Why would the LORD need the 144,000 if the Church was still here? The Old Testament is for the Jews, also for our learning. In the New Testament we have the LORD on the cross, died buried and arose. There is when everything is new for the believers in CHRIST. The non believers will be left, the evil ones that want to destroy the earth. The Blessed Hope is that JESUS CHRIST will call HIS to the heavens with a "Come up here." HE promised that we would not go through the tribulation. We will be changed in a twinkling of the eye and be with the LORD for ever and ever. We will return with HIM on white horses, all clothed in white linen. HIS (remember chosen that is mostly Israel), will be preached to by the 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel, and the two prophets that will come forth, many of the lost will be saved. The 7 trumps are blown by angels, but the TRUMP OF GOD, will call HIS home, that is the rapture! It is in the bible, read it. Pray that you will escape these things that are about to fall on the earth.
Quoting: sandpiper The 144,000 are not Jews--only 1 tribe was--they were Hebrew Israelites--Gods chosen people.He promised 1 group they would not go through the end time trib--the remaining Hebrew Israelites who are alive today--the remnant spoken of in tons of places esp Isaiah. God said he would reach out his arm to gather them and who are these people who fly like doves to their nests referring to the remnant.
Indeed the Twevle Tribes are not Jews, that is to say not all Judeans.. of their tribal father Judah.. only one of the Tribe are as it were sired by Judah..
And do remember that Joseph's wife was an Egyptian or at least a daughter of a preist of On.. in Egypt.. . Two lines came from Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh... the half tribe of Epharim, (also like Dan) apparently have no peoples who meet that very select qualification as to being among those 144,000 it does not mean they disappeared nor went extinct, nor were even disinherited as Tribes of Israel.. It simply would appear that they didn't / don't have anyone that meets those exact qualifications for the 144,000 ...
But then we find Joseph and Manesseh.. Almost as if Joseph has more sons than just Ephraim and Manesseh.. perhaps this other sons as it were are adopted or as it is engrafted into the Tribe of Joseph.. and some of those others meet the qualifications for being among the 144,000.. and by the way these 144,000 are not the only peoples to get saved or born again, these are on a special assignement as it were... these in particlar are BrideGrooms.. these help the Husband-to-be to groom up the Bride...to perpare her to become Wife and no longer simply Bride... or so it might be said.
Also we find Levi who formerly was not deemed to be a Tribe of Israel now being included.. why? Because the Levitical Priesthood is now gone.. replaced by the Mal-Kez-ah-dek.. priest hood. and their own special function now over and done with they can return to just being one of the Twelve "Sons" of Jacob/Israel, the man.
Hebrew-Israelites is a rather strange concoction.. or is it? There are many others of Eber besides that line that went on down to Abraham and on down to Issac and to Jacob.
Look at the qualifications for the 144,000,, really look at those qualifications.. and really think.
