Now, what will happen to those believers who are not one of the 144,000?
….the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth what we are, “dust”. He knoweth our hearts, for He reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning.[1]
Many will be laid away to sleep in Jesus before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble [that] shall come upon our world.…The Apostle was bidden to write: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord....From this we can see that every one is not to be judged as unworthy of eternal life.[1]
So this bible commentary says: there will be some believers “in Christ”, who will not be able to stand and endure the time of trouble; but that does not mean they are lost!!
Many struggling believers, by the mercy of God, will be put in the grave, rather than to be poor witnesses for Christ, during the time of trouble.
God needs to end the Great Controversy, by having christians with un-shakable faith, who will be able to vindicate His character and His law.
But the bible states plainly what you have to do, if you want to make it to heaven! (some would argue!!)
Rev 22 (v. 14) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
And how many sins do you think it will take to keep you out of heaven? (they will ask you!!)
Jam 2 (v. 10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
So then, what does Jesus do with all of those christians, who are failing in performance and are not one of the 144,000?
Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed into His likeness. When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit.[2]
This is not fair, some people would argue! Because the bible tells us, what we should be doing ourselves, before Jesus comes back.
Eccl 12 (v. 13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (v. 14) For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.
How can Jesus make up for our deficiencies with His own divine merit?
I Sam 16 (v. 7) ....For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
God takes a person’s birthplace and opportunities into consideration.
Psm 87 (v. 6) The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: “This one
was born there.”
So, God weighs a person’s birthplace and opportunities in the books!!
Psm 56 (v. 8) You number my wanderings; [and] put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?
So, He knows the efforts that people are striving against sin, even though they may still be failing in performance!!
Psm 139 (v. 15) My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made [NKJV].... (v. 16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being un-perfect [KJV]; And in Your book they all were written [NKJV]....
God knows what we are made of, from our birth in the womb; and what is in our heart, all the way from the beginning!
God knows, because of your up-bringing, why some sins keep re-occurring!
Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect….Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto them,…Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies.[3]
This bible commentary says: that Jesus makes up for our “un-avoidable deficiencies.”
Apparently, God takes into account, a person’s birthplace and opportunities when looking at our “un-avoidable deficiencies.”
And the people who have faith in Jesus as their redeemer, and who are still failing in performance, will be put to sleep, before He returns.
....He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning. Many will be laid away to sleep before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world.[4]
And what about our children? What will happen to them? ########################################
This promise is yours. You may be comforted and trust in the Lord. The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts. Put your trust in the Lord, and be not afraid.[5]
This has to happen, because you know that the only christians alive when Jesus returns, are the ones who reflect Christ’s character perfectly and have actually stopped sinning.
Rev 14 (v. 1) ....and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000.... (v. 5) And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
These are the ones who will vindicate God’s name, against the charges of satan, in reference to His holy Law. Make no mistake about it, the 144,000 are not the only ones going to heaven!!
They are a select group among the great multitude around the throne, who get to follow the lamb(Christ), where ever He goes.
A great multitude (Rev 7:9). The relationship of this multitude to the 144,000. This view emphasizes the differences between the 144,000 and the “great multitude.” One is numbered, the other cannot be. One represents a special group, “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” who “follow the Lamb wither-so-ever he goeth” (Rev 14:4), the other, the remaining triumphant saints of all ages.[6]
à the one special group, that is numbered, are the 144,000!
à the other remaining, are triumphant in faith, not in performance!!
There will be christians in heaven, who are not part of the 144,000. The ones, who Christ puts to sleep, will rise up in the first resurrection, not the second.
So, the mercy of God, puts believers in the grave, not because they are lost, but so
that we can see them again in the 1st resurrection.
Now that is a God, who is worth serving!!
What Christ was on this earth, the Christian worker should strive to be. He is our example, not only in His spotless purity, but in His patience, gentleness, and winsomeness of disposition. His life is an illustration of true courtesy. He had ever a kind look and a word of comfort for the needy and the oppressed....He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word there. As He saw men weary, and compelled to bear heavy burdens, He shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature, of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God.[7]
Let’s take a moment right now, and give Him the praise, by listening to this music video, because He deserves it. video ref. [8]
References:
1. Spalding and Magan Collection, p.6, par.3-4
2. Faith and Works, p.50, par.1
3. Selected Messages (book 3), p.195, par.4
4. Last Day Events, p.255, par.2
5. Selected Messages (book 2), p.259, par.5
6. An Exhaustive E.G.W. Commentary on Revelation (vol.2), p.731, “footnote”
7. Gospel Workers (1915 Ed.), p.121, par.2
8. J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise (Lyrics) “You Deserve It” Online video. YouTube, 4 Feb 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ONWaoyScE
Image #1: Novel Cinta, (n.d.). The Lord remembers that we are dust. Retrieved from http://appnaz.com/android/novel-cinta-finding-you-com.bukuoryzaee.findingyou
Image #2: Stan Jones, (n.d.). Cemetery tombstones. Retrieved from http://www.lifespurpose.net/10AllThoseintheGraves.html
Image #3: Life Assurance Ministries, (2011). Progressive sanctification chart. Retrieved from http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamation/2011/1/sanctification.html
Image #4: Project Inspired, (2016). God has taken into account. Retrieved from https://www.projectinspired.com/mb-12-quotes-you-must-read-when-dealing-with-guilt-and-shame/
Image #5: David Stewart, (2009). The imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Retrieved from https://www.soulwinning.info/bd/imputation.htm
Image #6: Astro Dienst, (n.d.). Birth data entry. Retrieved from http://www.astro.com/faq/fq_de_time_e.htm
Image #7: Trusting God’s promises, (n.d.). The 144,000 redeemed. Retrieved from http://www.trustingod.org/the-twelve-commandments-of-god-are-the-12-pearly-gates-in-the-city-of-god
Image #8: Warning message, (n.d.). Strive to be among 144,000. Retrieved from http://www.warningmessage.org/msstba.htm