Temporary New Covenant limited to 144,000? Salvation outside NC? (page 2)

May you have peace!

A. The New Covenant, which is a covenant for eternal life - vs. death, under the Old Covenant) is not temporary; it is "indefinitely lasting." It is not the same as the covenant "for a kingdom," which Christ made with his disciples (for a limited co-rulership). That covenant, for a kingdom, IS temporary, as it last only 1,000 years. Luke 22:29; Isaiah 55:5; 61:8; Jeremiah 50:5; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation 20:4c

B. It is not limited to the 144,000. It includes the 144,000 "from among the sons of Israel" (literally - in order to fulfill God's promise to Abraham, that his (Abraham's) seed would be a chosen people by means of which the nations would "bless" themselves) AND a great crowd... "out of ALL nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples"... including those of the sons of Israel but who are NOT of the 144,000... that NO man is able to number. BOTH of these... "wash their robes" (i.e., tokenly cleanse their themselves of their sins by "washing" in blood - )... in the blood of the Lamb (by symbolically drinking the "blood" of the Holy One of Israel). Revelation 7:4, 9

How do we know? Because BOTH groups(the 144,000 and the great crowd):

1. Are "BEFORE the throne";

a. 144,000 - "And they are singing as if a new song... BEFORE THE THRONE..." - Revelation 14:3

b. Great Crowd - "That is why they are BEFORE THE THRONE..." - Revelation 7:15

2. Were "BOUGHT";

a. 144,000 - "These were BOUGHT from among mankind..." - Revelation 14:4

b. Great Crowd - "... you BOUGHT persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." - Revelation 5:9

3. By Christ... with his blood;

a. 144,000 - "For you know that it was not with corruptible things, with gold or silver, that you were delivered... But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, even Christ's." 1 Peter 1:18, 19

b. Great Crowd - "... the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... saying, 'You are worthy... because... with YOUR blood you bought persons out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation...'" - Revelation 5:9

4. To be a kingdom and priests.

a. 144,000 - "... and he made US to be a kingdom, priests to his God..." - Revelation 1:6

b. Great Crowd - "... you bought persons out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made THEM to be a kingdom and priests to our God..." - Revelation 5:9

5. Which priests render sacred service (Hebrews 9:6)... before the throne... in the temple of God.

a. 144,000 - "But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in [New Jerusalem], and his slaves will render him sacred service..." - Revelation 22:3; Revelation 21:2; 19:7; 2 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5

b. Great Crowd - "... and they are rendering Him sacred service day and night IN HIS TEMPLE..." - Revelation 7:15

C. While one DOES have to be in the Covenant to become a member of the BODY of Christ, and thus, of his Bride, New Jerusalem, and so a co-ruler with him for 1,000 years... (their period of rulership with him, not his period, as his rulership lasts forever)... one does NOT have to be in the Covenant to benefit from it, per se. There is the Bride (the anointed, made up of the 144,000 and the great crowd) who, as kings and priests, rule "over" the sheep who are separated from the goats during that 1,000-year rulership. Like Rahab (who was not in the Law Covenant), these may receive life NOT because they entered into the Covenant, but because of a demonstration of their FAITH (because just saying one has faith is insufficient)... by how they treat Christ's brothers, even a "least" one. - Revelation 20:4c; Daniel 7:13, 14;Matthew 25:34-40; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:24, 25; Joshua 2:1-13; Mark 9:24

The operable word here is "may." Unlike those who eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ and, as a result, come into UNION with him (which union with Christ makes them a "wife" to his "husband")... and so... have NO condemnation... (because they obtain life... within themselves... by means of the One who IS the Life (John 14:6))... these "sheep" have NO LIFE within themselves. Thus, unlike the Bride... who is GUARANTEED a resurrection and eternal life (note the words "will" and "shall" at John 6:51, 54)... these only have a chance... not a certainty. But the MOST Holy One of Israel is merciful, and so is His Son... and as a result of the Son's teaching, so is his Bride. John 5:26; 6:51, 53, 56; Romans 8:1; Luke 6:36; Matthew 9:13

If, therefore, WE "release" such a one on earth (i.e., forgive them their sins "against us," which is what our priestly "duty" is and so as priests we are to "offer up 'sweet-smelling' sacrifices'"... prayers... for the sins of others, even our enemies)... such one stands released... in heaven. It is their sins against God... that may have no "covering" and, as a result, put them in place to be judged. Matthew 5:44; John 20:23; Revelation 5:8; 8:4; Exodus 30:7, 8; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:20

I read a bible passage that said 144,000 is only the first fruit and that many more to follow, but I can not remember what it was.

Perhaps you are thinking of an [accurate] interpretation of what is stated at Revelation 7:4, and then 7:9?

I bid you both peace!

A slave of Christ,

Temporary New Covenant limited to 144,000? Salvation outside NC?

jonathan dough

is there help out there

AGuest

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