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The Servants of Our God
By Colin and Russell Standish
The primary
Biblical name for the 144,000 is the servants of our God.
Saying,
Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed [the
servants of God--the 144,000] in their foreheads. (Revelation 7:3)
In his introduction,
John declared the book of Revelation to be the revelation of Jesus to His
servants concerning the events to transpire in the future. God also
promised a blessing to those who will study these prophecies.
The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his
servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and
signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the
word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that
he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time
is at hand. (Revelation 1:1–3)
When we link
Revelation 1:1 with Revelation 7:3 we sense that it is God’s servants to
whom God reveals the future events through His prophets. Those who reject
or neglect the word of God and His proffered salvation will not be privy
to the warnings and promises God gives to His servants.
We
have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,
and the day star arise in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19) But of the times
and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. . . .
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But
ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we
are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do
others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the
night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who
are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us
to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1
Thessalonians 5:1, 3–9)
History records
a number of times that God’s people have been referred to as His
servants. We must not forget that Christ Himself was our Example in
servanthood. God’s servants are not those who strive for mastery,
authority, or dominion. By definition, a servant is one who serves, carrying
out the will of another, and seeks to benefit that individual.
But
Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the
Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise
authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will
be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief
among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:25–28)
For
I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that
every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting
life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:38–40)
And
he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as
I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)
God’s servants,
in carrying out the will of God, serve the physical and spiritual needs
of their fellow humans. Those who follow the will of God will understand
the pure doctrine of truth.
If
any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)
As we study the
call for servanthood, we are enlightened as to who will comprise this
privileged group who will never pass through the portals of the tomb.
Isaiah provides help for our understanding.
No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that
shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me,
saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)
The servants of
the Lord are protected by God. Surely this promise of the prophet Isaiah
is especially relevant to God’s divine protection afforded the 144,000.
Yet it must not be overlooked that God’s servants possess the
righteousness of Christ. This is in monumental contrast to the
unrighteousness of the servants of Satan. The contrast is plainly seen
just prior to probation’s close.
In
the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the
abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the wicked of
their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable
sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence.
The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals. But
the anguish and humiliation of God’s people is unmistakable
evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character
lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing nearer to
Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they
discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Meekness and lowliness
are the conditions of success and victory. A crown of glory awaits
those who bow at the foot of the cross. (Prophets and Kings,
p. 590)
To emphasize the
characteristics of God’s servants, we list those presented in this
passage:
1. The servants
of God warn the wicked of their abominations and desecration of God’s
law.
2. They humble
themselves before God in penitence.
3. In
humiliation and anguish they develop strength and nobility of character.
4. They draw
closer to Christ, for their minds are fixed upon God’s purity in their
lives.
5.
They discern the sinfulness of sin.
6. Their victory
comes because of meekness and loveliness of life.
7. They bow at
the foot of the cross.
All the members
of the 144,000 will be Sabbath-keepers:
The
Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded
at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the
Creator’s work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the
earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep
the seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah.
Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man’s allegiance to God as long as there
are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only
one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the
Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is
given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence
of its authenticity and binding force. Patriarchs and Prophets, p.
307
On one occasion
Paul and Silas were followed by a young woman under the control of an
evil spirit, yet she was compelled to declare that they were the servants
of God.
And
it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a
spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by
soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of
salvation. (Acts 16:16–17)
In spite of the
fact these words were uttered by a demon in the presence of the two men
of God, this declaration was true. However, the demon had sought to use
this statement to associate Paul and Silas with this benighted woman and
thus discredit them in the eyes of the citizens of Philippi. The demon’s
plan backfired when this precious soul was freed from the slavery of
Satan and the devil was cast out of her. She became a disciple of Christ,
thus confirming the truth of the words of the devil that Paul and Silas
were servants of God who showed “the way of salvation.” So, too, those
servants of God who form the 144,000 will have shown the pathway of
salvation to other sin-sick souls before the close of human salvation.
Another insight
into the identity of the servants of God was revealed by Paul to the
Roman believers:
But
now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22)
Once again the
perfect beauty of the character of the 144,000 is revealed in the
holiness of their lives. Here the inspired apostle sets forth the
character of the 144,000. These are not men and women who will be
continuing in the slavery of sin. They will, in the power of the Holy
Ghost, have victory over all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to
evil. Theirs will be a life of holiness, and the consequence of Christ’s
grace in their lives will be the inestimable reward of a life with Christ
for eternity.
In his epistle
to the Ephesians, Paul added to our understanding of what will fit the
144,000 to go through the time of trouble such as was not “since there
was a nation”:
Not
with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart. (Ephesians 6:6)
The 144,000 do
not do their own will; they do the will of their heavenly Father. Their
devotion to Him knows no defect; it knows no limitations.
Finally, we note
that the 144,000 will be servants of Christ throughout eternity.
And
there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall
be in it; and his servants shall serve him. (Revelation 22:3)
Lest any believe
that only the 144,000 exhibit these characteristics, we emphasize that
all God’s saints throughout earth’s history will have been true servants
of God. Thus they are qualified by God to be His devoted and faithful
servants throughout eternity. What a glorious privilege is this!
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