Goat & Ram of Daniel 8
The vision saw by Daniel
under the reign of king
Belshazzar.
Living Water
Jesus Christ is the Life giving
Living Water that is available
for all who thirst for
righteousness.
144,000
Study of the 144,000
by Doug Batchelor
Who are the 144,000

Several branches of the armed services have an elite team of
commandos that are carefully trained in guerrilla warfare and
other special combat conditions. To qualify for one of these
units, a person must pass through an incredibly grueling
process of physical and mental training. Only those who
demonstrate unflinching self control and perfect obedience are
chosen. These special-forces commandos are assigned difficult
and dangerous missions, such as rapidly attacking enemy
troops or raiding behind enemy lines. Their job is to lead the
way for the main troops. Because of their thorough training, a
small team of commandos is often able to achieve great
victories. During the Gulf War, a team of about a dozen Navy
Seals were able to create a diversion on the beaches of Kuwait
that fooled the entire Iraqi army into thinking that the U.S. attack
was coming from the sea.


The 12 apostles were a type of special-forces unit during the
time of Jesus' first coming. After three and one-half years of
intensive personal training with Jesus, God was able to use
them to achieve great victories. They were able to penetrate
Satan's dominion and spearhead a great revival.
The book of Revelation tells us of another special-forces unit
that will do a mighty work in the last days. Known as the
144,000, they have a critical mission to prepare the world for
Jesus' second coming. They enjoy a special relationship with
the Lamb, sing a special song, and are sealed with a special
name. Who is this holy army? To find out, let's first look at the
two main passages that describe this grand assembly.
Who Are They?
Revelation 7:1-4 states: "After these things I saw four angels
standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds
of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on
the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending
from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried
with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the
sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in
their foreheads. 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."
Then the Scripture lists 12,000 from each of the following 12
tribes: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh,
Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
The next main passage that describes the 144,000 is Revelation
14:1-5: "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion
[Mount Zion], and with him an hundred forty and four thousand,
having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 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: 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. 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. And in their mouth was found no
guile [deceit]: for they are without fault before the throne of
God."

I should mention that when we explore these things, we venture
on holy ground. I share the following study with confidence, but
I also realize and respect that others may have a different
interpretation.
The Twelve Tribes
Perhaps one of the first things we should ask is whether or not
the 144,000 are actually 12,000 literal Israelites from each of
these respective tribes. I don't want to be tedious, but to really
understand this subject we should briefly review what the Bible
says about the Old Testament tribes. First, there were actually
13 tribes. Twelve tribes came from the 12 sons of Jacob, who
the Lord renamed Israel. But because Joseph was sold into
slavery by his older brothers, he was separated from his family
for many years. After Joseph finally reunited with his father,
Jacob promised to compensate by adopting Joseph's two sons
as his own, to be numbered with his sons in place of Joseph.
"Now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born
unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into
Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine."
Genesis 48:5. Hence, Joseph would be numbered twice through
his sons.


U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploy to
establish a firing line during an amphibious landing at Abd-el
Kerim beach on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. God has His own
special forces team called the 144,000.
One reason you still find only 12 tribes mentioned throughout
the Bible is that after the Levites were chosen to be the priests
for Israel, they were excluded from receiving a specific territory
inheritance (Deuteronomy 10:8, 9; 18:1) and from census
figures (Numbers 1:49). Instead, they were to spread out among
all the tribes as teachers and priests.
There are several reasons why the tribes mentioned in
Revelation chapter 7 can't possibly be literal Israelite tribes. The
Old Testament reveals that 10 of the 12 tribes were carried away
by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the
king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into
Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of
Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." 2 Kings 17:6.
History records that long before the time of Jesus, some of the
10 tribes returned to Samaria after intermarrying with the
Assyrians. Their descendants, known as Samaritans, were
hated by the Jews because they were no longer "pure"
Israelites in blood or religion. In fact, because the 10 tribes have
been so thoroughly scattered around the world and absorbed
by their host nations, today a person would be hard pressed to
find even one pure descendant from the tribe of Gad, Asher,
Naphtali, Manasseh, or Simeon-much less 12,000 of them!
Another strong clue that Revelation is not speaking of the literal
Israelite tribes is that in the Old Testament, the 12 tribes were
very unequal in population numbers. Judah was very large,
while Benjamin was very small. God divided the promised land
in proportion to each tribe's needs. But the 144,000 is
composed of 12,000 per tribe, right across the board.
So who does make up this group? I believe the answer to this
question lies in the fact that God's promises to literal Israel now
apply to spiritual Israel. Since the year A.D. 34, the prophecies
and attention of Scripture have focused on the children of
faith-either Jew or Gentile. "For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the
flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit." Romans 2:28, 29. "And if ye be
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise." Galatians 3:29.
What's in a Name?
My first clue that there must be a spiritual meaning to the
144,000 was the way in which the tribes are listed in Revelation
7:5-8. This is the only time in Scripture that the names of the
tribes appear in this order. Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, is
listed as second while Judah, fourth in birth order, is listed as
first. Joseph and Levi are included, while Ephraim and Dan are
left out. Why?
Because "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder [viper] in
the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall
backward" (Genesis 49:17), and "Ephraim is joined to idols: let
him alone" (Hosea 4:17).
In the Bible, a serpent is a symbol of Satan. The critical,
backbiting nature of Dan aligned this tribe with the kingdom of
Satan instead of the kingdom of God. Likewise, the tribe of
Ephraim had forsaken the God of Israel and had embraced
paganism. Hence, Ephraim and Dan are left out of the 144,000.
Jewish names always had a meaning that depicted some
characteristic of the child or an event connected with his birth.
For example, Genesis 29:32-35 says: "Leah conceived, and
bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said,
Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore
my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a
son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he
hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name
Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said,
Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I
have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now I
will praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah."
In fact, Rachel and Leah made prophetic statements for all 12 of
Jacob's sons. Here are the names of the tribes that make up the
144,000 (in the order listed in Revelation chapter 7), together
with the meaning of each name:
1. Judah =  "I will praise the Lord"

2. Reuben   =   "He has looked on me"

3. Gad   =   "Granted good fortune"

4. Asher  =  "Happy am I"

5. Naphtali   =  "My wrestling"

6. Manasseh =   "Making me to forget"

7. Simeon   =   "God hears me"

8. Levi   =   "Joined to me"

9. Issachar =  "Purchased Me"

10.Zebulun =   "Dwelling"

11. Joseph   =   "God will add to me"

12. Benjamin   =   "Son of His right hand"
Now notice what happens when the meaning of the names are
combined, in the same order, into a paragraph:
"I will praise the Lord for He has looked on me and granted
good fortune. Happy am I because my wrestling God is making
me to forget. God hears me and is joined to me. He has
purchased me a dwelling. God will add to me the Son of His
right hand." (The words in italics are supplied to complete each
thought.)
These names describe the story of the church's struggle,
redemption, victory, and marriage to the Lamb.
How Many?
Now let's address the next big question. Is 144,000 a literal
number? Well, perhaps I should answer that question with
another question. Are the other numbers in Revelation literal?
Will there be 12 gates and 12 foundations in the holy city? Are
there really 12 different kinds of fruit on the tree of life? Yes, of
course. Our understanding of the dimensions of the New
Jerusalem is likewise based upon the assumption that these
numbers are real.
Even the numbers used to describe prophetic time periods in
the book of Revelation are precise measures. The numbers
would be useless for reckoning if they were merely symbolic.
Although the number of the 144,000 may be exact, it will be
humanly impossible to identify the individuals who make up this
special group. When Jesus walked the earth, it was easy to
determine His 12 most devoted followers. But the 144,000 in the
last days are spiritual Jews, scattered across the circle of the
earth and leading out in a magnificent revival.
Now some may be thinking, "How can you say that the names
are symbolic but the number is literal?" It's simple. Jesus did.
He did not seem to care which tribes the 12 apostles came from,
but He did purposely choose 12 of them. Also remember that all
of the numbers in Revelation depict a specific value, while all
the proper names in Revelation are symbols (the Lamb, the
Dragon, the Lion, Balaam, Jezebel, etc.).
For these reasons and others, I believe the number 144,000 is a
precise figure. Just as there were actually 12 literal tribes in the
Old Testament and exactly 12 apostles in the New Testament,
there will be 12 times 12,000 spiritual apostles in the last days.
Many have wondered, "If this number is not just a symbol, then
will the 144,000 be the only ones saved in the last days? And if
only 144,000 will be saved, then what are my chances?"
Let's do some simple figuring. The ratio of 144,000 to six billion
(the approximate world population at the present time) would
mean that one person in 41,666 alive would be saved if Jesus
were to come today. This statistic is much better than the odds
offered by most state lotteries, but we would all agree that it's
pretty slim for the hope of salvation.
The Bible does not teach that the 144,000 are to be the only
ones saved in the last days. Immediately after listing the tribes
of the 144,000, the prophet sees that "a great multitude, which
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people,
and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Revelation
7:9.
In verse 13, one of the 24 elders asks John who these people
are that are clothed in white robes, and from where they came.
Then in verse 14, he answers his own question: "These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Now the Bible speaks of two great tribulations in prophecy. One
was during the papal persecution of the Dark Ages, when
millions of Christians were slain. But the primary "great
tribulation" must refer to the time just before Christ's second
coming, as referred to in Daniel 12:1, 2: "And there shall be a
time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation
even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt."
The Number Twelve
The key to understanding the 144,000 may be the number itself.
In the Bible, the number 12 almost always represents leadership
of the church. There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah, then
12 from Shem to Jacob. Twelve spies led the way to the
promised land, and there were 12 judges from Othniel to Samuel.
There is an interesting story in the Gospels of how in one hour,
Jesus healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and
then went immediately to resurrect a girl who was 12 years old
(Mark 5:25-42). The first woman represents the Old Testament
church with a continual flow of sacrificial blood. The young girl
represents the New Testament church that came to life after
Christ's resurrection. They both touched Him the same day and
were made whole.
God's church is also pictured in Revelation 12:1, which says:
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman
clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon
her head a crown of twelve stars." The 12 stars above the
woman's head are a symbol of the inspired leadership of the
church (1 Corinthians 11:10).
Exodus 39:14 tells us that there were 12 precious stones on
Aaron's breastplate, "according to the names of the children of
Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a
signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes."
These stones appear to be identical to the foundation stones of
the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:19, 20). "That great city,
the holy Jerusalem ... had a wall great and high, and had twelve
gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written
thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children
of Israel." "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and
in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:10, 12, 14.
The number 12 appears time after time throughout Scripture.
King David appointed 24 groups of 12 (a total of 288) to lead
music of praise in the temple (1 Chronicles chapter 25).
Similarly, Revelation 4:4 describes two groups of 12 (a total of
24) elders who sit around the throne of God. This represents the
12 tribes of the Old Testament and the 12 apostles of the New
Testament.
Jesus promised His disciples, "Ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matthew 19:28. And
in Revelation, Jesus makes a similar promise to some who will
come out of the last age of the church, known as Laodicea
(which means "judging the people"). He says, "To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
Revelation 3:21.

Their Mission
The 144,000 live during the last age of the church and share the
experience of the early apostles.
At the time of His first coming, Jesus chose 12 men whose
primary mission was to reach Israel. And as a result of the
outpouring of the former rain during the Pentecost revival, the
12 apostles reached thousands. Matthew 10:5, 6 says: "These
twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not
into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans
enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel."
In the last days, Jesus will use 144,000 (12 times 12,000) spiritual
apostles, whose primary mission is to reach the world with the
news of His second coming. The great multitude spoken of in
Revelation chapter 7 is converted by the influence and
preaching of the 144,000 following the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in the latter rain.
The prophet Joel referred to both of these events when he
wrote: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out
my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men
shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." Joel 2:28, 29.
Please keep in mind that the 144,000 are not the only ones
preaching the gospel in the last days. Just as the 12 apostles
were part of a larger group of 120 disciples leading out in the
Pentecostal revival, so the 144,000 are leaders in the end-time
revival, but not the only ones preaching.


U.S. Marines dangle from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter as they
practice Special Purpose Insertion and Extraction(SPIE) at
Camp Lejeune, N.C. Even now, Jesus is training an army of
special forces to lead in His final mission of rescuing God's
children, who have become Satan's prisoners of war.

I believe it is also significant to note that Jesus chose the 12
apostles from the laity, not the priesthood. In the same way, the
144,000 will not likely be composed only of ordained ministers.
Rather, I believe it will largely be made up of lay persons.
Acts chapter 1 describes an interesting sequence of events that
took place just before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the
former rain. First, the disciples focused on Jesus (verses 10, 11).
Then they prayed and put aside their differences (verses 13, 14).
Finally, they chose Matthias to replace Judas, the apostle who
had died (verses 16-26). Notice that as soon as the number 12
was complete, the Holy Spirit was poured out in the Upper
Room (Acts chapter 2).
Even now, Jesus is training an army of special forces to lead in
this final mission of rescuing God's children, who have become
Satan's prisoners of war. Revelation 14:4 proclaims of the
144,000: "These are they which were not defiled with women;
for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever he goeth."
If we desire to be among those who follow the Lamb throughout
eternity, we must first learn to follow Him here, now. Then
together we can sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.