To All who deny that a remnant of the 12 tribes of the Israelites still exist: You must deny this following passage ( or distort it as something symbolic) as a literal event that will soon take place just prior to, in the beginning of, or during the time period known as the Great Tribulation. This event surely refers to at least a partial remnant mentioned in Romans 11:26 "all Israel will be saved".
There is a clear distinction in Romans 11 that Paul makes between himself, an Israelite from the Tribe of Benjamin and the Gentiles who were grafted in.
as we look at the multitude in heaven on verse 9 (a separate vision from those sealed _ on earth) of this following passage, we see the Church, a number that no one can count, billions. Two separate groups, one on earth alive and another in heaven.
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.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
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;"
Rev. 7:4-9
FYI. There is nothing symbolic about these numbers, tribes or their sealing by the Holy Spirit. Symbolic language never identifies real names of tribes. A specific number (144k) is sealed on earth for a specific task on earth before any destruction occurs from the First Four Seals that have just been opened. The command to the Four angels is given:
saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Rev. 7:3
The sealed 144k are clearly physically separate from the multitude in heaven, but of course now, they are in spiritually part of Body of Christ. Let me throw a wrench into the mix. Something is also different, this group was not raptured with the rest, they remain on earth ... did they miss it and sealed after the rapture?
>> This whole chapter is not in a chronological sequence that occurs after the 4 Seals events have engaged, but a parenthetical clause, intended as prerequisite actions and information.
As one examines the destruction of the Four Riders of Horses of the Apolcaplyse, we see devastating results, 25% of the population destroyed. That's two billion! So obviously, these 144k are sealed before that.
