Soon the sufferings of the cross shall be exchanged for the triumph of resurrection life for the 144,000. This is just the beginning of what God shall do for the remnant of His people.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…
II Timothy 2:12
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Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Suffering
- Rod of Iron
- Out of Egypt I called forth my Son
- Joseph in Egypt
- Egypt the Iron Furnace
- Axe Head floated
- Cost of Discipleship
- Torah Sealed amongst His Disciples
- 2 Esdras – Sealed at the Feast & Clothed in Immortal Garments
- Suffering & Manifestation
- The Iron that overcomes the enemy
- Conclusion
Preface
The picture above may look pretty grim but when we are in battle we will endure discomfort, overcoming discouraging and seemingly hopeless odds in order to obtain victory. The 144,000 have a job to do. What greater prize could there be but union with our creator and overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil? Once this is done how about saving the lost and a fair maiden while conquering and ruling the world with Messiah Yeshua? There are dragons and devils without number and fallen angels to boot. Men of God were born for battle and conquest, to subdue the earth come hell or high water. And all the forces of hell are lining up for war against them. The forces of darkness may wear out the saints, Daniel 7:25, but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits, Daniel 11:32. They shall shine like the stars. The darkness shall be great but the saints of the Most High shall be glorious, Daniel 12:3, Isaiah 60:1-2.
We have entered into the month of miracles, sacrificial Lambs and resurrection Lions.
The voice of our Master Yeshua is calling the warrior to come higher, to climb the mountain, to come up to Zion, high above the clouds, the city of our God. If you can carry your cross well, then you can be entrusted with the weapons of war when the trumpet sounds. Iron shall clash with iron. Men of steel shall rise as Zion comes into deadly peril. The gloves are off and the battle rages.
God will soon raise his 144,000 Super Soldiers to assist Him in gathering in the harvest, rescuing Zion and bringing in the Kingdom of God under the direction and leadership of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Yeshua HaMashiach. Yeshua is both the Son of David and the Son of God, God manifest in flesh and He is, most assuredly, very much, a Man of War! And He has His Commissioned Officers and Men of War. Soldiers lay it all on the line, they suffer and even die but they get the job done!
We have entered into the month of miracles, sacrificial Lambs and resurrection Lions.
The voice of our Master Yeshua is calling the warrior to come higher, to climb the mountain, to come up to Zion, high above the clouds, the city of our God. If you can carry your cross well, then you can be entrusted with the weapons of war when the trumpet sounds. Iron shall clash with iron. Men of steel shall rise as Zion comes into deadly peril. The gloves are off and the battle rages.
- There is a battle to be fought,
- a Kingdom is prepared and is coming down.
- The King has His men of war.
- He has prepared them in the darkness of obscurity.
- Soon they shall be raised for battle.
- There is a dragon to slay and a woman to rescue.
- Satan shall fall, Babylon shall fall,
- Zion shall flee to the wilderness to the place prepared for her.
- Safe from the cruel face of the Dragon.
- The King is Coming…
God will soon raise his 144,000 Super Soldiers to assist Him in gathering in the harvest, rescuing Zion and bringing in the Kingdom of God under the direction and leadership of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Yeshua HaMashiach. Yeshua is both the Son of David and the Son of God, God manifest in flesh and He is, most assuredly, very much, a Man of War! And He has His Commissioned Officers and Men of War. Soldiers lay it all on the line, they suffer and even die but they get the job done!
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philipians 3:13-14
Suffering obediently will lead to glory and reigning with Messiah Yeshua.
The 144,000 are firstfruits of Yeshua’s suffering and their own.
The 144,000 are firstfruits of Yeshua’s suffering and their own.
Introduction
During Passover (Pesach, פֶּסַח) we are reminded afresh of the exodus via the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts. We are thus reminded of the suffering servant, the Lamb of God, Yeshua. Through His blood we have the New Covenant and a way of spiritually leaving Satan’s spiritual Egypt (this fallen world) and our sin in particular. One day soon this spiritual redemption shall lead to the physical redemption of our body at the resurrection and 2nd exodus as I shall explain. The 144,000 will lead the way as firstfruits of the resurrection.
Pretty exciting for them. In the mean time we must occupy till He comes. He wants us to be about his Kingdom now! Not only did He suffer for us but if we follow Him we will also share in His suffering. And it is not a hopeless thing, because contained within it are the seeds of future glory. Through sweat and tears the Kingdom of God advances and something good is planted in our souls in the process that would not have been there otherwise. And if we suffer for Him we shall also reign with our Lord. Like all of us, the 144,000 are Lambs before they are Lions. They experience suffering before ‘rapture’, exaltation and glory.
Passover is a good time to think about Lambs that become Lions, Yeshua suffered but He did not stay in the grave, He is Risen! Passover is about physical and spiritual deliverance. Whoever we are, if we are believers we will soon leave our nations which have become Egypt, Babylon and Sodom spiritually, this is the 2nd Exodus. But we are not out yet. Let us look to the Lord. There is a job for all of us to do while here, souls need to be reached even now, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. The Spirit of God is moving.
I have not heard too much about the 144,000 suffering. We are not told anything about their life before they were sealed. But we can deduce a great deal from the principles of the word of God and other scriptures that give us a hint of their ‘sacrifice’, a sacrifice we should all be making.
We all suffer in our flesh now if we are obedient believers. But is there an extra measure of suffering and sacrifice for the 144,000? If so, what could be it’s purpose? Are the 144,000 commissioned with the ‘gospel of the kingdom‘ and spiritual warfare in their current mortal bodies before being sealed and entrusted with physical warfare for the kingdom in their raised supernatural bodies? Perhaps they have been tested to some degree already perhaps more testing is coming, time will tell. What makes someone qualify to be a member of this firstfruits manchild company? I am sure it has something to do with obedience, character and a noble nature that Joseph displayed. We may not have to wait long to find out who they are, we are rapidly approaching those days. I share some of my thoughts and gleanings here.
Yeshua is our Passover Lamb. He was slain in the month of miracles (‘ness’, נס), Nissan, נסן. He was raised 3 days later in the same month on the feast of firstfruits, miracle or miracles! The grave couldn’t hold him and death couldn’t keep him.
The cross is vacant now, except for us. Yeshua is risen, but we are still a work in progress. The cross represents death to self. We don’t like it but suffering is sometimes necessary to develop our character. Iron is forged in a foundry. Men of Steel are not wall flowers. Iron Men do not work out in Beauty Salons. Like Joseph in Egypt, the Lord uses affliction, not to destroy, but to refine, to chasten, strengthen and toughen up the servants that He has chosen. Hard men are given hard tasks and they have to have the character to match what is required of them. We cannot buckle and break when put under pressure, stress and strain. Are the 144,000 likewise put through such trial before they are raised up in glory?
Do the 144,000 suffer before they are raised? Are they sealed while still in their mortal flesh or does sealing imply resurrection? Are they commissioned with the ‘gospel of the Kingdom‘ before they are robed in glory and entrusted with physical battle? Or does it all happen together after sealing with a glorified body? Do they follow the same pattern as our Lord, who ‘suffered in the flesh‘ before he was ‘raised in glory‘? We will find out some details as we proceed.
As a spiritual principle, true Torah obedience implies the work of the cross in our lives, death to self life. Let’s look at the role of Torah, discipleship and suffering in producing men (and women) of steel and garments of glory (a resurrected body).
Pretty exciting for them. In the mean time we must occupy till He comes. He wants us to be about his Kingdom now! Not only did He suffer for us but if we follow Him we will also share in His suffering. And it is not a hopeless thing, because contained within it are the seeds of future glory. Through sweat and tears the Kingdom of God advances and something good is planted in our souls in the process that would not have been there otherwise. And if we suffer for Him we shall also reign with our Lord. Like all of us, the 144,000 are Lambs before they are Lions. They experience suffering before ‘rapture’, exaltation and glory.
Passover is a good time to think about Lambs that become Lions, Yeshua suffered but He did not stay in the grave, He is Risen! Passover is about physical and spiritual deliverance. Whoever we are, if we are believers we will soon leave our nations which have become Egypt, Babylon and Sodom spiritually, this is the 2nd Exodus. But we are not out yet. Let us look to the Lord. There is a job for all of us to do while here, souls need to be reached even now, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. The Spirit of God is moving.
I have not heard too much about the 144,000 suffering. We are not told anything about their life before they were sealed. But we can deduce a great deal from the principles of the word of God and other scriptures that give us a hint of their ‘sacrifice’, a sacrifice we should all be making.
We all suffer in our flesh now if we are obedient believers. But is there an extra measure of suffering and sacrifice for the 144,000? If so, what could be it’s purpose? Are the 144,000 commissioned with the ‘gospel of the kingdom‘ and spiritual warfare in their current mortal bodies before being sealed and entrusted with physical warfare for the kingdom in their raised supernatural bodies? Perhaps they have been tested to some degree already perhaps more testing is coming, time will tell. What makes someone qualify to be a member of this firstfruits manchild company? I am sure it has something to do with obedience, character and a noble nature that Joseph displayed. We may not have to wait long to find out who they are, we are rapidly approaching those days. I share some of my thoughts and gleanings here.
Yeshua is our Passover Lamb. He was slain in the month of miracles (‘ness’, נס), Nissan, נסן. He was raised 3 days later in the same month on the feast of firstfruits, miracle or miracles! The grave couldn’t hold him and death couldn’t keep him.
The cross is vacant now, except for us. Yeshua is risen, but we are still a work in progress. The cross represents death to self. We don’t like it but suffering is sometimes necessary to develop our character. Iron is forged in a foundry. Men of Steel are not wall flowers. Iron Men do not work out in Beauty Salons. Like Joseph in Egypt, the Lord uses affliction, not to destroy, but to refine, to chasten, strengthen and toughen up the servants that He has chosen. Hard men are given hard tasks and they have to have the character to match what is required of them. We cannot buckle and break when put under pressure, stress and strain. Are the 144,000 likewise put through such trial before they are raised up in glory?
Do the 144,000 suffer before they are raised? Are they sealed while still in their mortal flesh or does sealing imply resurrection? Are they commissioned with the ‘gospel of the Kingdom‘ before they are robed in glory and entrusted with physical battle? Or does it all happen together after sealing with a glorified body? Do they follow the same pattern as our Lord, who ‘suffered in the flesh‘ before he was ‘raised in glory‘? We will find out some details as we proceed.
As a spiritual principle, true Torah obedience implies the work of the cross in our lives, death to self life. Let’s look at the role of Torah, discipleship and suffering in producing men (and women) of steel and garments of glory (a resurrected body).
Suffering
In all the articles or videos about the 144,000 I have seen, I have not read a single one about their suffering! It is assumed that they suddenly appear on the scene in glory and supernatural power without any details of their former life or why they were chosen. Perhaps this is how it will be seen from the world. But I wonder if there is more that we can deduce than this?
The bible tells us the following principle quite plainly.
The bible tells us the following principle quite plainly.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
II Timothy 2:12
The concept of suffering has been avoided by the increasingly self centred Laodicean church. It is pretty much shunned in our western church culture. It is also passed over by proud messianic type folk that think the Torah obedience means that they wont suffer. I am not saying all messianic folk are like this either, but it is a phenomena I have seen far too much of, PRIDE! ‘Knowledge puffeth up but love builds up’, I Corinthians 8:1. We live in a proud age, filled with churches that are too shiny on the outside to suffer shame and the reproach of Messiah Yeshua. All we have left is a hollow New Age 7 steps to ‘me gospel’. It’s not Yeshua focused at all. And sadly all too often Torah is just head knowledge and pride. The outside is clean, the inside is dirty.
Also see other articles concerning our self oriented ‘Churchianity’ and our pride and coming judgement…
Thankfully there is also a real remnant that is getting deeper with the Lord. Suffering and self denial are implied in the Torah. The central book of Torah is Leviticus and it begins with sacrifice! These sacrifices are of course a picture of what Yeshua has done for us. But they are not just a picture of Yeshua, we are told that we died with Him and we are to die to self. The sacrificial system is really the gospel in flesh and blood. The animal must die so that we may enter the tabernacle with God. The carnal man must decrease and the spiritual man must increase. The cross is symbolic of the sacrifice on the altar. We are crucified with Messiah. This is the book of Leviticus in our flesh.
Suffering and self sacrifice have an important role in our lives. Before the Lord entrusts us with a big thing we often experience a big test. Torah obedience will enable us to qualify for the promise. But first we are tested. Remember how Joseph was betrayed and imprisoned in Egypt or David was chased by Saul. The people of God often suffer before they triumph. So we often suffer some opposition from the enemy before we receive the promise. This is where faith comes in. The patriarchs were tested. So were all the believers that followed the Lord יהוה in both the old and new testaments. Suffering does not mean failure, it’s just the opposite. The suffering is actually equipping us with the character we need to handle the gift, the promise, that we are after. Suffering and self sacrifice is a central message in the gospel, before the Kingdom comes to earth there is suffering and self denial. The cross entails suffering. But it’s not a hopeless suffering. It is enabling us to truly qualify to receive the promise and helps us to be faithful. Torah obedience does not negate suffering. Yes there are blessings that come through obedience but there is also much opposition to true obedience to the gospel and Torah. A truly devoted heart will experience the opposition of Man and Satan.
This principle of suffering first before reigning in glory is seen throughout the bible, including Joseph’s experience at the hands of His brothers and his lonely exile in Egypt and wrongful imprisonment. The prophet’s were tested and tried and we too are promised trials of faith if we are faithfully following the Lord. It is not the exception, it is the rule for those souls that would come after the Lord.
Also see other articles concerning our self oriented ‘Churchianity’ and our pride and coming judgement…
- Star-bellied Sneetches & messianic Pride
- Is Judgment coming or Revival?
- Ephraim’s Pride & Death in Babylon – Seek Meekness
- Gethsemane – the necessary crushing of Judaism and Christianity
- The Death of Paganised Christianity & the 2nd Exodus
Thankfully there is also a real remnant that is getting deeper with the Lord. Suffering and self denial are implied in the Torah. The central book of Torah is Leviticus and it begins with sacrifice! These sacrifices are of course a picture of what Yeshua has done for us. But they are not just a picture of Yeshua, we are told that we died with Him and we are to die to self. The sacrificial system is really the gospel in flesh and blood. The animal must die so that we may enter the tabernacle with God. The carnal man must decrease and the spiritual man must increase. The cross is symbolic of the sacrifice on the altar. We are crucified with Messiah. This is the book of Leviticus in our flesh.
Suffering and self sacrifice have an important role in our lives. Before the Lord entrusts us with a big thing we often experience a big test. Torah obedience will enable us to qualify for the promise. But first we are tested. Remember how Joseph was betrayed and imprisoned in Egypt or David was chased by Saul. The people of God often suffer before they triumph. So we often suffer some opposition from the enemy before we receive the promise. This is where faith comes in. The patriarchs were tested. So were all the believers that followed the Lord יהוה in both the old and new testaments. Suffering does not mean failure, it’s just the opposite. The suffering is actually equipping us with the character we need to handle the gift, the promise, that we are after. Suffering and self sacrifice is a central message in the gospel, before the Kingdom comes to earth there is suffering and self denial. The cross entails suffering. But it’s not a hopeless suffering. It is enabling us to truly qualify to receive the promise and helps us to be faithful. Torah obedience does not negate suffering. Yes there are blessings that come through obedience but there is also much opposition to true obedience to the gospel and Torah. A truly devoted heart will experience the opposition of Man and Satan.
This principle of suffering first before reigning in glory is seen throughout the bible, including Joseph’s experience at the hands of His brothers and his lonely exile in Egypt and wrongful imprisonment. The prophet’s were tested and tried and we too are promised trials of faith if we are faithfully following the Lord. It is not the exception, it is the rule for those souls that would come after the Lord.
Rod of Iron
Like Yeshua, the overcomers of the Church of Thyatira a promised to rule the nations with a ‘rod of Iron‘.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 2:26-27
This idea of a group of people, not just Yeshua, ruling over the nations with a rod of iron is repeated in Revelation chapter 12 with the birth of the ‘man child‘. I have spoken of this manchild company often in my blogs.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Revelation12:5
In order to be entrusted with rulership with a ‘rod of Iron‘, Yeshua suffered. Would it be any different for the 144,000 Man-child company that also rule with a rod of Iron?
Before the Exodus there was Moses and two faithful warriors, Joshua and Caleb. They were two faithful witnesses. We read of two witnesses in Revelation 11. As a principle, to be a faithful witness in a perverse generation will naturally mean opposition. Now I am not focusing on the actual identity of the 2 witnesses but using them as an example of the need for faithful people speaking the truth under fire. Now before the 2nd Exodus there will be the 144,000. I suspect there will be two groups of them, one related to the firstfruits of the barley crop during Passover and the other related to the firstfruits of Wheat harvest at Pentecost. I have shared before on previous posts concerning the 144,000. We shall see. It is very near I feel because we are seeing the collapse of our nations as the spirit of Antichrist rises. (But also the Spirit of Yeshua is rising in the remnant of His people). So the 144,000 may actually be two groups of warriors from two different firstfruit harvests, barley and wheat. We shall see. In any case they are instrumental in the exodus as old testament scriptures make clear.
Before the Exodus there was Moses and two faithful warriors, Joshua and Caleb. They were two faithful witnesses. We read of two witnesses in Revelation 11. As a principle, to be a faithful witness in a perverse generation will naturally mean opposition. Now I am not focusing on the actual identity of the 2 witnesses but using them as an example of the need for faithful people speaking the truth under fire. Now before the 2nd Exodus there will be the 144,000. I suspect there will be two groups of them, one related to the firstfruits of the barley crop during Passover and the other related to the firstfruits of Wheat harvest at Pentecost. I have shared before on previous posts concerning the 144,000. We shall see. It is very near I feel because we are seeing the collapse of our nations as the spirit of Antichrist rises. (But also the Spirit of Yeshua is rising in the remnant of His people). So the 144,000 may actually be two groups of warriors from two different firstfruit harvests, barley and wheat. We shall see. In any case they are instrumental in the exodus as old testament scriptures make clear.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalms 127:3-5
The above scripture ties in with the manchild company in Revelation 12 because conception is mentioned.
I wonder if so many folk would want to be part of the 144,000 Manchild company if a great deal of suffering was involved? Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
There appears to me to be two aspects to the 144,000 Manchild group, one aspect is as a suffering servant and sacrificial Lamb. The other aspect is a warrior, a Davidic Lion like King. Where else have we seen that same dual nature? In Yeshua of course! Before he was exalted He suffered.
The 144,000 are referred to as ‘servants‘.
I wonder if so many folk would want to be part of the 144,000 Manchild company if a great deal of suffering was involved? Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
There appears to me to be two aspects to the 144,000 Manchild group, one aspect is as a suffering servant and sacrificial Lamb. The other aspect is a warrior, a Davidic Lion like King. Where else have we seen that same dual nature? In Yeshua of course! Before he was exalted He suffered.
The 144,000 are referred to as ‘servants‘.
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Revelation 7:3-4
Yeshua gave us many parables concerning servants, Matthew 21:33-46, 22:1-14, 25:14, Mark 13:34, Luke 12:37. These servants invited people to the wedding, or they came to collect the wine etc. The husbandmen did want to give them what belonged to the Lord. These servants were shamefully treated and even killed. On the one hand those servants were the old testament prophets and faithful Jews. On the other hand they are the servants of Yeshua who will be commissioned like the disciples in the time of the end. Could the husbandmen both refer to the unbelieving Jewish religious leaders at Yeshua’s time and also the idle shepherds of the House of Israel, the western church in the last days? I think so, and I think that time is right about now! So are the 144,000 amongst this group of servants that Yeshua’s parables spoke of?
Also at the end of Matthew 9 Yeshua speaks of the harvest and to pray that the Lord would send out labourers. In chapter 10 He sent out the 12 disciples to heal the sick, drive out demons, raise the dead and preach the gospel. They were only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were sent as lambs amongst wolves two by two. They were to trust the Lord for their provisions and stay in a city and with the same family until the job was done. Those cities that would not endure their message would be cursed. Yeshua said that they would not finish going through the cities of Israel before He returns. But at the time Yeshua had not even left! So Matthew 10 must be prophetic for the future. And perhaps it is the 144,000 that fulfil this harvest commission. In Luke 10 Yeshua sends out the 70 similarly but with no injunction not to go to the gentiles. Does this speak of a Pentecostal commission to the nations by the 144,000 also? Thus this could be part of what the 144,000 are doing initially.
The book of Isaiah speaks of the suffering servant, Yeshua, Isaiah 42:1, 52:13. But this suffering servant may also include those that suffer with Yeshua, including the 144,000. To me there appears two opposing sides to the work of the 144,000. Like Yeshua, there seems to be a time of Holy Ghost empowered ministry while still very mortal and physically vulnerable. They are sealed and their service may lead to increasing suffering of these servants, before their resurrection and ‘rapture’. Why else would they be sealed unless they were still mortal and could be hurt by the judgements of God or man? After their resurrection/rapture the emphasis is on military exploits and supernatural warfare, trampling on snakes and scorpions etc. However what I discovered in an apocryphal book named 2 Esdras shows me that they are raptured and sealed at the same time during one of the feasts. I will discuss this later towards the end of the article. I feel the time is near and we shall soon see one way or the other how things go with these servants. The Lord is already moving by His Spirit world wide as the final grain harvest of souls begins to come in.
How much Torah do we want? How much are we willing to suffer? How much of Yeshua do we really want? What are we willing to forsake to follow our Master? When it comes to being 144,000 material I don’t think the issue is how tough we are, but on how much we want Yeshua. Will we endure the fires of affliction in order to honour the Lord and bring the good news to others? Are we forgiving like Joseph?
So I see two opposing aspects to the 144,000 in scripture, one a servant and another as a warrior. There are many verses in the old a new testaments that allude to them.
But let’s first look at Joseph and Israel’s enslavement in Egypt as a parable for us.
Also at the end of Matthew 9 Yeshua speaks of the harvest and to pray that the Lord would send out labourers. In chapter 10 He sent out the 12 disciples to heal the sick, drive out demons, raise the dead and preach the gospel. They were only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were sent as lambs amongst wolves two by two. They were to trust the Lord for their provisions and stay in a city and with the same family until the job was done. Those cities that would not endure their message would be cursed. Yeshua said that they would not finish going through the cities of Israel before He returns. But at the time Yeshua had not even left! So Matthew 10 must be prophetic for the future. And perhaps it is the 144,000 that fulfil this harvest commission. In Luke 10 Yeshua sends out the 70 similarly but with no injunction not to go to the gentiles. Does this speak of a Pentecostal commission to the nations by the 144,000 also? Thus this could be part of what the 144,000 are doing initially.
The book of Isaiah speaks of the suffering servant, Yeshua, Isaiah 42:1, 52:13. But this suffering servant may also include those that suffer with Yeshua, including the 144,000. To me there appears two opposing sides to the work of the 144,000. Like Yeshua, there seems to be a time of Holy Ghost empowered ministry while still very mortal and physically vulnerable. They are sealed and their service may lead to increasing suffering of these servants, before their resurrection and ‘rapture’. Why else would they be sealed unless they were still mortal and could be hurt by the judgements of God or man? After their resurrection/rapture the emphasis is on military exploits and supernatural warfare, trampling on snakes and scorpions etc. However what I discovered in an apocryphal book named 2 Esdras shows me that they are raptured and sealed at the same time during one of the feasts. I will discuss this later towards the end of the article. I feel the time is near and we shall soon see one way or the other how things go with these servants. The Lord is already moving by His Spirit world wide as the final grain harvest of souls begins to come in.
How much Torah do we want? How much are we willing to suffer? How much of Yeshua do we really want? What are we willing to forsake to follow our Master? When it comes to being 144,000 material I don’t think the issue is how tough we are, but on how much we want Yeshua. Will we endure the fires of affliction in order to honour the Lord and bring the good news to others? Are we forgiving like Joseph?
So I see two opposing aspects to the 144,000 in scripture, one a servant and another as a warrior. There are many verses in the old a new testaments that allude to them.
But let’s first look at Joseph and Israel’s enslavement in Egypt as a parable for us.
Out of Egypt I called forth my Son
The 2nd Exodus will be like the first exodus, only greater. Everything the Lord does is with types and shadows, with prophecy opening with an earlier, lesser fulfilment leading to a greatly expanded fulfilment. Suffering and deliverance has been a theme all along, ever since the garden of Eden.
We must firstly realise in our hearts that God loves His people. We are to remain in His Love also. We ought to obey Him.
We must firstly realise in our hearts that God loves His people. We are to remain in His Love also. We ought to obey Him.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:9-10
Clearly Yeshua desires us to obey Him. Perhaps this is something the 144,000 learn to do better than most. Like Joseph they suffer and learn to follow the Lord before being revealed suddenly to their brethren.
When the Lord brought forth the children of Israel out of Egypt it was not due to their righteousness, they were quick to go into idolatry. Neither did they enter the land of Canaan because of their own righteousness but due to the Lord’s mercy and love. See Deuteronomy 6:25,9:4,9:5,9:6.
When the Lord brought forth the children of Israel out of Egypt it was not due to their righteousness, they were quick to go into idolatry. Neither did they enter the land of Canaan because of their own righteousness but due to the Lord’s mercy and love. See Deuteronomy 6:25,9:4,9:5,9:6.
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hosea 11:1
As Israel went down to Egypt so did our Messiah, Yeshua with his parents. As the good Lord brought Israel out of Egypt so he brought Yeshua out also.
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Matthew 2:15
Messiah has been with us all along. He knows what we go through, he went with us and He will bring us forth. He is with us now in our current exile in our nations that have become Egypt, Babylon and Sodom. And He is with His 144,000 even now before they are taken.
Joseph in Egypt
But why are we in ‘Egypt’ anyway? Why do we have to live at such a godless time as this? Well historically our forefathers were sent out of the land of Israel, like Adam and Eve were sent out of Eden because of disobedience. OK we are here because of what happened in the past. But we may protest and say we didn’t do it? Well Joseph could also complain. Why did God allow poor Joseph to be betrayed by his brethren and sold as a slave and carried away to Egypt? What sin did he commit?
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron (בַּרְזֶל):
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.
Psalm 105:17-18
No doubt Joseph was righteous. He was not perfect but he handled his abuse pretty well don’t you think? I imagine he was tempted with all sorts of bitter thoughts as we all would have. But he overcame all of Satan’s fiery darts.
The purpose of his unfair exile from Satan’s perspective was to destroy Joseph the dreamer. But the Lord had another plan. He was showing to the enemy that indeed Joseph had the right stuff to fulfil the dream of ruling over his family. You see to go up we must go down first. If we are to be used of the Lord we are first broken, like Peter, upon the Rock. Why? To come to an end of ourselves and the beginning of God’s grace in our hearts. Whatever we do it is by faith in God and not by works. Like Joseph we are learning to follow so that…
The purpose of his unfair exile from Satan’s perspective was to destroy Joseph the dreamer. But the Lord had another plan. He was showing to the enemy that indeed Joseph had the right stuff to fulfil the dream of ruling over his family. You see to go up we must go down first. If we are to be used of the Lord we are first broken, like Peter, upon the Rock. Why? To come to an end of ourselves and the beginning of God’s grace in our hearts. Whatever we do it is by faith in God and not by works. Like Joseph we are learning to follow so that…
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Once we have died to self, like Joseph did in the pit and prison of Egypt, we can be entrusted with bringing good news to our brethren and those dwelling in darkness. Yeshua must first wash us clean and all our pride and filth of the flesh and finally the rock hard flint-like carnal nature is burnt up. We have to have a heart of flesh. Peter experienced this grace working in his life, changing his self reliance into a sweet but strong Godliness and love.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance;
and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
II Peter 1:3-10
If Joseph or you or I or the 144,000 are going to be used to bring good news to others to any measure, we must be purged of our sinful, rock hard, carnal nature. The Lord wont let us get away with it, even if others appear to do so. We must clean our hands, we must confess our sins and then He must wash our feet so we can bring others good news.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Isaiah 52:7
Yeshua healed a lame man at the gate called ‘Beautiful‘, Acts 3:2. Once his feet were healed he could preach the good news to others. That’s what we need.
In this dirty old world, beautiful feet don’t come without a great deal of cleaning. How often I have kicked against the Lord, totally misunderstanding His Heart. Let us be purged of thoughts and attitudes that make us barren and unfruitful. Let us confess our sins to our Father in Heaven. If the Lord loves us He may keep us in the vice until we come forth as gold, until we have unlearnt our old ways and learnt His ways.
God help us.
Then we can be entrusted with greater service.
This was part of the purpose of Joseph’s trials, culminating in a forgiving heart. A true priestly and kingly attitude.
And this is what the Lord is doing in the hearts of the 144,000 in all their trials before glory. They are being forged anew in the furnace. And this is what he wants to do in all of us.
In this dirty old world, beautiful feet don’t come without a great deal of cleaning. How often I have kicked against the Lord, totally misunderstanding His Heart. Let us be purged of thoughts and attitudes that make us barren and unfruitful. Let us confess our sins to our Father in Heaven. If the Lord loves us He may keep us in the vice until we come forth as gold, until we have unlearnt our old ways and learnt His ways.
God help us.
Then we can be entrusted with greater service.
This was part of the purpose of Joseph’s trials, culminating in a forgiving heart. A true priestly and kingly attitude.
And this is what the Lord is doing in the hearts of the 144,000 in all their trials before glory. They are being forged anew in the furnace. And this is what he wants to do in all of us.
Egypt the Iron Furnace
What God did with Joseph was equip him for leadership. He had the spiritual gifts and qualities necessary for leadership. But his character still had to be formed and tested in the crucible as metal is smelted. Whether we are to be vessels of gold or silver or men or women of steel, we have to be put into circumstances that test our metal. And in testing us we are also changed from glory to glory. The more we are refined the more clearly we can see the truth and the glorious Lord of truth.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:18
We are His workmanship, Ephesians 2:10. Once the Lord is satisfied with the work in hand, us, He can bring us forth out of the foundry of trial.
He does that individually and collectively for all Israel. You see He needs us to learn to follow Him and truly hear his voice. This is more than a surface faith whereby we give mental accent to scripture. He sees our heart. The priest searches the heart and the reigns (lit kidneys), Yeshua sees inside us.
I can personally say that it has taken me a long long time to begin to learn some very basic lessons. Number one lesson for me is ‘who is the boss’. Not me anymore. At least I have begun to learn this lesson. Another related lesson is ‘who is right’. It used to be me. Now I know the Lord is right, even if I don’t understand what is going on in my life. I am learning to follow and obey and keep my head down and only lift it up to pray or praise Him.
Anyway the Lord allows trials and affliction to bring us to repentance and work into us His glory and the image of His Son. When we are ready, when we have learnt our lesson, He will bring us out of our trial.
The following three verses say the same thing about the iron furnace of Egypt. God will bring us forth.
He does that individually and collectively for all Israel. You see He needs us to learn to follow Him and truly hear his voice. This is more than a surface faith whereby we give mental accent to scripture. He sees our heart. The priest searches the heart and the reigns (lit kidneys), Yeshua sees inside us.
I can personally say that it has taken me a long long time to begin to learn some very basic lessons. Number one lesson for me is ‘who is the boss’. Not me anymore. At least I have begun to learn this lesson. Another related lesson is ‘who is right’. It used to be me. Now I know the Lord is right, even if I don’t understand what is going on in my life. I am learning to follow and obey and keep my head down and only lift it up to pray or praise Him.
Anyway the Lord allows trials and affliction to bring us to repentance and work into us His glory and the image of His Son. When we are ready, when we have learnt our lesson, He will bring us out of our trial.
The following three verses say the same thing about the iron furnace of Egypt. God will bring us forth.
But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace (כּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל), even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
Deuteronomy 4:20
For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron (כּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל):
I Kings 8:51
Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
Jeremiah 11:4
So ‘out of Egypt I called forth my son‘ as Hosea says. He has a purpose in our lonely sojourn in a foreign land, or in the furnace of affliction. He brings us forth to praise Him.
The iron is forged in the furnace of affliction. It was true for Joseph. It is true for the 144,000 and it is true for all of us by extension. The 144,000 are firstfruits so they are ready first to ascend from the Egypt of this world in order to bring in the harvest, for they are Yeshua’s servants. Their metal has been proved, they hear His voice, they are humbly keeping Torah and the testimony of Yeshua. They are faithful with the gospel message. They have endured affliction and learnt their lessons. They are the Manchild that rule with a rod of iron, under Yeshua who also rules with a rod of iron above them.
The iron is forged in the furnace of affliction. It was true for Joseph. It is true for the 144,000 and it is true for all of us by extension. The 144,000 are firstfruits so they are ready first to ascend from the Egypt of this world in order to bring in the harvest, for they are Yeshua’s servants. Their metal has been proved, they hear His voice, they are humbly keeping Torah and the testimony of Yeshua. They are faithful with the gospel message. They have endured affliction and learnt their lessons. They are the Manchild that rule with a rod of iron, under Yeshua who also rules with a rod of iron above them.
Axe Head floated
We may sink pretty low into the mire of this world but the Lord can bring us out. We may fall but the Lord can save us from drowning, he saved Peter. Truly we should all trust Him no matter what storm comes our way. All I know is that the Lord has brought me through many things in the past and I know who to cling to and who to call when trouble comes.
In the book of second Kings we read in chapter 6 a story about a group of the ‘sons of the prophets‘ who are cutting down trees to make a camp. As they were chopping wood an accident occurs that has deep symbolism.
In the book of second Kings we read in chapter 6 a story about a group of the ‘sons of the prophets‘ who are cutting down trees to make a camp. As they were chopping wood an accident occurs that has deep symbolism.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head <literally ‘iron‘, הַבַּרְזֶל> fell <נָפַל> into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed <שָׁאֽוּל>.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick <עֵץ>, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
II Kings 6:4-6
Here is my interpretation.
- The Jordan represents death. In Adam we all died.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:22
- The ‘Axe head‘ is literally ‘the iron‘, הַבַּרְזֶל, in Hebrew. It just so happens that the word ‘iron‘, הַבַּרְזֶל, can also be translated as ‘the son‘,הַבַּרְ, and ‘image‘, זֶל.
- The Axe head is the ‘image of the son‘, the man of iron, the manchild.
- It is fallen. The 144,000 were fallen like all of us.
- It was borrowed, again another wordplay. ‘Borrowed’, שָׁאֽוּל, also can mean ‘sheol‘, the grave.
- The 144,000 were fallen and in the grave, having been dead in sin, but then the gospel came.
- The ‘tree‘ or ‘stick‘ (etz, עֵץ) is cut down and thrown into the water.
- Yeshua the tree of life came into this world to save us, including the 144,000.
- The 144,000 were fallen and were redeemed by Yeshua the tree <‘stick‘> of life and keep the torah and come alive. Even risen in resurrection life.
- The Axe’s job is to cut down the trees, to cut down the wicked, and build a house.
- God’s house, a house of the sons of the prophets, Zion.
The 144,000 shall be used to preach the word and bring in the harvest of souls and bring the nations into submission at Yeshua’s command. They shall rule with Him as we shall see. David was a man of war and he prophesied about the rod of iron, Yeshua and his 144,000 and what they shall do to the wicked nations and their wicked rulers that hate the Lord and plan to get rid of his kingdom.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (בֶט בַּרְזֶל); thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psalms 2:9
More on this later.
Cost of Discipleship
There is so much in the old testament scriptures that are about now and the immediate future. God is good, the best wine is coming now. Light shall shine in gross darkness. Even in a time of Judgement the Lord is faithful and true, He is gathering His ‘saints‘ (Chasdi, חֲסִידָי) together.
4 He shall call to the heavens from above,
and to the earth,
that he may judge his people.
5 Gather my saints <חֲסִידָי> together unto me;
those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice <זָֽבַח>.
Psalms 50:4-5
Notice that the Lord qualifies who his ‘saints‘ (chasdi, חֲסִידָי) are, they are those that have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice. What is the sacrifice that they bring? I think it is spiritual and is the fulfilment of the sacrificial system in Leviticus which is but a shadow of the spiritual sacrifice.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
So as a principle we can see that the Lord’s saints that are gathered have made a covenant by sacrifice. And that sacrifice is themselves. They have put into practice what Paul instructs us to do in Romans, they die to self. And that self denial can ultimately lead to death in resisting sin. This is strong meat indeed.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Hebrews 12:4
There is a cost involved in getting close to our Lord.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26-27
Thus discipleship is personally costly. How far do we dare to go? There are many believers in Yeshua. But Yeshua has an elect group that go further. They take up their cross and follow Him more than others it would appear from scripture. Like Joseph they are not chosen for nothing. It is my belief that they are tested like Joseph. They go deeper, they go lower in order to go higher.
The 144,000 disciples of Yeshua will soon be sealed.
The 144,000 disciples of Yeshua will soon be sealed.
Torah Sealed amongst His Disciples
By the time we get to Revelation 12:3-4 the 144,000 have been sealed by Yeshua as we have already read. Yeshua has sealed the Torah amongst His disciples. This is also prophesied in the old Testament scriptures…
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Isaiah 8:16
No doubt they are sealed because they have graduated in some way. The sealing is an end to their old life, they have run the race. But what have they been sealed for? The next few verses that follow what we have just read give us a clue. Firstly God is hiding His face from most of His people and then He shall appear with his children, his firstfruits of Zion, his 144,000, Revelation of John 14:4.
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isaiah 8:17
The Lord has sealed the Torah amongst His disciples, His 144,000. There were initially 12 disciples in Yeshua’s time, now there are 12 x 12,000 or 144,000. But He is still hiding His face from the house of Jacob, which is both houses of Israel (10 lost tribes) & Judah (Jews). That means that the rest of God’s people, believing Israel and Judah are not yet raised! This is thus just the firstfruits. So what is the role of the 144,000 Manchild company at the time of their raising up in glory? The next verse gives us a clue.
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18
‘Signs and wonders‘ are used to authenticate a ministry, for the establishing of a new order of things and to bring people out of darkness and out of nations. Signs and wonders were used by the Lord to authenticate the ministry of Moses, Yeshua and the disciples and to battle the forces of darkness.
And so we see that signs and wonders are related to the exodus at Passover and the raising up of the church at Pentecost. The Church is the congregation of Israel, symbolised by the tabernacle. Both the Exodus and the Tabernacle of the congregation are part of the same exodus story. The exodus began in Nissan and the Tabernacle was raised in Nissan a year later. So we can see that signs and wonders are about the deliverance of God’s people and bringing in the harvest of souls which Pentecost is all about, thus filling up God’s house, His body, His Church, His Tabernacle.
The 144,000 are thus about the 2nd exodus and gathering in the sheaves and protecting the flock.
The 2nd exodus gets underway before the main body of the church is raptured. The firstfruits are raptured and sealed first, and the 144,000 are firstfruits.
See the order in I Corinthians 15,
- Moses – Exodus 7:3, Deuteronomy 4:34, 6:22, 7:19, 26:8, 34:11,
Nehemiah 9:10, Psalms 78:43, 105:27, Jeremiah 32:20, 32:21 - Yeshua – Acts 2:22
- Disciples, now Apostles – Acts 2:19, 2:22, 2:43, 4:30, 5:12, 7:36, 14:3
- Paul the Apostle – Romans 15:19, II Corinthians 12:12
And so we see that signs and wonders are related to the exodus at Passover and the raising up of the church at Pentecost. The Church is the congregation of Israel, symbolised by the tabernacle. Both the Exodus and the Tabernacle of the congregation are part of the same exodus story. The exodus began in Nissan and the Tabernacle was raised in Nissan a year later. So we can see that signs and wonders are about the deliverance of God’s people and bringing in the harvest of souls which Pentecost is all about, thus filling up God’s house, His body, His Church, His Tabernacle.
The 144,000 are thus about the 2nd exodus and gathering in the sheaves and protecting the flock.
The 2nd exodus gets underway before the main body of the church is raptured. The firstfruits are raptured and sealed first, and the 144,000 are firstfruits.
See the order in I Corinthians 15,
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
I Corinthians 15:23
So there are actually 3 groups in the list above, not 2 as I will explain.
Between step 2 and 3 is the 2nd exodus. The 2nd exodus occurs between the sealing of the 144,000 and the rapture of the church at His coming.
So the role of the 144,000 after they are sealed is to raise up and protect Zion, the true church of the firstborn, before the main body of the church is also raised in glory. The 144,000 help initiate and expedite the 2nd Exodus as Moses and Aaron did years ago during the first exodus.
- Christ (first of firstfruits, yes)
- Firstfruits (but the 144,000 are also firstfruits, Revelation 14:4)
>>> 2nd Exodus begins… - The rest of His people that are Christ’s at his coming.
Between step 2 and 3 is the 2nd exodus. The 2nd exodus occurs between the sealing of the 144,000 and the rapture of the church at His coming.
So the role of the 144,000 after they are sealed is to raise up and protect Zion, the true church of the firstborn, before the main body of the church is also raised in glory. The 144,000 help initiate and expedite the 2nd Exodus as Moses and Aaron did years ago during the first exodus.
2 Esdras – Sealed at the Feast & Clothed in Immortal Garments
2 Esdras was included in the 1611 KJV bible. Whether you consider it ‘Canon’ or not it’s an amazing book. (I would also recommend reading 2 Baruch too!) 2 Esdras 10 has an amazing vision of a woman sad and weeping who then begins to shine and turn into a city!
This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,
2 Esdras 10:44
This reminds us of Revelation 12, with a woman giving birth to a man child. In Isaiah 66:7-8,10 this woman is identified as Zion, and 2 Esdras says that the woman is Zion (Sion) also.
Anyway 2 Esdras has some very interesting information concerning the sealing of the Lord’s people in chapter 2. The book of 2 Esdras talks about the number of those in Zion that have fulfilled the Law and are Sealed at the Feast and Clothed in Immortal Garments. Let’s read an excerpt here…
Anyway 2 Esdras has some very interesting information concerning the sealing of the Lord’s people in chapter 2. The book of 2 Esdras talks about the number of those in Zion that have fulfilled the Law and are Sealed at the Feast and Clothed in Immortal Garments. Let’s read an excerpt here…
29 My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see hell. 30 Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the Lord. 31 Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Almighty. 32 Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail. 33 I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb <Horeb>, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of the Lord. 34 And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.
35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore. 36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly. 37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.
38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be
sealed
in the
feast of the Lord;
39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord. 41 The number of thy children <Revelation gives us the exact number, 144,000>, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed. 42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number <try counting to 144,000>, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
43 And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly. 44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these? 45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms. 46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands? 47 So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord. 48 Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.
2 Esdras 2:29-48
This passage from 2 Esdras is important because it tells us extra information that is not found in the bible directly concerning the 144,000 in Revelation 7 or 14. We now know that the ‘144,000‘ are sealed during a feast of the Lord. The bible tells us that three times a year the males are to appear before the Lord, during the feasts (chagim) Unleavened Bread (Matzot), Pentecost (Shavuot) and Tabernacles (Sukkot). So it must be one of those feasts.
My current suspicion is that there is a 144,000 raised during Unleavened Bread which may line up with Revelation 7. And another 144,000 that is raised during Pentecost. These are the sons of Zion, the manchild that the woman Zion gives birth to in Revelation 12. And finally the last feast is where the rest of Zion (the woman or mother, the Bride herself) is raised during Tabernacles. Again, we shall soon find out. The 144,000 protect their mother and fight for the Kingdom. The mother escapes to the wilderness to await her rapture at Sukkot. Her escape from the Dragon is the 2nd Exodus.
The fact that this account tells us of the sealing of those that have ‘fulfilled the law of the Lord‘ aligns with the passage in Isaiah 8:16 that talks about sealing the law amongst my disciples which dovetails with the account of the 144,000 who are sealed. And we are told that they are raised in their immortal bodies which is implied by their glorious garments. There are other details like songs and palm branches that dovetail with the account of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14.
My current suspicion is that there is a 144,000 raised during Unleavened Bread which may line up with Revelation 7. And another 144,000 that is raised during Pentecost. These are the sons of Zion, the manchild that the woman Zion gives birth to in Revelation 12. And finally the last feast is where the rest of Zion (the woman or mother, the Bride herself) is raised during Tabernacles. Again, we shall soon find out. The 144,000 protect their mother and fight for the Kingdom. The mother escapes to the wilderness to await her rapture at Sukkot. Her escape from the Dragon is the 2nd Exodus.
The fact that this account tells us of the sealing of those that have ‘fulfilled the law of the Lord‘ aligns with the passage in Isaiah 8:16 that talks about sealing the law amongst my disciples which dovetails with the account of the 144,000 who are sealed. And we are told that they are raised in their immortal bodies which is implied by their glorious garments. There are other details like songs and palm branches that dovetail with the account of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14.
Suffering & Manifestation
We have already talked about suffering to some degree but I would like to leave a few scriptures to highlight the positive outcome of our sufferings in the flesh. If we suffer for doing good, it works in us glory.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:18-19
The original Greek word translated ‘manifestation‘ is ἀποκάλυψις, apokalupsis, which is the same word translated revelation or appearing.
G602 ἀποκάλυψις apokalupsis From G601; disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation. Total KJV occurrences: 18
There is the revelation (revealing or manifestation) of Yeshua and there is the revelation (revealing or manifestation) of the sons of God (144,000 first and then the rest of Zion).
So our sufferings are not to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us when the sons of God are manifested or revealed. The 144,000 are firstfruits of the resurrection. They are resurrected/raptured first and thus they will be manifested first. So it can be inferred that they have suffered and learnt their lessons first. They have kept the commandments of God. They have fulfilled the law, the Torah. Some may say that this is not possible because nobody can keep the commandments completely. But they obeyed God in a way that He is pleased enough in them to raise them up as firstfruits. The Law is established by the just that walk by faith.
So our sufferings are not to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us when the sons of God are manifested or revealed. The 144,000 are firstfruits of the resurrection. They are resurrected/raptured first and thus they will be manifested first. So it can be inferred that they have suffered and learnt their lessons first. They have kept the commandments of God. They have fulfilled the law, the Torah. Some may say that this is not possible because nobody can keep the commandments completely. But they obeyed God in a way that He is pleased enough in them to raise them up as firstfruits. The Law is established by the just that walk by faith.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 3:31
Part of Torah obedience is being true to the Messiah, Yeshua, the very one that the Law is a school master to bring us to, Galatians 3:24-25. And suffering is involved in following Him. And suffering is involved in preaching the gospel and reaching the lost. Satan doesn’t like that. He fights back. Spiritual battle is costly.
The book of Hebrews tells us of Jewish people who were tortured in the period of time of the Greek invasions of Israel in the times between the old and new testament. We are told that they chose martyrdom rather than deliverance so that they would ‘obtain a better resurrection‘. There are rewards for obedience. And there will be rewards given at their resurrection.
The book of Hebrews tells us of Jewish people who were tortured in the period of time of the Greek invasions of Israel in the times between the old and new testament. We are told that they chose martyrdom rather than deliverance so that they would ‘obtain a better resurrection‘. There are rewards for obedience. And there will be rewards given at their resurrection.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Hebrews 11:35
The Apostle Paul suffered greatly for the gospel’s sake. But he hoped for a better resurrection too.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead
Philippians 3:8-11
We will all be resurrected so Paul’s reference to the resurrection of the dead after mentioning his suffering the loss of all things hints at his hope of a resurrection that must be a better resurrection. Why hope for something that all believers are going to get anyway? What Paul was after was a better resurrection, not a normal resurrection for a believer.
Paul reiterates these thoughts and says that if we are dead with him we shall live with him. Our suffering will lead to reigning with Him. So I suspect this same principle holds true for the 144,000 also.
Paul reiterates these thoughts and says that if we are dead with him we shall live with him. Our suffering will lead to reigning with Him. So I suspect this same principle holds true for the 144,000 also.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
II Timothy 2:10-12
The Apostle Peter also states that trials of faith lead to glory!
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Peter 1:6-8
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4:12-14
So I suspect that those that are chosen to be part of the 144,000 have been found faithful, obedient to the covenant and Torah, they have overcome their fiery trials and suffering to obtain the glory of reigning with Messiah Yeshua as His firstfruits of the resurrection/rapture.
You could say, “no guts, no glory“. But it’s not about how tough we are in the flesh, it’s really about how far we want to go in knowing the Lord; How much we seek His face; How much we sacrifice in order to obtain Messiah. He brings us through all our trials by his power, not our own. We know Him more intimately than others because we draw closer to Him and seek Him more fervently and obey Him more fully and love Him more ardently and suffer more and sacrifice more to obtain that closeness and clinging faith no matter what.
You could say, “no guts, no glory“. But it’s not about how tough we are in the flesh, it’s really about how far we want to go in knowing the Lord; How much we seek His face; How much we sacrifice in order to obtain Messiah. He brings us through all our trials by his power, not our own. We know Him more intimately than others because we draw closer to Him and seek Him more fervently and obey Him more fully and love Him more ardently and suffer more and sacrifice more to obtain that closeness and clinging faith no matter what.
The Iron that overcomes the enemy
Let us now meditate on some uplifitng thoughts. Trials don’t last forever. The Lord is the deliverer from all our trials.
Passover is all about the deliverance of God’s people. Peter was in prison during the Passover and Unleavened Bread period. But prayer was given without ceasing by the church and low and behold the angels of God delivered Him. Even an iron gate could not hold Him back. This is not only history it is also symbolic for the future and a future deliverance. The 2nd Exodus is coming.
Passover is all about the deliverance of God’s people. Peter was in prison during the Passover and Unleavened Bread period. But prayer was given without ceasing by the church and low and behold the angels of God delivered Him. Even an iron gate could not hold Him back. This is not only history it is also symbolic for the future and a future deliverance. The 2nd Exodus is coming.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:10
The gospel is advancing in the book of Acts. There is increasingly severe persecution along with increasing fruitfulness in the ministry. Souls are being saved. But the spiritual authorities are fighting back. Yet the church is not idle, they are praying fervently. The Lord answered their fervent prayers and sent his Angel to deliver Peter during Unleavened Bread.
Is this a picture of the rescue and raising of the 144,000 during the same Chag to appear before the Lord in the Heavenly Mt Zion?
Leading up to the 2nd exodus there will be a great deal of persecution. In the book of Acts there was a massive move of God’s Spirit that lead to salvation and repentance. The religious leaders of the day instigated persecution. The political leaders often felt threatened also. The same upheaval should be expected during the events leading up to the 2nd exodus. These events are the persecutions Yeshua spoke of in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
Is this a picture of the rescue and raising of the 144,000 during the same Chag to appear before the Lord in the Heavenly Mt Zion?
Leading up to the 2nd exodus there will be a great deal of persecution. In the book of Acts there was a massive move of God’s Spirit that lead to salvation and repentance. The religious leaders of the day instigated persecution. The political leaders often felt threatened also. The same upheaval should be expected during the events leading up to the 2nd exodus. These events are the persecutions Yeshua spoke of in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
The manchild company shall rule with a rod of iron according to Revelation 12:5. These are the overcomers of Thyatira, the fourth church of the seven churches of Revelation. Thyatira is the central church and so the manchild is birthed from the centre of the woman, Zion, the church of the firstborn.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 2:26-27
We need to realise afresh that the Kingdom of God is coming. There will come a time when Lambs become Lions, and that transformation occurred for our Lord 3 days after His death as the Passover Lamb. The true believing remnant Church is Zion and Zion shall triumph in the end against all the Lord’s enemies. The 144,000 are the first of her suffering seed to be sealed and raised before the 2nd exodus. Later all of Zion shall likewise triumph after the 2nd exodus begins.
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Micah 4:13
Psalm 2 also mentions the one who rules with a rod of iron. This is both Yeshua and the overcomers of Thyatira beneath him, the man child. The kings and rulers of the world are enraged with the Lord יהוה, but it doesn’t matter, the Lord is coming. All they can do is rage against the Lord’s people. But the Lord has his chosen. Yeshua is in the heavenly Mt Zion in Psalm 2. And so are His 144,000 according to Revelation 14:1, who are his sons who will assist Him in breaking the grip of the wicked of the nations and their leaders.
Psalms 2:1-12 | 1 Why do the heathen rage, |
Conclusion
At the darkest of days the Lord rescued his people Israel and delivered them from Pharaoh and the iron furnace of Egypt. On Passover the Lamb was slain and Yeshua died. It was not a hopeless death, but His blood paid for our redemption and purchased our souls. His blood paid the price for the 2nd Exodus and our eternal future with Him. Let us lift up our hearts and fix our gaze upon the Lamb of God this Passover. The King is coming and the King has His men. And He has His women also. The Holy Spirit is already moving. Souls will be saved. God is dividing sheep from goats. There is a harvest already ramping up as our nations descend into chaos. It is not about our sinking nations anymore, it is about His Kingdom. The Lord has chosen His servants, His disciples, those who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice. Lambs will be Lions one day soon. In the mean time let us be about His Kingdom and hope in Him.
The world is ramping up for war. I thought it would have already come by now. But it will come soon enough, even as a flood. I believe the raising up and rapture of the 144,000 is very near as are the birthpangs and the 2nd exodus. The Lord has His men of Steel. The iron that fell be shall be raised up.
Over the last year or so I have written many articles concerning the 144,000. I think there is an expectancy everywhere of their rapture and commissioning coming soon. I feel it’s at the door. In the mean time let’s find out what the Lord wants in our own lives. Don’t focus on the collapse of our nations but on the coming Kingdom and what your King, Yeshua wants. Be careful what you focus on, it is not a time to be despondent. Yes the bad guys are doing bad things but the Lord is very much on the move. Both Darkness and Light are dividing and ramping up in intensity. Let’s lift up our heads our redemption is drawing nearer. Yeshua is coming soon.
Godbless, Shalom & Chag Sameach (a few days early!)
in Yeshua HaMashiach
Rory
The world is ramping up for war. I thought it would have already come by now. But it will come soon enough, even as a flood. I believe the raising up and rapture of the 144,000 is very near as are the birthpangs and the 2nd exodus. The Lord has His men of Steel. The iron that fell be shall be raised up.
Over the last year or so I have written many articles concerning the 144,000. I think there is an expectancy everywhere of their rapture and commissioning coming soon. I feel it’s at the door. In the mean time let’s find out what the Lord wants in our own lives. Don’t focus on the collapse of our nations but on the coming Kingdom and what your King, Yeshua wants. Be careful what you focus on, it is not a time to be despondent. Yes the bad guys are doing bad things but the Lord is very much on the move. Both Darkness and Light are dividing and ramping up in intensity. Let’s lift up our heads our redemption is drawing nearer. Yeshua is coming soon.
Godbless, Shalom & Chag Sameach (a few days early!)
in Yeshua HaMashiach
Rory
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