THE 144,000 When a preacher or teacher speaks or writes of Israel, the door of disputation appears to swing open. The very sound of the words "Jew," "Israelite," and "Israelites" seems to awaken theological hostility among many. There are circles where uninformed zealots eagerly attempt to prove that Israel is a now a non-factor, and has been cast upon the rubbish heap of nations, being in the same class as castaway empires like Babylon, the Medes and the Persians, Greece, and Rome. The position of such people is that "the church" has replaced Israel, and God really has nothing more for them. Of course, this position makes the text of these devotions (Rev 14:1-14 and 7:4-8) absolutely absurd, for in it John is given to see "all the tribes of the children of Israel" sealed by God, and standing with the Lamb. For the advantage of the unlearned, the tribes are even named, clearly distinguishing the group from "the church" as commonly perceived. That is a vision none of these pretended teachers could have, for it contradicts their theology. -- Tomorrow:
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev 14:1-4).
Devotion 6 of 26
There is, however, inspired and sound reasoning concerning Israel in the Scriptures. It is there to justify God in His attitude toward this people, and to humble arrogant Gentiles who presume to have taken their place. I want to extract one of these reasoning-threads to show the importance of the subject of this series of devotions.
"Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers" (Rom 11:28). The "they" of this text is clearly the people of Israel – the offspring of Abraham "according to the flesh" (Rom 9:3). This is identified as the "Israel" to whom God said, "All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Rom 10:21). It is the nation of which Paul himself was a member (Rom 11:1). Elijah was also one of them (11:2-4). It is clearly stated that there is presently a remnant among them "according to the election of grace" (11:5). This is the Israel that has not presently obtained the promise (11:7-10). Although blinded by God Himself, they have not stumbled so as to utterly fall. Instead, through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles for the purpose of provoking them to jealousy (10:19; 11:11). In fact, Paul even states that he is an apostle to the Gentiles in order to provoke them to jealousy. "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. (Rom 11:13- 14).
Now, with all of this in mind, our text states, "From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers" (Rom 11:28, NASB). It is as though the Lord will not allow us to imagine falsity on this subject. It is true that, at this time, they are "enemies." But that is only so the Gospel can be brought to the Gentiles. However, when it comes to the matter of "election" – Divine choice – they remain "beloved" because of the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). God is still known as "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Matt 22:32; Lk 13:28; Acts 3:13; 7:32).
THE DIVINE MANNER
Paul construes in his reasoning: "For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance," or "irrevocable" (Rom 11:29,, NKJV). The Spirit clinches the matter by affirming the irreversibility of God's benefactions and summons. Admittedly, He is speaking on a high plain. However, we do well to learn to navigate in these realms, leaving the lower climes of human reasoning. The Lord will give us "hinds feet" to negotiate these towering peaks of Divine affirmation (2 Sam 22:34; Psa 18:33; Hab 3:19). Further, the sensitive soul will see that if God has gone back on His promise to Israel, there is no guarantee that He can be trusted at all, for His dealings with Israel have been given to us to confirm His absolute faithfulness. It is utter folly to labor to establish that Israel has been cut off, God's covenant with them voided, and that they are no longer a people. Exactly what does that establish, and how can it possibly contribute to trust in God. All of this is not mere conjecture, for this is the reasoning of Romans nine through eleven.
WHY THE 144,000?
Knowing that this message is to the churches, why is reference made to the 144,000? Why is a connection made with "the tribes of the children of Israel" within the context of God's great salvation? And why is it stated to Gentile churches? There is a reason.
Every book of Scripture has been written with the entirety of Divine purpose in mind. This is involved in "all Scripture" being given by the "inspiration of God" (2 Tim 3:16-17). Not only is the message itself of Divine origin, but the backdrop against which the message is to be seen is also inspired.
SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS
When it comes to salvation, Jesus spoke clearly: "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus Himself came from this chosen people (Gen 49:10; Rom 9:5; Heb 7:14). The Jews themselves were the custodians of all of the preparations for salvation (Rom 9:4-5). From them salvation would be brought to the entire world and that by Divine design. The promises were made to the Jews. The Savior made His entrance into the world from them. The Gospel was preached for the first time to both Jew and Gentile by them. Truly, "Salvation is of the Jews."
THE JEWS BEAR US
Gentiles believers are wild olive branches, grafted into, and supported by, the Jewish tree. The Holy Spirit would have us learn this lesson well. "And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you" (Rom 11:17-18).
The glorious benefits we receive in Christ Jesus belong to Israel by promise. The "root and fatness" of their tree still remains, nourishing those who are in Jesus. There persists a richness in that ancient "root" that is not to be contradicted. If that tree has really been cut down and discarded, the Gentiles have no hope, for all of the hope is found in the "root and fatness" of their tree.
Let it be clear that "God is able to graft them in again" (Rom 11:23). Of course, that would be an absurd statement to make, had all hope for them been removed. If the "them" of reference do not really exist, then what could the text possibly mean?
What we are seeing in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation is their engrafting of the Jews into their own blessed olive tree. This should cause no difficulty for anyone, for it has been clearly affirmed that God "is able to graft them in again."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant Your people grace to think correctly about the Jews from whom salvation has come.