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Passover and the 144,000

Several groups have claimed that the 144,000 chosen people in Revelation are the only
ones who will be considered the true bride of Christ and the only ones who will ever really see
heaven. One group the Jehovahs Witnesses believe that since only 144,000 are the true
chosen, then it is presumptuous to participate in the Holy Communion (Lords Supper). Only
those who know they are one of the chosen 144,000 should take part in the ceremony;
therefore, few if anyone actually eat the bread and drink the wine at the Jehovahs Witnesses
gatherings. The purpose of this document is to show that the 144,000 are chosen Israelites,
that an uncountable multitude will actually see heaven, and that every believer in Yehovah
(Jehovah) and Yeshua (Jesus) has the right and responsibility to take part in the Holy
Communion (Lords Supper) as it is an extension of the commandment to observe the Passover.
Prophetic timeline
The first reference to 144,000 chosen people comes from Revelation 7. It is important
to understand the context of the passage first. Revelation 6:12-17 describes the end of the
world and the near beginning of Yehovahs kingdom on earth. Compare these verses to the
Prophets in Scripture:
Prophets
Isaiah 13:8-13
8
They will be terrified, pains and anguish will take hold of
them; they will writhe like a woman in labor, they will look at
one another in astonishment, their faces aflame.
9
Behold, the day of Yehovah is coming, cruel, with fury and
burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will
exterminate its sinners from it.
10
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash
forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises And the
moon will not shed its light.
11
Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for
their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the
proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
12
I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind
than the gold of Ophir.
13
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth
will be shaken from its place at the fury of Yehovah of hosts in
the day of His burning anger.
Isaiah 34:2-4
2
For Yehovahs indignation is against all the nations, and His
wrath against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to slaughter.

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Revelation 6
I looked when He broke
the sixth seal, and there was
a great earthquake; and the
sun
became
black
as
sackcloth made of hair, and
the whole moon became like
blood;
13
and the stars of the sky
fell to the earth, as a fig tree
casts its unripe figs when
shaken by a great wind.
14
The sky was split apart
like a scroll when it is rolled
up, and every mountain and
island were moved out of
their places.
15
Then the kings of the
earth and the great men and
the commanders and the
rich and the strong and
every slave and free man
hid themselves in the caves
12

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So their slain will be thrown out, and their corpses will give
off their stench, and the mountains will be drenched with their
blood.
4
And all the host of heaven will wear away, and the sky will
be rolled up like a scroll; all their hosts will also wither away
as a leaf withers from the vine, or as one withers from the fig
tree.
Joel 2:30-31
30
I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood,
fire and columns of smoke.
31
The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into
blood Before the great and awesome day of Yehovah comes.
3

and among the rocks of the

mountains;
16
and they said to the
mountains and to the rocks,
Fall on us and hide us from
the presence of Him who
sits on the throne, and from
the wrath of the Lamb;
17
for the great day of their
wrath has come, and who is
able to stand?

Yeshua described the timing of these events in Revelation 6 as after great tribulation but before
the wrath of Yehovah and His return:
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the
moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming
on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels
with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from
one end of the sky to the other. 32 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its
branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is
near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at
the door. (Matthew 24:29-33)
29

In this context after great tribulation but before the return of Yeshua, Revelation 7 begins with
Yehovah selecting 144,000 Israelites. These will be protected from His wrath that He will pour
out on the earth when His kingdom finally comes (see Revelation 17). During this time, an
uncountable number of Gods people from every nation appear in heaven:
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count,
from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne
and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10
and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb. .... And he [the angel] said to me, These are the ones who come out
of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve
Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle
over them. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 15)
9

Note that these people from every nation will serve Yehovah in His temple, as it is written about
Israel and also about others who believe, For you are a holy people to Yehovah your God;
Yehovah your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples
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who are on the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6). And, But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).
The 144,000 Israelites appear again in Revelation 14. In this context, they are with
Yeshua at the final battle, described at length in the Prophets and in Revelation 19. Then I
looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads
(Revelation 14:1). These Israelites are not the only people from Israel who believe in Yehovah
and Yeshua, but they are those who meet certain other criteria as well, further described in
Revelation 14.
It seems clear that although the nations have opportunity to believe, an uncountable
number of individuals have the chance to see heaven, and people serve God in his kingdom,
the 144,000 Israelites who meet certain criteria have a special place is the fulfillment of Gods
plan of redemption.

Tribulation
now
Rev. 1:9

Great Tribulation
Future events (Mat. 24:21)
Uncountable number saved, appear in heaven
(Rev. 7:14)
144,000 Israelis protected on earth (Rev. 7:1-8)

Wrath of
God
Rev. 15:1
Rev. 16:1

The Covenant and the Church

Yehovah has made a covenant for all of His people. Now then, if you will indeed obey
My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples,
for all the earth is Mine (Exodus 19:5). Yehovah promised this first to the nation of Israel, but
also to non-Israelites (Isaiah 56:6-8; Exodus 31:18; Revelation 6:9). One of the conditions to
the covenant is the weekly Sabbath (Exodus 12:14). The holy days (holidays) of Yehovah are
considered Sabbaths, that is, rest days (Leviticus 23; John 19:31). One of the Sabbaths is the
dinner of Passover and the following day (Exodus 12:14, 17; Leviticus 23:5-7).
So the Passover is an everlasting commandment, but is it for the non-Israelites in the
New Covenant? The following references show the non-Israelites celebrating all of the Sabbaths
after the death and resurrection of Yeshua, from 50AD to 200AD. This included the Passover
meal, which consisted of the bread and the wine.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
7
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.
For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8
Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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Christians taught that the Ten Commandments were permanent.

Preparing man for this life, the Lord Himself did speak in His own person to all alike the words
of the Decalogue; and therefore, in like manner, do they remain permanently with us,
receiving by means of His advent in the flesh, extension and increase, but not abrogation.
Irenaeus. (trans. 1867). Against Heresies (Book 4, chapter 16:4). In Philip Shaff, AnteNicene Fathers (Vol. 1, p. 785). Retrieved from http://www.ccel.org/node/70
Christians kept the Sabbath.
And on the Sabbath, when prayer had been made long time on bended knee, he (Polycarp),
as was his custom, got up to read; and every eye was fixed upon him. Now the lesson was
the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and to Titus, in which he says what manner of man a bishop
ought to be.
Pionius. (trans. 1889). Life of Polycarp. In J. B. Lightfoot (Ed.), The Apostolic Fathers (Vol.
3.2, pp. 488-506).
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pionius_life_of_polycarp_01_text.htm
Christians fervently defended the Sabbath.
For the law commanded them to abstain from every servile work, that is, from all grasping
after wealth which is procured by trading and by other worldly business; but it exhorted them
to attend to the exercises of the soul, which consist in reflection, and to addresses of a
beneficial kind for their neighbors benefit. And therefore the Lord reproved those who
unjustly blamed Him for having healed upon the Sabbath-days. For He did not make void,
but fulfilled the law, by performing the offices of the high priest, propitiating God for men,
and cleansing the lepers, healing the sick, and Himself suffering death, that exiled man might
go forth from condemnation, and might return without fear to his own inheritance.
Irenaeus. (trans. 1867). Against Heresies (Book 4, chapter 8:2). In Philip Shaff, The AnteiNicene Fathers (Vol. 1, p. 785). Retrieved from http://www.holybooks.com/antenicene-fathers-vol-i-ix/
Christians kept Passover and unleavened bread week.
All these (Philip and his daughters, John, Polycarp, Thraseas, Sagarius, Papirius, Melito, the
bishops of Asia, et. al.) observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the Gospel,
deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you
all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For
seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed
the day when the people put away the leaven.
Eusibius. (trans. 1890). Church History (Book 5, chapter 24:6). In Arthur Cushman
McGiffert, From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (Vol. 1). Philip Schaff & Henry Wace
(Eds.). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Company.
http://www.ccel.org/node/70

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Paul kept Pentecost.

But that Paul taught with simplicity what he knew, not only to those who were [employed]
with him, but to those that heard him, he does himself make manifest. For when the bishops
and presbyters who came from Ephesus and the other cities adjoining had assembled in
Miletus, since he was himself hastening to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost
Irenaeus. (trans. 1867). Against Heresies (Book 3, chapter 14:2). In Philip Shaff, AnteNicene Fathers (Vol. 1, p. 727). Retrieved from http://www.ccel.org/node/70
Paul taught Christians to keep Passover and Pentecost.
Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them
concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the
offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the
days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection.
For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of
unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians, nor yet on the other hand of
necessity on the fourteenth day: for he said nothing about the fourteenth day, but named
the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel.
Pionius. (trans. 1889). Life of Polycarp. In J. B. Lightfoot (Ed.), The Apostolic Fathers (Vol.
3.2, pp. 488-506).
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pionius_life_of_polycarp_01_text.htm
Christians did not interpret Colossians 2:16 to mean the holy days were abolished,
but that they should be kept in love and unity.
The apostles ordained, that we should not judge any one in respect to meat or drink, or in
regard to a feast day, or the new moons, or the Sabbaths. Whence then these contentions?
Whence these schisms? We keep the feast, but in the leaven of malice and wickedness,
cutting in pieces the Church of God; and we preserve what belongs to its exterior, that we
may cast away these better things, faith and love. We have heard from the prophetic words
that these feasts and fasts are displeasing to the Lord.
Irenaeus. (trans. 1867). The lost fragments of Irenaeus (Chapter 38). In Philip Shaff, AnteNicene Fathers (Vol. 1, p. 971). Retrieved from http://www.ccel.org/node/70

No theological theory can add to or take away from the instructions of Yehovah previously
revealed and written (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6).

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The Covenant and Physical Future Kingdom

There is definitely something to say regarding a New Covenant. It was prophesied and
Yeshua taught it as well. When thinking of the word new, keep in mind that Greek has two
words for this. One is neos, which means of a new kind or completely new. This is used
regarding things like a new month, new wineskins, new wine, etc. The other is kainos. This
refers to new things, but also refers to renewed and fresh things. It is used for things such as
the return of a season, or the renewal of an old law. John said that he was writing a new
commandment, that everyone should love one another, and that it was not really a new one.
This was already taught by Yeshua and written in the Law. John used kainos. Kainos is always
used for the New Covenant.
Regarding the Promised Land, there is definitely something about the genetic line of
Abraham that is important as seen in the sign of circumcision. Regarding the exodus from Egypt
and the giving of the covenant at that time, there were no genetic limitations. At first, it does
seem the covenant was made at Mount Sinai with only Israel, but two references stand out
regarding the acceptance of foreigners into the covenant. Exodus 12:37-38 states:
Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand
men on foot, aside from children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, along
with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.
When the covenant was confirmed again in Moab, Deuteronomy 29:10-15 states:
You stand today, all of you, before Yehovah your God: your chiefs, your tribes, your
elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the
alien who is within your camps, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws
your water, that you may enter into the covenant with Yehovah your God, and into His
oath which Yehovah your God is making with you today, in order that He may establish
you today as His people and that He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as
He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now not with you alone am I
making this covenant and this oath, but both with those who stand here with us today
in the presence of Yehovah our God and with those who are not with us here today.
The idea of the Gentiles joining themselves to Yehovah and the three conditions of this are
explicitly expressed in Isaiah 56:6-7:
Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yehovah, to minister to Him, and to love the
name of Yehovah, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath
and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them
joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable
on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.
Yeshua later affirmed this in Matthew 21:13. Paul also described the Gentiles joining themselves
to the root by using the metaphor of the olive tree. This root is the Messiah (Isaiah 11) and his
work is to bring in the Gentiles (Ephesians 2). In the time of the conquest of the Promised Land
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and after that, whole nations who made peace agreements with Israel were part of Israel and
given special responsibilities, even with transportation of the Ark of the Covenant and
distinguished military service.
One reason I could never join or work with a Christian Bible college is that I do not
ascribe to replacement theology, that is, the replacement of Israel by the Church. The Church
is a continuation of pure faith, not a replacement. The word church is a Latin creation where
the word should actually be holy assembly, from ekklesia - which is the same Greek word used
of any holy assembly throughout the entire Bible, even in the Greek Old Testament. Where
ekklesia is reflected in a positive light or directly connected to followers of Yeshua in the New
Testament, it is translated church. In other cases, it is translated assembly.
Concerning the Law more specifically, various symbols can be seen that reflect a shift in
the priesthood to the reality that is Messiah. The whole book of Hebrews is devoted to the
message that the old covenant, specifically the temple ceremonies, have been replaced by the
reality that is Messiah. But this does not change what is right and what is wrong. It is clear
from both the Old and the New Testaments that the works of the Law do not justify anyone.
This is the purpose of the letter to Galatians and focus of many passages in the Prophets. The
spirit behind much of the Law is treating others as one should. So while the temple ceremonies
have been suspended on earth, this does not discount the relevance of the other instructions
in our lives today as they attempt to communicate the very heart of Yehovah.
And note that I said the temple ceremonies have been suspended, not abolished. Another
element of the replacement theology I referred to before is that the Prophets spoke
metaphorically and spiritually about a New Jerusalem, an everlasting Kingdom, and Mount Zion,
but this has happened already or will happen only in a spiritual sense. I do not ascribe to this
belief either. A farmer or marketplace shopkeeper hearing the words of the Prophets would not
think it to be spiritual or metaphorical, but physical. One of my favorite references regarding
the future physical kingdom from Mount Zion (the hill in Jerusalem today) is the last chapter
of Zechariah:
Then Yehovah will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of
battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem
on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very
wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half
southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the
mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the
days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then Yehovah my God will come, and all the holy ones
with him. (Zechariah 14:3-4; cf. Matthew 24, Acts 1, Revelation 19)
And even the Feast Days (and therefore sacrifices) will be restored:
Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall
go up year after year to worship the King, Yehovah of hosts, and to keep the Feast of
Booths. And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to Yehovah of hosts, so that
all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them.
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And there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yehovah of hosts on that day.
(Zechariah 14:16, 21)
The sacrifices will be offered in the third Temple that is described in Ezekiel 40-48.
How does one know if he has joined himself to Yehovah and Yeshua? By faith and
endurance to the end. I don't deserve to be resurrected, but it is my hope. The faith that Paul
taught is not one of fear or shrinking back, but of hope and confidence.
144,000
I see two references to 144,000. One is clearly referring to Israelites by lineage. The
tribe of Dan has been removed because of their rebellion against the rest of the Israel. To make
up for Dan, the tribe of Joseph is listed twice: once with the name of Joseph's son Manasseh,
and once with Joseph's name. This is significant since Joseph's son Ephraim went to the nations
and became mixed with a multitude of people. Part of the 144,000 could be Gentiles not from
Jacob, but only 12,000.
After the reference of the 144,000 being sealed, a multitude of people are raptured to
heaven out of great tribulation right before the wrath of God comes upon the earth. The
144,000 apparently stay on earth to be witnesses. So, it seems to be the exact opposite what
the Jehovah's Witnesses teach. Read Revelation 19 with the following timeline in mind:

Day 1 Month 7 - Day of Trumpets - Rapture of the multitude of believers (144,000 have
been sealed and stay on earth as a witness); marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven for
10 days.
Day 10 Month 7 - Day of Atonement - Ten days later, Yeshua comes down from heaven
with the multitude for war in order to destroy all the armies of the world.
Day 15 Month 7 - Tabernacles begins - The physical kingdom is setup five days later.
The original meaning of each Feast Day corresponds to the sequence of events in
Revelation 19. A 1 hour Wiki reading overview will show this. For example, the Day of
Atonement is the traditional day that Jews hope for the salvation of Yehovah from all of
the Gentiles.

Regarding the bread and wine, it is clear from history that Paul taught the churches to eat
and drink it during the time of Passover in order to remember Yeshua. There is no clear change
in law or tradition, and there is no clear abrogation. Jehovahs Witnesses not taking the bread
and wine simply because they believe only the 144,000 should is based on a theological
presupposition on an opinion in eschatology (the study of prophecy), but has no historical or
direct textual support.

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