144,000

Call to Worship

Psalms 23

Opening Hymn

598

Rev. 14:1 “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.

14:2 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:

14:3 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.”

14:4 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 firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

There has been questions of late the 144,00.After the lesson, a few answers may be answered.Such as,1) Who they are?2) Is it possible to be without sin,3) Is it a literal number, or a symbolic number, and a few others.

Let’s pray

It is interesting that, before a new prophetic scene is shown in Revelation,

we are given a view of the time

when all the faithful will be in heaven,

and how happy they will be,

singing and shouting praises to Jesus as they realize their trials are over,

and they have won the victory,

through the Faith of Jesus,

& the power of the blood of the Lamb.

We see a special group, the 144,000.

They are the faithful remnant, who will stand through the times of trouble,

and live to see Jesus come in the clouds,

and go home with Him without ever dying.

Besides the 144,000, there will be many more people who will be raised from the dead, and go home to heaven also.

They are referred to as“The Great Multitude” It tells us that they, the 144,000, will ‘sing a new song’.

In prophecy, a ‘song’ means,that they have had a special

experience. That’s why nobody else can

learn this ‘new song’, because nobody else has had

an experience quite like “this group”.

They have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation;

they have endured the distress of the time of Jacob’s trouble;

What was Jacobs' trouble? He stole the birthrights of his brother for a bowl of beans....

They, the 144,000, have lived through the time when Jesus was no longer pleading for sinners in the heavenly sanctuary, and have seen the terrible Seven last plagues fall on the earth.

They have seen famines, wars, and sickness hit the earth like never before.

They have seen what happens to men when the Holy Spirit leaves them forever,

and they are left completely controlled by Satan,

when men and women will look and act like demons. EW pg.36

But this group of living, faithful ones,

will have Jesus in their hearts.

They will act, and think like Jesus.

They will have the Holy Spirit, and holy angels with them, to protect them,

and strengthen them, through this time of trouble.

But the wicked will have nothing.

They refused all efforts, by God, to save them,

So they are left to be ruled by their master, Satan, whom they have chosen to follow.

Why do these things have to happen?

It is so that the whole universe will see what sin really is,

and what it’s results are.

When this scene is played out,

Never again will anyone think that God’s Law should be thrown away.

There are some people who have stopped hearing the truth,

because the time of trouble, and things like that, make them feel afraid, and they did not, and don’t

want to, think about it.

But God’s true people will have all the help and protection they will need at this time.

They come into such a close relationship with God,

that His Holy Spirit is their teacher, and their guide.

It says: they are

‘not defiled with women’.

In prophecy, a ‘woman’, is referred to as,

“the church”, but this says “women”, plural.

In our day we are seeing churches from all over the world,

gathering together, claiming to worship God,

but really seeking to force people to worship man, and obey traditions, councils, man’s decrees, priests and pastors,

instead of God’s Word.

We have the World Council of Churches, and other groups,

that try and get everyone to follow one set of ideas,

and these ideas actually come from the Roman church,

and they got them from paganism. NIV Bible

They are not God’s truths, and to obey them, we will disobey God.

The true and faithful Christian,

will have to leave all church tradition, and the rules of men,

and stand faithful only to Jesus and His Holy Word.

They will say to these churches

that try and force people to obey man’s laws,

“Show us from the Bible where we are wrong, and we will obey the Bible.”

They will say like Peter, “We must obey God rather than man.” Acts 5:29

In the old testament it says in Jer. 17:7

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

They, the 144,000,

“follow the Lamb, wherever He goes”.

This means,

that no matter what troubles result from obeying God’s Word,

and keeping His holy commandments, and statues,

this group of people, obey God faithfully.

It is in “His strength”, that they have gotten the

victory over all their sins, and now, in “His strength”, they stay faithful to the end.By beholding, they became

changed.2 Cor. 3:18 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.

’In their mouth was found no guile’;

‘guile’ means to lie, or be dishonest.

It means that these people do not tell anything, but the truth.

They are not claiming to be good, when they really are doing wrong.

They are not hypocrites.

The true people of God, will have the character of Jesus, and act just like He did.

They will be ‘without fault’.

Jesus needs people who choose to really live like He did;

in total obedience to God’s Law.

So with that previewLet us pray as

we start our study for the

day.

Steven HaskellAFTER the conflict and the chaos of the

great controversy, the controversy in which those that are

opposed to those that formed the image of that beast,

and caused all men to worship that beast,

or the image of that beast,John had his attention called to scenes

where the conflict was all ended.

Jesus,

whom Lucifer had held before the eyes of the world, as a cruel dictator

stands as the Lamb of God, on Mount Zion.

He is no longer the slain Lamb once seen before the throne,

but the King in His beauty, by the power of truth.

Jesus, who might have uttered a single word, and the enemy would have been blotted out of existence,

chose rather to be exalted, through suffering.

The Lamb, Jesus, stood on Mount Zion, where the city of the living God stands.

So where is the city of the living God?

David says it like this:

Psalms 48: 1-2

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of

the north, the city of the great King.

Jesus says in Matt. 5:34-35

5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all;

neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, He was parted from them,and carried up into heaven.

To the city of the Living God.

New Jerusalem,

Spiritual Jerusalem

In 1844, the door into the Most Holy place, was opened,

and Christ, and the Father, then took up the cases of those whose names appeared in the Book of Life.

While Christ is still in that apartment,

the closing events of chapter thirteen are taking place.

Rev 13:11-18

Rev 13:17 says:

.... no man might buy or sell, save he that has the mark,

or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

also,

the sealing,

as described in the 7th chapter of Revelation,

is taking place

Revelation 7:1-4 iswhere the sealing

of God people takes place

while the beast, and his image,

the ruling powers of earth,

are striving to gain the recognition of all.

The interest of heaven centers in those few who receive the mark of the great Jehovah.

In fact,

this little company, numbering 144,000

is the most interesting class of people brought to view in the Word of God.

John, in the opening verse of

chapter 14, verse 1, sees them as they gather

about the Saviour on Mount Zion.

God's Word traces their history very thoroughly, carefully, and in great detail.

In the year 1848, the four angels of the 7th chapter of Revelation,

took their stand upon the four corners of the earth,

to hold the winds of strife until the servants of God were sealed.

"And there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand.“ Rev. 7:4

Between 1798, and the close of time, the wound of the beast is fully healed,

and he renews his work of oppression,

through the powers of the earth.

In America, the image to the beast is formed,

and is given life between 1798, and the close of time,

and it exerciseth all the power of the first beast before it.

WHO WAS/IS THAT POWER?

The power that crucified Christ!

The Roman Empire.

As we see today,

all road lead to Rome.

When John Paul the Great, died, who went to his funeral?

All the leaders of the world.In a news article about the funeral, you can read:As Pope John Paul II is revered by high officials

from around the world, including Presidents Bush, Bush Senior, and Clinton, we can see that the Zoroastrian Tradition was observed to the very letter.

Another:Note that President Bush, Laura, Bush Senior,

are all seated at the rail, while Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Rice are seated away from it. Even though Rice's clothing is not visible, you can see that all the rest of the party is dressed in black.

Again:WHO WAS/IS THAT POWER?

The power that crucified Christ!

The Roman Empire.

Its special work of oppression,

is against those who have received the seal of God in the forehead.

America, and Brittan,

controls the world,

and if it was not that the winds of strife are restrained by the four mighty angels,

time would end before the sealing work is accomplished.

But among all nations, and unto every tribe and language,

the sealing angel makes his way.

The interest of all heaven, is centered in this angel’s work.

When one compares the last race on earth with man,

the work of redemption seems more wonderful than ever.

From degraded, degenerate humanity,

reeking with disease and crime;

God chooses the last little company who,

because of the soul communion which they have had with him,

will have characters which admit them into the closest relationship with their Maker.

Many acknowledge God in their minds,

and many worship Him outwardly;

only a few pass through Gethsemane with the Christ;

but those who do know the realities of spiritual life,

receive the name of the Father in their foreheads.

These are the one hundred and forty four thousand,

the chosen company,

who reveal to the fullest extent,

the depths of redeeming love.

John saw this chosen company,

surrounding the Saviour on the Mount of God,

where Satan once stood,

and where he attempted to raise a throne for himself.

The one hundred and forty-four thousand

will occupy that very place once filled by Lucifer and his angels.

These men were redeemed from the earth, from among men,

the first fruits unto God, and the Lamb.

Why does it say men?You see, in the sanctuary, in

Heaven, and the one that was on the earth in the days of old,

the men did, and does, the officiating in the sanctuary.

They men have been snatched as brands from the burning fire.

"They were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.“ Rev 14:4

They will be the pillars of our faith as Paul was in the days of old.

Let hear what my favorite author has to say about Paul.

The work of the apostle Paul, was a wonderful work.

The Holy Spirit wrought on his mind, showing him that the gifts of God come straight from God to all who seek him with a whole heart,

the circumcised and the uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, and free.

Paul held to his inspired truth, and taught it to others, opposed as he was by the apostles, who ought to have upheld him.

{RH, May 25, 1897 par. 4}

The prophet Isaiah, in describing the condition of the churches in the days when the sealing work is in progress, says:

"In that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,

We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel:

only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." Isa. 4:1

The church is represented by a woman;

and the relation of Christ to the true church,

as the relation of the husband to his wife.

The husband gives his name to the wife, and supplies her food and clothing, raiment;

but the apostate churches, while claiming the name of Christ,

(Christian),

eat their own bread, and wear their own apparel,

look down on the instruction Christ has given concerning the food, and garment, of His bride.

But the redeemed will be as virgins, undefiled,

and Christ will present them to the Father,

as chaste virgins.

During the last days, the earth will be drunk with the wine of fornication offered by Babylon,

and her daughters, the world and the false churches,

and the sealing angel places the name of the Father on the foreheads,

of those who turn from the world, and all it offers.

In one of the most beautiful and comforting passages of Isaiah's prophecy, reference is made to the pillar of cloud and of fire, to represent God's care for His people in the great final struggle with the powers of evil:

Isa. 4:5,6 says:

And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies,

a cloud and smoke by day,

and the shining of a flaming fire by night:

for upon all the glory, shall be a defense.

4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

In the secret place of His tabernacle,

He will hide them there till the rage of Satan,

passes over.

In their mouth was found no guile;

for the soul temple had been so thoroughly cleansed before leaving the earth,

that the human mouth became a channel for the words of God.

When the mind of Christ takes full possession of a man,

he thinks, speaks, and acts as Christ Himself would act.

Sinful humans, may have such a close and constant communion with God that,

they have the assurance that they walk with Him,

just as Enoch did.

This was the life Christ had while on earth,

and He lived to show that the same is also possible in our world today.

Paul says to the Saints in Philippi, via a letter written to them:

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work in you,

will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

This will be the mind of those who are sealed.

That is why Paul says in Phil. 2:5

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

They, the 144,00, are without fault;

because Christ's righteousness covers them as a garment.

Walking spotless in the midst of self-righteousness, like the Pharisee’s,

and evil, when people act like the devil himself,

these, the 144,000,

have been clothed with the heavenly garments.

No wonder that they can sing a song in which no other beings can unite!

They are given a place next to Christ;

they alone,

of the redeemed,

can enter the temple.

Why?

They will be the pillars for God.

The new name,

which each one receives,

is there graven on a living tablet of stone,

and they become pillars in that temple of life;

living stones, of a spiritual house.

1 Peter 1:25; 2:1-51:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And

this is the word which, by the gospel, is preached unto you.

2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2:3 If so, be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

In that heavenly service, they are called pillars, as James, Cephas and John, was by their faithfulness, were termed pillars in the earthly church;

Gal. 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship;

As for them,

they had no doubts.

They believed,

and spoke of,

the thing the saw.

Again,

Walking spotless in the midst of self-righteousness,

like the Pharisee’s, and evil’s of the day,

these, the 144,000, have been clothed with the heavenly garments,

and when the Lamb goes from place to place,

this company, the 144,00, follow Him as a trophy of grace.

Only they can enter the Temple of Heaven.

They are one with Him, as He is one with the Father;

and being one,

their souls are inseparably knitted together.

No power can separate them;

for experience has made them what they are;

and throughout eternity, they minister to God,

showing forth, forever, the depths of redeeming love.

No wonder that they can sing a song that no angel can sing

It is said that the Angel’s stop singing, and listen to that song.

Listening, John heard music from the Holy Mount;

for this company are clothed in white, and wear crowns of gold, and have harps in their hands.

Music, such as mortal ear never heard, comes from those harps, swept by the hands of the redeemed.

Music is the voice of inspiration,

the melody of a soul,

when it communes with the great Spirit of life.

Those who have known Jesus best,

will bring forth the clearest notes from the instruments,

and each chord will tell the history of their lives.

Their voices blend with these melody.

In talking,

the voices of Christ, and His company,

sound as the voice of many waters.

The melody is beyond description.

Entering the temple, the one hundred and forty-four thousand,

sing a new song before the throne,

and before the four beasts, and before the four and twenty elders.

Song, with the redeemed, is not only the repetition of

words, but the pouring forth of the

inmost soul. Only he who knows of soul-

development, can tune his voice to the

melody of heaven.

So, all the choirs which make heaven's arches ring,

none can compare with the music which issues from this little company.

No other voice can join their song.

Heaven is silent as they lift their voices, the 144,000,

and tell the story of their redemption.

Their song is called,

“The song of Moses, and the Lamb”.

Moses, the servant of God, who gazed into the land of promise from the height of Pisgah,

and then lay down to sleep on the very borders of the inheritance,

is the type of those who, in the closing message, look into eternity, but lie down in the grave, died in the Lord,until the appearing of their Lord.

Christ Himself came to earth,

and claimed the body of Moses.

He did not wait until all came from their graves.

So those who have fallen asleep,

having the seal of God,

will have a special resurrection,

and will be called forth to hear the covenant of peace,

and to behold their Lord as He comes in the clouds of heaven.

These join their voices with those who tell their life story of Christ the Lamb,

the 144,00,a story of sacrifice and love. "Great and marvelous are Thy works,

Lord God Almighty,"and the response comes, "Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King

of saints." Rev. 15:3This is a song of "victory over the beast,

and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name."

Standing on the crystal sea,

dazzling with the glory of God,

they sing the songs of soul union with God.

In closing, let’s take a quick look at what is said about Enoch.

There was danger that men would yield to discouragement, because of the fearful results of Adam's sin. Many were ready to exclaim,

"What profit is it that we have feared the Lord and have kept His ordinances, since a heavy curse is resting upon the race, and death is the portion of us all?"

But the instructions which God gave to Adam,

and which were repeated by Seth,

and illustrated by Enoch,

swept away the gloom and darkness,

and gave hope to man, that,

as through Adam came death,

so through the promised Redeemer,

would come life and immortality.

Satan was urging upon men the belief that,

1) there was no reward for the righteous,

2) and that there was no punishment for the wicked,

3) and that it was impossible for men to obey the divine statutes.

But in the case of Enoch, God says of Himself:

"that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6.

God shows what He will do for those who keep His commandments.

Men were taught that it is possible to obey the law of God;

that even while living in the midst of the sinful and corrupt, they were able,

by the grace of God,

to resist temptation, and become pure and holy.

They saw in his example,

the blessedness of such a life;

and his translation was evidence of the truth of his prophecy concerning the hereafter,

with its award of joy, glory, and immortal life to the obedient,

and of condemnation, woe, and death to the transgressor.

By faith Enoch "was translated that he should not see death; . . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Hebrews 11:5.

In the midst of a world doomed for destruction,

Enoch lived a life of such close communion with God,

that he was not permitted to fall under the power of death.

The godly character of this prophet,

represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be "redeemed from the earth" (Revelation 14:3) at the time of Christ's second advent.

Then, as in the world before the Flood, iniquity will prevail. Following the promptings of

their corrupt hearts, and the teachings of a deceptive

philosophy, men will rebel against the

authority of Heaven.

But like Enoch, God's people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to His will, until they shall reflect the likeness of Christ.

Like Enoch, they will warn the world of the Lord's second coming and of the judgments to be visited upon transgression,

and by their holy conversation and example they will condemn the sins of the ungodly.

As Enoch was translated to heaven before the destruction of the world by water,

so the living righteous will be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire.

That is why it is said that we should strive to be amongst the 144,000

Those, whom the Lamb shall lead by the

fountains of living waters, and from whose eyes, He shall

wipe away all tears, will be those now receiving the

knowledge and understanding revealed in the Bible, the Word of God.

We are to copy no human being.

There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion.

We are to look to

Christ Jesus,

who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness.

He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the pattern man.

His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain.

His character is our model. Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities

and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding, we may be

changed into His likeness.

We may behold Christ to a good purpose.

We may safely look to Him; for He is all-wise. As we look to Him, and think of Him, He will be formed within, the hope of glory. Let us strive, with all the power that God

has given us, to be among the hundred and forty-four

thousand (RH March 9, 1905). {7BC 970.10}

Amen

Closing Hymn

604

We Know Not The Hour

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