144000 (number)

144,000 is a positive integer. It has a religious significance for Christians because of its use in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament. It is also significant in some New Age religious movements.

This is also a significant number in the Mayan calendar. It represents a cycle of time named "K'atun".

Christianity

The 144,000 are mentioned three times in the Book of Revelation:

*Revelation 7:3-8 (ESV)Tribes of Israel

Cquote|saying: "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

*Revelation 14:1 (ESV)

*Revelation 14:3-5 (ESV)

The numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are variously interpreted in traditional Christianity. Some, taking the numbers in Revelation to be symbolic, [See [http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Revelation_Numbers.htm "Numbers in the Book of Revelation"] as an example of this view.] believe it represents all of God's people throughout history in the heavenly Church. ["144,000 sealed in Apocalypse [Revelation] 7:4ff; 14:1 ff: This is , the number of the tribes of Israel, multiplied by itself and then multiplied by , the number of a military unit in the ancient Israelite army. The number indicates the fullness of Israel; the Church in the New Testament is conceived as the fullness of Israel, and this is the heavenly Church in its final completion."--"Dictionary of the Bible", John L. McKenzie, S.J., p. 621.] Others insist the numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are literal numbers and that the 144,000 people who are either descendants of Jacob (also called Israel in the Bible) or who God has given a specifically superior destiny to have a distinct role at the time of the end of the world. ["The earth-dwellers will stand in rebellion against God, but the 144,000 as slaves of God will faithfully proclaim the gospel." Robert L Thomas, [http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/biblical-prophecy/BP1100W3.htm "One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand: Who Are They?"] , Ankerberg Theological Research Institute] Other views of the 144,000 include; that they are recently converted Jewish Evangelists, sent out to bring sinners to Jesus Christ during the 7 year tribulation period. Another view is that the 144,000 are a larger version of the ancient Israelite army, sent out at the end of the tribulation period to kill the ungodly. Preterists think these are Jewish Christians, sealed for deliverance from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses distinctly believe that only 144,000 people will be raised to heaven, and will thus spend eternity with God. They do not believe that this number necessarily comes from descendants of Jacob, but from early Christians, and those of Jehovah's Witnesses who profess to be "anointed" (or "spiritual Israel"). ["What does the Bible Really Teach?", ch. 8, p. 79] Witnesses believe that the 144,000 have been selected by God from the time of Jesus' apostles through to today. They believe that the 144,000 (those having a "heavenly hope") will reign with Christ in heaven, while all other people accepted by God will live forever on a paradise earth (an "earthly hope").

Approximately 9,105 of the 144,000 anointed ones are alive on Earth today, according to the latest figures posted on the official Jehovah's Witnesses website [cite web|url=http://watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report.htm|title=2007 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide|accessdate=2008-02-15] . However, they believe that Jesus is Shepherd and Savior over both those with the "heavenly hope" (the 144,000) and those with the "earthly hope" (to live on a paradise earth). ["Worldwide Security Under the "Prince of Peace" 1986, p.11 paragraphs 18-20]

koptzists

The Christian Skoptzy sect in Russia believe that the Messiah would come when the Skoptsi numbered 144,000, and all their efforts were directed to reaching this total.

New Age movements

The number 144,000 is also significant in various New Age religious movements.

*Song of the 144,000 is a poem by J. J. Dewey that features prominently in the New Age novel "The Immortal"
*The Church Universal and Triumphant teaches that Sanat Kummara and the Lords of the Flame also brought 144,000 souls with them from Venus.
* The new age religion called Raëlism also states that there are 144,000 chosen people to continue humanity in case of an upcoming disaster. [The message, Intelligent Design, page 298]

Popular culture

*"144,000 Gone" is a 1984 song by Agent Steel.
*On GZA's 1995 album "Liquid Swords", in the track "4th Chamber," fellow Wu-Tang Clan member (and the album's producer) RZA ends his verse with the rhyme: "Rollin' with the lands, the tribe's a hundred and forty four thousand chosen. Protons, electrons always cause explosions."
*Common's track "G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition)" on One Day It'll All Make Sense contains the following: "Cuz when the trumpets blowin', 24 elders surround the throne. Only 144,000 gon' get home."
*"144,000" is also a song written and performed by California-based neo-psychedelic rock band Silver Sunshine.

Other uses

*A Baktun is 20 Katun cycles of the ancient Maya Long Count Calendar, which contains 144,000 days.
*In author John DeChancie's comic fantasy "Castle" series, 144,000 doors (or "aspects") of the Castle each lead to another parallel universe.

ee also

*Chosen people
*124,000 which has significance in Islamic theology.
* [http://www.wake-up.org/Revelation/Rev144.htm The 144,000 and the Numberless Multitude]
* [http://www.thiefinthenight.org/144k 144,000] Not Evangelists, But Battle Ready Warriors.

References