Who are the 144,000? Part 3

Again, at first glance, one might think that the 144,000 are literal Jews. But from the time of Jesus, most of the prophecies speaking of Israel are focused on the children of faith—or spiritual Israel— regardless of whether they were Jew or Gentile by blood.

Here is a small sample of the many texts that establish this truth. “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). The Lord told the Israelites, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6); in the New Testament, the apostle Peter applies this title to the Christian church: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). Romans 2:28, 29, says, “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter.”

The apostle James gives one of the most convincing Scriptures showing that the apostles viewed these tribes in a spiritual sense. “James, a servant of God, … to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). James’ letter is addressed to Christians, yet he refers to them as spiritual Jews from twelve spiritual tribes.

So why did God name the twelve tribes when listing the 144,000? This is one of the most compelling clues that there must be a spiritual meaning to the tribes listed in Revelation 7. Let me introduce this point by explaining that this is the only time in the Bible that the tribes are arranged in this order. Also, Joseph and Levi are included while Ephraim and Dan are left out. Why? Tomorrow we’ll look more at an amazing message woven into the names of the sons of Jacob.

Key Bible Texts

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (Romans 2:28 KJV)