TDW:
That ^ is not the "pre-trib" viewpoint (on those).
"The 144,000" [
singular nation] are set in contradistinction to the "a great multitude... of all the nations" [
plural nationS] in that chapter.
But they are
both [both groups] present on the earth at the same time,
Then that would be inconsistent with the Bible.
Revelation 7:9 is pretty clear that this Great Multitude is in Heaven. They are standing before the Throne, in the presence of the Lamb, in white robes.
Whereas the 144,000 in verses 1-8 are being sealed by the four angels, very similar to Passover. Since they are being sealed against a soon-to-be Wrath--and one which harms the land, the sea, and the trees--they must be on earth.
Consider the following few points (to be brief) [and to be clear, both of these distinct groups are "SAVED" persons, existing on the earth in the trib years]:
--Rev7:15-17 parallels Isaiah 49:10 (in an "
earthly Millennial Kingdom"
context, quoted at bottom)
--Rev7:15 says they will "serve Him day
AND NIGHT in His temple" whereas Rev21:22,25 says (of the NJ) "And I saw
NO TEMPLE therein"... [and]..."for there was
NO NIGHT there"
--Rev7:17 has the word
"FEED" which is
the same Greek word in
Rev19:15b (said of "the nations") translated there as
"[HE] SHALL SHEPHERD" them/the nations ("future tense" to that point in the chronology, even), which Greek word is
"G4165 - poimainó / poimanei "
--Rev7:14 says they are "coming out of THE GREAT tribulation" which refers specifically to "the SECOND HALF" of the trib years (
well-after the pre-trib rapture has taken place!!!), so these are folks who will be coming to faith FOLLOWING "our Rapture" and IN/DURING the trib yrs. Thus, they will exist on the earth during the same time-period (generally speaking) as the 144,000, who will also be existing on the earth (and coming to faith IN/DURING) the trib years,
FOLLOWING "our Rapture". (Neither the 144,000 NOR the "a great multitude... of all the nations" are identified as "the Church
WHICH IS HIS BODY," having already been "raptured"
well-before this point [see also Matt24:
14 which
WILL BE BEING PREACHED *in/during* the future TRIB YRS (FOLLOWING "our Rapture"!)... not presently! (Rev7:9,14 is one passage showing the RESULTS of said "preaching/message" Matt24:14[26:13])]
[
quoting Isaiah 49:10 (
and part of its context) from top point]
8 This is what the LORD says:
“In the time of favor I will answer You,
and in the day of salvation I will help You;
c
I will keep You and appoint You
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land,
to apportion its desolate inheritances,
9 to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
They will feed along the pathways,
and find pasture on every barren hill.
10 They will not hunger or thirst,
nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them.d
For He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
11 I will turn all My mountains into roads,
and My highways will be raised up.
12 Behold, they will come from far away,
from the north and from the west,
e
and from the land of Aswan.
f”
13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth;
break forth in song, O mountains!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
the Lord has forgotten me!”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or lack compassion for the son of her womb?
Even if she could forget,
I will not forget you!
16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
your walls are ever before Me.
17 Your builders
g hasten back;
your destroyers and wreckers depart from you.
18 Lift up your eyes and look around.
They all gather together; they come to you.
As surely as I live,” declares the LORD,
“you will wear them all as jewelry
and put them on like a bride.
19 For your ruined and desolate places
and your ravaged land
will now indeed be too small for your people,
and those who devoured you will be far away.
20 Yet the children of your bereavement
will say in your hearing,
‘This place is too small for us;
make room for us to live here.’
21 Then you will say in your heart,
‘Who has begotten these for me?
I was bereaved and barren;
I was exiled and rejected.
So who has reared them?
Look, I was left all alone,
so where did they come from?’”
22 This is what the Lord GOD says:
“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations,
and raise My banner to the peoples.
They will bring your sons in their arms
h
and carry your daughters on their shoulders.
23 Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow to you facedown
and lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the LORD;
those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
24 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty,
or the captives of a tyrant
i be delivered?
25 Indeed, this is what the LORD says:
“Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away,
and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
and I will save your children.
26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.
Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD,
am your Savior and your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Jacob.”