Recently we attended a Sabbath worship at a large Seventh-day Adventist church where the pastor presented a sermon on the subject of the 144,000. This is a rather unusual occurrence since this is a subject that is often muted and rarely discussed in Adventist circles. So with much anticipation we hoped that some light would shed on this important topic. Unfortunately the pastor’s efforts left people more confused that ever. Here are a few highlights for illustration.
He began by answering a question that came from a recent seminar series which read:
Will there be more than 144,000 saved in heaven?
His reply: Yes, but the 144,000 will be the only ones saved alive because they are the living saints who will go through the 7 last plagues and be translated when Jesus returns. But there will be a great multitude that will be saved from the grave who will be resurrected.
One wonders what will happen to all those people that the 144,000 are supposed to call out of Babylon during the loud cry/latter rain period? Why are they not good enough for translation?
At one point he said it is not important to know whether the number is literal or symbolic. A few moments latter he said he leans towards symbolic. If this Seventh-day Adventist pastor is really not decided in his own mind on whether 12 X 12,000 = 144,000 then why does he preach it before 500+ of God’s saints? If the 144,000 is not a literal number, then how are we certain that other important numbers in the Bible, such as 2,300, 1,260, 490, 70, 12, 10, 7, etc., are literal?
He also stated that the seal in Revelation 7:4 was the Sabbath. However, serious students of the Spirit of Prophecy know that the seal of the 144,000 is found in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel (TM 445, 3T 266-267, 5T 211), something the pastor failed to mention.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have nothing to offer which clarifies this subject of the sealing of the 144,000 and what is the fate of those who are called out of Babylon during the Loud Cry.
If there was ever a time that God’s people need an inspired commentary on this subject, it is now. By the grace and mercy of God such an analysis has been provided and circulated throughout the Adventist world for over 80 years. Why not come up see what God’s Word has to say and receive a blessing that will sweep away the clouds of confusion that surround this and other hard to understand subjects in Bible prophecy by hearing the Rod and he who hath appointed it” (Mic. 6:9)? Below please click the links to study a Timely Greeting sermon address and a tract which discuss the sealing the 144,000 first fruits from Laodicea and the gathering the Great Multitude of second fruits that no man could number from out of Babylon during the Loud Cry.
If Only 144,000 Translated, What Chance for You?
The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, Tract Ed.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
you must be very sensitive that you may not deny yourself to be among the14400 people.
open your mind to understanding
Dear Brother/Sister:
Your comment is fairly general, could you please be a little more specific? What exactly is it that we are to have an open mind for more understanding? What is the source of such understanding? Are there some references you can share with us?
Yours to strive to be one of the number of the first fruits of the final harvest of living saints, The Publishers
How about other very faithful Adventists who may not qualify to be among the 144,000? Do they get killed my the Roman persecution and then resurrect at our Lord ‘s appearing? Or are you saying none of the Adventists who will be found alive by the trouble of Jacob will see the Kingdom of God?
Dear Brother Simunji:
This idea that there are somehow faithful SDA’s who are not qualified to be among the 144,000 but will be killed by Roman persecution is a cunningly devised fable that is not found in the Word of God (read Dan. 12:1). The following inspired statement quoted below from the Spirit of Prophecy confirms this. This idea comes from uninspired men and has often been repeated by SDA pastors in an effort to destroy the plain teaching on the sealing of the 144,000 as revealed in the original Shepherd’s Rod message.
“The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet, when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they will be in fear of death by starvation or by violence. But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity. “They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:17. If the blood of Christ’s faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more. If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist: “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me.” Psalm 27:5. Christ has spoken: “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.” Isaiah 26:20, 21. Glorious will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming and whose names are written in the book of life.” — Great Controversy, p. 634