“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” -1 Thessalonians 5:3
The Bible indicates the sealing of the 144,000 (Revelation 7) will be the next prophetic event. Currently, the 144,000 are ordinary people going about their daily tasks. They are living in every nation, tribe and language on Earth. One day soon, Jesus will have a personal encounter with them like He did with the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9) After the 144,000 are sealed, the Great Tribulation will begin with a global earthquake. (Revelation 7:1-3; 8:5)
Like Ezekiel and John, the 144,000 will be given words to speak. (Ezekiel 2:7-3:4; Revelation 10:8-11) Jesus enables the 144,000 to do this because He has something to say to the world. The world will hear “the testimony of Jesus” coming out of the mouths of the 144,000 and unfortunately, many people will reject it. (Revelation 1:9; 12:17; 19:10)
The Holy Spirit will empower the 144,000 for 1,260 days. (Revelation 11:3) The 144,000 will perform miracles and marvelous signs, and they will speak fearlessly in opposition to the religious leaders of the world, as well as the world’s political leaders. The 144,000 will cause all kinds of turmoil and destruction during their three and a half years of empowerment. (Revelation 11:6) The supernatural power that rests on the 144,000 will cause everyone to thoughtfully consider the testimony of Jesus. What will they say?
The noise level in our world is out of control. Consternation, conflict and controversy is deafening. Peace and safety have evaporated. The 144,000 will not have to compete with this “noise” because Jesus will silence this contentious world with a series of sudden judgments. These judgments are described in Revelation 8:5-12.
The global sign marking the beginning of the Great Tribulation will be followed by a meteoric fire storm that will burn up one-third of the earth. Then, two asteroid impacts will follow which cause incalculable damage. As darkness covers the middle third of Earth (where most people live), the world will realize that more than 1.5 billion people have died during these calamities. These horrific events will silence the survivors. Every ear will be listening for an explanation. Into this momentary vacuum, Jesus will send His 144,000 servants. What will they say?
Of all the gods that are worshiped on Earth today, Jesus is despised the most. Hatred against Jesus is great because He has said things that are offensive to Jews, Muslims, Hindus (Eastern Mystics), atheists and pagans. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Wow! No one likes to be informed that his religion is false, so non-Christians reject the teachings of Jesus. The American Bible Society estimates that Catholics and Protestants make up 27 percent of the world’s population; therefore, 73 percent of the world is not Christian. (According to Zechariah 13:8,9, two-thirds of Christianity does not follow Christ, so in effect 91 percent of the world is not Christian!)
Because religion is a spiritual, cultural and emotional matter, it is impossible for one person to prove that one religion is superior to another religion. In other words, Catholics are not winning many Baptist converts, Methodists are not converting many Mormons, very few Jews are converting to Christianity, and most Hindus are not interested in becoming Jews.
If the 144,000 were to appear right now, the testimony of Jesus would not be heard. They would be rejected by every religious group on Earth because of what they are going to say. So, what will they say?
The 144,000 will begin their ministry with these words. “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7) Guess who made the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water?
The most hated God on Earth. “For by Him [Jesus] all things were created: things in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16, insertion mine) Guess who demands worship? The most hated God on Earth.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days [Jesus] the Lord made the heavens and the Earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11, see John 1:10, insertion mine)
The Creator of mankind, the King of kings and Lord of lords will soon speak to mankind through His 144,000 servants. When the world experiences the enormity of our Creator’s authority, when one-third of “the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water” have been destroyed by His command, most of the survivors will put aside their religious bias long enough to hear what Jesus has to say. The 144,000 will deliver the testimony of Jesus. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)