That the 144,000 cannot be literal, fleshly Israel becomes quite apparent when we note the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are omitted. The number is obtained by multiplying 12 x 12 x 1000. Shelly says, "Since twelve is the number for organized religion in apocalyptic literature and one thousand is the number for completeness and wholeness, this is simply a graphic way to refer to the totality of the faithful church on earth." The church is God's Israel today. (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 6:15-16; Galatians 3:27-29; Matthew 19:28) We believe the 12,000 sealed out of every tribe is a symbol showing not one righteous one will be lost out of all God's people. God knows all those who are his. (2 Timothy 2:19) There is no promise that these will not go through severe trials, but we can be sure that God will not allow those trials to reach unbearable proportions, and those who continue to love the Lord's appearing will be crowned. (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 4:6-8)

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