Rev.14: 1 “ And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
I have stated that this Book of Revelation is a spiritual Book to a spiritual people in the new order of the kingdom of God which is a spiritual kingdom as compared to the physical kingdom of Israel.
There is no doubt that here in this Book, Babylon the great could be used to describe Jerusalem in AD 70, as a religious city that killed the prophets and even Jesus Christ. But can we not see that, that was not the beginning of the use of that name. The fact is Babylon got its spiritual meaning right from Gen 11. When men started building a Tower that can reach up to heaven and God confounded their language thereby putting a stop to it. So we have Babel as a city of religious confusion. Meaning Babylon is man’s attempting to be independent of God and yet wants to get to God through human efforts. Yet the word says except the Lord build the house, they labour that build but in even. Jesus said I will build my church. Jesus said he is the stone that the builders refused who shall later become the chief cornerstone.
This then is the mystery of Babylon, it is a spirit in man and it’s not just limited to Jerusalem of old alone. Just like Jezebel mentioned in the Book of Revelation was not the origin of that name, but took its root from the activities and life of King Ahab’wife, it is a spirit that wants to usurp authority that is not hers. And it can be found in both male and female. So in this Book, we are actually without doubt dealing with spiritual realities and not just history that can shut itself down in AD 70.
One of the major reasons why the 144,000 sealed in Rev.7 is not the literal Israel of Old is the fact that the tribe of Dan is missing from this account. Secondly in verse 7, we are told 12,000 were also sealed from the tribe of Levi, but the fact is Levi was not a tribe in Israel.
A good comparison of the Census book of Numbers Chapter 1:1-16 when God told Moses to number the children of Israel and to pick “men from the twelve tribes of Israel that will “stand with” him (v. 5) the following tribes of natural Israel were mentioned (1) Rueben (2) Simeon, (3) Judah, (4) lssachar (5) Zebulun (6) Ephraim (7) Manaseh (8) Benjamin (9) Dan (10) Asher (11) Gad and (12) Naphtali.
Whereas in the book of Rev. 7 what we have is (I) Judah (2) Rueben (3) Gad (4) Asher (5)~’Naphtali (6) Manaseh (7) Simeon (8) Levi (9) Issachar (10) Zebulun (II) Joseph (12) Benjamin.
And don’t forget that Reuben was the first born , but here in Revelation, Judah is being mentioned first.
There is no room here to deal with the reason for that. But let it be noted that in entering the court of the Lord and winning the warfare in the new order we enter with praise. It’s the key that opens the door to the fullness and glory of God as our sacrifice, being the fruit of our lips.
Again notice that Joseph was not a tribe. The record in Numbers says “of the children of Joseph; of Ephraim… of Manaseh…” (v. 10). Meaning these two tribes came out of Joseph’s children.
So you can see clearly that what we are dealing with is a spiritual matter and not just 144,000 individuals floating with Christ somewhere in the skies up yonder from Israel of old or maybe on a physical Mountain in Palestaine.
Again verse 5 and 16 of the account of Numbers Chapter one is very significant. Therein we are told “and these are the names of the ‘men’ that shall stand ‘with’ you …These were renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel”. I will like to quote these verses from another translation “One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to Help you. These are names of the men who are to ASSIST you…” Num. 1:4, 5, 16 NIV.
Now notice something. These ‘men’ that are to be ‘with Moses’ are the ones to help or assist in administering the congregation (church) of Israel. Can you see any connection with those who are with the Lamb on Mount Zion? Look at it from the Amplified Translation
“Then I looked and 10 the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and WITH HIM a hundred and forty and four thousand (men … ” The fact of the matter is, these 144,000 are MEN; meaning they are mature people who are now qualified for the position of administration. For we know that ‘men’ in the Scriptures speaks of maturity. The word says
“Brethren, be not children in understanding; howbeit in malice be ye children, BUT IN UNDERSTANDING BE MEN” (1 Cor. 14:20). “Therefore… MEN (alight to) pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim.2:8) “wherefore … when He (Jesus) ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts UNTO MEN” Eph.4:8.
This is plain enough that so many of us cannot be blessed especially with the fivefold ministry gifts of apostles, prophets; Evangelists, Pastors and teachers (v. 11 ) because of our Spiritual immaturity.
It is only a stupid father who will give a loaded Pistol (shot gun) to his child of three years old as a birthday present (toy) or give a car key to a four year old boy as a present and ask him to go and drive.
Once again, only the mature ones can assist the Lamb on Mount Zion in His administration.
To be continued….
© 2016 – Dr. David O. Ogaga