RAPTURE AT THE SECOND COMING #8: “JEWISH BELIEVERS, THE CHURCH, & THE TRIBULATION, Part 1”
We have already seen that Scriptures describing the Rapture of the Church teach EXPLICITLY that this event takes place at the Second Coming of Christ (see posts 2,3,4, & 5). Since there are no Scripture passages that explicitly teach a pre-Trib Rapture (I will sometimes abbreviate as PTR), those who espouse that position must depend on speculation or inferences, reading into a passage the presupposition of a PTR when there is no explicit basis to do so. We saw an example of this in post #7, which describes how Rev 3:10 is interpreted to prove PTR when Scripture doesn’t explicit warrant it. In our study today, we will see another inference.
In this post, we will look at Revelation 7:1-17. (Please read the entire passage in your Bible.) You will see that it describes: 1) the 144,000 servants of God who are sealed to protect them from God’s wrath during the Tribulation period; and 2) the countless multitudes of Jesus-followers from every tribe and nation who experience the Tribulation period. The 144,000 servants of God are described as “SEALED FROM EVERY TRIBE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL” (12,000 from each tribe times 12 tribes equals 144,000).
There is much disagreement as to how we should interpret the 144,000. The PTR position interprets it “literally” – that the 144,000 are Jewish believers sealed from God’s wrath, and called to evangelize the nations during the Tribulation period. According to PTR, the Church was raptured prior to this. Many (probably most evangelical scholars) believe that the 144,000 are symbolic for the whole Church, which will be on the earth as witnesses during the Tribulation period. The correct interpretation is CRUCIAL to the PTR position, because, if it cannot be proven that that the 144,000 are literal Israel, and if in fact the 144,000 represent the Church, then the entire PTR argument collapses.
Here are some very significant reasons why I believe that the 144,000 sealed servants of God represent the Church, not literal Israel:
1. The Book of Revelation is an example of Holy Spirit-inspired “apocalyptic” (Greek ‘apokalypsis,’ meaning ‘revelation’) prophetic literature, which commonly uses visions and dramatic symbols to convey God’s revelations. Other Biblical apocalyptic writings include parts of Daniel (chapters 7-12), Joel, and Zechariah. It’s clear that not all of Revelation is meant to be taken literally. Examples include descriptions of Jesus in chapter 1 where He held seven stars (symbols for angels or messengers) and stands among lampstands (symbols for churches); He has a double-edged sword coming out of His mouth, symbolizing that He speaks the Word of God. There are many symbols throughout Revelation, with symbolic names (Babylon and Sodom, for example), and beasts, one with ten horns and seven heads. There is ample precedent in Revelation to believe that the 144,000 servants of God symbolize the Church rather than literal Israel.
2. In Revelation 5:5-6, the Apostle John is weeping because no one has been found worthy to open the seals on the scroll of God. He HEARS an elder say, “Weep no more; BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH” has conquered and can open the scroll. When he looks for the Lion, he says “I SAW A LAMB standing, as though it had been slain.” He HEARS one thing; he SEES another. In Revelation 7:4-8, when he is told about the servants of God who will be sealed by God on their foreheads, in 7:4 he writes, “I HEARD THE NUMBER OF THE SEALED, 144,000, SEALED FROM EVERY TRIBE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL,” but when he looks for the 144,000 what he sees is different: “After this I LOOKED, and BEHOLD, A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD NUMBER, FROM EVERY NATION, FROM ALL TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes.” Again, in Rev 5, he HEARD “Lion”, but he SAW “Lamb.” In Rev 7, he HEARD “144,000 from the tribes of Israel,” but he SAW a vast multitude of God’s people from every nation. That is compelling to me.
3. There is a problem when we interpret the 144,000 literally as 12,000 from “EVERY TRIBE of the sons of Israel” rather than as a symbol for the Church. The problem is this: the twelve tribes listed aren’t literally the twelve tribes. The tribe of Dan is missing; and Joseph is listed along with his son Manasseh. Attempts to explain why these are still literally the twelve tribes are speculative rather than explicit. Couple that with the fact that the numbers 12 and 12,000 and 144 are used elsewhere in Revelation. For example, in Rev 21:9-22 the width, length, and height of the new Jerusalem, symbol for the Church, prepared as a Bride for Christ, are each 12,000 “stadia” (approximately 1,380 miles), and the thickness of the wall around the city is 144 “cubits.” The names of the gates of the city are the 12 tribes of Israel, and the written on the foundations of the walls are the names of the 12 apostles of Christ. Every number used is either 12 or a multiple of 12. It’s very hard to believe that 12 and 12,000 and 144,000 are not used symbolically here, as well as elsewhere in Revelation.
4. Another compelling reason that I believe the 144,00 are symbolic of the Church is this: God does not generally ever go backwards in His purposes and revelations. He went to a great deal of trouble to unite the Gentiles and Jews into one body, the Church. In Ephesians 2:11-22, the Apostle Paul describes what Jesus has done among the Gentiles and Jews who have come to Christ. Paul writes in 2:14-16 that Jesus, “… HAS MADE US BOTH ONE and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility… THAT HE MIGHT CREATE IN HIMSELF ONE NEW MAN IN PLACE OF THE TWO, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God IN ONE BODY through the cross…”. In Ephesians 3:3-11, Paul describes the MYSTERY OF CHRIST that had been hidden for centuries, but that “has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. THIS MYSTERY,” he continues, “IS THAT THE GENTILES ARE FELLOW HEIRS, MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY, AND PARTAKERS OF THE PROMISE IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH THE GOSPEL” (3:4-6).
So important is the revelation of Gentiles and Jews becoming one body in Christ in place of two separate bodies, that Paul exclaims in 3:9-10 that this mystery (Jews and Gentiles as joint heirs in Christ) is not only a revelation of His Good News to the world. God intends “THAT THROUGH THE CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD MIGHT NOW BE MADE KNOWN TO THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” Amazing!!! The Church (comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, reconciled and united as one body in Christ) is designed to be ‘Exhibit A’ of God’s power and glory and wisdom not only on earth, but in the heavenly (spiritual) realm as well. I don’t know about you, but after seeing all God has done to unite His Jewish people and the Gentiles as one Body in Christ, I can’t imagine that He would plan to divide them into two groups again for the Tribulation period. Wouldn’t that be going backwards?
Well, I have several more VERY IMPORTANT POINTS to make about this particular subject, but I will hold up here for now and share more in my next post. I do want to clarify one thing: I am NOT among those who see no place or role for Israel in God’s heart and plan. I know that some who emphasize the one Body of Christ in place of two peoples (Jews and Gentiles) sometimes have little if any regard for Israel. The Apostle Paul felt differently about that (Romans 9-11), and so do I. However, I just don’t believe that God will separate what has taken Him many centuries to unite in His Son, Jesus the Messiah.
When I started out, I thought this series would include three or four posts. Little did I know! If you’re feeling overwhelmed with it all, please hang in there – I’m almost finished!! I think after my next post, I will need to write only one more, to tie it all together and to express why I believe this study has more relevance than at any previous time in my life. God bless you! 
My next post will be entitled, “RAPTURE AT THE SECOND COMING #9: “JEWISH BELIEVERS, THE CHURCH, & THE TRIBULATION, Part 2.” (Expect it no later than Monday)