The Precision of the Elect - Revelation 7:4-8

Revelation 7:4–8 (ESV)

⁴ And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: ⁵ 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, ⁶ 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, ⁷ 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, ⁸ 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

Who are the 144,000 to be sealed? Well the text is clear: "from every tribe of the sons of Israel."

Turn on your TV or read popular books on eschatology and the interpretation would go like so: "The church is raptured prior to the great tribulation. During the time when the church is gone, a remnant of 144,000 ethnic Jews is converted (12,000 from each tribe). These Jewish converts, in turn, evangelize the Gentiles who make up the great multitude in white robes in v. 9." [1]   This group is not a group of especially holy or law-abiding Adventists or Jehovah Witnesses.   "Many interpreters have noted that 144,000 is both mathematically precise as well as an ideal number easily factorable into smaller numbers: twelve squared times ten cubed. The precision of the number suggests the doctrine taught elsewhere: God’s election of a precise number of individuals."

"The equal status of Gentiles and Jews in the seven churches (Eph. 2:11–22) and the promises associated only with the 144,000 (9:4; 14:1–5) confirm this." [3]  "The 144,000 is likely a figurative representation of the whole assembly of the redeemed (the fourth view). This is supported by the use of “slaves” in v. 3 (see 1:1; 2:20; 6:11; 10:7; 11:18; 19:2, 5, 10; 22:3, 6, 9) and the connection with the believers in 3:12; 22:4 who have been written on or marked (see also 14:1, 3–4)." [4]

So if the 144,000 refers to the entirety of the Church then why would the Holy Spirit couch this description in reference to the Twelve Tribes?    "The physical tribes of Israel lived through ten plagues in Egypt, experiencing the anger of Pharaoh but the protection of God. So now, spiritual Israel is destined to live though a time of terrible judgment on earth, experiencing the anger of humanity and the devil but the protection of God." [5]

What is the "devotional" application in understanding that the 144,000 represents the precision of the elect of God?   "According to vv. 1–8, the saints are known by God individually, and none slips by His care (Matt. 10:30); according to vv. 9–17, no human can count their number." [6]

Father the sealing protection of Your servants includes every single one of Your chosen people. There is none they go beyond Your gaze.  The Church, the true Israel, is without number yet You know the individual right down to the hair on their head.   Thank you that today my life does not pass by Your providence unnoticed and unaware.  Thank you that I am part of a glorious multitude of un-numbered saints.  Thank you that when You unleash Your righteous and holy fury on the wicked, Your Church will be preserved.  

NB:

a. See Kevin DeYoung's blog (Footnote 1.) for more on why the 144,000 refer to the Church - the true Israel.

b. Is election to salvation about individuals?  See Footnote 7.

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1. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/01/17/who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/

2. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (125). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

3.  Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Re 7:4–8). Nashville: T. Nelson.

4. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 7:4). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software
5. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (127). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

6. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Re 7:4–8). Nashville: T. Nelson.

7. http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2010/10/eleven-reasons-why-romans-9-is-about-individual-election-not-cooperate-election/