144,000 Comparison Study continued…

In this next comparison we turn to events that happen after the special resurrection. To establish the context of these events we again use the passages from Great Controversy and Early Writings but this time comparing them with Testimonies Volume 1.

After the special resurrection the Israel of God are present. They hear the voice of God declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. They are glorified, their faces are lighted up with the glory of God as was the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. Exactly alike the 144,000 hear the voice of God declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. Exactly alike they are glorified, their faces lighted up with the glory of God as was the face of Moses. It is one and the same event, one and the same company, the Israel of God who are the 144,000.

The 144,000 are described as, “living saints, 144,000 in number”1 The words “in number” mean a literal number. For example in Testimonies Volume 3 Jezebel’s prophets are described as “eight hundred and fifty in number” 2 And as the Scriptures show this is a literal number of prophets, “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.”3

Turning back to the train of events in our study we see that once the 144,000 are glorified, the wicked wish to do them violence but fall at their feet helpless. Then appears the sign of the Son of man, Jesus comes in all his glory, the heavens are rolled together, the wicked hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks, the saints cry out “who shall be able to stand” and Jesus replies: “my grace is sufficient for you.”

The next event to take place is the general resurrection where all the sleeping saints are called to life. The sleeping saints are raised immortal while the living saints, the 144,000, are not yet immortal but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. In Testimonies Volume 1 it says, “hi the same moment we [the 144,000] were changed.”4 And in 1 Corinthians we read that, “In a moment, hi the twinkling of an eye … we shall be changed.” 5 The change that takes place is termed translation.

Now consider this statement, “At the voice of God they [the 144,000] were glorified; now [at the general resurrection] they are made immortal.” 6 The living saints were glorified when they heard the voice of God declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. But it is not until the general resurrection that they are made immortal. Therefore saints who are raised in the special resurrection are raised glorified but still mortal. In other words they could still die.

In the light of that we can explain the following statement. “Elijah, who was translated to Heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living on earth at the time of Christ’s second appearing, and who will be changed from mortal to immortal, and be translated to Heaven without seeing death.”7 Now we ask: who will be living on the earth at the time of Christ’s second coming? It is the 144,000 that will be living on the earth. Some of them have been specially raised but all are still mortal. In other words they could still die. They could die in the destruction of the seventh plague. They could die when the wicked would “lay hands on us [the 144,000] to thrust us into prison” 8 for the purpose of carrying out the death decree. But the living saints will not see death. During this period of time the angels protect them from death until they can be translated and made immortal.

“Satan wished to have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High; but Jesus bade His angels watch over them. God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, hi the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.” 9 The making of the covenant between God and His people takes place when the 144,000 are glorified. At that time the heathen round about them would destroy them but they will “fall helpless to the ground.”10

God will not allow the saints to be destroyed for there would be no purpose in their death. The saints, although mortal, will live through this time without seeing death. “God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified.” ” AMEN

Glendon Higgins, Australia

References:

1. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 59.1.
2. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 279.4.
3. 1 Kings 18:19
4. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 60.2.
5. 1 Corinthians 15:52
6. Great Controversy, p. 645.1.
7. The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 337.
8. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 59.2.
9. Early Writings, p. 282.2.
10. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 59.2.
11. Early Writings, p. 284.1.

GREAT CONTROVERSY

TESTIMONIES vol. 1

EARLY WRITINGS
Special Resurrection
Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. , . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s messaee come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s_covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7), those that
mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to
behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.
{GC 637.1}
 Special Resurrection
The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their duaty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant jjf jieace that God was to make with those who had kept His law. {EW 285.1}The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land.
Voice of God gives Covenant
The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the jay and hour_ of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest thunder His words roll through the earth. Thejsrael of God stand listening^ with their eyes fixed upward.
Voice of God gives Covenant
Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.
Voice ofGodgives Covenant
And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus’ comma and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people. He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eves fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. At the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Hallelujah!”
Shinning Countenances
Their countenances are lighted up with His glory, and shine as did the face of Moses_when he came down from Sinai.The wicked cannot look upon them.. And whenjhe blessing is pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is_a mighty shoul of victory. {GC 640.2}
Shinning Countenances
When God spake the time, He poured upon us the Holy Spirit, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, _as Moses’ did__when be came down from Mount Sinai. {IT 59.1}The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were the words God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At OUT happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us, who could wash one another’s feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet. {IT 59.2}
Shinning Countenances
Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God, and they shone with glory as did the face of.Moses when he came downjrom Sinai.The wicked could not look upon them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on. those who had honored,. God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there, was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. {EW 285.2}

Then commenced the jubilee, when the land should rest. I saw the pious slave rise in victory and triumph, and shake off the chains that bound him, while his wicked master was in confusion and knew not what to do; for the wicked could not understand the words of the voice of God. {EW 286.1}
Sign of the Son of man
Soon there appears in the east a small
black cloud, about half the size of ajnan’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know thisjto be the sign of the Son of man.
Sign of the Son of man
Soon our eyes were drawn to the east for a small black cloud had appeared.
about half as large as a mail’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man.
Jesus’ Second Coming
In solemn silence they gaze upon jit as it draws nearer the earth becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant.
Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror.
Not now a “Man of Sorrows,” to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. “Faithful and True,” “in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” And “the armies which were in heaven” (Revelation 19:11, 14} follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems filled with radiant forms—”ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. {GC 640.3}
Jesus’ Second Coming
In solemn silence we all gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer. and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was ajgreat white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man.His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders, and upon His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a sharp sickle, in His left a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. {IT 60.1}
Jesus’ Second Coming
Soon appeared the great white cloud. upon which sat the Son of man. When it
first appeared in the distance, this cloud looked very small. The angel said that it was the sign of the Son of man. As it drew nearer the earth, we could behold the excellent glory and majesty of Jesus as He rode forth to conquer. A retinue of holy angels, with bright, glittering crowns upon their heads, escorted Him on His way. No language can describe the glory of the scene. The living cloud of majesty and unsurpassed glory came still nearer, and we could clearly behoEd the lovely person of Jesus. He did not wear a crown of thorns, but a crown of glory rested upon His holy brow. Upon His vesture and thigh was a name written. King of kings, and Lord of lords. His countenance was as bright as the noonday sun, His eves were as a flame of fire, and His feet had the appearance of fine brass. His voice sounded like many musical instruments.
The Heavens Rolled Together
The King of kings descends upon the cloud, wrapped in flaming fire, The heavens are rolled together as a scroll, the earth trembles before Him, and every mountain and island is moved out of its place. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.” Psalm 50:3,4. {GC641.2}
The Heavens Rolled Together
The earth trembled before Him, the
heavens departed as a scroll, when it is roll ed_together, and every mountain and island were moved oat of their places.
Hiding in Dens and the Rocks
“And the kings of the earth, and the
great men and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, andjivery bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains: and said to the mountains and rocks. Fall onus, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17. {GC 642.1)
Hiding in Dens and the Rocks
“And the kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the miehty men^jind every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains: and said to the mountains andjX)ct;s, Fall on us, and hide us from the faceofHim that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Those who a short time before would have destroyed God’s faithful children from the earth, now witnessed the glory of God which rested upon them. And amid all their terror they heard the voices of the saints in joyful strains, saying, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.” {EW 286.2}
Who Shall be able to Stand?
Before His presence “all faces are turned into paleness;” upon the rejecters of God’s mercy falls the terror of eternal despair. “The heart melteth, and the knees smite together,… and the faces of them all gather blackness.” Jeremiah 30:6; Nahum 2:10. The righteous cry with trembling:’Who shall be able lo stand?”
The angels’ song is hushed, andJhgre is a period of awful silence. Then the voice of Jesus is heard, saying: “My grace is
sufficient for you.” The faces of the righteous are lighted up. and iov fills every heart. And the angels strike a note higher and jiing again as they draw still nearer to the earth. {GC 641.1}
If ho Shall be able to Stand?
Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness.Then we all cried otrt: “Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?” The angels ceased jo sing, and there was a time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you.” At this, our faces lighted up. and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth.
General Resurrection
Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, thea raising His hands to heavea He cries: “Awake, awake, awake. ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!” Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. And the whole earth shall ring with the tread of the exceeding great army of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
General Resurrection
Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried: “Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a mighty earthquake.
 General Resurrection
The earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping saints.
The Sleeping Saints raised Immortal
From the grjspn house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55.
 The Sleeping Saints raised Immortal The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality.
The Sleeping Saints raised Immortal They responded to the call and came forth clothed with glorious immortality, crying, “Victory, victory, over death and the grave! O death, where is thy, sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Shout of Victory
And the living .righteous and the risen
saints unite their voices.in a long, glad
shout of victory, {GC 644.2}
Shout of Victory
Then the living saints and the risen ones raised their voices in a long, transporting shout of victory. Those bodies that had gone down into the grave bearing the marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and vigor.
The Living Saints made Immortal
The living righteous are changed “in a moment in the twinkling of an eye,” At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God. {GC 645.1}
The Living Saints made Immortal
The 144,000 shouted, “Alleluia!” as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we. were changed, and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air {IT 60.2}
The Living Saints made Immortal
The Hying saints are changed in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and
risen ones, and caught up with together they meet their Lord in the air. Oh, what a glorious meeting! Friends whom death had separated were united, never more to part. JEW 287.1}
The Cloudy Chariot
On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the wheels cry. “Hoiy.” and the wings, as they move, cry. “Holy.” and the retinue of angels cry. “Holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty.” And the redeemed shout.”Alleluia!” as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem. {GC 645.2}
The Sea of Glass
Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stare, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us: “You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.” We all marched in and felt we had a perfect right there. {IT 60.3}
The Sea of Glass
Before entering the city, the saints were arranged in a perfect square, with Jesus in the midst. He stood head and shoulders above the saints and above the angels. His majestic form and lovely countenance could be seen by alt in the square. {EW 287.2}