144,000
Book of Revelations
What does the New Testament say about the 144,000? Does the Church of Jesus Christ believe in the 144,000? When was this taught and when did it cease to be a doctrine?
Who are the 144,000?
Revelations 7:3-8
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelations 14:1
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Revelations 14:3-5
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Appendix 1
3 November 1831,
Sidney Rigdon Copy
...hear the voice of the Lord for he calleth upon all men and he commandeth all men every where to repent for behold the Lord God hath sent forth the Angel with theeverlasting gosp crying through the midst of heaven saying prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight for the hour of his coming is nigh when the lamb shall stand upon mount Zion and with him an Hundred and forty four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads
Joseph Smith
Answers to Questions,
between circa 4 and circa 20 March 1832
Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty four thousand out of all the tribes of Israel twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high Priests ordained unto the holy order of God to administer the everlasting Gospel for they are they who are ordained out of every Nation kindred tongue and people by the angels to whom is given power over the Nations of the earth to bring as many as will come to the church of the first born.
Minutes and Discourse
2 May 1835
as Reported by William E. McLellin
"No Elder has a right to go into any branch of the church and appoint meetings or regulate the Church without the consent or advic[e] of the presiding Elder of said branch. If the first Seventy are all occupied, and there is a call for more laborers it will be the duty of the seven presidents of the first seventy to call and ordain other Seventy and send them forth to labor, in the vineyard until if need be they set a part apart seven times Seventy, even until there shall be one hundred & forty and four thousand."
Doctrine and Covenants
1835
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths strait, for the hour of his coming is nigh, when the Lamb shall stand upon mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads:
Lorenzo Barnes
Blessing
3 January 1836
"When thy hears [hairs] shall be gray thou shalt be as in the vigur of youth & thy mind unimpared Thou shalt remane untill the coming of the Son of man in the clowds of heaven y[e]a thou shalt see <view> the winding up seen of all things & stand with the hundred forty & four thousand on Mount Zion These blessings & many others which tongue cannot express & all the powers of the priesthood we seal upon thy head & upon thy sead forever in the name of Jesus Christ & by the power arthority of the High Priesthood even so amen"
History 1838-1856
4 February 1844
<4.> Sunday 4. I attended prayer meeting with the Quorum in the Assembly room, and made some remarks respecting the hundred and forty four thousand mentioned by John the Revelator shewing that the selection of persons to form that number had already commenced.
Jacob Hamblin
Patriarchal Blessing
28 July 1874
"Brother Jacob in the name of Jesus of Nazareth I lay my hands upon thy head and seal upon thee a father's blessing. Thou art of the blood of Ephraim and entitled to all the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant. Thou art one of the noble spirits who were reserved to come forth in the last dispensation. Satan has laid many plans to destroy thee, but thy guardian angels have delivered thee out of his power. They will continue to deliver thee until the fullness of thy work is accomplished upon the earth and if thou dost desire it, with all thy heart thou shalt live to behold thy redeemer in the flesh. Although thou art of Ephraim thou hast laid the foundation of a great work among thy brethren who are of a mixed blood of Ephraim and Manasseh. The foundation which thou hast laid thou shalt live to build upon. Thou shalt lead thy thousands in the redemption of Zion and behold her waste places built up never more to be thrown down. Thy influence with the Lamanites shall increase until thy word shall be unto them as the word of God. Those Nephites who have remained upon the earth shall minister unto thee. Thou shalt live until thy head is white as the pure wool. Thou shalt be blessed with wives and children and of the increase of thy dominions there shall be no end. Thou shalt be one of the hundred and forty-four thousand who ascends to the God head. None of thy posterity shall be lost, but in due time all shall be redeemed and thou shalt rule over them in the house of Joseph forever. No good thing shall be with held from thee. I seal and confirm all thy former blessings with these and seal thee up into eternal lives in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Warren S. Snow
Patriarchal Blessing
11 January 1880
"Warren, I place my hand upon you to give you a father's blessing and by virtue of my office as a patriarch, I seal upon you the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, for thou art a lawful heir to all the blessings of the promised seed and the Priesthood which you have received has come down from the fathers, from Abraham unto you, and this priesthood has remained with you and your life has been hid in Christ with God. And thy lineage is from Joseph for thou art of the pure blood of Ephraim. And I seal and confirm upon you all your former blessings, sealings and ordinations, all you have received under the hands of the servants of God in the house of the Lord. And I seal all your confirmations. And the Lord loves thee because of the integrity of thy heart. And you shall obtain every blessing that your heart can desire in righteousness. And you shalt be numbered with the Church of the First-born. You shalt be numbered with the 144,000 which shall come up upon Mount Zion as saviors in the last days. And at thy rebuke the eyes of the blind shall see and the ears of the deaf shall hear and the tongue of the dumb shall speak. You shalt understand all the gifts of the gospel. You shalt have power over the elements and at thy command the winds and the waves of the sea shalt obey thee.
The time will come when you will have power to chase a thousand and put ten thousand to flight. And inasmuch as you are helping to rear a temple to the name of the Lord, the time will come when you will enter in to that temple and do a work for thy dead friends. You shall triumph over all your enemies and you shall receive earthly blessings until you are satisfied. And you shall be blest with a numerous posterity. And if you desire it with all your heart you may live to behold the coming of the Son of Man, and obtain every unmentioned blessing your heart can desire. And I seal you up together with your companions and posterity unto eternal lives, to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection to receive a celestial crown in the mansion of thy Father and to be rewarded for all thy labors here. And through your faithfulness I seal all these blessings upon you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even so. Amen."
William Michael Bromley
Patriarchal Blessing
9 June 1901
"Brother Bromley in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by virtue of my office and calling I pronounce and seal upon thee a patriarchal blessing. Thou has descended through the servants and handmaids of the Lord. Thou art of the seed of Abraham thru the house of Joseph and lineage of Ephraim. Thou art entitled to the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant which I seal upon thee. Thy pathway has been marked out from thy youth and the Lord is pleased with the integrity of thy soul, for thou hast been bold in defense of the truth and valiant for the causes of God. Thy name is written in the lamb's book of life and thou art numbered with the fathers in Israel and thy posterity shall be numerous and to their generations there shall be no end for the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall be continued upon thee. Thou shalt live long upon the earth and take pleasure in beholding thy posterity spread forth throughout the land of Zion. Many among them shall go forth and officiate in the ordinances of the gospel and shall assist in building up the center stakes of Zion and receive their inheritances. Thou shalt receive information by the whisperings of the spirit regarding thy progenitors for their names and genealogy shall be revealed unto thee and to thy posterity after thee. Thou shalt enter the temples of our God and officiate therein for thy departed ancestors for multitudes of them are looking unto thee and thy posterity for their redemption thru the ordinances of the house of God, which are to be performed in their behalf.
Thy pathway shall brighten from this time henceforth for many great and glorious blessings await thee. The spirit of the Lord shall descend upon thee and the Holy Ghost shall rest upon thee with great and mighty power. Thou shalt live to impart instructions to thy brethren for many years for thou shalt sit in council with thy leaders in Israel. Thou shalt be blessed with the blessings of the earth. Thou shalt yet receive a plenty to make thee comfortable with thy family both for food and for raiment and for the adornment of thy dwellings. Thou shalt become a savior on Mt. Zion and stand at the head of a numerous host who shall rise up and call thee blessed, and thou, having kept thyself clean and undefiled, shalt receive the impress of thy father and God in thy forehead for thou shalt be numbered with the 144,000 who shall stand upon Mt. Zion with Christ. Now dear brother these blessings I seal upon thee thru thy continued faithfulness with every blessing thy heart may desire in righteousness. And I seal thee up unto eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection a king and priest unto the most high God and with thy queens to rule and reign in the house of God forever. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.