In Rev 7, the 144,000 are sealed in the forehead on earth. In Rev 14 the 144,000 are sealed with the name of the Father, and they are now standing with the Lamb of God on Mt Sion. And so, we have the first resurrection, rapture, and congregation with the Lord at His return to earth.
Rev 7:
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.
(PARSING: 144k from ALL the TRIBES of ISRAEL. Vrs 7:5-8 confirm 12,000 x 12 tribes - 144,000)
5 Of the tribe of Juda, Reuben & Gad .
6 Of the tribe of Aser, Nepthalim & Manassas
7 Of the tribe of Simeon, Levi & Issachar
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon, Joseph & Benjamin
(PARSING: Verses 5-8 confirm 12k ea x 12 tribes = 144,000 & NAMES the Israelite TRIBES they come from)
Gen 32:28 God changed Jacob's name to Israel. The 12 tribes of Israel are Jacob/Israel's sons. Each son received a land portion (except Levi/Levites they become the priesthood) Joseph receives a double portion of land (Gen 48) & it's divided between his 2 sons Ephraim & Manasseh.
Rev 14:
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a 144k, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
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.
(PARSING: These 144k are 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.
(PARSING: "Redeemed From Among Men" being the FIRSTFRUITS unto God & to the Lamb)
Parsing vs 4
(A) 144k ALL VIRGINS)
(B) These 144k were REDEEMED from AMONG MEN)
(C) Being FIRSTFRUITS onto God & to the Lamb.
The Rev 4 language is directly lifted from the
Lev 23:9-11 wave offering. They're the 1st portion of a larger harvest, set apart & presented to God.
The category itself is Israelite, because the firstfruits offering was tied to Israel's land covenant.
The Israelites practiced the firstfruits (resurrection foreshadowing) wave offering every Passover week for over 1400 yrs. John calling the 144k "firstfruits" supports their identity as being literal Israelites.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
(PARSING: Christ is 1st to rise/resurrected from the grave)
Matt 27:
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
(PARSING: Jesus dies)
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
(PARSING: Jesus rips the Temple veil in 1/2 on the way to paradise)
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(PARSING: Many saints are resurrected)
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
(PARSING: Jesus rises 1st, then others are resurrected. REREADING
Rev 14:1-4,
144k = FIRSTFRUITS, "Redeemed From Among Men")
The
Matt 27:52-53 cites these OT elect that rise after Jesus as firstfruits that rise from the grave & they're seen by many!
These firstfruits are resurrected BEFORE there is a church.
Jesus rises then 50 days later comes the Acts 2 Pentecost, where the CHURCH via the Holy Spirit outpouring BEGINS.