Expert: Brian Thompson - 12/19/2008

Question
Is the 144,000 of Revelation a literial number? is there only one group of people mentioned in chapter 7? when John said, "great tribulation", is this the same as Paul taught in Acts 14:22? If 144,000is a literial number does this prove that Isreal will go in the rapture,since this is before the 1st trumpet blast, which Paul taught would signify the rapture of the church?

Answer
Hello Henry

I surprised you have asked me another question since you rate me so poorly.

Your question raises many issues and therefore is far too wide a question for me to provide a definitive answer that you might accept.
Firstly; you must look at this in the context of whether you consider all of the Book of Revelation to be literal or figurative. You cannot take an isolated part and say this is literal and take other parts to be figurative.
Secondly you only defined one passage  in which reference to 144,000 is made. There is a question of whether there is more than one group.
Next you have to consider what the specific use of numbers here might signify. 12 is the number of perfect governance and occurs frequently in the bible in this context. 12 tribes, 12 apostles, 12 spies. 12,000 is a number used in reference to New Jerusalem. 144,000 could therefore have figurative meaning in relation to the way New Jerusalem is governed
You then have to consider whether the 144000 were chosen in the first century, a time when there were many Jewish believers or whether it refers specifically to the time of the end when Jesus returns and it refers to messianic Jews or whether it refers to believers generally and represents some sort of limitation in relation to the number of Israelites saved.
We have two classes of people mentioned in the rapture the dead and the living it is therefore not necessary that the Jewish believers raptured be living but they might have equal opportunity if they believe in Christ. I do not believe that the 144,000 represents a limitation on the number of believers saved throughout history
Acts 14.22 refers to our Christian walk which is not going to be without trials