Who are the 144 thousand sealed?

Who are the 144 thousand sealed?

The 144 thousand sealed are a vision from the book of Revelation about God's servants among the tribes of Israel. They will receive a seal on their foreheads to show that they are God's servants. The 144,000 sealed will go to Heaven, along with many other people from all nations.

The 144 thousand appear inRevelation 7:2-4, after the opening of the sixth seal. An angel holding the seal of God had the foreheads of God's servants sealed before bringing destruction upon the earth. 144 thousand were sealed: 12 thousand from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Along with the 144,000 was a countless multitude from all the nations of the world , dressed in white and praising before the throne of God. These people had gone through great tribulation and had been cleansed by Jesus, the Lamb (Revelation 7:13-15). They will all live in Heaven, next to the throne of God.

Revelation 14:1explains that the seal on the foreheads of the 144 thousand is the name of God . The 144 thousand are virgin people, who follow Jesus everywhere, and who have no blemish. They are pure, representing the best of humanity (Revelation 14:4-5).

What do the 144 thousand represent?

The 144 thousand represent people totally dedicated to God , who reject sin and do what is right. They are in contrast to people who have received the mark of the beast, who are condemned because they worship a false god (Revelation 14:9-11).

144 thousand represents a complete number of people. 12 thousand from each of the 12 tribes of Israel represents a large number of people. But the 144 thousand are not the only ones who will be approved and taken to Heaven. The multitude from all nations who will go with them will be countless.

The Bible says that the 144 thousand will come from Israel. There are two main interpretations of who these people will be:

• Jews by birth – Israelites who convert to Christ

• Spiritual Israel – some parts of the Bible say that Christians are the true children of Abraham

Why were they sealed?

In the past, seals were used to mark documents and ensure they were authentic. Each seal was unique, so one person's seal could not be confused with another's seal. The seal on the forehead of the 144 thousand would make it very clear that they belong to God.

Everyone could see that they are servants of God. The seal may also represent God's protection.