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I prayed earnestly about the matter of
the 144,000, because Ellen White said that we should strive to be among them.
I feel that God led me to data that secures beyond doubt that they are literal
in number, 12,000 from each tribe etc., as well as being very different from
the great multitude and the martyrs. I truly believe that only they (the
144,000) go into the temple on Mt. Zion, Early Writings, 19, and that they
are Philadelphians who are made "pillars in the temple." Rev. 3:12.
I believe this signifies leadership in the heavenly church of Hebrews 12:22,
23. In the antitypical Sanctuary in heaven, there has to be the high Priest,
Jesus, and the lesser priests, whom I believe is His bride, the 144,000. Then there is the
matter about the 144,000 being translated without seeing death, Spiritual
Gifts, vol. III, p. 26-7. If all Adventists are the 144,000, as sometimes
implied by the leadership, they all would have to be leaders. (More on this
below). I believe that the
bride is seated nearest the throne, and the martyrs (bridesmaidens)
and guests are the second and third groups respectively, The Great
Controversy, p. 665. Surely, Jesus would seat His bride next to Him on His
throne! Then there is the
matter of the disciples being referred to as His bride, The Desire of Ages,
179. This, in context, refers specifically to the 12 disciples, and of course
they were leaders. How will this part of the bride be
translated without seeing death. I believe God has shown me that they (and
the faithful bride of every generation) will be resurrected to give the loud
cry. This will equate to the very stones crying out, because stones reduce to
dust eventually. I believe that the qualification "without seeing
death," refers to surviving the time of trouble without seeing death,
and does not mean never having died. God has shown me that this is how folk
in Ellen White's vision of some in a meeting (circa 1850's if I recall
correctly) being reduced to food for worms (death), with others of the same
group being alive when Christ comes. Yet another
example of the difference between the bride and her sons and daughters (Isa.
62) is found in Christ's Object Lessons, 405. There, the ten virgins are
described as "lingering near the bride's house," not at it or in
it. On page 406, it is the voice of God and the bride that awakens the ten
(all ten slept) virgins. Clearly, the bride is different than the ten
virgins. Also, only the
144,000 sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb, and that song is one of victory,
overcoming. In Revelation 7:1-8, it mentions the twelve different tribes
comprising the 144,000, and then it says (verse 9): "After this I
beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands...." Then, in verses
14, 15, the 144,000 are described as before the throne serving God day and
night IN HIS TEMPLE." Recall that Ellen White said that only the 144,000
go into the Temple on Mt. Zion, Early Writings, p.
19. Then, Ellen White
says that if guests, they cannot be the bride, and if the bride, they cannot
be the guests, The Great Controversy, pp. 426-7. She says that the ten
virgins represent the people of God, which I interpret as the laity
"guests" and special bridesmaidens
martyrs. They comprise group number 2 on P. 665 of the Great Controversy.
Consider if you will Tom, that at your wedding, the bridesmaidens
were not only guests, they were special guests. Neither were your wife's
bridesmaids the bride! Ellen White says to let every word have its weight,
interpreting so that nothing contradicts, and I'm trying, just trying. Ron Beaulieu |