Who are the 144,000?

The first appearance in the book of Revelation:

The 144,000 of Israel Sealed:

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. (English Standard Version, 7.1-8)

There are many different interpretations of the 144,000. Some interpret the number and the identity of this group literally, while others interpret them symbolically. Some believe the 144,000 represent a literal number of Jewish people belonging to ethnic (biological) Israel who will come to faith in Jesus Christ after the Rapture of the Church, which, according to the Pre-Tribulation view, occurs before the seven-year Tribulation period.

However, another group believes that the term “Israel” is symbolic and represents the Church, or God’s New Covenant people, rather than exclusively ethnic Israel. Under this interpretation, the 144,000 is not an exact number but a symbolic representation of God’s redeemed people, including both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ.

In either case, Revelation 7 appears to indicate that God’s people are sealed and protected from His wrath. Following the sixth seal, the apostle John describes an angel sealing God’s servants on their foreheads before the subsequent judgments are allowed to proceed. Some interpret this seal as the sealing of believers by the Holy Spirit, signifying God’s ownership and protection of His people.

The second appearance in the book of Revelation:

John’s second vision of the 144,000:

The Lamb and the 144,000:

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Rev. 14.1-5)

In this second vision, much of what is described is relatively straightforward. However, there are differing interpretations regarding who the 144,000 are and how they relate to the group described in the first vision.

Webpages regarding the 144,000:

https://davidjeremiah.blog/the-144000-in-the-book-of-revelation/

Are they kings, priests, and/or judges?

https://revelationscriptures.com/the-144000-what-the-bible-says/#144000_-_PRIESTS_KINGS_JUDG