The· Revelation of Jesus Christ
102
THE SEALED COMPANY OF 144,000 JEWS 7:4-8
1. Who They Are. There can be no doubt as to the identity of the 144,000, for John plainly states: "And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel" (verse 4). The tribes mentioned in the verses following that quoted above, are Juda, Reuben, Gad, Aser, Nepthalim, Manasses, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph and Benjamin. Out of each of these tribes there were 12,000 sealed, making a total of 144,000. Various religious cults and sects falsely claim to be the 144,000. I recall an incident in my early ministry in this con nection. A young man and his wife, whom I had the privilege of leading to the Lord, gave a faithful testimony in our midst. Shortly afterwards they moved to another city. Soon after their departure, I had occasion to travel to Chicago. I received a letter from them, asking if I would pay them a visit en route. They wanted to see me, looking upon me as their father in the Lord. When I reached their city, they met me at the station; and, among other things, the young woman said: "Oh, Mr. Talbot, we have invited a young woman, who is a leader of a certain movement here, to supper; and we want you to talk to her. We have already joined this movement." She told me something about it, and I recognized at once that the cult they had joined was Seventh Day Adventism. Lectures were being given in their city. This young couple had listened, and of course they were interested. Then they had identified themselves with the organization. They said to me: "Now, this young '\'{Oman will not agree with you: but -when you are at the table, we want you to promise that you -will not say anything to hurt her feelings." "Why, I would not hurt anybody's feelings for the world," I said. At dinner we had something which appeals to me at any time-a piece of good old roast beef, cooked as only the
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker