Characteristics of the Twelve Tribes Composing the 144,000
Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5

(Selected from a series of sermons by Pr. John Thiel – Sabbath Conference, 2017)

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads – it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved, just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. 4BC 1161

James 1:1 - James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 

James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Who is James addressing? The Christian church. And what does he call them? The twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.

Revelation 21:10-12, 21

The city is adorned as a bride for her husband; she is clothed with the righteousness of the saints; and each gate is a pearl, a beautiful glistening pearl.  These gates are made from pearl to teach us something very important. How is a pearl made? A pearl is formed in an oyster shell because a grit of sand has gotten between the shell and the oyster and is causing it pain. To shield itself from the pain it produces a slimy material to cover the grain of dirt and to make it smooth. Then it grows bigger and bigger as the oyster puts more and more of this fluid around the grit until it becomes a beautiful and valuable pearl.

The offending matter of sin, like the grain of sand, causes pain and stands between us and our God. The twelve sons of Jacob all had the offending matter of sin affecting their lives. We all do. And that offending matter is to be covered and engulfed and transformed into a beautiful pearl. 

There is a text in the Bible that frightens many of God’s children and prevents them from believing the truth about the 144,000. It is that which describes a people dwelling on this earth just before Jesus returns:

Revelation 14:5 - And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

These 144,000 have been purged and cleansed from all their sins. They are without fault before the throne of God. Who can hope to attain to such things? Here is another reference describing the experience of these people:

Zephaniah 3:12-13 - I will also leave in your midst an afflicted and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.  The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

God will leave in the church of God, the 144,000, a people who do no iniquity, nor speak lies, and in whose mouth is no deceitful tongue. This is a frightening prospect for many believers. They are afraid of a doctrine which teaches that in the last days there will be a people dwelling on earth without fault, who do no iniquity. This makes many people think, ‘Well, then that leaves me out.’  But this need not so affect us, because we can find comfort in the mercy and compassion of God.

Micah 7:18-20 - Who [is] a God like unto Thee, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham.

If you will by faith take these words and make them your own, then you will no longer fear that you cannot be among the 144,000 because you are not perfect. The remnant, the 144,000, are a people who have sinned greatly, but God is merciful and compassionate.  He passes by the transgression of the remnant.

What a different attitude to the mentality of those today who believe that they are standing on the old paths. These people find it very difficult to pass by the transgression of God’s heritage. But He doesn’t.  He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in mercy. And He will turn, He will have compassion, He will subdue our iniquities, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. He will perform this truth to Jacob, to Israel, to its 12 tribes.

So let us dismiss our fears and learn the lesson of each tribe and see where our experience fits in. And let us take courage as we see how the forefathers of each tribe were blessed by God. In these studies, God’s purging experience to remove the sins of His people, tribe by tribe, will be made evident, until at last He can present them without fault before the throne of God. (Except for two tribes who refused to be redeemed.)

Isaiah 1:18 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Can you comprehend this? How can sins that are so objectionable become as white as snow?

Christ developed a life of righteousness in His atonement for sin. He was made to be sin for us, and sin was imparted to Him like that grit inside the oyster shell. He dealt with that sin similarly as the oyster does with the grit of sand. He suffered; and we, as believers in Him, receive the fluids flowing full and free from Christ to cover every grit of blemish in our character, so that our sins may become as white as snow. Our sin may become a pearl! This is so hard to comprehend, isn’t it? How can sin become a pearl?  Our selfishness can be transformed, by the power of God, into the beautiful pearl of a truly unselfish nature. And the same goes with every sin, with every defect of character. Whatever our problem may be, it can be transformed into a pearl of great price. Praise be to God.

God addresses the following words to the Laodicean church, the church which is to develop the 144,000:

Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The 144,000 are those who overcome as Christ overcame; therefore, they will enter through the gates into the city. And these gates have the names of the twelve tribes written on them; each tribe, with their different experiences, will enter through the pearly gate that reflects that experience.

Why 12 different gates?

The body of Jesus, His church, is made up of different parts.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 

The foot, the hand, the ear, the eye – each one is needed in the body. The apostle says.

1 Corinthians 12:20 – But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

So, there is the one city, the one bride, with twelve different gates. Just like a body has many parts, there are many gates into that city. And each person with a particular character development goes through one of those gates. Which gate will we enter? By studying the characteristics of the 12 tribes mentioned here, we may identify our experience.

During the years since Joseph had been separated from his brothers, these sons of Jacob had changed in character. Envious, turbulent, deceptive, cruel, and revengeful they had been, but now, when tested by adversity, they were shown to be unselfish, true to one another, devoted to their father, and themselves middle-aged men, subject to his authority. PP 225.

There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last. Those who are battling with daily temptations, overcoming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life, make no boastful claims of holiness. They are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful. {SL 10.1}