What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Number of the Sealed: literal or figurative interpretation"
Answer
In Adventist interpretation, the number 144,000 is often understood as a literal quantity of individuals arising from the last generation of Christians. While the naming of the twelve tribes of Israel is interpreted spiritually—since through faith in Christ even Gentiles are grafted into the “tame olive tree” of Israel—the specific enumeration of 12,000 sealed persons per tribe is cited as evidence for a concrete, real group. The sealing itself is understood as a spiritual process on God's law that determines the identity of this group before Christ's second coming.
The Identity and Counting of the 144,000
What, other than a completely unrestrained departure from a literal interpretation, can cause the Holy Spirit to understand the tribes mentioned in Revelation 7 as something other than the Jewish nation? [...] Although we are told in so many words: “and 144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel,” and the names of the listed tribes are enumerated, it is still said that there is no text in favor of the Jews. If you grant me this freedom, I will be able to prove everything.
The number of the sealed is given here as forty‑one thousand; and from the fact that twelve thousand are sealed from each of the twelve tribes, many assume that this work must have been completed already around the beginning of the Christian era. [...] Paul explains in Romans 11 [...]: By faith in Christ the wild olive branches, the Gentiles, are grafted into the noble olive tree, and thus the twelve tribes are continued. [...] Thus all the redeemed are counted as belonging to these twelve tribes, whether on earth they were Jews or Gentiles.
John saw that the 144,000 were sealed from all the tribes, and these were the servants of our God, men and women, who are now alive. Where are they, say our critics? Answer: on the earth. Do you know where they can all be found? No, not yet, but I believe John saw each one of them.
The seal that is placed on the forehead of the one hundred forty‑four thousand is the seal of the living God. Seals are bound to laws and legal documents; therefore we should look for God’s seal, which is bound to His law.
When John wrote, twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Israel had been sealed, resulting in a total of 144,000 Israelites. [...] I therefore consider them to be converted Jews to whom the first offers of salvation were made through Christ. Afterwards John saw a great multitude that no one could count, from all tribes and peoples under heaven.
- 144,000 sealed interpretation
- Twelve tribes of Israel spiritual interpretation
- Seal of God's law
Original Sources (English)
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