The Truth About the 144,000 Citizens of Heaven

The book of Revelation is said to be a revelation from God to Christ, to angels and then to John the apostle, who then was to give it to the seven churches. The seven churches are named as they existed in the region of Asia but the interpretation applied to the churches has transversed the major phases of church history starting from the time of the apostles to the time of the last church. The message to the church of Ephesus is said to have been meant to the church of the apostles and the message of the Laodiceans Church is understood to mean the message to the last church just before the second coming of Christ.

Understanding revelation in that order enable most Christians to apply specific messages to specific times and it is the method I want to apply in understanding the mystery of the 144000 as recorded in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

The setting of chapter seven of Revelation is during a period of some calm. The four angels are holding the four winds of the earth so that there could be some piece, and that the servants of God (that is the 144000 thousand) could be sealed. The sealing takes place and those who are sealed are said to have come from the tribe of Israel.
When this chapter is read in connection to chapter six, we find out that chapter six consist mainly of opening seals and after every seal, major events are allowed to happen. These events are understood to happen on earth. After opening the sixth seal, the events described are terrifying and this could only be understood to happen just when the four winds of the earth shall be released. The fifth seal was opened and the events that were described denote a period of saints crying due to persecution and wondering how long the persecution will last. Therefore, the sealing happens after the persecution (due to the winds of the earth) and before a major death toll due to the release of the winds of the earth.

Our sealing time therefore can be set immediately after the dark ages and before the seconding coming of Christ or more preciously before the close of probation. Chapter 14 of Revelation reveals the characters of those who are seal.

Verses 1-5 have these to say, "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.

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev 14: 1-5 KJV.

One by one and quickly; the 144000 were not defiled with women. This means that they were pure in heart before God. To me, they are the five wise virgins who preserved their oil waiting for the bridegroom in Matthew 25. They followed the lamb whatsoever he goes simply means that these people were taking their cross daily and following Christ as Christ said that whoever wants to be his disciple must take his cross daily and follow him. They are redeemed among men (chosen for special purpose). And being the firs fruits unto God and to the Lamb simply means that they are presented before God as an offering without guile or any deformity of character as explained in the words, "in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."

So, in a nutshell, the 144000 are Christians that are leaving after the great church persecution by the church and before the second coming of Christ. They will take part in spreading the last message of God to warn people against worshiping the beast as recorded in Revelation 14.