The sealing of the 144,000 is, at present, a question mark. The only thing we have, really, is what John tells us. We're not even sure of whether the number is literal or figurative. Twelve was a significant number (12 tribes, 12 apostles), as is the number seven, which indicates completion. For any group of scholars or churchmen to claim to know the details without revelation is foolish. The difference between revelation and light is that revelation is that which is revealed, new information not previously known. Light is the illumination of that which has been revealed.
The Governing Body has always claimed light, but never revealers of information not contained in the scriptures. Either way they would have to be prophets, called and ordained of God. And if prophets, they'd have to be appointed in the same way prophets were anciently. And that would necessitate witnesses of their divine callings.
For example, in Revelation 11, we read that John was commanded to measure the yet unbuilt third temple. Then he was wrote of two latter-day prophets that would be raised up to the Jews. One wonders whether these two prophets will be Jehovah's Witnesses (after all, the are called "witnesses"), but the Governing Body has already determined these two prophets are figurative (for more, you'll have to read the Society's ridiculous exegesis in its big red book on John's Apocalypse). To make the claims they do would require not light, but new revelation.
The same thing is true for the 144,000, in Revelation 7 and 14. Twelve thousand from each tribe. John writes in Chapter 7:
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 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.
Strangely, these 144,000 were from all the tribes with the exception of Dan. But it seems they will be future servants of God who are sealed for a future mission. Each is given a crown, which is to say they have received their salvation. But they aren't the only ones to receive this gift and honor. The Lord states, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
Several verses later he states: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."(Rev. 12:3, 21)
In other words, the 144,000 will be part of a much larger group which will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and gain eternal life. But they will have special callings that the others don't have. Nevertheless, their inheritance is sure.
AND I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Notice that it's Jesus on the throne, not the Father. This adds to the already overwhelming evidence that Jesus was known before his birth as Jehovah, and it was he who spoke to the fathers, to Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses and others. Jehovah is our mediator, our Savior and our advocate with the Father. But John said it was not the Lamb's name on the foreheads of the 144,000, but the Father's name. And that's all we know. Some believe these men will be special emissaries that will preach the gospel during the Millennium. John says they will sing before the four beasts "and the elders," which, I guess, means that none of the elders will be numbered with them!
To claim to be one of these holy beings would be highly presumptuous unless it is revealed to you by God. When John asked who the great multitude of holy resurrected beings were who were arrayed in white, the angel replied, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Both they and the 144,000 receive the same reward, but the mission of the latter is different. Both inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Anything more or less than this is purely speculation. And the way the Governing Board makes these wildly speculative and sometimes grossly illogical and irresponsible connections of history and scripture is nothing short of breathtaking. It's one thing when Daniel would listen to a dream and then say, "The God of Heaven has revealed to me the meaning of your dream." He would attribute his interpretations to God. But the GB members don't make similar attributions.
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