Revelation 7:4
Revelation 7:4-8 (see also John 15:16, 19)
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
Calvinist, John MacArthur: “That there were 12,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel speaks of God’s elective purpose. Mere random human choice would not come up with such an even division.” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11, p.220, emphasis mine)
Gary Cohen and Salem Kirban: “God in His sovereign good pleasure has elected to save this number during the early stages of the Tribulation Period, before the Trumpet Judgments fall, so that they can testify for Him to the many Jews and gentiles who are to be persecuted by the Antichrist. Is 12,000 a literal number? Perhaps yes. Perhaps, however, the rounded number 12,000 represents the elect found in each tribe whatever that number turns out to be. Will these be the only Jews saved during the Tribulation? No. These are saved during this period; many more shall be saved at Christ’s coming at its close (Zech. 12:10; Rom 11:26).” (Revelation Visualized, p.128, emphasis mine)
Question: Should election to the ministry be equated with an election to salvation?
Answer: Consider the case of Matthias who replaced Judas: “At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, ‘Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.’ (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it”; and, “Let another man take his office.” Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-- beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.’ So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:15-26) So was this an election to salvation? Was Joseph (called Barsabbas, also called Justus) then reprobated for having not been chosen? Realize that it was said of both of them that they had accompanied the disciples all the time when the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, such that both were eyewitnesses of Christ’s bodily resurrection. Likely, then, both were Christians.
Question: So why should we presume that the election and sealing of the 144,000 according to Revelation 7:4, was an election to salvation? Why should we presume that any of the 144,000 were lost up until the time of their selection and sealing?
Answer: As with Joseph and Matthias, my presumption is that all 144,000 were already believers, prior to their sealing, as early converts during the Tribulation Period, such that the God chose among Christians who would be His tribulation ministers. So how were the 144,000 already Christians at the time of their sealing if they were not raptured with the rest of the Body of Christ at the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation? When the rapture happens, many will become Christians as a result of that event. The concept of the rapture is well known in the world among the lost. When it happens, it will shake up the world, including the hearts of many in Israel. The chronology of the sealing of the 144,000 occurs after the opening of the sixth seal, and before the opening of the seventh seal, as an interlude. Now according to Gary Cohen and Salem Kirban, co-authors of Revelation Visualized, they place the timeline of this sealing at the mid-point of the first 3½ years of the 7 year Tribulation. This allows for more than enough time for Jews around the world to be converted to Christ before the horrors of the second half of the Great Tribulation unfold. What I’m suggesting is that by the time of the sealing of Revelation 7:4 (mid-point of the first 3½ years of the 7 year Tribulation), there will be much more than just 144,000 Christian Jews who will have been saved from the moment after the rapture. I’m suggesting that God will have His choice among Jewish Christians, just like with Joseph and Matthias, as to who will comprise the 144,000 ministerial tribulation team.
Saying that these were Calvinism’s elect among Israel means that only, or possibly, as much as, 144,000 were saved in Israel during the Tribulation, with 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. Granted, God reserved 7,000 priests during Ahab’s reign, who did not bow the knee to baal, but it would be absurd to suggest that only 7,000 people in Israel were in covenant with God, during that time. Similarly, it is equally presumptuous to suggest that these 144,000 are the total number of those saved in Israel at the future time of Revelation. Not everyone made the cut, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they were the only ones saved. In fact, what about the babies and infants? What about those who later become saved? The most probable conclusion is that the 144,000 are those in Israel who have been physically marked by God and given a special role in the Tribulation of representing Him in whatever way that He designates. To mix in a Calvinistic Election would create, as stated, unusual implications. My guess is that these would be adult males, just like with the Old Testament priests.
