The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

Some Futurist expositors cite as an objection to the interpretation that these 144,000
represent all the elect ones, that this number is stated by St. John as being the number
selected in the comparatively brief period of the holding back of the four winds. Our
reasoning, to the contrary, is that St. John simply states that he heard the entire number of
the sealed ones, not necessarily that they were all sealed during the Harvest period. The
sealing of these last ones had associated with it the impartation of special knowledge of
the Divine Plan--a knowledge which was necessary for them to have that they might be
enabled to overcome the many perils and dangers to be encountered and thus make their
calling and election sure. This period is the same time described by the Master as fraught
with special snares and pitfalls, making it necessary for God's people to "take heed."--Luke
21:24,25.
Concerning the significance of this sealing work, the remark seems well in place that . . .
". . . to seal the servants of God, is not to constitute them as such; it is as His servants, not as
His enemies, that they are to be sealed, and the change wrought by their sealing is not so
much in their character but their aspect. The symbol denotes, therefore, that the servants of
God, ere the whirlwind of ruin begins, are to be led to assume a new attitude towards the
nominal Church and anti-Christian rulers, by which, and in a manner never before seen,
they are to be shown as His true people."
The question concerning the authority of God over the faith, worship, and methods of
service of His true people, as distinguished from the claims made by a man, a man-made
church system, or a religious or business organization, will become so thoroughly
discussed and made so clear by Scripture interpretation, that the last faithful company of
true believers on earth will understand and appreciate it, and will feel called as though by
a voice from heaven, to separate and keep separate from all those who make and endeavor
to force such claims. To rise to such a relation and fill such a position, has never been
assumed and maintained by any body of believers since the "falling away" in the early
centuries. It is one of the special tests that began to be applied to the Lord's consecrated at
the beginning of the Harvest period--this time during which the tempestuous winds have
been held back. It is a test that has recently been applied again by the Great Head of the
Church, and continues even unto this present moment. Let us ever keep in mind that
when a church or organization assumes the right of determining what the faith of its
adherents shall be, they at once assume jurisdiction over them. When they claim that they
are the channel, the only channel, through which truth must flow, they are asserting the
powers of Christ and the twelve divinely appointed channels. When they go further and
seek to compel in any manner or degree a submission to themselves, they usurp the
authority and rights of God, and would compel an homage to themselves which is due
only to Him. To perceive and appreciate these things is to discern the rights of God in their
greatness and sanctity. To publicly assert and vindicate them, in opposition to those who
claim them, and to withdraw from such, will be to rise to an attitude toward them, and
toward God, that His servants as a body are now called upon to assume. Let him that readeth
understand!