Firstly, the 144,000 are said to hail from the 12 tribes of Israel, and they have a definite number; conversely, the "great multitude" comes from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues and they cannot be numbered. Granted, the kings and priests of Revelation 5:9-10 are said to come from diverse backgrounds too. But it seems odd for John to describe the 144,000 as Israelites in Revelation 7:1-8, then do a literary flip, as it were, and talk about the 144,000 as an indefinite and uncountable group from all tribes, etc.
While there are certainly differing scholarly views of Revelation 7:9, Robert L. Thomas thinks that META TAUTA EIDON "indicates a vision that is distinct from the preceding one" of Revelation 7:1-8. Furthermore, he reasons that the 144,000 and the great multitude cannot be the same group since "The earlier one was numbered, but this one is innumerable. One is exclusively Jews, the other is not. One is facing a period of wrath, the other has been delivered from it (Beckwith; Scott). This multitude includes far more than the 144,000" (Thomas, Revelation 1-7, page 484).
It has been suggested that the great multitude could be a heavenly group. Regardless of that debate, I just find it hard to believe that the multitude is numerically identical with the 144,000. Numerical identity is a concept that tries to explain what it means for two objects (A and B) to be the same. For instance, if the apostle named Paul who lived during the first century is numerically identical with the apostle of the same name resurrected to heaven by God, then the two "Pauls" are the same person. The above mentioned principle would similarly apply to the 144,000 and the great multitude, if they are numerically identical. But it's highly doubtful that they constitute the same (numerically identical) group.
20 comments:
Edgar:
Your contention is the number 144,000 is literal. Could you explain how you disagree that the 12,000 from each tribe is literal, and that the Jewish tribe in itself is not literal, and yet come up with a literal sum? Are there any other examples of this phenomenon?
Hi Edgar-
Is it possible that the 144K is describing what John heard and then the GC describing what he saw? In addition, where does the text require that either of these groups be located in heaven?
Ivan,
What about the four living creatures in Revelation or the 24 elders? Would they not be similar to 144,000 symbolic Israelites from 12 figurative tribes? Does not the Bible allow for an understanding of that which is Israel in a non-fleshly way?
Hi Apologetic Front:
Granted, he heard the number of 144,000 sealed and only 144,000, and he saw the great crowd. But did you actually read Thomas' remarks in the original post? I think he sets forth good reasons for distinguishing the 2 groups. See his remarks that are quoted in the blog entry.
And I wouldn't say that Rev 7 says anything which would lead us to believe that heavenly life is required, although some have concluded that very thing about the GC.
Hi Edgar-
I certainly read them but found it to be quite unconvincing. And I'm surprised too since his view appears to be contrary to the JW position that the 144K is "spiritual Israel" and therefore not literal Jews.
Hi Apologetic Front,
This subject has been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere, but allow me to approach it from this angle. Even if the number 144,000 is symbolic, we still make nonsense of Rev 7:1-8; 14:1-5 if we try to say that the GC and 144,000 constitute the same group from different perspectives. To say that 144,000 symbolizes an innumerable multitude makes little sense. Additionally, Rev 14:3 says that no one was able to master the new song but the 144,000. Only those elect people who form this spiritual chorus were ablt to master the new song. Rev 6:9-11 also indicates that a limited number of human beings will adorn the white robes given by Jehovah to his faithful sons. It seems to contradict any suggestion that those who are given this figurative garb will be an innumerable multitude.
https://justpaste.it/62n45 - Revelation 7:4-8 - Spiritual Israel?
The Apostle John heard the number of those who were sealed. Even when he does not mention this specifically, the angel of revelation, whom God placed beside him, provides explanations to the images seen. The angel of revelation lists the tribes of Israel, dividing them into the 12 tribes, 12,000 each, totaling 144,000 sealed. Is it the chosen ones from the physical nation of Israel who make up this 144,000? There are several reasons to doubt this. The fact that the revelation lists the physical tribes of Israel does not prove in favor of the physical Israel, because the 12 gates of the heavenly city also bear the names of the 12 tribes; however, this city is the Bride of the Lamb, the church (Rev. 21:9-10 cf. Gal. 4:26; Hebrews 12:22-23; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25), which has the right to the traditions of Israel, because it was grafted into Abraham's cultivated olive tree by God's gracious decision, so that it can be considered more truly the descendant of Abraham than physical Israel, than the circumcision in the flesh (Romans 11:7, 17, 20, 24; 4:11, 2:26-29; Gal. 3:27-29). The church is the true heir and continuator of the testimony made by Jacob and his sons, not their descendants who physically came from them but deny Christ. There is a promise that all of Israel will convert (Romans 11:25-27), but this will only happen when all the nations of the earth are also saved (Romans 11:30-32; Acts 15:14-16). The transition from physical Israel to spiritual Israel already occurred with the prophets. They already distinguished Israel's seed or remnant from the entire physical Israel (Jeremiah 31:7; Mark 5:7; Isaiah 6:13). Later, Paul received the revelation that the Gentiles who converted were added to this holy seed, to this true Israel, as equally genuine members (Eph. 3:6). Thus, the church did not step into Israel's place as a second chosen people, but was admitted into Israel as God's Israel (Gal. 6:16), as opposed to the Israel of the flesh (1 Cor 10:18). As the church can be God's Israel, so it can also be God's Judah, God's Reuben, God's Gad. This is how James, in his letter, also addressed the church among the 12 tribes scattered in Israel, which he offered to the entire Christian community of the time (1:1). Therefore, when the revelation given to John summarized the church under the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, it used a way of speaking that had already passed into the blood of the Christians, which could not be misunderstood at that time.
The fact that the 12 tribes are only a metaphor for the Church is also indicated by the way the Revelation deals with the names and order of the 12 tribes. If it were about the physical Israel, the Revelation would not have completely omitted one tribe, the tribe of Dan, since God's promise clearly states that all of Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). Therefore, Dan's eternal fate could not be total destruction. We also do not find the name Ephraim; instead, Joseph is listed again, yet Manasseh remains. Levi is no longer a priestly tribe but is distributed among the others. The order of the tribes is also entirely different from the birth order shown in Genesis 29, 30. Judah is placed first here, Reuben, the firstborn, is in the second place; then follow the children of the slaves: but their birth order is not maintained because first come the children of Leah's maid (Gad, Asher), then the second-born child of Rachel's maid, Naphtali; but Dan, Bilhah's firstborn, is entirely missing. Then follows Manasseh, although Manasseh is already included in Joseph, who is listed later. He is followed by Leah's second and third child: Simeon and Levi; then Leah's other children: Issachar, Zebulun, and finally Rachel's two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Is there any order in this confusion? We understand the matter immediately if we replace the order of physical birth with the order of election, as God made Jacob the firstborn by rejecting Esau. According to Romans 8:29, the basis of divine election is foreknowledge; God did not favor Esau, but favored Jacob, because Esau did not care about God's gifts, while Jacob devoted his whole life to them. On this basis, Judah, who showed repentance and later demonstrated loyalty and reliability, seemed the most suitable to be the leading tribe in Israel. Reuben, who sinned only out of weakness and sincerely wanted to save Joseph, got the second place. After recognizing God's great deliverance from Egypt, God set back the sinful tribes and advanced the children of the despised slaves; likewise, Manasseh advanced, while Ephraim, which was previously placed before it, disappeared completely; the reason might be idolatry, with Ephraim being the center of it, first with the worship of the golden calf and then with Baal worship. Dan committed such a serious sin in history that it was completely excluded from divine election (Judges 18). The reason for the demotion of Simeon and Levi could be the cruelty with which they tainted the name of God's people when they exterminated the inhabitants of Shechem. It is clear, therefore, that the purpose of this sealing was to acquire a holy people based on election, not on physical descent. The sealing itself is a means of election. And physical Israel will be taken up by God when it comes to the salvation of all Israel, when Zechariah's prophecy is fulfilled, and all of Israel repents of its sin; therefore, at the beginning of the thousand-year reign. This sealing is thus the sealing of spiritual Israel, which is the church, the New Testament people formed from the union of believing Jews within Israel and the Gentiles accepted into it, the 12 tribes living in the dispersion of James.
The fact that we are dealing with a symbolic representation is also indicated by the number of the chosen ones, as it is impossible that God would select exactly 12,000 souls from the large tribe of Judah, just as from the small tribe of Benjamin. We have seen that the selection is based on reliability, so it is impossible for God to make such distinctions that the number of each of the chosen ones is precisely 12,000. The number "12" represents completeness and perfection, not a numerical quantity; therefore, the mention of 12,000 is symbolic. There is an explanation suggesting that before the Lord's return, God will recreate all the lost tribes of Israel among the nations and seal 144,000 from these. This is just a childish dream. The numerical grandeur of outer, physical appearances has long become valueless next to the divine wonder of inner connections and relationships. Since the spiritual descent from the believing Abraham has overshadowed the glory of physical descent, the old genealogical dreams are worth no more than the flaunting of noble descent among us Hungarians. The number 144,000 symbolically represents the complete number, the pleroma, which is the full number of the spiritual people chosen from among the Gentiles according to Romans 11:25, and indeed, when Revelation 6:11 talks about the need for the number of martyrs who have gone to heaven to be completed, it uses the same word: pléróthosin. The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 represent the full number of martyrs poured at the foot of the altar, even if not all are literal martyrs, but rather witnesses maturing amidst sufferings. The instruction given in Revelation 6:11 that the martyr-companions still have to wait is naturally followed by the gathering and sealing of these martyr-companions. In chapter 7, just as the earthly sealing is naturally followed, the depiction of the arrival in heaven of those sealed on earth follows in the second part of the chapter.
Contrary to the superficial pietistic interpretation that attempts to assemble the Book of Revelation from a haphazard collection of loosely connected and logically disordered mosaic pieces, there is another explanation which discerns multiple threads of development in the book. The Book of Revelation continues in 7:9 with the description of a great multitude in heaven. The interpretation that sees the Book of Revelation as an assortment of barely connected mosaics places this scene after the rapture of the victorious ones, comprising the multitude of those who convert after the rapture of the victors. This is necessary to maintain the theory that the triumphant members of the church will not enter into the great tribulation. It's a classic example of twisting the Scripture (even if not consciously) to set aside the clear testimony of the Holy Scriptures that the church will face the tribulations of the last days. Undoubtedly, this passage is not about those left behind but about the victors, as the multitude here holds palm branches, a sign of victory, and it's evident that we are not encountering a new group appearing on earth but the saved arriving in heaven. The multitude, with palm branches in hand, stands before the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. When the book presents a group's final or at least heavenly state, we must find its preceding state somewhere in the book. We find no other precedent than the earthly journey of the victorious church, which the seven messages speak of, and the sealing discussed in the first section of this chapter. Therefore, if we do not want to view the book as a random collection of disconnected parts, in this great multitude from every nation, we must see the ecclesia called out from every nation. The ecclesia received the promise of white robes (3:5) and the promise of victory, expressed by the palm branches. The palm tree, with its deep roots, overcomes the barrenness and dryness of the desert, symbolizing the Christian rooted in God who triumphs in the world's desert! The book previously speaks of Israel in only two ways: either as the synagogue of Satan or mentioning that some of its members come into the Christian church to worship God. The synagogue of Satan is not sealed by the angels, and the Jews who worship God in the Christian church are members of the church, hence they do not form a separate group of the saved. Therefore, the seven churches, the martyrs under the fifth seal praying at the heavenly altar, and the sealed ones in the seventh chapter all represent the same group as 7:9 and the subsequent discussion. Thus, the multitude appearing in the second part of the chapter represents the martyred members of the triumphant church arriving in heaven.
If both the first and second parts of Chapter 7 in the Book of Revelation depict the same group of people, it must be concluded that they are viewed through two different visions, focusing on the same subject. The first part examines the Church on Earth with earthly eyes. On Earth, the Church appears in its ultimate perfection, as 12 x 12,000, or 144,000 members, perfectly distributed in the order of usability and divine selection. As originating from different nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, they form a countless multitude of victors. This dual perspective is intentional. The struggling and imperfect ecclesia on Earth must contemplate its perfection, set before it by God, which it will achieve through God's grace. The perfected Church in heaven looks back on its tumultuous origins and tribulations, singing eternal gratitude to God for what it has achieved above.
God views the Church in the same way today: while working on it on Earth, He foresees the artistic parts that will be formed from it, hence declaring it to be 12 x 12,000, or 144,000 in number. When gathered in heaven, He reminds them of the nations, tribes, peoples, and languages from which He lifted them, preparing them to return to these groups during the thousand-year reign to guide and lead them to the springs of living waters, as God does with them now.
Moreover, the heavenly beings remember the nations, the original place of the Church, which displayed so many different ancestries, the tribes with their contrasting interests, the diverse characters, and the languages that could not understand each other. Now, all these form a wonderful unity and harmony, a single people made uniform by the received white garments and the earned palm branches.
Therefore, the Revelation had an important reason to see the same people on Earth as the 144,000 and in heaven as a countless multitude of diverse origins. The former demonstrates their perfect composition, while the latter illustrates their true greatness.
In response to the assertion that after the rapture of the Church, other victorious groups would remain on Earth, I must say that this teaching is entirely contrary to the literal meaning and spirit of the Bible, and it must be firmly opposed, as it forms a dangerous precedent for the complete voluntary handling of Scripture. If the chosen ones enter the bridal chamber and the doors are shut, no one else can enter. The idea that victorious ones would be left out of the wedding feast is just as absurd. All this confusion arises to cling to the claim that the victorious will not enter the great tribulation, which they themselves abandon when they distinguish another victorious group that will undoubtedly be in the great tribulation, as it comes out of it.
Even if, contrary to all other biblical teachings, we assume that other victorious groups remain on Earth after the rapture of the Church, this still does not explain Revelation 3:10, which, in a correct translation, states that the Lord delivers the church from the hour of temptation, nor Matthew 24:22, where Jesus clearly states that the days of great tribulation are shortened by God for the sake of the chosen, implying that they must be present in the great tribulation. However, all these maneuvers are unnecessary because the biblical passage currently being explained does not speak of a group on Earth, but in heaven.
https://www.academia.edu/35561118/Views_on_the_144_000_of_Revelation
https://www.academia.edu/43046908/144_000_Sealed_Literal_or_Symbolic
Thank you, look like interesting pieces.
The Book of Revelation is filled with symbolic language and imagery. Numbers like 7, 12, and 144,000 are often seen as symbolic rather than literal. For example, the number 12 represents completeness or divine organization (as in the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles). The number 144,000, which is 12 times 12,000, could be symbolic of a complete and perfect group rather than an exact figure. Many scholars argue that the number 144,000 symbolizes the fullness of God's people rather than a limited, specific number of individuals.
In Revelation 7, the 144,000 are mentioned, but immediately after, there is mention of a "great multitude" that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. This suggests a contrast between the specific number of the 144,000 and the uncountable multitude. If the great multitude is uncountable and represents all redeemed people, it seems inconsistent to take one group as a literal number and the other as symbolic.
Historically, many Christian commentators interpreted the 144,000 symbolically. For instance, figures like Tyconius, Bede, and Alcuin saw the 144,000 as representing the entire Church rather than a literal number of individuals. They understood the 144,000 as a symbol of the Church's perfection and totality rather than a specific, limited group of people.
The number 144,000 is mentioned in Revelation 7 and 14, where it is associated with the 12 tribes of Israel. However, these tribes are not listed in the traditional order, and some tribes are omitted or replaced, which further suggests that the passage is symbolic. The tribes listed may represent spiritual Israel, or the Church, rather than literal ethnic tribes. This interpretation aligns with the idea that the number 144,000 is symbolic of all God's faithful people rather than a literal count.
The idea that only 144,000 people will be chosen to reign with Christ raises questions about God's justice and love. If the number were literal, it would imply that only a tiny fraction of believers throughout history would be granted this privilege, which seems inconsistent with the Bible's broader message of God's desire for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). The symbolic interpretation allows for a more inclusive understanding of salvation, where all who follow Christ faithfully are part of God's Kingdom.
Revelation is known for its heavy use of symbolism, including numbers, images, and language that reflect deeper meanings. The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:1-8 is widely interpreted by many scholars as a symbolic figure rather than a literal number. In biblical literature, the number 12 often signifies completeness and the people of God. Multiplying 12 (the tribes of Israel) by 12 and then by 1,000 emphasizes the idea of wholeness and divine completeness, rather than suggesting that exactly 144,000 people are sealed.
Scholars such as Richard Bauckham (The Climax of Prophecy) and G.K. Beale (The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text) argue that the number 144,000 is symbolic, representing the entirety of God’s redeemed people, both Jews and Gentiles.
Following the sealing of the 144,000, Revelation 7:9 describes the great multitude that no one could number. This multitude comes from "every nation, tribe, people, and language," standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches. The imagery here is of a diverse, universal community of the redeemed.
The shift from the specific (the 144,000) to the general (the great multitude) should not be viewed as a "literary flip" or contradiction, but rather as a continuation of John’s vision, expanding the scope of salvation to include people from every part of the world. The 144,000 symbolize the fullness of God’s people, and the great multitude provides further clarity that this group encompasses all nations, not just ethnic Israel.
Many scholars agree that this is an expansion of John’s vision. G.K. Beale notes that the great multitude is not a separate group from the 144,000 but represents the same community from a different perspective—the universal Church (Beale, The Book of Revelation, p. 426). Bauckham similarly argues that the 144,000 and the great multitude represent the same group, first seen as God’s faithful remnant (144,000) and then as the universal Church (great multitude).
The claim that the 144,000 are exclusively Jewish is also problematic when viewed in the broader biblical context. Revelation frequently uses the language of Israel and its tribes to refer to the people of God, but in a symbolic and inclusive manner. The Church is seen as the fulfillment of Israel, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s letters, particularly in Romans and Galatians, emphasize the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles, where all who are in Christ are part of the true Israel (Galatians 3:28-29).
Paul speaks of the Church as the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) and argues that Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree, becoming part of God’s people (Romans 11). This theological framework underpins the understanding that the 144,000, though described in tribal terms, is not limited to ethnic Israel but includes all who follow Christ.
The claim that the phrase META TAUTA EIDON ("After this I saw") in Revelation 7:9 indicates a distinct vision and separate group is not necessarily compelling. The phrase often functions as a transition in apocalyptic literature, indicating a continuation or development of a previous vision rather than a complete departure from it. The use of this phrase does not preclude the possibility that the 144,000 and the great multitude are different representations of the same group.
Numerous biblical commentaries suggest that this phrase does not require viewing the 144,000 and the great multitude as separate entities. The continuity of the imagery—standing before the throne and the Lamb—links both groups as part of the same overarching vision of salvation.
The suggestion that the 144,000 are a special class of "kings and priests" who will rule with Christ while the great multitude remains a distinct, lesser group on earth is also unfounded. Revelation 5:9-10 states that the redeemed from every tribe, language, and nation are made into a kingdom of priests who will reign on earth. This language applies universally to the people of God, not just to a select 144,000.
The New Testament consistently speaks of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6), which includes all who follow Christ. Limiting the role of priests to the 144,000 contradicts the broader teaching of Scripture, which calls all believers to a royal priesthood.
The great multitude in Revelation 7:9 is seen standing before God’s throne in heaven. This contradicts the claim that the great multitude is destined to remain on earth while only the 144,000 are in heaven. The imagery of being before the throne and worshiping the Lamb strongly suggests a heavenly setting, affirming the inclusion of all believers—both the 144,000 and the great multitude—in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Revelation consistently portrays the final destiny of the redeemed as participation in God’s reign, which includes both heaven and earth united under Christ’s rule (Revelation 21:1-3).
The distinction between the 144,000 and the great multitude is not as clear-cut as presented. The 144,000 is best understood symbolically as the totality of God’s people, and the great multitude provides a further description of this same group, emphasizing their universal nature. Both groups are destined for eternal life in the unified kingdom of God, where heaven and earth are brought together under Christ’s reign. The argument for separate groups with different inheritances misreads the symbolic nature of Revelation and the inclusive message of the Gospel.
The number 144,000 is symbolic, not literal. In apocalyptic literature like Revelation, numbers frequently carry symbolic meanings. The number 12 (symbolizing completeness in the context of God's people—12 tribes, 12 apostles) is multiplied by itself and by 1,000 (a number symbolizing vastness) to represent the complete and total number of God’s redeemed people.
According to scholars like G.K. Beale and Richard Bauckham, the 144,000 represents the fullness of God's people, and it is not restricted to literal Israelites but includes all believers (Jews and Gentiles) who are faithful to God. The 144,000 sealed servants of God stand for the Church in its entirety, symbolizing God’s elect from all ages and peoples.
Revelation 7:9 introduces a great crowd "from every nation, tribe, people, and language," standing before the throne and before the Lamb. This vision of the great multitude, while numerically described as "innumerable," is often interpreted as an expansion or explanation of the 144,000—again representing the entire redeemed community.
The shift from hearing about the 144,000 to seeing the great multitude emphasizes the inclusiveness of God's salvation plan. There is no inherent contradiction in viewing these as different perspectives of the same group—one emphasizing their completeness (144,000) and the other emphasizing their diversity and vastness (the great multitude). This follows a common pattern in Revelation, where what is first heard is followed by what is seen.
Revelation 7:9-10 clearly depicts this great crowd standing before God's throne, worshipping Him. The throne is typically associated with heaven (Revelation 4:2-3), which suggests that the great crowd is also in heaven, contrary to the claim that the great crowd remains on earth.
Revelation 14:3 says that no one could learn the new song except the 144,000. However, this phrase doesn’t necessarily imply an exclusionary distinction between different groups. The 144,000 are symbolic of the Church triumphant—those who have persevered in faith and are given a special honor in the presence of the Lamb. The "new song" signifies a unique role or experience of salvation, but this doesn’t exclude others from being part of God's redeemed. Rather, it highlights the special calling of God's people to worship Him in purity.
This symbolic act of learning a new song does not mean that only 144,000 individuals are spiritually privileged, but rather that the Church in its entirety is given a unique identity in Christ. The language used here is spiritual and symbolic, not a literal restriction of numbers.
Revelation 6:9-11 speaks of the souls of the martyrs crying out for justice and being given white robes. The white robes represent purity, holiness, and salvation, and are symbolic of God's approval and protection for those who are faithful to Him—even unto death.
The argument that this verse limits the number of faithful to a small group (144,000) is a misunderstanding of the text. The white robes are not exclusive to a select number of people but are symbols of salvation that can be applied to all believers. The great multitude in Revelation 7:9-14 is also depicted as wearing white robes, which strongly implies that they too have been given salvation and purity through Christ’s sacrifice.
Revelation uses white robes, crowns, and other imagery to signify spiritual realities. There is no reason to assume that only 144,000 individuals are adorned in white robes when Revelation 7 describes a great multitude that no one can number, also wearing white robes.
The phrase "After this I saw" (Greek: meta tauta eidon) is often used in apocalyptic literature to introduce a new phase of a vision, but this does not necessarily indicate a completely separate group or reality. Rather, it can represent a deepening or widening of the same vision. What John hears in Revelation 7:1-8 (the 144,000) is followed by what he sees in 7:9 (the great crowd), providing different aspects of the same reality.
Scholars like G.K. Beale argue that the two groups (144,000 and the great crowd) are not distinct, but represent two aspects of the Church. The 144,000 signify completeness, and the great crowd emphasizes the vast and inclusive nature of God's people.
Revelation 7:9-10 places the great multitude before the throne of God, which strongly suggests a heavenly scene. The assertion that this group remains on earth contradicts the plain imagery of them standing before the throne, a symbol of divine authority and presence typically located in heaven throughout Revelation.
The idea that "standing before the throne" doesn’t necessarily imply heaven misunderstands the symbolic use of the throne in Revelation, which is consistently associated with God’s presence in heaven (Revelation 4:2, 5:13).
The distinction between the 144,000 and the great crowd is based on a misreading of Revelation's symbolic language. The 144,000 and the great multitude are not separate groups with different destinies, but two perspectives of the same reality: the redeemed people of God. The 144,000 symbolize the completeness of God's elect, while the great multitude emphasizes their diversity and vast number. Both groups are portrayed as being in heaven, standing before God's throne, united in worship of the Lamb. Therefore, the arguments attempting to differentiate the two as distinct groups fail to account for the symbolic nature of Revelation and the overarching biblical message of the unity of God's people in salvation.
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