There appears to be a mystery among some brethren about the identity of the 144,000 of Revelation 7. Some think it's just a generalized number, and actually represents a much greater number. Some think they represent the Pre-trib Rapture Theory idea they call "tribulation saints" that turn to Jesus during the tribulation.
But what does the actual Bible Scripture show?
Rev 7:1-4
7 And 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.
2 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,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
When you see that "four winds" idea, it's about a spiritual matter. In Matthew 24:31 it's about the event of the angels gathering the saints on the day of Christ's coming. In Ezekiel 37:9, it's a similar idea. Thus the "four winds" is connected here with the last day of this world per this Revelation timeline.
At this point, the "four angels" holding those "four winds" are told to hold them, until the servants of God are 'sealed' in their foreheads.
4 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.
KJV
Then in the Revelation 7:5-8 verses are named 144,000 of the literal tribes of the seed of Israel that are 'sealed'.
That 'seal' is God's sealing by The Holy Spirit per Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30. That sealing is in PREP... for the "great tribulation", meaning they are sealed PRIOR to the tribulation start.
Do you remember the Book in Revelation 5 that had the seven seals, that only The Lamb was worthy to open? And then He opens them, giving a description of the Seals? That is also what Paul was pointing to in Ephesians 4:30 about being 'sealed' by The Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Remember Lord Jesus said The Holy Spirit would be our Teacher (John 14:26).
Eph 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
KJV
2 Cor 1:21-22
21 Now He Which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
KJV
There is no mistaking it then, that these 144,000 are elect believers on Christ of the 'seed' of Israel, prepared prior to the tribulation for spiritual battle against the beast at the end of this world. Doesn't seem to be a lot, does it? These do not represent saved Gentile believers. But they are mentioned next...
Rev 7:9-17
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, 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;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Those represent the group of Gentile believers on Christ Jesus. They apparently are not numbered because of so many. Are they 'sealed' also, like the 144,000? YES! Because they are shown at the Throne standing before The Lamb, clothed in white robes (representing good works).
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?"
14 And I said unto him, "Sir, thou knowest." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He That sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
KJV
They "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". That means these went through... the "great tribulation" and overcome by remaining Faithful waiting on Lord Jesus. It means they were SEALED with God's Seal also.
That is why these descriptions about their standing before Christ with His dwelling with them, and He leads them to the River of the waters of Life, and they thirst no more, hunger no more, etc. All those descriptors are the future time of Christ's "thousand years" reign, including their service in that temple, which is the Millennium sanctuary of Ezekiel 40 forward.
HOW... do we know this 'sealing' is for before the "great tribulation" starts? Because the time when the 'sealing' is for, is about the 5th Trumpet - 1st Woe period.
Rev 9:4-6
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
KJV
There's 3 final periods given in Revelation 8 through 11 that involve the final events leading up to Christ's return to defeat the beast and gather His Church...
1st Period = 5th Trumpet - 1st Woe:
This is when that 'seal' above is for, a time just prior to the tribulation, and then through it. And note per the above Rev.9 that only those who do NOT... have God's seal are able to be stung by the locusts.
2nd Period = 6th Trumpet - 2nd Woe:
This period begins with the loosing of the four angels bound at the river Euphrates (Revelation 9:12-15). This represents the "great tribulation" time when the "beast" of Revelation 11 ascends out of the bottomless pit to deceive the whole world. It shows the existence of another built temple in Jerusalem where God's two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, a latter day event representing the "great tribulation" timing.
We also know this 6th Trumpet period represents the coming tribulation because on the 7th Trumpet - 3rd Woe is the following...
3rd Period = 7th Trumpet - 3rd Woe:
The events of Christ's coming and conquering of the kingdoms of this world, and reward to His saints, and wrath upon the wicked.
Thus Lord Jesus made a distinction with believing Israelites of the seed of Israel that are sealed with God's seal in prep for the tribulation events. And then there's a "great multitude" of Gentiles that are shown having gone through the tribulation and were saved, which means they must have been 'sealed' with God's seal also.
But what does the actual Bible Scripture show?
Rev 7:1-4
7 And 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.
2 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,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
When you see that "four winds" idea, it's about a spiritual matter. In Matthew 24:31 it's about the event of the angels gathering the saints on the day of Christ's coming. In Ezekiel 37:9, it's a similar idea. Thus the "four winds" is connected here with the last day of this world per this Revelation timeline.
At this point, the "four angels" holding those "four winds" are told to hold them, until the servants of God are 'sealed' in their foreheads.
4 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.
KJV
Then in the Revelation 7:5-8 verses are named 144,000 of the literal tribes of the seed of Israel that are 'sealed'.
That 'seal' is God's sealing by The Holy Spirit per Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30. That sealing is in PREP... for the "great tribulation", meaning they are sealed PRIOR to the tribulation start.
Do you remember the Book in Revelation 5 that had the seven seals, that only The Lamb was worthy to open? And then He opens them, giving a description of the Seals? That is also what Paul was pointing to in Ephesians 4:30 about being 'sealed' by The Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Remember Lord Jesus said The Holy Spirit would be our Teacher (John 14:26).
Eph 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
KJV
2 Cor 1:21-22
21 Now He Which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
KJV
There is no mistaking it then, that these 144,000 are elect believers on Christ of the 'seed' of Israel, prepared prior to the tribulation for spiritual battle against the beast at the end of this world. Doesn't seem to be a lot, does it? These do not represent saved Gentile believers. But they are mentioned next...
Rev 7:9-17
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, 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;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Those represent the group of Gentile believers on Christ Jesus. They apparently are not numbered because of so many. Are they 'sealed' also, like the 144,000? YES! Because they are shown at the Throne standing before The Lamb, clothed in white robes (representing good works).
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?"
14 And I said unto him, "Sir, thou knowest." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He That sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
KJV
They "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". That means these went through... the "great tribulation" and overcome by remaining Faithful waiting on Lord Jesus. It means they were SEALED with God's Seal also.
That is why these descriptions about their standing before Christ with His dwelling with them, and He leads them to the River of the waters of Life, and they thirst no more, hunger no more, etc. All those descriptors are the future time of Christ's "thousand years" reign, including their service in that temple, which is the Millennium sanctuary of Ezekiel 40 forward.
HOW... do we know this 'sealing' is for before the "great tribulation" starts? Because the time when the 'sealing' is for, is about the 5th Trumpet - 1st Woe period.
Rev 9:4-6
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
KJV
There's 3 final periods given in Revelation 8 through 11 that involve the final events leading up to Christ's return to defeat the beast and gather His Church...
1st Period = 5th Trumpet - 1st Woe:
This is when that 'seal' above is for, a time just prior to the tribulation, and then through it. And note per the above Rev.9 that only those who do NOT... have God's seal are able to be stung by the locusts.
2nd Period = 6th Trumpet - 2nd Woe:
This period begins with the loosing of the four angels bound at the river Euphrates (Revelation 9:12-15). This represents the "great tribulation" time when the "beast" of Revelation 11 ascends out of the bottomless pit to deceive the whole world. It shows the existence of another built temple in Jerusalem where God's two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, a latter day event representing the "great tribulation" timing.
We also know this 6th Trumpet period represents the coming tribulation because on the 7th Trumpet - 3rd Woe is the following...
3rd Period = 7th Trumpet - 3rd Woe:
The events of Christ's coming and conquering of the kingdoms of this world, and reward to His saints, and wrath upon the wicked.
Thus Lord Jesus made a distinction with believing Israelites of the seed of Israel that are sealed with God's seal in prep for the tribulation events. And then there's a "great multitude" of Gentiles that are shown having gone through the tribulation and were saved, which means they must have been 'sealed' with God's seal also.