How Many Are Sealed?

Jesus said to those in line for this sealing: "Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) Other scriptures, such as Revelation 6:11 and Romans 11:25, indicate that the number of this little flock is indeed limited and, in fact, predetermined. John's next words confirm this: " And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed." -Revelation 7:4-8.

Could this not be a reference to literal fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing. (Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation-12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.- Galatians 6:16; Revelation 20:4, 6.

Although the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes were given the first opportunity to be chosen for spiritual Israel, only a minority of that nation responded. Jehovah therefore extended the invitation to the Gentiles. (John 1:10-13; Acts 2:4, 7-11; Romans 11:7) As in the case of the Ephesians, who previously had been "alienated from the state of Israel," now non-Jews could be sealed with God's spirit and become part of the congregation of anointed Christians. (Ephesians 2:11-13; 3:5, 6; Acts 15;14) It is appropriate, then, for the twenty-four elders to sing before the Lamb: "With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth." -Revelation 5:9, 10.

The Christian congregation is "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." (1 Peter 2:9) Replacing natural Israel as God's nation, it becomes a new Israel that is "really 'Israel.' " (Romans 9:6-8; Matthew 21:43) For this reason, it was quite proper for Jesus' half brother James to address his pastoral letter "to the twelve tribes that are scattered about," that is, to the worldwide congregation of anointed Christians that in time would number 144,000. -James 1:1.

Next time: The Israel Of God Today