Posted by stiern [stiern] on November 10, 1999 at 14:29:00 {AAJB0ph6mYyr6xKV1WqIN3SUxMyzok}:
In Reply to: 144,000 posted by disko on November 10, 1999 at 10:45:14:
Dear Disko!
People seem to forget one thing when it comes to the 144 000.
The bible says that they were taken out from ……what?
From the 12 tribes of Israel, right?
From a literal Israel? No, since Israel has disappeared as a nation with 12 tribes. None today (or at John's time)is able to claim which tribe he belongs to.
So we must speak about a symbolic Israel here.
Which symbolic Israel do we know about?
God’s Israel, which Paul spoke about!
*** Rbi8 Galatians 6:16 ***
16 And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.
Well, if 12000 were taken from each of these 12 tribes of the symbolic Israel, then there must be more people in every (symbolic) tribe:
*** Rbi8 Revelation 7:4-8 ***
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed;
out of the tribe of Reu'ben twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;
6 out of the tribe of Ash'er twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Naph'ta·li twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Ma·nas'seh twelve thousand;
7 out of the tribe of Sim'e·on twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Le'vi twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Is'sa·char twelve thousand;
8 out of the tribe of Zeb'u·lun twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.
As it says in verse 4: who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed OUT OF EVERY TRIBE.
Logically there must be more people in the symbolic Israel than only these 144000!!
Who are these? Who are the majority of the symbolic Israel?
It´s the great crowd who also are in the new covenant but not as priests and kings!
Only my (star) thoughts
stiern