There is a particular group of people whose existence is a solid indication that the tribulation is upon us. A group of people whose identity and purpose has been greatly speculated about. As the world begins to go crazy, the descent into chaos is held back until these servants of God are sealed with a mark on their foreheads.

Rev.7:2 Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Rev.14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Popular opinion would have us believe that this group of people are young men who are virgins (that would possibly give us a group between the ages of 12 to early 20’s) and who are Jews that accept the Messiah and get saved after the rapture.

I’d like to look at this group from a different perspective. Based on the viewpoint that the first mention of a topic in the Bible provides definition, the identity of the 144,000 can be better understood by examining a story from the first Exodus. In Numbers 31 we see the selection of 12,000 men. One thousand from each tribe. This pattern of selection from tribal groups is also found in Revelations 7 with it being 12,000 from each tribe. The men in Num.31 were warriors who were chosen for the specific purpose of avenging the idolatry of the men of Israel who were seduced to worship the Midianite idols. They were to “take vengeance for the Lord”. (Num.31:3) These were men from each of the twelve tribes who had not worshiped idols. They had not engaged in the ritualistic worship that often had wide variety of sexual activities as a central part in that worship. 

Numbers 31:5 | So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

Revelation 7:4 | And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: (12,000 from each tribe.)

A rabbit trail here can give us broader perspective of who they are. If you are born in the United States of America you are known as an American. If you were born in the state of Ohio in the United States of America you are known as a Buckeye but still an American. Your national identity supersedes your state or tribal identity. Another example - if you are born of the Cherokee tribe you are a Native American. Some one who is born of the Blackfoot tribe is also a Native American. The nation of Israel is very much the same way. Being a Jew means you are from the tribe of Judah, being from the tribe of Reuben makes you a Reubenite. Both are Israelites but not all are Jews. So 1,000 or 12,000 from each tribe does not make them all Jews!!!

ARE YOU SLIGHTLY CONFUSED? All of the Jewish people are Israelites but not all Israelites are Jews. The Jewish people are pretty much the only visible or identifiable Israelites of this day. When you read Biblical history we find out that the nation of Israel had twelve tribes when Solomon was king. After Solomon’s death the kingdom of Israel became divided with the ten northern tribes rebelling against Rehoboam the son of Solomon because of the harshness of taxes and physical service that Solomon had required of them. (1Kings11 & 12)The ten northern tribes became so steeped in idolatry that God sent other nations to take them captive away from the land that God had given them - they were scattered in what is known as the Diaspora and lost their national identity as Israelites.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Lost_Tribes) Our God has promised a restoration of the nation of Israel (Acts1:16) When the 144,000 sealed it is very likely that we will see the return of those lost ten tribes.

For more information you can research the topic of the 2 Houses of Israel

The Significance of the number 12.

“The number twelve can be found in 187 places in the Bible. Revelation alone has 22 occurrences of the number. The meaning of the number 12, which is considered a perfect number, is that it symbolizes God's power and authority, as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation. It can also symbolize completeness of the nation of Israel as a whole.”(biblestudy.org)

This provides us with a little more clarity on the identity of the 144,000. As stated in the above paragraph, the number 12 pertains to God’s government. Yeshua is forming the foundation of His government. He has gathered 12,000 from each tribe and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. A closer look at the verses in Revelations 14 gives us a picture of the 144,000 before the Heavenly Throne.

Revelations 14:3 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The 144,000 are selected for the purpose of building God’s government and gathering in God’s people. In Rev.7:16 and 17 there is a quotation from Isa.49:10-11. Isaiah 49 talks directly about the Messiah and the in-gathering of the tribes of Israel and Salvation that reaches to the ends of the earth. By understanding the connection between Isaiah 49 and Revelation 7 we can see that the 144,000 are led by Yeshua, our Shepherd and they are Gatherers, Comforters and Leaders during the in-gathering of God’s people during the tribulation.

Isaiah 49:10 | “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.

Revelation 7:16-17| They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Supernatural Protection

Numbers 31:48-49 | Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses; and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.

Consider that of these 12,000 warriors and defenders not one of them died in battle! (Num.31:49) or if they did die it is very possible that God resurrected them on the spot because not one was missing. They were given supernatural protection! The 144,000 who are sealed by our King are very likely to be the same kind of protectors!

Undefiled

Numbers 25:1-3 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.

Let us look a little more closely at the rule of first mention to understand the spiritual significance of being “undefiled by women”. These men were warriors who were chosen for the specific purpose of avenging the idolatry of the men of Israel who were seduced by the Midianite women to engage in sexual acts to worship their idols. These were men who had not been defiled with idolatry!! They were men from who had not worshiped idols. Take another look at the verse in Revelations - 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women(idols), for they are virgins - They were undefiled by idolatry which often would have an element of sexual contact during the worship rituals. The men in Numbers 31 were warriors who were chosen for the specific purpose of avenging the idolatry of the men of Israel who were seduced to worship the Midianite idols. They were to “take vengeance for the Lord”. (Num.31:3) These were men from each of the twelve tribes who had not worshiped idols. (When you read the story those who had engaged in idolatry were killed.)

We can see that God’s role for the 12,000 in Numbers 31 is a template for the work of the 144,000. Considering that the men chosen in Numbers 31 are an example of God’s plan and purpose for the 144,000 - it is unlikely that these men were all physical virgins. However it is much more likely that not one of them had committed idolatry by worshiping Egyptian or Midianite idols through sexual cohabitation with the midianite women. These chosen 12,000 were spiritually undefiled by the ritualistic worship of idols. Lets take a look at the topic of spiritual virginity or purity from a biblical perspective. The story of the nation of Israel is one of persistent idolatry. God calls this harlotry, immorality, infidelity, adultery, etc. When we read the account in Numbers 25 and the follow up in chapter 31 we can see how important to God it is to be spiritually and physically pure. God directed the 12,000 to kill any females who had engaged in intercourse and all of the males, adult and children.

“When we look at the command… the utterly disgusting depravity in which these Midianite boys had been raised is well documented. Regular behaviors among the Midianites included child sacrifice, cult prostitution, and bestiality. The divine prohibition of these acts was codified, and the acts were known to the Israelites (Leviticus 18:21, 23–24). Male inhabitants carrying on the lineage of this culture would have been an [ongoing] problem for Israel.”      www.gotquestions.org/Numbers-31-17-Midianites.html

What does this have to do with the 144,000 being virgins? Please examine these verses from the Prophet Ezekiel. They are a most profound example of spiritual virginity(purity)!

Ezekiel 16:1-21 | Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,“Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born. “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’… Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare. “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God. “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil. I also clothed you with colorfully woven cloth and put sandals of fine leather on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with jewelry, put bracelets on your wrists, and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and colorfully woven cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God. “But you trusted in your beauty and became unfaithful because of your fame, and you poured out your obscene practices on every passer-by to whom it might be tempting. You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors, and committed prostitution on them, which should not come about nor happen. You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images so that you might commit prostitution with them. Then you took your colorfully woven cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God. “Furthermore, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your obscene practices a trivial matter? You slaughtered My children and offered them to idols by making them pass through the fire.

Multiple times in the books of the Prophets Israel is condemned for her harlotry - her spiritual adultery/idolatry. In the book of Revelations chapter 17 we can find more information about the spiritual perspective of harlotry when we read about how the whole world commits adultery with Babylon.

What does committing adultery mean?

• There is no accidental adultery. An individual who commits adultery does it with purpose and wants to cheat on their spouse. They engage in consensual sexual acts with somebody outside of their marriage. It's a deliberate act of sexual infidelity. If you decide to commit adultery, you are engaging in risky behavior. https://www.regain.us/advice/infidelity

God had made a covenant with Israel. Israel deliberately engaged in idolatry/adultery by worshiping what was not God. In the history of God’s people we see how important spiritual purity is to God. One of His basic commandments is “to have no other gods”. Idolatry/Adultery are deliberate acts with consequences. The Prophet Hosea’s story is also all about the consequences of adultery/idolatry and how God yet loves us. Elijah the prophet in his confrontation with Israel’s King Ahab gives us a another perspective on worship and how we can defile ourselves by bending a knee or speaking praise to idols.

1Kings 19:14…because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life…..” :18 (God says) Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

We can also get another perspective from the book of Job.

Job 31:26 If I have looked at the sun when it shone, Or the moon going in splendor, and my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. 

Here is yet another perspective

“The 144,000 are called "virgins." Some have seriously thought these are people who never had sexual intercourse! 2Cor.11:2, however, supplies a more satisfying answer. The Corinthians had come out of as sexually active and perverted a culture as any in history, but Paul says the goal was to present them "as a chaste virgin to Christ." Eph.5:24-26 shows the people of the church, defiled by sin, becoming unspotted, unwrinkled, holy, and without blemish. Similarly, using Israel as a type, Ezek.16:9 shows Christ cleaning up His bride. Cleansed sinners comprise the 144,000, and they are designated as "virgin." https://www.bibletools.org/Spiritual-Virgin.htm.

I’m hard pressed to think that being a physical virgin is more essential to being chosen as one of the 144,000 than spiritual virginity. When we consider the first mention rule as definition then we should look a little closer at the group that was chosen in Num.31. These were mature men - warriors chosen for battle. They were chosen for their courage and dedication. The perspective of spiritual virginity (they had not worshiped idols) is much more applicable and essential to the role and function of the 12,000 who warred against people who worshiped idols and the 144,000 in the book of Revelations, who follow Yeshua. How much more is the government of God served by those who have not participated in worshiping idols? Those who have not spoken nor sung praise to idols or demons. God’s chosen people are those who choose NOT to seek satisfaction or direction from any other source than the Creator God.

Exodus 20:1-6 And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.“You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

God’s definition of idolatry is putting any other thing before Him or worshiping any thing that is not HIM. Once again the challenge is to evaluate what is more important - physical virginity or spiritual virginity(purity)? What is the true essence of virginity? The 144,000 are people who do not speak with deceit and God has found no fault in them(Rev.14:3). Clear your head from preconceived notions and evaluate what kind of virginity or purity is necessary from the perspective that the 144,000 will form part of God’s government on the earth.? It is the kind of virginity/purity that is wholly dedicated to the will of God!

The 144,000 will be His servants who are the gathers, protectors, and teachers who work with Yeshua as He gathers up His people and at His Coming restores the Kingdom that is governed by His Law. God is not the author of chaos and confusion! He has a plan for the Tribulation Exodus and just like the Israelites coming out in the Egyptian Exodus we will walk under the guidance of His servants. His servants that are assigned to guide and support and direct HIS people. Please take comfort in God’s plans for us. Please trust that God has a plan to protect and provide for us through the tribulation, giving us the opportunity to be witnesses of His righteous MERCY.

Rev.7:9-17 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”  And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”