Question:

About the 144,000. I understand they will follow Jesus Christ with their whole hearts and that they are saved, but what does that mean for others? Can they be saved as well?

Answer:

As I am sure you are aware, Revelation is a book that uses symbols, a LOT!  So when we look at anything in Revelation, we have to first make sure whether this is symbology or literal language.  Let’s look at the passages where the 144,000 appear:

Revelation 7      Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

Revelation 14     Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The first clue that something is not normal, is the list of the tribes of Israel.  In the other lists, the name of Joseph does not appear, but both of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh do appear.  Also, the tribe of Dan does not appear in this list.  Additionally, Levi does not appear in the other lists, as God kept them separate from the other tribes to serve Him in the tabernacle and the temple, but does appear in this list.  So the fact that this is not at all the normal list of the tribes of the children of Israel, tells us that it is likely to be symbolic.

But there is more.  When the Assyrians took the ten northern tribes of Israel captive (Reuben, Gad, Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Simeon, Naphtali and Zebulun), they were scattered among the nations and never returned to Palestine. All records of them disappeared.  Later the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (and also the Levites) were taken into captivity by the Babylonians, but after 70 years were allowed back to Palestine.  So, at present there is no record of the ten tribes which were lost, so how could there possibly be 12,000 of each of them sealed?

The final proof that we are not talking about the literal Jews here, but a symbolic group, is a number of texts that explain who the Israel is that is spoken about in the New Testament:

Romans 2     28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 10:12   For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Galatians 3     28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

It therefore seems much more likely that the children of Israel mentioned is God’s people of all nations, tribes and tongues, and that the 144,000 is a symbolic number, signifying the entirety of God’s saved people.  This is an exclusive group, not because they are literal Jews, but because they are completely surrendered to God, following Him wherever He leads, and are therefore sealed in their foreheads, having God’s character in their minds.

So, to get to your question, there are no others to be saved. The 144,000 is a symbol of the total saved population of the earth, from Adam to the very end. The others that you mention, are already part of the 144,000, if they are saved.

I trust that this is clear and has not confused you. God bless as you study it!

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