Observations.net

Most people have no understanding of Biblical prophecy because they have been misled by the dispensationalists.

We need to get some things straight in order to understand. Number one, the Bible is the story of Christ and His Church. Everything revolves around Christ. Number two, the Tribulation is 3.5 years, not seven. The first 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week was Christ's ministry on earth. Jesus, the Prince, made a covenant with many and put an end to animal sacrifice. Number three, the rapture is the 2nd Coming.

What of those who live at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, which seems to be us? The Lord made a promise to the Church of Philadelphia.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

They will be kept from the hour temptation that comes upon the entire earth. There is a deliverance for the Church of Philadelphia. It is called the Wilderness and is described in Revelation 12. The Church is pictured as a woman (Mary) who satan attempts to drown. Mary is taken to the Wilderness, which is a place of protection for the 3.5 years. Since this is not a rapture, the Wilderness is not heaven. It is someplace on earth.

Some Christians stay behind. We are told of a special group called the 144,000. They are symbolically described as consisting of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Understand this. The 12 tribes (actually 13) of Israel no longer exist. Ten (or 11) of the tribes were already gone from history in John's time. The other two have also since disappeared. The people who call themselves Jews today are not of Hebrew descent. They are descended from converts to Judaism who were Slavs, Germans, Khazars, etc. There are probably no real Hebrews left. Hence, the 144,000 will not be Hebrews. It would be impossible.

I believe that the 144,000, whether there are more or less than that symbolic number, consist of any man willing to stay behind and fight to the death for Christ.