| Author | Message | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 195 Registered: 4-2006  |
Just read this article on formeradventist.org, http://www.formeradventist.com/mead.html and was wondering about this section: "Does God notice? Does He have an answer for them? Yes. God points to His people, two or three here and there--all over the world, at least one hundred and forty four thousand strong --the called out ones who do not fit into any of the local congregations." Is there a general interpretation of the scriptures which justifies a position as this one? Aren't the 144000 jews? Jesus you are truely awesome! | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 558 Registered: 7-2004  |
As far as I know, there is no consensus in maintream Christianity as to who the 144,000 are. Some think it is literally Jews, and others think it is believers in general. I'm not familiar enough with the various perspectives to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the interpretations. My understanding is that 144,000 is not a literal number, but signifies a full and complete number. Regardless of what nationality they are, I'm pretty sure there is no Scriptural basis to say the 144,000 "do not fit into any of the local congregations". | ||
| Cforrester Registered user Username: Cforrester Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2004 |
While there is no consensus as Raven points out, I mostly see a symbolic interpretation. There are some literalist/futurist interpretations today that ascribe a literal meaning, but it's not mainstream. I've generally thought of it as the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel since the context is symbolic. It seems universal since the angels are at the 4 winds. I know I have read an interpretation of the chapter that ascribes the great multitude as Christians, and that the last thing God does is call our Jewish believers (the 144K) but I'm not in agreement. It's a sealing of "the bond servants of our God" and to me it seems to represent all those who are Christ's. I believe the 144K is also the great multitide. I've probably not studied much into this because of all the, er, interesting opinions I heard while an Adventist  |
