THE SEALING OF THE 144,000

 

            The Book of Revelation has enhanced Christian worship with beautiful hymns sung by angels and saints.  After the conclusion of the seven messages to the churches in Asia Minor, the sacred author ushers the reader into a worship service where two beautiful hymns are sung: “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev 4:8).  While they sing the twenty-four elders, representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, fall down in adoration and sing, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev 4:11).  One might consider the Book of Revelation to be a book of worship.  Some of its hymns have found their way into the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

            Revelation presents a great battle between God and the devil, described in apocalyptic language.  This was a genre of writing that was popular in Jewish biblical and non-biblical literature in the two centuries before and after the time of Christ and the apostles.  Apocalyptic deals with the world’s end, revealing that God will triumph over evil after a time of great upheavals and cosmic battles.  It uses other-worldly imagery that is intentionally obscure.  John admits that he writes in this genre: “The apocalupis (Gk.) of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place” (Rev 1:1).  Apocalupis means “revelation” and this is what we call the book in English. 

            There has been much speculation over the centuries about the identity of the 144,000 servants of God who receive a seal on their forehead before the release of the seventh plague on the earth.  The number indicates completeness, 12 being a favored number in Jewish and Christian revelation.  12 x 12 x 1000 = 144,000; they are 12,000 men from every tribe of Israel (cf. Rev 7:1-8).  There are many others not part of this company who also are saved.  Thus, “a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands…‘These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation’” (cf. Rev 7:9-17). 

The 144,000 are a sacred order.  We pick them up seven chapters later.  The Lamb stands on Mount Zion and they are by his side.  A song of worship is sung.  “No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.  It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes…” (Rev 14:3-4).  This manner of speaking seems offensive until we understand the 144,000 as an elite order in the Lamb’s army.  They go out with the Lamb in battle, with his name and the Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads.  In the Old Testament the soldiers of Israel would consecrate themselves to God when going into battle and abstain from conjugal relations until their sortie was ended.  A soldier who was incontinent during this time was considered to have defiled himself.  The sortie never ends for the 144,000.  They are always with the Lamb, always in the fray, and therefore always celibate: “and in their mouth no lie was found, and they are spotless” (Rev 14:5). 

Others have interpreted the 144,000 in a different way.  I favor Saint Augustine’s perspective.  They are redeemed from the world for their complete dedication to God in a unique state of life.  He comments, “The Lamb walks the way of virginity.  Follow him there, you virgins, for on this count you follow him wherever he goes…the masses of the faithful, unable to follow the Lamb to this blessing, will rejoice with you; but they will not be able to sing that new song which is for you alone.” 

 FATHER SCOTT