The 144,000

[8thdaypriest]

I was following a thread on the 144,000, but when I went to post a reply, I lost the thread. Here's my thought: In Israel there were three harvests. Barley in Spring. Christ was first fruits of that harvest, and those He raised - those who became the 24 elders in heaven - were the main body of THAT harvest. In summer - it was wheat. I believe the 144,000 are first fruits of THAT harvest, and the "great multitude" are the body of that harvest. (The chaff gets burned up after the harvest. It's NOT part of the harvest.) The multitude come out of "great tribulation" which is life in this earth (I think). But there was another harvest - in the Fall. I think that one comes after the 7th millennium. The multitude are dressed as priests. They become "priests of God and of Christ." Priests were consecrated for 7 days and only began to serve as priests on the 8th day (the 8th millennium if "a day with the LORD is as a thousand years"). There are all sorts of allusions to priesthood. Eating "hidden manna" for instance - a reference to the showbread, eaten only by the priests. What need is there of priests - who were mediators - if no one else will come into covenant with the LORD. I personally believe the "rest of the dead" who are raised after the 1000 years, are those who lived in ignorance this first time around. They will be given the opportunity to know Elohiym and His Son. Ezekiel's Temple of the 8th day (the Temple was cleansed for 7 days also) is destroyed in the Gog-Magog battle. It's outside the City. After that there is NO TEMPLE. God and the Lamb ARE the Temple - in the forever Holy City. I know this doesn't agree with published SDA doctrine. But what if EGW "saw" the 8th day kingdom. She says she "saw" children play, which agrees with Isa. If the saints all go to heaven for the 7th millennium, then what? - children don't grow for 1000 years?? Everything about sex made one UNCLEAN in OT Israel. And Christ said there would be no marriage in the kingdom. Soooooo where do the kids come from???? Unless they are actually resurrected at the 8th day, along with all of those who lived and died in ignorance. Wow! To many questions for one post. I actually published a book on the topic of "The 8th Day." It's available at amazon.

[8thdaypriest]

Hi Gerhard,

I liked your thoughts on this.

King David divided the priests into 24 "courses" (See Chronicles). The 24 elders in heaven sing that they have been made a "kingdom of priests" (Rev. 5:10) and also that they will "reign on the earth."

Each course came up to minister in the Temple for 2 weeks each year, plus all of them were on hand at the Temple for High Holy Days. The "24 Elders" of Revelation could be based upon these courses of elders.

So it is very likely that there are MORE than just 24 of them. Also noted that these priests are NOT Levite. They are redeemed "from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation." So they must be Melchizedek - like their High Priest.

We know which clan that Zechariah belonged to. He would have ministered in the Temple the middle two weeks of June. Then went home and "knew" Elizabeth. When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her that her cousin was six months with child. That would mean that Yeshua was conceived in December, but not born until Sakkot (Tabernacles). He came to Tabernacle with us. I play my Christmas carols during Feast of Tabernacles, and put up my nativity tapestry.

Maybe we could do a thread on the "two witnesses."

There are 7 lampstands representing the 7 churches. To five of them "the Spirit" said, "repent" or I will "remove your candlestick from its place. So 5 from 7 is two. The two remaining "witnesses" would be Smyrna (the maryters) and Philadelphia (brotherly love).

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