SECTION II.
The Four
Classes Of The Redeemed
The ensuing study is given to prove that the
great multitude of Rev. 7:9, are living saints, who, with the 144,000, are to
be translated at the second coming of Christ.
All the saved in the history of the world, from righteous Abel to the
close of probation, are divided into four great, separate, and distinct
classes, as follows:
Class 1: The 144,000 of Rev. 7; namely, the
twelve tribes of
Class 2: The translated at
the coming of Christ in the clouds (the great multitude of Rev. 7:9).
Class 3: The millions of all ages who were
martyred for their faith.
Class 4: "Those who were once zealous
in the cause of Satan, but who, plucked as brands from the burning, have
followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion." Great
Controversy, page 665.
Earthly nations and governments
glory in the splendid order of their armies, and their uniforms are made
according to ranks, so that by the uniform, one can recognize the rank of a
soldier, and to which division or regiment he belongs. We must not suppose the great God has less
order for His redeemed than earthly nations for their armies. We know God has far better order than any
earthly government can ever devise. An
endeavor shall be made to prove that each one of the four classes mentioned
above have their uniforms by which they can be discerned and classified.
Class 1
In Early Writings, pages 16, 17, we read:
"Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others
not so bright. Some crowns appeared
heavy with stars, while others had but few.
All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious
white
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mantle from their shoulders to their feet." The 144,000 are described as having this
"glorious white mantle" as part of their garments.
Class 2
Class 2, are the translated (besides the
144,000). Rev. 7:9, says, "After this
[the 144,000] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number,
of all nations and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,
and before the Lamb clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. It will be noticed this company have palms in
their hands.
Class 3
Early Writings, pages 18, 19: "As we
were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of
the place. I noticed red as a border on
their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they
were. He said they were martyrs that had
been slain for Him. With them was an
innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments." Thus class 3, (the martyrs)
are described as having "red on their garments".
Class 4
Great sinners plucked as brands from the
burning, but who died a natural death.
These have neither a mantle over their
shoulders, palms in their hands, nor red as a border around their garments, but
they do have crowns of gold. Their
crowns differ from the crowns of the 144,000, the latter having
"stars" in their crowns, as stated under heading "Class
1." Thus we have the description of
these four classes, and the symbols of their garments, and can be summarized as
follows:
Class 1--The 144,000 have the glorious white
mantle, and stars in their crowns.
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Class 2--The great multitude of Rev. 7:9, have palms in their hands.
Class 3--The millions of all ages who were
martyred, have red around their garments as a border.
Class 4--Great sinners plucked as brands
from the burning, but who died a natural death, who have white robes, and
golden crowns, but no stars on their crowns.
Same as those of Rev. 4:4.
There must have been a definite reason for
describing the special uniforms which must have been for the purpose of
disclosing this truth.
Types And
Anti-Types
The Spirit of Prophecy says Elijah
represents those who will be living when Christ comes, and be changed in the
twinkling of an eye, and be translated.
Desire of Ages, page 421: "Elijah, who had been translated to
heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the
earth at Christ's second coming, and who will be 'changed in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump."
Reference is made of Enoch in Patriarchs and
Prophets, pages 88, 89: "The godly character of this prophet represents
the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be 'redeemed
from the earth' at the time of Christ's second advent....But like Enoch, God's
people will seek for purity of heart, and conformity to His will, until they
shall reflect the likeness of Christ.
Like Enoch they will warn the world of the Lord's second coming, and of
the judgments to be visited upon transgression, and by their holy conversation
and example they will condemn the sins of the ungodly. As Enoch was translated to heaven before the
destruction of the world by water so the living righteous will be translated
from the earth before its destruction by fire."
Though Elijah represents those who shall be
translated at the second coming of Christ Enoch does, too. Both men were translated without seeing
death. The question is, Why two types?
Because there are two companies of people to be translated; the 144,000,
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and the great multitude of Rev. 7:9. The 144,000, are
Israelites; the great multitude are not.
Enoch is not an Israelite, therefore he can not
represent
Enoch is said to be the seventh from Adam. "Seven" means complete, finished;
thus perfectly typifying the class represented by him in Rev. 7:9 (the great multitude). We shall endeavor to bring another proof that
the great multitude with the "palms in their hands"
are translated with the 144,000.
In Great Controversy, page 665 we read about classes 2, 3, and 4. The part referring to class 4, reads as
follows: "Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause
of Satan, but who plucked as brands from the burning, have followed their
Saviour with deep, intense devotion.
Next are those who perfected Christian characters in the midst of
falsehood and infidelity, those who honored the law of God when the Christian
world declared it void." Here is
included every possible sin to a sinner in all ages (who have taken their stand
for God).
But of class 2 (the great multitude), there
is no reference given as to what kind of sinners they are. Class 1 (the 144,000), are called
After including every possible sin to a
sinner in Class 4 (those who shall be resurrected), and the martyrs in class 3,
Inspiration says, "And beyond is the 'great multitude'....with white
robes, and palms in their hands."
Therefore, this company could not be classed with the other two, or with
the 144,000. If Class 2 (the great
multitude), were the saved and resurrected from all ages, then all of the saved
must have palms in their hands, but as it is plain that
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not all have the palms, then these are not all the saved
in all ages, but are the translated ones only, besides the 144,000. The palm is a symbol of victory over death
and the grave; that is, they never died.
Again, speaking of the same company, we read
in Rev. 7:14, last part: "And he said unto me, These are they which came
out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb'." Thus this
company went through the tribulation of Daniel 12, which is in the time of the
seven last plagues. Rev. 7:16, last
part: "neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat." They go through the fourth plague, so it is
clear that this company lives in the time of the end, at the second advent of
Christ,--to be translated.
An Explanation Of
Early Writings, Page 15
Speaking of the announcement made of the
coming of Christ (the day and the hour), which is before the general
resurrection, and at the time of the special resurrection, we read: "Soon
we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of
Jesus' coming. The living saints,
144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it
was thunder and an earthquake. When God
spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light
up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from
We are not to understand that all who were
present at this time and heard the announcement made of the "day and the
hour" were the 144,000 only. The
language used makes it clear that there were more, for the pronouns
"we", "us", "they", and "our" are used. In pointing to the 144,000, the definite
article "the" is used. She
does
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not put herself as one of the 144,000, but, instead, the
pronoun "us" is used; therefore, there must be another company living
besides the 144,000.
Elijah Represents The 144,000
If Enoch represents the great multitude of
Rev. 7:9, then Elijah represents the 144,000, for only two in the world's
history have been translated without seeing death. Further proof is not necessary; however,
other reasons shall be given why Elijah typified the 144,000. Elijah saw the drought and the famine in
Quoting from Testimonies
to Ministers, page 475: "Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: 'Behold, I will send you
Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord'. Somebody is to come in the spirit
and power of Elijah and when he appears, men may say: 'You are too earnest, you
do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.' " Sister White
does not mean to say that she is that prophet Elijah, but plainly says a
prophet must come, and it is said to be a prophet with the "same spirit
and power of Elijah." This prophet
must come before Ezekiel 9 is fulfilled, for the prophecy of Ezekiel is similar
to Elijah's experience with
We read in Testimonies to Ministers, page
445: "This sealing of the servants of God [the 144,000: Rev. 7] is the
same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision."
Then the sealing of the 144,000 is
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the same as Ezekiel 9, and the marking by the man with
the writer's inkhorn is the seal. As
soon as the marking is done, "the five men with the slaughter weapons go
after him and slay both old and young, both maids and little children, and
women. And they began at the ancient men
which were before the house."
It is at this time the 144,000 are marked,
or sealed. Ezekiel 9 fits Elijah's
experience for this reason: The prophet, or the message is called, Elijah,
"with the spirit and the power of Elijah." The prophet Elijah thought all
Moses--Type Of
Resurrection Of Just
"Moses upon the mount of
transfiguration was a witness to Christ's victory over sin and death. He represented those who shall come forth
from the grave at the resurrection of the just." Desire
of Ages, page 421. Moses
represents the first, or general resurrection of Rev.
20:6.
Type Of
Special Resurrection
If Moses represents the general
resurrection, who, then, would represent the mixed, or
special resurrection of Dan. 12:2? We have the one of Matt. 27:52, 53. "And the graves were opened; and many
bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His
resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." The saints who had part in this resurrection
were gathered from all ages. Some who,
perhaps, had lived at the very time Christ was preaching, and were acquainted
with Him and
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His work, were witnesses to
His resurrection. Read
Early Writings, page 184; Desire of Ages, page 786.
There is still another reason why Matt.
27:52, is a type of this mixed resurrection.
Those who were resurrected with Christ witnessed of the deity of Christ
to the very ones who crucified Him.
Speaking of this mixed resurrection, Daniel says: "And many of them
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt."
Then there will be some righteous included who lived and witnessed the
crucifixion; also those who crucified Him, and pierced Him, for, (Rev. 1:7)
"Behold, He cometh with clouds: And every eye
shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him." Therefore, the resurrection which witnessed
of the power of God to these murderers of His Son, typified the just who are
raised in the mixed (special) resurrection.
The Type Of
The Second Resurrection
The wicked who come
up in the mixed resurrection of Dan. 12:2, and who must die the second death at
the coming of Christ, typify the ones who come up at the end of the millennium,
called the resurrection of the wicked. Read Great Controversy, pages 661, 662; Early Writings, pages 52,
53.
Type Of The
Second Death
It has been a perplexing question whether
the wicked ones who arise in the special resurrection of Dan. 12:2, continue to
live, or die with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ, and be
resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years.
As God leaves nothing undone, He has foretold everything in prophecy, and types as well.
If we have a type for every other event, we must have a type of
this. The wicked ones
who are resurrected, must die with the rest of the wicked at the coming of
Christ in the clouds to typify the second death at the end of the millennium.
Now the question is,
Will they arise again in the second resurrection with the wicked? In answer to
this question, Early Writings,
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page 292 says: "At the first resurrection all come
forth in immortal bloom; but at the second the marks of the curse are visible
on all. The kings and noblemen of the
earth the mean and low, the learned and unlearned, come forth together. All behold the Son of man; and those very men
who despised and mocked Him, who put the crown of thorns upon His sacred brow,
and smote Him with the reed, behold Him in all His kingly majesty. Those who spit upon Him in the hour of His
trial now turn from His Piercing gaze and from the glory of His
countenance. Those who drove the nails
through His hands and feet now look upon the marks of His crucifixion. Those who thrust the spear into His side
behold the marks of their cruelty on His body." By this we understand that these very men are
there again in the second resurrection.
Therefore they were resurrected the second time at the end of the 1,000
years, to die in the second death, which they themselves typified, (by dying
the second death with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ in the
clouds). Thus we have a prophecy and a
type for every event that has, or will take place in this wicked world of ours.
A Thought Of
Perfection:
1. The resurrection of Moses.
2. The resurrection at the time when Jesus arose.
3. The special resurrection of Daniel 12:2.
4. The first resurrection of Rev. 20:6.
5. The translation of Enoch.
6. The translation of Elijah.
7. The general translation at the coming of Christ.
Thus, we again have the number
"seven", the sign of perfection, all, or finished. The four resurrections and three translations
comprise all the saints resurrected and translated, all of which make a total
of seven, or the end.
Procession Of
The Redeemed
What a wonderful parade it will be when the
redeemed of all
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ages shall march through the golden streets in heavenly
places amidst the pure and the blessed.
1.
Escorting the great procession we see the millions of angels who
ministered to the redeemed in all ages.
2.
Moses, the type of the resurrected, and the first man to write in the
Bible, we see marching ahead as a leader of the resurrected ones, clothed in
white and a glittering golden crown on his head. The resurrected ones whom he represents are
Class 4, clad in white robes and having golden crowns.
3.
Next we see good, innocent Abel, representing the martyrs with the
glorious white robe and red around his garment as a border, leading millions of
martyrs of all ages (Class 3), whose robes are just like the one worn by their
leader, Abel.
4. We
now behold good old Enoch, having around his head a dazzling white wreath:
Above it a lovely crown brighter than the sun and on his
right arm a glorious palm. It is
by him the great translated multitude are both lead and represented, all in
pure white robes, palms in their hands, and golden crowns on their heads.
5.
Last of all the redeemed, the brave Elijah, with a glorious white mantle
from his shoulders to his feet: A type and leader of the most wonderful
company, though small in number. Being a special company, with a special experience a royal
priesthood, the 144,000, in pure white, and a glorious mantle from their
shoulders to their feet, with stars in their crowns. Rev. 14:5, "And in their mouth was found
no guile: For they are without fault before the throne of God."
6. If
the sons of God (Adams) from other worlds presented themselves before the Lord
according to Job 1:6, in a council meeting, then surely the sons of God (Adams)
from all the worlds would not be excluded from the most wonderful, and the only
procession in Eternity's endless expanse.
7.
Last of all, Jesus and the majestic, heavenly throng with ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels. What a wonderful gathering that will be! Can we find anything more harmonious than
this in all the Bible?
It will be noticed
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we again have the complete Biblical number
"seven," and it cannot be made more or less, and yet include
all. Ought this not to wake up our
interest and zeal when we see what a glorious event is in store for God's
faithful people?
An Explanation Of
Writer's Inkhorn Of Early Writings, P. 279
The man with the writer's inkhorn of Ezekiel
9, is the one who performs the sealing of the 144,000
long before the close of probation. Some
may misunderstand the statement made in Early Writings, and thereby be
confused. For the benefit of such a one
we make this explanation. Quoting the
statement found in Early Writings, page 279, we read: "I saw angels
hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel
with a writer's inkhorn by his side returned from the earth, and reported to
Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering
before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw
down the censer. He raised His hands,
and with a loud voice said, 'IT IS DONE'."
It is unmistakably plain that it was an
angel with a writer's inkhorn, and that his work was done; also that Jesus'
work was finished in the heavenly Sanctuary (probation closed). Because this angel has a writer's inkhorn by
his side same as the man in Ezekiel 9, is no proof that it is the same angel,
for it may be supposed that there would be more than one angel with such an
instrument. However, it may be the same
sealing angel in both instances, but the thought is, when the man of Ezekiel 9,
seals the 144,000, his work continues on through the harvest time.
The saints must be numbered and sealed in
this generation the same as those who have been sealed in the ages past. Evidently his work has been continuing ever
since sin entered into the human family, perhaps beginning with Abel, and would
continue to the close of probation, at which time his work would be done.
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