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May you all have peace! I posted some comments yesterday (although I knew much, including what others have shared here, I asked again, to make SURE... and so received more from my dear Lord, the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). In my haste to post, however... before I forgot all he gave me (LOLOL)... I forgot that I needed to save! And so, when I went to "submit" I found that I had been logged out - ARGGHHHHHH! But then I heard from him that it was not "ready" TO post, yet, as there was more. And there was more, dear ones! I have it all now, though (well, all he gave me for now) so:
There is a significance between the two groups beyone one just being from Israel and the others from among the nations. Before I go on, though, I must ask you ALL to hold on because... I don't want the differences between the two groups (144,000 and great crowd) to "throw" you, as perhaps the way the WTBTS presents it does. Because there is a difference. It is NOT, however, as their hopes of going to heaven/staying on the earth, being sons, or joint rulership with Christ. BOTH have the same hope(s) in these regards:
1. To receive the "water" of life, holy spirit
2. By means of which they become sons of God (because that "water" is GOD's blood, breath, and seed... or LIFE)
3. And as such, rule with Christ
4. As part of the NEW Jerusalem, the Body and Bride of Christ
5. Which rulership is UPON the earth (because "she" comes "down" or OUT of the spirit realm, "heaven")
6. And so "over" those who reside ON the earth, those constituted as "sheep" (vs. those deemed to be "goats")
The thing is... while all are sons, there are different LEVELS of rulership by those sons. Which we should have NO problem understanding, based on two truths:
1. The construction of the Temple (MOST Holy, Holy, Courtyard of Priests, Porch of Pillars, Courtyard of Israel, Courtyard of Women, Courtyard of Gentiles; and so
2. Corresponding place in the NEW Jerusalem/the Body of Christ (i.e., JAH = the MOST HOLY... Christ = the head/Holy/Moses... the Apostles... then the 144,000... THEN, the great crowd... THEN sheep - wait... I will explain). This is no different than with ANY kingdom, whether of man OR God. In the spirit realm, various spirit beings are placed over others ("Satan, and HIS angels"... "Michael, the Prince of YOU people"). As is in the physical realm - there are those over a hundred, those over several hundred, those over a 1,000... those over tens of thousands (chiliarchs), etc.
In their letters, Paul, James, and Lazarus (writer of the letter to the Hebrews) all wrote to the difference between the two groups... in who they ADDRESEDS... and HOW. For instance, Lazarus and James wrote to "the Hebrews" and "the 12 tribes." This, of course, would NOT include those of the nations. Paul, however, addressed both groups... but did so SEPARATELY... in several of his letters. One group he called "the holy ones" and the other "faithful ones (in union with, etc.)." For example (and I would suggest you look these up in the Greek or do a side-by-side interlinear comparison as some Bible versions have the conjunction "and"... delineated by the Greek word "kai"... removed, due to the misunderstanding of THEIR translators as TO the separation.]:
Romans 1:1, 7; 11:13
1 Corinthians 1:1
2 Corinthians 1:1
Ephesians 1:2; 2:19-21
Why did Paul refer to the one group as "the holy ones" and the other as "faithful ones"... and how can we KNOW he did not mean both groups, Israel AND the nations... the 144,000 AND the great crowd as "the holy ones"? We can know... because of what the word "holy" means... and only one of these group meets that definition:
"... I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless." Revelation 14:1-5
They are the "holy ones," dear ones... because they are undefiled... and blameless. What does that mean, though? Of course, I had to ask and it DOESN'T mean they are "better" than the great crowd, as we would consider "better." LIKE those of the great crowd these, too, were imperfect... sinned... and so needed to be washed in the blood of the Lamb. It means, however, that... as with a man who gives his flesh to a woman, so as to commit fornication/adultery with her... THESE... NEVER GAVE THEIR HEARTS/SPIRIT to any of the "daughters" of Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Harlots. Thus, they NEVER defiled themselves. They were without blemish. In addition, they always spoke truth. Hence, when Christ's blood cleansed THEM... they were even "whiter" (than most).
For reasons I won't share here, I then had to ask whether this meant that they had NEVER belonged to another religion? And my Lord's response was it does not. He said that ALL of Israel not only once belonged to a religion, the one established and sanctioned by JAH Himself, the system of worship that including the temple at Jerusalem and its features, including the priesthood, but at some point SHE became a harlot, Oholibah... and her sister (the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel's form of worship) with her - Oholah! So, it would be impossible to say these had never belonged to a religion OR one that was a harlot. What these did NOT do, however, is give themselves... with their WHOLE heart, WHOLE soul, WHOLE mind, and WHOLE strength... TO such harlot(s). Rather, to the extent such were in line with JAH and HIS will... they obeyed. To the exten they weren't... these did not... COULD not... obey.
Matthew 23:2, 3
In essence, they always... ALWAYS... obeyed God as (their) ruler, and not men.
[b][b]Acts 5:29[/b]
In doing so... although perhaps committing sin of the FLESH... they did not sin with their SPIRITS... which they would have done by having some "god"... BEFORE JAH. And for this reason, they are called the "holy" ones. Some examples of folks like this would be Moses (who murdered a man, yet did not sin with his spirit... and so) followed the Lamb where that One led him... David (who not only killed thousands, and committed adultery, but murdered to cover that adultery)... yet, never left following JAH... Peter...Paul, etc.
To help me share this truth with YOU dear ones, he gave me the account of the Prodigal Son. In that account, one son took his inheritance and went off and squandered it. No, doubt, some, if not much, was spent treating women. The other son, however, never left the father but stayed and worked with and for him. When the one son ran out of money and became destitute, THEN he realized his error and crawled back to the father. He was willing to humble himself, however, and take a servants place in the household... because he knew that that was all he truly deserved. The father, of course, rejoiced that his son and returned and, in celebration, called for him to receive a robe, sandals, and a ring... and for a calf to be slaughtered so that a feast could take place. The other son, however, was angry and told the father, "Hey, look, I didn't do what he did; yet, you never even slaughtered a lamb for me!"
Now, we all know this account, but what we all may not have known is the TRUE meaning of the parable; and it is NOT what we all may have thought! Let me show you:
The father said to the angry son... "We HAVE to rejoice! My son who was dead is alive; he who was lost has been found!"
Of course, that absolutely IS a reason for rejoicing and celebrating... and so the father was right! Who WOULDN'T celebrate under such circumstances? But the father also told the son:
“‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." Luke 15:31
Do you see what occurred here? The FIRST son was welcomed back into the household, yes, and given a RING... to show he BELONGED. But what else was he given? "Everything?" No. He was given a new robe (e.g., the "white robe" or SPIRIT body) and new sandals. New garments to "clothe" him... and a ring to show he was a member of the household (back in the day, a household had its own seal and all of age in the household would receive a ring so that they could "sign" things and that "signet" would tell which "house" they belonged to. I digress.).
His BROTHER, however... because HE never left the father... received EVERYTHING the father owned! ALL of his belongings!
These brothers represent the great crowd (the brother who left)... and the 144,000 (the brother who never left). Notice, I do not say that they represent ISRAEL and the great crowd. Why? Because the great crowd is made up of people... of ALL nations, tribes, and tongues... INCLUDING Israel (but NOT those of the 144,00). Those of Israel... who left JAH! Because, remember, they are of EVERY nation... and ALL Israel will be saved, not just 144,000:
Romans 11:25-27
But remember, there has ALWAYS been some of Israel "held over" for JAH, consecrated to Him, who did NOT follow after the Baal gods, or worship other gods... or fornicate with the kings of the earth... or commit adultery with "women."
And so, the "seal/sealing" means two different things for these two groups, the 144,000 and great crowd. As to BOTH... BOTH receive God's "seal"... holy spirit... upon them. That is the TOKEN, that seal, of what is to come (i.e., sonship, rulership, everlasting life AS sons, etc.). It is the means by which they are, in essence, "branded" as belonging to Him. However, only the 144,000 are SEALED... as in having THEIR calling and choosing made irrevocable. The first is "sealed" as in having a mark up upon one ("He put his seal on the letter before sending it out"); the other, however, is "sealed" as in locked in ("Once he turned the key, the contents were sealed.") They are both the same Greek word but as with many English words, have different meanings.
Those of the great crowd must make THEIR calling and choosing "sure." This is because these can LOSE their calling and choosing... albeit only for one reason: blasphemy against the spirit by which they have received such seal.
Acts 5:3
2 Peter 1:10
Those of the 144,000, however... are sealed when they are called or shortly after... by means of a "mark"... IN THEIR FOREHEADS... which mark not only identifies them as one of Abraham's seed, but locks their "seat" with Christ irrevocably. Why the difference? Because, those of the great crowd can fall away, come back, fall away, come back... etc., and so long as they don't blaspheme. Those of the 144,000... were known to JAH BEFORE... as ones who would NEVER leave Him/blaspheme. Remember, JAH knows us... and what's in us... even before we were born (into this world). Indeed, that's how our dear Lord KNEW what Peter was going to do, both as to denying him and not feeding the sheep: by means of JAH's spirit... blood... which SPEAKS... in HIM.
And so... that's it. I hope it helps. Oh, I have to add that AFTER the "prodigal" son was received back into the household, there was NO rivalry and jealousy between the two sons! Why? Because:
1. The returning son came with a TRULY humble attitude - he knew he had squandered and that the father didn't HAVE to let him back in, but did... and so he was grateful just to be IN the house. He would have lived with the pigs, so long as he was part of the household. He knew that his brother had never left and so had NO problem with the father given that son much more (which the father was right to do, as that son had shown he would squander what was given him (if he did with a little, imagine what he might do with a LOT), while the other son had shown not only would he not squander, would not leave... but was there because he LOVED the father himself and not for what he could get FROM the father);
2. The son that had stayed with the father received all that father had... and so had no REASON to be jealous of his brother.
The father LOVED... BOTH. He just GAVE each one... what THEY had proven THEY could handle.
I hope this helps... and again, peace to you, all!
YSSFS of Christ,
Shellama
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