The 144 Thousand
The Passing of the
Torch - [Part III]
The Lord has given prototypes in the persons of Daniel the prophet and
his three companions, Mishael, Azariah, and Hananiah in order to understand
more clearly the circumstances and characteristics of the 144 Thousand. These
four young men were brought under the authority of a ruthless king when they
were taken to Babylon as captives of King Nebuchadnezzar in 606 B.C.
Nebuchadnezzar is a type of the Antichrist as similarities
and parallels to the end times can be seen within the historical section
(Daniel 1-6) of the book of Daniel. His making of an image and demanding that
all of the peoples of the known world fall down and worship it (Daniel 3) is
one of the most striking parallels Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates.
This action by Nebuchadnezzar parallels the Antichrist’s
prophesied end time demand for universal worship, when he also will rule the
world and seek to force all to worship his image as recorded in Revelation
13:1-18.
Daniel and his three companions, according to Daniel chapter one where
the word eunuch is used to describe the man who was over them “the prince of
the eunuchs”, were made eunuchs in order to serve in the palace of the
king. Their duties included dealing with and being in the presence of the
king’s wives/women.
It was the prevailing custom for these men to be emasculated in order
for them to effectively serve royalty, a custom which continued through New
Testament times (Acts 8:27ff). The resulting effect on them is similar to the
144 Thousand who will be called out of every tribe as is indicated in
Revelation 14:4 to serve the King of kings: “These are they which were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins.”
These men who will be protected by the Lord during the end times
will
be similar to eunuchs. Although not physically emasculated, they will keep
themselves physically pure giving their full devotion to the King of kings, the
Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord taught a three-fold source of becoming a eunuch in
Matthew 19:12:
“For there are
some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some
eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which have made
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive
it, let him receive it.”
Therefore, according to the Lord’s teaching a man can become a eunuch:
1.
Naturally
2.
Man-made
3.
Self-made
The 144 thousand are described as men who “were not defiled with
women” indicating their physical purity belying their choice to fully “follow
the Lamb whithersoever He goes.” (Revelation 14:4) This personal choice
amply demonstrates their complete surrender in all things in order to give
their lives for the maximum service and glory of their Lord. This is also a
fitting description of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah for these young
men recognized early on the call of God on their lives.
The prophecy, which Isaiah pronounced to their great-great-grandfather
Hezekiah, king of Judah, could have been known by them for they themselves were
“of the king’s seed” (Daniel 1:3). Isaiah’s words spoken to Hezekiah
over a century and a half earlier are clear and unmistakable:
“Behold the days come, that all that
is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this
day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And
of thy sons (Daniel and his four companions) that shall issue from thee, which
thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the
palace of the king of Babylon.” (II Kings 20:17, 18)
These four young men of royalty, who likely had access to the
Scriptures, may have known ahead of time some of what God was going to do with
them as the king of Babylon closed in on the city of Jerusalem. He eventually
took them captive and enlisted them in his own service as recorded in the book
of Daniel 1:1-7.
Their lives and impeccable service to God recorded in the book of Daniel
certainly have infinite value for those who follow their pattern of service to
their God. There are at least eight similarities or parallels between Daniel
and his three companions and the 144 Thousand:
1.
They are “sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:3; Daniel 2:25)
2.
They are called “servants of God” (Revelation 7:3; Daniel 3:26)
3.
They refuse to be defiled (Revelation 14:4a; Daniel 1:8)
4.
They choose to follow God (Revelation 14:4b; Daniel 3:16-18, 28)
5.
They refuse to worship an idolatrous image under the threat
of death (Revelation 13; Daniel 3)
6.
They are without fault (Revelation 14:5; Daniel 6:4)
7.
They are seen with the Lord (Revelation 14:1, 17:14;
Daniel 3:26, 6:22)
8.
They are supernaturally protected by the Lord
(Revelation
7:3, 9:4; Daniel 3:23-28, 7:21, 22)
The Lord, being the unchangeable and faithful God that He is, will
accomplish these same things in the lives of those He will choose to represent
Him during the time of the end. He will prepare this great company of “servants
of our God” (Revelation 7:3) who will faithfully serve Him during those
tumultuous but exciting days ahead.
Regardless of what view/theory is held concerning the timing of the
events of the end times, one thing we can rely upon and that is the unchanging
faithfulness of our God. He will most certainly call out and prepare that great
company of 144 Thousand servants from the twelve tribes of Israel who will:
1.
Be the first-fruits of the Jews to be redeemed during the 70th
Week of Daniel (Revelation 14:5)
2.
Serve the Lord during the Great Tribulation
(Daniel 11:32-35, 12:3; Revelation 12:17b)
3.
Serve the Lord during the Day of the Lord's wrath
(Revelation 7:3-8, 9:4, 14:1-5, 17:14)
No comments:
Post a Comment