144,000 and 666???
Reflection: Today's reading from the book of Revelation highlights why taking a literal view of the bible can be problematic. Many opinions and much to do has been given to two of the numbers we see in today's reading. The first is the number 666, the number this chapter calls the mark of the beast.
We know there are certain numbers is the bible that are associated with God. 7 is considered the perfect number because it is the number of completeness. I.e. God created the heavens and the earth in 7 days. The number 3 is also considered holy because of the Trinity, 3 in 1, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also know the chief sin of Satan was that he in vain wanted to be like God. He we himself up to be worshipped. So if three 7's represented perfect completeness, three 6's would be close but lacking. In the same way, Satan masquerades as an angel of light but really falls far short. At the heart of any false teaching is that it appears to look like the truth but is not.
Then, we have the number 144,000. Another number of importance is 12. We have the 12 disciples, the twelve tribes of Israel. And 12 times 12,000 is 144,000. So in essence 144,000 would be another number of perfect completeness. So when Revelation talks about 144,000, it is not talking about a literal number but a symbolic number of the perfect number of people who will be set aside as God's chosen ones. Why is this important? Well right now there 6 billon people on the earth. Would it reasonable given a literalistic view that all but 144,000 will be overtaken by the beast.
This is why the book of Revelation is a difficult book to interpret, as there is so much symbolism in it. Many want to make a one to one correlation between the prophesy at what is happening in the world today. Every generation has felt like it is living in the last days by what they see happening in the world. And we may be living in the last days. We certainly want to be ready for Jesus to return at any time.
And when he does return, as children of God we have been marked by a sign. We have been marked by the sign of the cross at our baptism. Therefore we do not have to fear whether we have done enough righteous things to make it into the 144,000 club. God has already chosen us in Christ before the beginning of time. As children of God we are called to be children of light in a world filled with lots of darkness. We are called to be ambassadors of a new covenant marked and sealed by Jesus own blood and righteousness. So while it is good to be aware of what is going on on the world and read the Book of Revelation, let's be reminded of who we are in Christ and our standing with God because of what He has already done for us. Therefore because of who we already are, the redeemed children of God, we can be ready for the end of the story, any day, any hour!! Amen.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[a] That number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
We know there are certain numbers is the bible that are associated with God. 7 is considered the perfect number because it is the number of completeness. I.e. God created the heavens and the earth in 7 days. The number 3 is also considered holy because of the Trinity, 3 in 1, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also know the chief sin of Satan was that he in vain wanted to be like God. He we himself up to be worshipped. So if three 7's represented perfect completeness, three 6's would be close but lacking. In the same way, Satan masquerades as an angel of light but really falls far short. At the heart of any false teaching is that it appears to look like the truth but is not.
Then, we have the number 144,000. Another number of importance is 12. We have the 12 disciples, the twelve tribes of Israel. And 12 times 12,000 is 144,000. So in essence 144,000 would be another number of perfect completeness. So when Revelation talks about 144,000, it is not talking about a literal number but a symbolic number of the perfect number of people who will be set aside as God's chosen ones. Why is this important? Well right now there 6 billon people on the earth. Would it reasonable given a literalistic view that all but 144,000 will be overtaken by the beast.
This is why the book of Revelation is a difficult book to interpret, as there is so much symbolism in it. Many want to make a one to one correlation between the prophesy at what is happening in the world today. Every generation has felt like it is living in the last days by what they see happening in the world. And we may be living in the last days. We certainly want to be ready for Jesus to return at any time.
And when he does return, as children of God we have been marked by a sign. We have been marked by the sign of the cross at our baptism. Therefore we do not have to fear whether we have done enough righteous things to make it into the 144,000 club. God has already chosen us in Christ before the beginning of time. As children of God we are called to be children of light in a world filled with lots of darkness. We are called to be ambassadors of a new covenant marked and sealed by Jesus own blood and righteousness. So while it is good to be aware of what is going on on the world and read the Book of Revelation, let's be reminded of who we are in Christ and our standing with God because of what He has already done for us. Therefore because of who we already are, the redeemed children of God, we can be ready for the end of the story, any day, any hour!! Amen.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[a] That number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
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