Who Are the 144,000?

When interpreters come to this passage, it is amazing to see just how wild their imaginations can get. Some argue that these could not be literal Jews; others claim that the numbers are not literal, but are merely symbolical of God’s preservation of His people.

Who are the 144,000? According to verse four, they are from the 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 come from each of the 12 tribes making a total of 144,000.

How will they be saved? Since all believers are gone when the Tribulation begins, including the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit or the Restrainer from the New Testament standpoint, just how will these be saved?

The work of the Holy Spirit will be more in accord with that of Old Testament times. But being omnipresent, the Holy Spirit will still be in the world working to convict and draw them to Jesus Christ (John 16:8-11), to regenerate the human heart (John 3:3-4), and to select individuals for special service. There will still be copies of the Scriptures, books, tracts, and material on the internet containing the gospel message. Some Jews will have heard the gospel from friends or on the radio or TV before the rapture. Then when the church suddenly disappears, the Holy Spirit will convince these select 144,000 that the gospel message is indeed true.

Some interpreters see three problems in the listing of the tribes, the first, is Levi. Levi, being the priestly tribe, was considered to have no inheritance among the twelve tribes. Perhaps he is included here because the priestly functions ceased with the coming of Christ. The second is the mention of Joseph instead of Ephraim. Normally Manasseh and Ephraim are both mentioned since they both received an equal portion of territory along with the rest of the tribes. Of course, a double number is counted in this list, but under the names of Joseph and Manasseh rather than Ephraim and Manasseh. The third problem concerns the omission of Dan from this list, something that was necessary if Levi were to be included. The usual reason given for this omission is that Dan was guilty of idolatry on many occasions (Judges 18:1-2, 30-31; 1 Kings 12:28). The same reason is often given for the omission of Ephraim. It has been suggested further that the antichrist may come from this tribe and that this accounts for its omission from this list. Whatever the reason for the omission of Dan from the tribes from which 144,000 elect will come, this is not the end of God’s dealings with that tribe. The Danites will receive a portion of the land during the millennial kingdom. Indeed, in Ezekiel 48:1 Dan heads the list of the tribes as the inheritance is divided to them. Therefore, the exclusion of Dan in the list of tribes is not permanent.