THE 144,000

"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" (Rev 14:1-4).

Devotion 8 of

GREATER RESULTS TO COME
"For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?"  (Rom 11:15)

Now, the Spirit reasons the Jew's "acceptance" will produce even greater results than them being cast away. When He says  "life from the dead," the Spirit refers to a spiritual awakening – a resurrection to walk in newness of life  (Rom 6:4). It is a vibrant identity with  Christ Jesus in the heavenly places, and it will come through the acceptance of the Jews – the re-grafting of them into their own olive tree. This will be the result of them believing the Gospel of Christ and accepting Him as the promised Savior.

If their "acceptance" were an impossibility, or even if it were a mere possibility, such lofty reasoning would be out of order. These words are an appeal to our faith, and they are rooted in the very nature of God. They reflect His eternal purpose, and His righteous nature as well.

THE GENTILES OBTAINED MERCY WHEN THEY WERE DISOBEDIENT, AND SO WILL THE JEWS
"For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you  they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have  mercy on all" (Rom 11:30-32, NKJV).

We are trafficking in lofty realms! The very mind of the Lord is being  articulated, and we  do well to receive it by faith. We Gentiles obtained mercy "through" the "disobedience," or unbelief, of the Jews. What appeared to be an overthrow of Divine objective occasioned the  opening of salvation  to the world! Here is another sense in which "Salvation is of the Jews!" 

A MARVELOUS CONSIDERATION
Now the Spirit elevates our thinking to rarified climes. The Jews who "have now been disobedient" (or "also now not believed" – KJV) will obtain mercy "through the mercy" that has been shown to the Gentiles. In other  words, they will be provoked to jealousy, as it is written (Deut 32:21; Rom 10:19; 11:11).

The Divine intent is then proclaimed, and it is marvelous in our eyes. "For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." Rather than speculate about this extraordinary expression, we must join with Paul in exclaiming the profoundness of the Lord's  wisdom, knowledge, judgment, and ways. His very next expression is, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Rom 11:33-36).  We ought to suspect dishonesty in any person who reasons otherwise.

EVERYONE HAS FALLEN INTO SIN
All have become disobedient. Salvation is only by the mercy of God – to anyone. Woe to  the individual who adopts a theology that excludes the Jews from that mercy, particularly  since  the Spirit has gone to great lengths to trace our salvation back to them, and then boldly announce that God intends to show them mercy also.  You may not understand the affirmation, but you do well to believe it!

BUT WHAT HAS THIS TO DO WITH THE 144,000?
The text before us is one of triumph (Rev 14:1-4), where the redeemed are seen in clear affiliation with the Lamb. Why are the people specified as the 144,000, who have already been identified as  individuals "from all the tribes of Israel?" Surely, the following blessings  are not for the Jews alone! (1)  Standing with the Lamb, (2) having the Father's name written on the forehead, (3) singing a new song, (4)  being undefiled, (5) following the Lamb, (6) being redeemed, (7) being firstfruits to God and the Lamb,  (8) having no guile, and (9) standing faultless before the throne (Rev 14:1-5). 

It is true, these things are experienced by all that are born again. There is, however a  specific message that is being conveyed by this text – and that is the grafting in again of the Jews into their own tree. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the confidence and assurance that are generated within when I knew You stand by Your promises.

-- Tomorrow:  -THE OLIVE TREE -