Jesus Christ told to his faithful apostles that they would reign with him in the heaven, to rule over the earth where the future humanity will be the « Twelve Tribes of Israel » (see Matthew 19:28). This idea that humans who will have the privilege of living in heaven, will rule over the Earth, is written in the book of Revelation: “you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Nevertheless, the book of Revelation repeatedly shows that the number of those who will live in heaven will be only 144,000, taken the humanity: “Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1-5). The context of the book of Revelation confirms that it is a literal and not a symbolic number. For example, this number is found for the first time in Revelation 7: 4-8: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4-8).
And the context of this important information makes us understand that this is a real and not a symbolic number. Indeed, after Revelation 7: 4-8, the prophecy continues in verses 7: 9-17 describing thegreat crowd that will survive the great tribulation. This time, regarding this group, the prophecy gives this detail: “After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). A “great crowd which no man was able to number” in this case the number of people is not known. We therefore understand that the information before, regarding the precise number of 144,000 humans who will live in heaven is to be taken literally.
It is written in The book of Revelation that 7000 humans will complete the 144000 in the heavens just before the Great Tribulation: “In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and 7,000 persons were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13). The « tenth of the city » that falls, represents all of the 144,000 who died on earth to live in heaven, while the 7,000 people « killed » (just before the great tribulation) represent those who will complete the 144000, with their heavenly resurrection: “Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
This group of humans will be the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away” » (Revelation 21:1-4).
For those who disagree with this explanation and understanding, it is important to clarify that this is not a dogmatic teaching. Indeed, it is the Heavenly Father, through his son Jesus Christ, who will ultimately decide the number of faithful Christians who will join his son in heaven—whether only 144,000, or millions, if this number is to be taken symbolically. These two perspectives do not alter the meaning of the explanations that follow.
When will the heavenly resurrection take place?
First, according to what it is written in 2 Timothy (2:16-18), it did not begin in the time of the apostles: “These men have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are subverting the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:18). Some believe that the heavenly resurrection began in 1918. This interpretation has absolutely no biblical basis and is not consistent with the context of the entire book of Apocalypse, which mentions it.
Indeed, it is written in the book of Apocalypse the time when this heavenly resurrection will take place: « And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for 1,000 years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years » (Apocalypse 20:4-6).
The heavenly resurrection of all the 144,000 will take place at the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign, specifically just before the great tribulation. Two other passages in the Book of Apocalypse help us to understand that this heavenly resurrection will occur shortly before the beginning of the great tribulation. It is written in The book of Revelation (Apocalypse) that 7000 humans will complete the 144000 in the heavens just before the Great Tribulation: “In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and 7,000 persons were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Apocalypse 11:13). The « tenth of the city » that falls, represents all of the 144,000 who died on earth to live in heaven, while the 7,000 people « killed » (just before the great tribulation) represent those who will complete the 144000, with their heavenly resurrection.
In the First Letter to the Thessalonians there are more details concerning the heavenly resurrection of the 7,000:
« Because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. 17 Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord » (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The heavenly resurrection will begin with those who have died in union with Christ, and then « we the living who are surviving « —that is, faithful Christians living on earth—will be caught up to heaven to be with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15). In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul seems to explain how the rapture of Christians will unfold: « Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we will be changed » (1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
This complete heavenly resurrection will represent the marriage of the Lamb, which is mentioned in Revelation (Apocalypse) just before the great tribulation: “And I heard what sounded like a voice of a great crowd and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of heavy thunders. They said: “Praise Jah, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king! 7 Let us rejoice and be overjoyed and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself. 8 Yes, it has been granted to her to be clothed with bright, clean, fine linen—for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.” 9 And he tells me, “Write: Happy are those invited to the evening meal of the Lamb’s marriage.” Also, he tells me: “These are the true sayings of God.”” (Apocalypse 19:6-9). And after this joyful description of the marriage of the Lamb, representing the heavenly resurrection of those who will be with Christ in heaven, there is then the dramatic description of the great tribulation in Revelation (19:11-21).
The marriage of the Lamb is also described in Psalm 45; here is part of that description:
« My heart is stirred by something good.
I say: “My song is about a king.”
May my tongue be the stylus of a skilled copyist.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men.
Gracious speech flows from your lips.
That is why God has blessed you forever.
3 Strap your sword on your side, O mighty one,
In your dignity and your splendor.
4 And in your splendor go on to victory;
Ride in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness,
And your right hand will accomplish awe-inspiring things.
5 Your arrows are sharp, making peoples fall before you;
They pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.
6 God is your throne forever and ever;
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.
7 You loved righteousness, and you hated wickedness.
That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.
8 All your garments are scented with myrrh and aloeswood and cassia;
From the grand ivory palace, stringed instruments make you rejoice.
9 The daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor.
The royal consort has taken her stand at your right hand, adorned in gold of Oʹphir » (Psalms 45:1-9).
This group of humans will be the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away” » (Apocalypse 21 :1-4).
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The Heavenly Resurrection of the 144,000 (Apocalypse 14:1-3)
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The Book of Apocalypse – The New Jerusalem (Apocalypse 21)
The New Jerusalem will be the umbilical cord between Heaven and Earth, as Kingdom of God…
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