The 144,000 Servants of God

Like I said in a previous post, if these people were Gentiles you would not be expressing your question by saying, 'the lost tribes of Israel.' Tribes always speaks to the issues of the Jews or Israelite people. Lost means that the Israelites dispersed into the pagan culture and were, through time, lost to human civilization. There is no other explanation.

 

In today's society people use the word Jew and Israelite interchangeably. Technically, a Jew refers to their religion and an Israelite is one who is a citizen of Israel. You could go to Israel and become a naturalized Israelite but you would not be a Jew unless you converted to their faith.

Today people speak of Russian Jews, Polish Jews and German Jews, for example, but they might be Protestant or Catholic but their origin and return was to Israel.

In Biblical days and also today, when the Bible speaks of people being from the twelve tribes of Israel or from the lost tribes of Israel, it refers to their political and spiritual heritage.

In Revelation chapter seven 'the 12 tribes' refers to their heritage as citizens of Israel, plus the fact that they will be Christian in their message to everyone in the world. 'The great multitude' of (7:9) will be martyrs which will include both Israelites and Gentiles from all the nations of the world.

The '10 lost tribes' deals with their heritage plus the religion of Judiasm. In fact, some who are of the lost 10 tribes, by now might be Catholic or Protestant Christians, but their land of origin would be Israel.

All Israelites, people who live in Israel, will be grafted in again into their 'own olive tree,' referring to Christ's salvation. The Apostle Paul calls them 'the natural branches.' [Romans 11:24] All of national Israel will become saved through Christ the Deliverer. [vs. 26]

 

Dr. Berrian is saying 'The Gospel of the Kingdom' in Matthew 24:14 is not the same as the Christian Gospel. We all know what the Christian Gospel entails but the first mentioned one has to do with the unique message that the 144,000 will be preaching during the Great Tribulation. [vs. 21]

'This Gospel {of the Kingdom} will be preached again by the 144,000 sealed ones of Revelation 7:1-8 and such other witnesses as God may elect for that service during the {Great} tribulation period. It is reasonable that the message which prepared for His Messianic Kingdom in the first days before the Messiah and His Kingdom were rejected [John 1:11] should be renewed and preached before His second advent, (Second Coming) when that Kingdom will be set up by the power of God and without rejection of the King.' Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, "Kregel Publishing" Vol. V, p. 123. {former President of Dallas Theological Seminary}

Dr. Randall Price says in his book, "Jerusalem In Prophecy" Harvest House Publishers, p. 137. He has a Th. M. in Old Testament and Semitic Languages, and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies and has lived in Jerusalem and has done graduate studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

'The (Great) Tribulation will convince the Jewish nation of their need for the Messiah in order to produce a national repentance and regeneration. {Daniel 12:5-7; Isaiah 59:20-21; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 20:34-38; 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Zechariah 12 through 13:2} The Great Tribulation will effect the deliverance of the Jewish people from Gentile dominion by bringing about the Judgment of the Nations and ending their rule in the coming of Israel's Messiah as Universal King {Isaiah 24:21-23; 59:16-20; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27}.'

'A total of 144,00 Jews will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom during the Tribulation hour. Then when Russia invades the Middle East and God performs one of His greatest miralces on behalf of the Israelites (see Ezekiel 39:22), their eyes will be opened. Thus, somewhere toward the end of the Armageddon period-or as Christ returns to judge the Nations [Matthew 25:3-46-especially vs. 32]-a tremendous nationwide conversion of God's people, the Jews, takes place. There is no doubt about it. Jews are going to be saved en masse. The greatest hour in history is coming for Israel!' Dr. Jack Van Impe. "Prophecy" p. 12. -----Twelve leading seminaries and Bible Colleges across America have honored him with doctoral degrees in the field of theology; Jack has committed to memory nearly 14,000 verses of Scripture by subject, more than the entire New Testament.

 

Downsville,

I will try to clarify my statement. Here it is. 'The '10 lost tribes' deals with their heritage plus the religion of Judiasm.

'Many of the 10 lost tribes have died, but their children live on today throughout the world. Some really believe in Judiasm while others do not care about their religion or faith. Their heritage entails all that they have experienced and believed or presently believe.

I said before, 'In fact, some who are of the lost 10 tribes, by now might be Catholic or Protestant Christians, but their land of origin would be Israel.

To clarify. . . Most of these children of the lost 10 tribes remain followers of Judiasm but to many they are purely secular or as we might say worldly/non-spiritual people. Most probably know at least that they are Jews and that their nation is Israel. Some may have found Christ and became Catholic or Protestant believers. Probably not many however.

Hope this clarifies what I said originally.

Dr. Berrian

 

I only have one 138 page booklet by Dr. Van Impe in a question and answer form. Here is your question. He says, 'The Bible speaks about the Day of the Lord. Is this during the Tribulation period?

Actually, we have to be careful here in defining this on, because the Day of the Lord begins one minute after the rapture! As soon as Christ comes for His bride, the Day of the Lord immediately begins, and it includes the seven-year period of the {Great} Tribulation. As soon as Christ comes for His bride, the Day of the Lord immediately begins, and it includes the seven-year period of the Tribulation. So the 'Day of the Lord' is actually 1,007 years of time.

That is why, after the 1,000 years, The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (II Peter 3:10). That's when He makes the new Heavens and the new earth of Revelation 21.' {end of Dr. Van Impe's quote}

The second question on the same page is this. 'The term "Day of the Lord" has caused some confusion among Christians, hasen't it?

Yes--for the very reason I have just mentioned. They attempt to make the Day of the Lord synonymous with the Rapture. But that is not possible.' {end quote}

From these dirct quotes from him, I would say that you have misrepresented Dr. Jack.

Ray is saying, 'The Beast of Revelation is the antichrist; the Devil is the hater of Almighty God; and the False Prophet will preach the ideas of the man who will become the antichrist. In theology we call this the Unholy Trinity: Satan, antichrist and the False Prophet. The true God is the holy Trinity. Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I don't think Van Impe would say that the computer would turn into or be used as antichrist, but this mega-computer could keep track of who has taken the mark of the beast, the 666. Those who are not in the computer, for example--could be then visited to take that mark in the forehead or on the hand. All those who do not take the mark will be martyred as enemies of the world political system and also those who have despised the antichrist.

I would think that Dr. Jack would believe that all who are in the 12 tribes will be of Israelite lineage, as I also am persuaded. I do not see how anyone of the 12 tribes could not be of Jewish stock.

Many Christians come up with a lot of error because they look at the Bible through Christian eyes, rather than realizing that all of the O.T. was written for the most part for the Israelites.
The New Covenant was first given to the Israelites and all of the N.T. was written by Israelites except St. Luke. Seeing and reading the Bible through Jewish eyes will give many a clearer vision. Yes, we are Gentile Churches; thanks be to God! His grace and His love has reached out to all of humankind.

Dr. Jack gets quite enthused at times and tries to uncover current events that is only peripheral to the main issues of eschatology. This, however, does not mean that his view of end times is in error. Do Christian give him any credit for offering the sinners prayer in trying to get sinners to received Christ? [John 1:12] If any of us were as good as him I guess we would be televised weekly. Am I wrong?

 

Downsville,

You said, 'No one would send me enough money to be on the next week.

Ray is saying, 'If they did, what would you be preaching or teaching?

You said, ' In fact it seems the only ones who do stay on tv are those that preach the express way to heaven.'

Ray is saying, 'I agree, according to our thinking, some of the T.V. Christian programming is irrelevant to the true Gospel.'

You said, 'Just say ya believe, no law and no judgement and . . . '

Ray is saying, 'Did Jesus lie when He had Luke write down verses: Acts 2:21 & Act 16:31? Your weakness is that you do not know how many things take place when a person is saved. I'll give you a few. 1. Justification 2. Redemption by blood 3. Regeneration 4. Indwelling of the Spirit 5. Sanctified in Christ Jesus {I Cor. 1:2} 6. Anointed by the Spirit 7. Baptized into the Spirit of God 8. Our names written in Heaven and so on.

You said, If ya happen to be around at the time the tribulation starts . . .'

Ray is saying, 'This is a misnomer. Only truly saved person will go to be with Jesus at the rapture.'

You said, ' dont worry you have a round trip ticket to heaven while the earths being judged.Just what their itching ears wanna here.

Ray is saying, The sinners will not be judged until after the Millennimum.