Wyatt Graham

Wyatt Graham

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?

Wyatt Graham's avatar
Wyatt Graham
Mar 11, 2020

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Revelation 7 describes two armies—the 144,000 and the multitude from the nations. These two groups are identified in various ways.

Some have argued that they represent Jewish and Gentile believers respectively (dispenational).Others see them as two visions of the same group (non-dispensational).

Probably the best way to understand the vision, however, is as a recapitution of the earlier vision of the Lion and Lamb in Revelation 5:5–6. A number of reasons lead to this conclusion.*

Reasons

First, the two visions alternate between John “hearing” and then “seeing.” In Revelation 5:5, John hears about the Lion but looks and sees that the Lion is actually the Lamb (Rev 5:6). In Revelation 7, John hears the number of the sealed (Rev 7:4) but looks and actually sees a multitude (Rev 7:9).

Second, both passages note the tribe of Judah. John hears “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” in Revelation 5:5 as well as hearing 12,000 “of the tribe of Judah” in Revelation 7:5.

Third, Bauckham notes, “To the Lamb standing (5:6), who has ransomed people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation (5:9), corresponds the multitude from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the Lamb (7:9).”

Point

These correspondences at least suggest that Revelation 7 advances the messianic army motif that Revelation 5 had begun. If so, then Revelation 7 parallels the Lion and Lamb vision of Revelation 5:5–6. In that earlier vision, John hears about the Lion of Judah but actually sees the Lamb slain. The point is that the conquering messiah conquers through his sacrificial death.

The same relationship probably carries over to Revelation 7. John hears a conquering army of the Lion Judah as many Jewish believers hoped for a messianic conquest, but he instead sees the Lamb’s army whom the lamb has ransomed from the nations. Instead of arraying for battle, they array for worship.

Certain modern cults play up the idea of 144,000 sealed saints and integrate them into their religion. John tells a different story. The 144,000 are what John hears, but what he actually sees are saints from every, tribe, tongue and nation worshipping the lamb who was slain.


I am following the arguments made by Richard Bauckham in The Climax of Prophecy.


Subscribe to Wyatt Graham

Launched a year ago
I write about past wisdom for life today. My niche is reading actual ancient primary sources and showing how they change your life.

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
A Long But Hopefully Charitable Reading of John Mark Comer's Theology of God
Nov 20, 2024 • 
Wyatt Graham
98

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
25
10 theology books that changed my life
We should read old books that have stood the test of time. Here are ten of those, not in any particular order. I could add many more.
Apr 11 • 
Wyatt Graham
94

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
10 theology books that changed my life
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
17
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Somewhat apologetically, Paul describes himself as a man “in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor 12:2).
Jul 16, 2019 • 
Wyatt Graham
8

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
1

Ready for more?

© 2025 Wyatt Graham
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.