Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven that was like the sound of rushing water and loud thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They sing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. They weren’t defiled with women, for these people who follow the Lamb wherever he goes are virgins. They were purchased from among humankind as early produce for God and the Lamb. No lie came from their mouths; they are blameless. Then I saw another angel flying high overhead with eternal good news to proclaim to those who live on earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Another angel, a second one, followed and said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She made all the nations drink the wine of her lustful passion.” Then another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If any worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or their hands, they themselves will also drink the wine of God’s passionate anger, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will suffer the pain of fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their painful suffering goes up forever and always. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, and those who receive the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:1-11, CEB)
Are you one of the 144,000? Or do you bear the mark of the beast?
I have always wondered, marveled, and questioned the 144,000. If it is a literal number, that number was filled up a long time ago, or does God replace people when better people come along? Can I lose my spot if someone who lives after me is better than me and follows more closely? And what if I’m not a virgin, and what if I am a woman? This says they were virgins, who “weren’t defiled with women.”
So how does that work really? And the number 144,000 is 12 times 12 times 1000. It is a lot of the number 12. 12 tribes, 12 disciples. 12 is an important number in the bible. When I taught Confirmation and asked a number question I told the confirmands that good possible answers to number questions from the bible are 3, 7, 12. Maybe 6 if we are talking bad things. So is it a literal number or a really big one we aren’t supposed to count?
And whose in and whose out? I mean as Lutherans we kind of say we are part of the 144,000 while we bear the mark of the beast. Now according to Revelation that is not possible, but as we are simultaneously saint and sinner, we are both in and out.
Know you are in, and don’t question that.
Love as you are loved.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 