God’s Servants: The 144,000 Jews and the Two Prophetic Witnesses
What is the case for the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14 being the church and not Jews?
Some Bible expositors argue that the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14 are a symbolic description of the completed church composed of both Jews and Gentiles. It is not a reference to Israel.
Those who hold this position reason that the 144,000 could not be literal tribes of Israel because the tribe of Dan is omitted from the 12 tribes, and the tribe of Levi is included. Moreover, Galatians 3:29 tells us that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Followers of Christ are called “the circumcision” in Philippians 3:3. Followers of Christ are also called “the Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16. Such verses indicate that the church fulfills the role as the true Israel. This being so, the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14 must represent the church and not Israel.
What is the case against the 144,000 representing the church?
The context indicates the passage is referring to 144,000 Jewish men—12,000 from each tribe—who live during the future tribulation period (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:4). The very fact that 12 specific tribes are mentioned in this context, along with specific numbers for those tribes, removes all possibility that this is a figure of speech. Nowhere else in the Bible does a reference to 12 tribes of Israel mean anything but 12 tribes of Israel. Indeed, the word “tribe” is never used of anything but a literal ethnic group in Scripture. Why should Revelation 7and 14 be an exception?
If Revelation 7 and 14 refer to literal Jewish tribes, why was the tribe of Dan omitted?
The Old Testament has some 20 variant lists of tribes. Hence, no list of the 12 tribes of Israel must be identical. Most scholars today agree that Dan’s tribe was omitted because that tribe was guilty of idolatry on many occasions and, as a result, was largely obliterated (Leviticus 24:11; Judges 18:1,30; see also 1 Kings 12:28-29). To engage in unrepentant idolatry is to be cut off from God’s blessing.
If Revelation 7 and 14 refer to literal Jewish tribes, why was the tribe of Levi included—a tribe not included in Old Testament tribal lists?
The priestly functions of the tribe of Levi ceased with the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest. Indeed, the Levitical priesthood was fulfilled in the person of Christ (see Hebrews 7–10). Because there was no further need for the services of the Levis as priests, there was no further reason for keeping this tribe distinct and separate from the others. Hence, they were properly included in the tribal listing in the book of Revelation.
Does Galatians 3:29 prove the 144,000 metaphorically refers to the church?
Galatians 3:29 tells us that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” This does not mean that distinctions between the church and Israel are thereby obliterated. Those who become joined to Christ by faith become spiritual descendants of Abraham and consequently become beneficiaries of some of God’s promises to him. To be more specific, God made some promises to all the physical descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3,7). He made other promises to the believers among the physical descendants of Abraham (Romans 9:6,8). And he made other promises to the spiritual seed of Abraham who are not Jews. This is what Galatians 3:29 refers to. Hence, though believers in Christ are indeed Abraham’s spiritual offspring, they remain distinct from Israel. One must not forget the pivotal teaching of the apostle Paul in Romans 9–11 that God still has a plan for ethnic Israel, as distinct from the church.
Does Philippians 3:3 prove the 144,000 metaphorically refers to the church?
In Philippians 3:3 believers in Christ are called “the circumcision.” However, Paul was referring not to physical circumcision (as practiced by the Jews) but to the circumcision of the heart that occurs the moment a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation. It is a huge leap in logic to say that this verse proves that the church becomes the new Israel.
Does Galatians 6:16 prove the 144,000 metaphorically refers to the church?
The apostle Paul refers to “the Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16. This does not mean the church is the new Israel. Rather, Paul is here referring to saved Jews—that is, Jews who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. The term “Israel” refers to physical Jews everywhere else in the New Testament (some 65 times). There is no indication in Galatians 6:16 that the term is to be taken any differently. In Paul’s writings, the church and Israel remain distinct (see 1 Corinthians 10:32; Romans 9–11).
Why would God call 144,000 Jews to evangelize during the tribulation period?
God had originally chosen the Jews to be His witnesses, their appointed task being to share the good news of God with all other people around the world (see Isaiah 42:6; 43:10). The Jews were to be God’s representatives to the Gentile peoples. Biblical history reveals that the Jews failed at this task, especially since they did not even recognize Jesus as the divine Messiah, but nevertheless this was their calling. During the future tribulation, these 144,000 Jews—who become believers in Jesus the divine Messiah sometime following the rapture—will finally fulfill this mandate from God, as they will be His witnesses all around the world. And their work will yield a mighty harvest of souls (see Revelation 7:9-14).
Why are the 144,000 “sealed” by God?
These witnesses—God’s faithful remnant—will be protectively “sealed” by God. Seals in Bible times were signs of ownership and protection. These Jewish believers are “owned” by God and by His sovereign authority He protects them during their time of service during the tribulation period (Revelation 14:1-4; see also 13:16-18; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
These sealed servants of God will apparently be preachers. They will fulfill Matthew 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
When will the 144,000 Jewish evangelists carry out their ministry?
I believe the 144,000 will emerge on the scene in the early part of the tribulation period, sometime after the rapture. Some Bible expositors suggest that they must engage in their work of evangelism early in the tribulation, for the believers who are martyred in the fifth seal judgment (Revelation 6:9-11) are among the fruit of their labors, and the seal judgments are definitely in the first half of the tribulation period.
It is likely that these Jews become believers in Jesus in a way similar to that of the apostle Paul, himself a Jew, and his Damascus-road encounter with the risen Christ (see Acts 9:1-9). Interestingly, in 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul refers to himself in his conversion to Christ as “one untimely born.” Some Bible expositors believe Paul may have been alluding to his 144,000 Jewish tribulation brethren, who would be spiritually “born” in a way similar to his spiritual birth—only Paul was spiritually born long before they were.
Is there a connection between these 144,000 and the judgment of the nations, which follows the second coming (Matthew 25:31-46)?
Very possibly. The nations mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46 is composed of the sheep and the goats, representing the saved and the lost among the Gentiles. According to Matthew 25:32, they are intermingled and require separation by a special judgment. They are judged based upon how they treat Christ’s “brothers.” Who are these brothers? It is likely that they are the 144,000 Jews mentioned in Revelation 7, Christ’s Jewish brothers who bear witness of Him during the tribulation.
These Jewish witnesses will find it difficult to buy food because they refused to receive the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16-17). Only true believers in the Lord will be willing to jeopardize their lives by extending hospitality to the messengers. These sheep (believers) who treat the brothers (the 144,000) well will enter into Christ’s millennial kingdom. The goats (unbelievers), by contrast, go into eternal punishment.
What does Scripture reveal about God’s two prophetic witnesses who will emerge during the tribulation period?
During the tribulation period, God will raise up two mighty witnesses who will testify to the true God with astounding power. In fact, the power of these witnesses brings to mind Elijah (1 Kings 17; Malachi 4:5) and Moses (Exodus 7–11). It is significant that in the Old Testament two witnesses were required to confirm testimony (see Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16; John 8:17; Hebrews 10:28).
In Revelation 11:3-6 we read God’s prophetic promise:
I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
Is it possible that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah?
Some expositors believe so. Among their supportive evidences:
1. The tribulation—the seventieth week of Daniel—is a period in which God deals with the Jews, just as He did in the first 69 weeks of Daniel. Moses and Elijah are unquestionably the two most influential figures in Jewish history. It makes good sense that they would be on the scene during the tribulation period.
2. Both the Old Testament and Jewish tradition expected Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15,18) and Elijah (Malachi 4:5) to return in the future.
3. Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. This shows their centrality. Hence, it would be appropriate for them to be on the scene during the future tribulation period.
4. The miracles portrayed in Revelation 11 are very similar to those previously performed by Moses and Elijah in Old Testament times (see Exodus 7–11; 1 Kings 17; Malachi 4:5).
5. Both Moses and Elijah left the earth in unusual ways. Elijah never died, but was transported to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11-12). God supernaturally buried Moses’ body in a location unknown to man (Deuteronomy 34:5-6; Jude 9).
In view of such factors, some Bible expositors suggest that in the tribulation period, God will send two of His mightiest servants: Moses, the great deliverer and spiritual legislator of Israel, and Elijah, a prince among Old Testament prophets. During Old Testament times, these men rescued Israel from bondage and idolatry. They may appear again during the tribulation period to warn Israel against succumbing to the false religion of the antichrist and the false prophet.
Is it possible that the two prophetic witnesses will be Enoch and Elijah?
Some Bible expositors think so. After all, both Enoch and Elijah were upright men who were raptured to heaven. Neither experienced death. Both were prophets—one a Gentile (Enoch) and the other a Jew (Elijah). The church fathers unanimously held to this view during the first 300 years of church history. It may be that God will ordain one of the witnesses to speak to the Jews and the other witness to speak to the Gentiles during the tribulation.
Is it possible that the two prophetic witnesses will be two entirely new prophets?
Yes. Those who hold to this view reason that the text would surely identify famous Old Testament personalities if they were indeed coming back. Because they are not identified, the two witnesses will likely be new prophets that God specially raises up for ministry during the tribulation (see Matthew 11:14).
When—and for how long—will these two prophetic witnesses engage in their work?
Scholars debate whether the ministry of the two witnesses belongs in the first half or the second half of the tribulation. The actual time frame of these two witness is said to be 1260 days, which measures out to precisely three and one half years. This is obviously equivalent to half of the tribulation period. However, it is not clear from the context of Revelation 11 whether this is the first or the last half of the tribulation.
Most prophecy scholars conclude that the two witnesses do their miraculous work during the first three and one half years. They reason that the antichrist’s execution of them seems to fit best with other events that will transpire in the middle of the tribulation—such as the antichrist’s exaltation of himself to godhood in defiance of the true God and His witnesses.
Why does God let the two witnesses die?
It is only when the two witnesses have finished their ministry that God will sovereignly permit the beast (the antichrist) to kill them (Revelation 11:7). They will not die prematurely. All goes according to God’s divine plan.
The bodies of the witnesses lie lifeless in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is figuratively called “Sodom and Egypt” because of its inhabitants’ apostasy and rejection of God. The description of Jerusalem as being no better than Sodom and Egypt was to show that the once-holy city had become no better than places known for their hatred of the true God and His Word.
It is apparently by television and the Internet that “the peoples and tribes and languages and nations” will gaze at the dead witnesses for three days. Only modern technology can explain how the whole world will be able to watch all of this.
Note that the refusal to bury a corpse was, in biblical times, a way of showing contempt (Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 79:2-3; Acts 14:19). Hence, by leaving the dead bodies in the street, the people of the world render the greatest possible insult to God’s spokesmen. It is equivalent to the people of the world collectively spitting upon the corpses.
What will be the world’s response to the murder of the two prophetic witnesses?
The people of the world will celebrate when the witnesses are put to death (Revelation 11:10). They exchange presents, apparently in relief that the prophets are no longer around. Based on biblical history, it seems that the only prophets people love are dead ones.
What is the purpose of God resurrecting the two prophets in full view of everyone?
Scripture reveals that after the prophets had been dead in the street for days, “a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them” (Revelation 11:11; see also Genesis 2:7). The celebration quickly gives way to fear as the lifeless corpses suddenly stand up in full view of television and Internet feeds. Clips of this event will no doubt be replayed over and over again through various media. It will no doubt go viral on the Internet. This resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses serves as a huge exclamation point to their prophetic words throughout their three-and-a-half-year ministry.
It will be an awesome testimony to God’s truth!