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so why is Dan missing?
Posted on: June 5, 2021 at 17:30:29 CT
CulturedDan MU
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Also, it's not universal recognition. It's a current wave (last 250 years) of teachings that folks who want to have their ears tickled have amassed for themselves.
There are many reasonable evangelicals who see them for what they are.
https://wearefaith.org/blog/who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/
Another possibility is that these 144,000 are representational of all believers, using symbolic language to describe them. The number 144,000 draws upon various numbers of significance, with 12 being the number for God’s people (12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, 12 apostles of Jesus) and 1,000 being a number that shows a great multitude. Therefore, 144,000 could be 12 x 12 x 1,000, showing that there is a great number of people that God calls. Thus, 144,000 is similar to the great multitude that cannot be counted in Revelation 7, using different ways of speaking similar truths. In Revelation 7:3, the 144,0000 are called servants of God — a title used to describe God’s people (Jew and Gentile) in Revelation 1:1; 2:20; 19:2, 5; 22:3. The 144,000 are also said to be redeemed from mankind in Revelation 14:3, with Revelation 5:9 speaking of God redeeming people from all tribes and nations; thus, they might not be specifically Jewish, but connecting the people of God in all times and places to the start of his calling a people to Himself that happens through the nation of Israel (remember that Paul says we are children of Abraham in Galatians 3:7) The unusual list of tribes in Revelation 7 may even indicate that this list is symbolic, as Judah comes first (the tribe of Jesus) and it is not in the order of their birth. It may even point to outsiders coming into the community and excludes the tribes associated with idolatry and is a reminder that it is not physical descent, but rather spiritual fidelity, that determines our ultimate fate. In counting the 144,000 and seemingly describing them as celebate males in Revelation, this passage may also evoke the census of armies, thus showing that the Lord has an army of believers on earth (as the 144,000 are on earth while the multitude in Revelation 7 is in heaven) and that God is protecting His people.
Which View Do I Find More Plausible?
Having laid out these options, you might wonder which one I think is more likely. I would lean towards viewing these 144,000 as symbolic of believers in all times and places. As I have studied the Book of Revelation over the years, I have come to believe more and more that the visions often repeat and clarify each other; thus, I think that the vision of the great multitude and the 144,000 could likely be two ways of thinking about a similar topic. There seems to be so much symbolic language used through the Book of Revelation and even in this imagery, that I think we have to look beyond just the numbers and names to see what the symbols are pointing to. That being said, I always want to recognize that faithful Christians have had different views of this passage and that this is not something that affects our salvation or even greatly affects how I live as a follower of Christ. It is not something that should lead to any sort of division in churches or even great debate that distracts us from God’s purposes. Let us not forget the overall point which is that God has people and protects them…and the forces of Satan will be defeated in this world.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/
(He even gives a good explanation for the absence of Dan - those of whom are excluded from Kingdom of God)
"This is 12, the number of the tribes of Israel, multiplied by itself and then multiplied by 1000, the number of a military unit in the ancient Israelite army. The number indicates the fullness of Israel; the Church in the New Testament is conceived as the fullness of Israel, and this is the heavenly Church in its final completion." – Dictionary of the Bible, John L. McKenzie, S.J.
There are many reasonable evangelicals who see them for what they are.
https://wearefaith.org/blog/who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/
Another possibility is that these 144,000 are representational of all believers, using symbolic language to describe them. The number 144,000 draws upon various numbers of significance, with 12 being the number for God’s people (12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, 12 apostles of Jesus) and 1,000 being a number that shows a great multitude. Therefore, 144,000 could be 12 x 12 x 1,000, showing that there is a great number of people that God calls. Thus, 144,000 is similar to the great multitude that cannot be counted in Revelation 7, using different ways of speaking similar truths. In Revelation 7:3, the 144,0000 are called servants of God — a title used to describe God’s people (Jew and Gentile) in Revelation 1:1; 2:20; 19:2, 5; 22:3. The 144,000 are also said to be redeemed from mankind in Revelation 14:3, with Revelation 5:9 speaking of God redeeming people from all tribes and nations; thus, they might not be specifically Jewish, but connecting the people of God in all times and places to the start of his calling a people to Himself that happens through the nation of Israel (remember that Paul says we are children of Abraham in Galatians 3:7) The unusual list of tribes in Revelation 7 may even indicate that this list is symbolic, as Judah comes first (the tribe of Jesus) and it is not in the order of their birth. It may even point to outsiders coming into the community and excludes the tribes associated with idolatry and is a reminder that it is not physical descent, but rather spiritual fidelity, that determines our ultimate fate. In counting the 144,000 and seemingly describing them as celebate males in Revelation, this passage may also evoke the census of armies, thus showing that the Lord has an army of believers on earth (as the 144,000 are on earth while the multitude in Revelation 7 is in heaven) and that God is protecting His people.
Which View Do I Find More Plausible?
Having laid out these options, you might wonder which one I think is more likely. I would lean towards viewing these 144,000 as symbolic of believers in all times and places. As I have studied the Book of Revelation over the years, I have come to believe more and more that the visions often repeat and clarify each other; thus, I think that the vision of the great multitude and the 144,000 could likely be two ways of thinking about a similar topic. There seems to be so much symbolic language used through the Book of Revelation and even in this imagery, that I think we have to look beyond just the numbers and names to see what the symbols are pointing to. That being said, I always want to recognize that faithful Christians have had different views of this passage and that this is not something that affects our salvation or even greatly affects how I live as a follower of Christ. It is not something that should lead to any sort of division in churches or even great debate that distracts us from God’s purposes. Let us not forget the overall point which is that God has people and protects them…and the forces of Satan will be defeated in this world.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/who-are-the-144000-in-revelation/
(He even gives a good explanation for the absence of Dan - those of whom are excluded from Kingdom of God)
"This is 12, the number of the tribes of Israel, multiplied by itself and then multiplied by 1000, the number of a military unit in the ancient Israelite army. The number indicates the fullness of Israel; the Church in the New Testament is conceived as the fullness of Israel, and this is the heavenly Church in its final completion." – Dictionary of the Bible, John L. McKenzie, S.J.
Please explain why this message is being reported.
MESSAGE THREAD
so why is Dan missing? - dangertim MU - 6/5 17:30:29