Soldiers, Martyrs, Choristers

The numbering of the sealed in Revelation 7 alludes to the census events of the book of Numbers. There, Moses initially numbers men twenty years and older, mustering them as the troops that will conquer the land. (The second census, in Numbers 26, includes women and has a different focus.) The 144,000 are numbered as soldiers of Christ’s Spiritual army.

They are sealed – for martyrdom, as living sacrifices who will follow Jesus in giving their life blood.

But there is another sort of census in the Bible: During the latter half of 1 Chronicles, we read of David’s organization of the priesthood and Levites, and the Chronicler emphasizes David’s preparation of a Levitical choir and orchestra. The list of choral groups in 1 Chronicles 25:9-31 closely resembles the census of Revelation 7. The leader of each choral of the 24 choral groups is named, and then the text adds that he was accompanied by “twelve” of his brothers. In Revelation 7, there are “12,000” from each of the 12 tribe.

The 144,000 are marked out as soldiers of the Crucified; therefore as martyrs, witnesses to death; therefore, as members of the heavenly choir.