The 144000 and the Wife of the Lamb
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Artwork Used By Permission © Pat Marvenko Smith
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Now let's return to our Greek definition of the word, "number"; we learned that the word "number" meant those that were to be reckoned up, lifted up or taken away, in other words, this definition is talking about the "rapture". When we look at the Wife of the Lamb, we discover that She is made up of this 144000 that are sealed for protection and are numbered to be caught away as the Bride. So let's look at the Wife of the Lamb,
1 THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband; 3 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God. 4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. 5 And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine). 6 And He [further] said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price from the fountain (springs) of the water of Life. 7 He who is victorious shall inherit all these things, and I will be God to him and he shall be My son. 8 But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)--[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
So one of the angels said to John, "Come with me! I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife." Therefore, if we follow the Scriptures the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the Bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, 11 Clothed in God's glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal. 12 It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written:
13 On the east side three gates, on the north side three gates, on the south side three gates, and on the west side three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation [stones], and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who spoke to me had a golden measuring reed (rod) to measure the city and its gates and its wall.
The Wife of the Lamb
Artwork Used By Permission © Pat Marvenko Smith
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The city, the New Jerusalem lies in a square and also we see that its height is the same.
16 The city lies in a square, its length being the same as its width. And he measured the city with his reed--12,000 stadia (about 1,500 miles); its length and width and height are the same. 17 He measured its wall also--144 cubits (about 72 yards) by a man's measure [of a cubit from his elbow to his third fingertip], which is [the measure] of the angel.
In other words we are looking at a cube which measures 12,000 stadia (the length) by 12,000 stadia (the width) and the height is also 12,000 stadia. Now if we were standing there looking straight on at the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, we wouldn't see a cube, but rather we would see a square. And this square would measure 12,000 stadia across the bottom, 12,000 stadia across the top, the height on one side would measure 12,000 stadia and also the height on the other side would measure 12,000 stadia also, giving us four perfect measures of 12,000 stadia. If we were to walk around to the opposite side and look at the New Jerusalem straight on, again we would see a square, and if we were to measure the square we would get 12,000 stadia across the bootom, 12,000 stadia across the top, up one side 12,000 stadia and up the other side 12,000 stadia also. Now we have a total of eight exact measures of 12,000 stadia each. Now we walk around the front and since we have already measured two of the upright sides we need only take the measure of the top across which is 12,000 stadia and the bottom across which is 12,000 stadia also, giving us a total of ten measures of 12,000 stadia. Now if we proceed around to the opposite side, again we have already measured the two upright sides, so now we just need to measure across the top, 12,000 stadia and across the bottom, 12,000 stadia, for a total of twelve perfect measures of 12,000 stadia or in total 144,000 stadia. This total of 144,000 is exactly what the Scripture tells us the sum total of the walls is equal to.
16 The city lies in a square, its length being the same as its width. And he measured the city with his reed--12,000 stadia (about 1,500 miles); its length and width and height are the same. 17 He measured its wall also--144 cubits (about 72 yards) by a man's measure [of a cubit from his elbow to his third fingertip], which is [the measure] of the angel.
In the original language, the word "cubit" has no specific measure attached therefore a "cubit" becomes the standard of measure that is currently being used. For example, if you were working in inches the cubit would be an inch, if you were working in miles then the cubit measure would be a mile, and in this case we are working in thousands (i.e. 12 thousand stadia, so the unit of measure for the 144 is also in thousands, making the total measure of the wall 144 thousand (144000) stadia. So now what is a stadia? The King James Version uses the word, "furlong",
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
So then what is a furlong? The word, "furlong" comes from the Greek word, "stadion" meaning, "a stade" or certain measure of distance and by implication is a "stadium" or "race course", and is derived from the word, "histemi" which means, "to stand or abide". In other words, the total measure of the wall of the Wife of the Lamb is equal to 144000 stadiums or race courses, but this is not to be taken in the physical sense as in 144000 physical stadiums or race courses, but rather in the total of 144000 courses to be run in the sense of abiding in Christ. For example if your total life was to be "captured" on a video tape and played back we would be viewing the course of your life or that measured distance of your life, or the "stadium" of your life. This spiritual context of a furlong or stadia is what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he said, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
And again we see this race course or stadia or furlong in the Book of Hebrews,
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
So the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, measures the total sum of the 144000 that were sealed for protection and stamped as genuine Believer's and they ran their race (or stadia) that was marked out before them.
3 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.
Now what about the great multitude which no one could count, that were gathered out of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, who came out of the Great Tribulation, and are seen standing before the Lamb dressed in white and holding palm branches in their hands?
9 After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 10 In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]! 11 And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God. 12 Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!) 13 Then, addressing me, one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come? 14 I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
They are the wedding guests!
6After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! 7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people). 9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God.
