Here is a summary of the 144,000 sealed in the book of Revelation:
The 144,000 sealed are mentioned in Revelation 7 and 14. In Revelation 7, John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth. Another angel ascends from the east with the seal of the living God, and he cries out to the four angels not to harm the earth until the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. Then John hears that 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel are sealed - 12,000 from each tribe. The tribes mentioned are Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.
In Revelation 14, the 144,000 reappear standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. They are described as having the Lamb's name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. They sing a new song that only they can learn. They are redeemed from the earth as firstfruits for God and the Lamb. They are blameless, undefiled, and follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
There are several key things to understand about the 144,000:
1. They are sealed for protection. The seal on their foreheads marks them as belonging to God and spares them from the coming judgments on the earth. It is akin to the mark placed on the foreheads of the righteous in Ezekiel 9.
2. They are Jewish believers in Jesus. The tribes mentioned indicate a connection with ethnic Israel. However, they also have a close relationship with Christ, as shown by having his name on their foreheads. This implies they are Messianic Jews who have embraced Jesus as their Savior.
3. They are set apart and consecrated to God. The number 144,000 is symbolic, not literal. It is derived from the census numbers in the Old Testament for organizing the tribes. It represents completeness and totality. The 144,000 signify a purified remnant of redeemed Israel marked for special service to God.
4. They boldly proclaim the gospel during the Tribulation. Their new song implies they are witnesses for Christ during the end times judgments. They follow the Lamb's example, even to the point of potential martyrdom. Their spiritual purity and integrity qualifies them to faithfully share the gospel.
5. They model endurance and obedience. Their blameless conduct pictures total devotion to the Lamb. Their lives give testimony to the power of the gospel to save people from sin's domination. Their faithfulness contrasts with those who fall away during persecution.
6. They encourage perseverance for other believers. The 144,000 provide an example of standing firm when facing pressure to compromise. Their courage inspires hope in Jesus' ultimate victory over evil. By heeding their testimony, other Tribulation saints gain assurance of their own eternal security.
In summary, the 144,000 sealed from Israel's tribes represent Jewish believers redeemed by the Lamb's blood and sealed by the Holy Spirit. They take part in God's end time harvest by boldly proclaiming the gospel message during history's darkest hour. Their faithfulness until death demonstrates the persevering power of God's grace. And their example calls other believers to unwavering confidence in Christ's protection and final triumph.
