You! We would find that strait gate and narrow way!
Please help us to be YOURS, we would be numbered among the 144,000 sealed,
alive and ready for Jesus Christ our Savior!
Please!
In the name of our
LORD now and forever!
Amen!
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