Gathering of Lights #22

2000-7-10 12:00:00

THE GATHERING OF LIGHTS

Chapter Twenty Two - The 144,000

The question now arises: If we are to flee to the mountains (a Bible symbol of cities) of Zion, which direction are we to go? Where is this "deliverance" which is promised? Where are the saviors on Mount Zion? Where are the cities of refuge and enlightenment?
The answer: They are not yet externalized on the earth, but soon will be. John saw Zion in a vision: "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb (Christ) stood upon mount Sion (Zion), and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1

Here we are given the key number for the cities of Zion: 144,000. Each completed city of Zion will have approximately this many heads of households and at least one city has to be underway before Christ will return. The inhabitants of Zion will have the Fathers name in their foreheads. This means that each will recognize the authority of the God within and through that power manifest purpose. The center at the top of the head will be active to some extent.

Earlier in his book John tells us about the gathering of the hundred and forty-four thousand: "After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 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." Revelation 7:1-4

The four angels are four great messengers whose mission it has been to try and stop mankind from destroying themselves. The one from the east is one who represents the Masters of Wisdom who also wields the symbolic sword of Excalibur to build the modern Camelot - Zion.

Here we learn that the Great city Zion is composed of twelve smaller communities each consisting of twelve thousand "men" or heads of households. Reading on in chapter seven we see that Zion will have a city of Judah with 12,000 men, another city of Reuben with 12,000 and so on with Gad, Aser, Nepthalim, Manasses, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph, and Benjamin. The capital city Zion will have within it twelve smaller cities that actually bear these names.

The number of the inhabitants of Zion are not limited to 144,000 however. This is just the number of households that will be within each completed city, but there will be many cities all following a similar pattern: "Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." Zechariah 1:17

Thousands of years ago Zechariah saw that there would be numerous cities of Zion spread abroad. John also saw that the 144,000 was not a final number but called them "the firstfruits unto God and to the lamb." Revelation 14:4 In addition to these firstfruits he saw
"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..." Revelation 7:9 This great multitude will create numerous other cities of Zion that will eventually fill the earth, usher in the New Age, and prepare the way for the Greater Golden Age.

John gives us additional information about the inhabitants of Zion: "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb (They have followed the example of Jesus and raised the Christ consciousness). Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Wherever they find themselves is as if they are in a temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in them) They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. (They shall no longer hunger and thirst after true knowledge for they shall have all they can absorb, neither will they have to earn their way by the sweat of their brow-- as in bygone days) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 7:14-17

These shall have the Christ consciousness in the midst of the throne of God hidden within their own souls, and when it is discovered, nothing can cause them to suffer tears of sorrow again.

John continues: "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 the song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." Revelation 14:3

This is a curious scripture. What is meant by a "new song"? The phrase "new song" was often used by David when he wrote a new Psalm. He said: "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear (reverence), and shall trust in the Lord." Psalms 40:3

The Hebrew word for "song" indicates "a turning". The word "new" indicates "freshness" in outlook rather than having a reference to time. Thus a new song points to a refreshing change of direction.

Isaiah supports this idea: "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth..." Isaiah 42:9-10

Here the new song pertains to new things, a fresh change of direction. God commands us here not to stagnate, but to tackle new challenges.

A new song was sung earlier in John's vision when he saw that Christ had overcome the world. (See Revelation 5:9) This marked a fresh change of direction.

So what is the new song that will be sung by the 144,000? It is a symbol of the change of direction and the fresh outlook one will have to have in order to adapt to the New Age. It is a symbol of synthesis. Only a synthesizer can consistently sing the new song and adapt to the needed changes All others blend with the crowd or their particular group thoughtform. They cannot make that paradigm shift and look at new situations (disapproved by orthodoxy) with a fresh outlook.

A fresh outlook and great adaptability will be a prerequisite for the inhabitants of Zion, but it will be a freshness that will bring joy and youthfulness to the heart.

The songs we may sing are but symbols of the new song that the soul of every man is waiting to sing as he becomes one of the redeemed and firstfruits of the Lamb, and tunes in to the "music of the spheres".

A physical song can be learned by anyone, but a fresh outlook and inner change in all the ways of human endeavor can only be handled by a true Israelite.

Just as other scriptures have at least three correct interpretations, even so it is with the Song of the 144,000.

A physical representation of the Song as written below is in the form of a prayer which is spoken physically but sang by the soul when the thoughts of the individual are in harmony with the thoughts of God.


We thank you Father
That you have revealed to us your protective universal light; That within this light is complete protection from all destructive forces; That the Holy Spirit of Your Presence permeates us in this light, And wherever we will the light to descend.

We thank you Father
That you fill us with your protective fires of love;
That within this love is complete protection from all destructive thoughts and feelings; That the consciousness of Christ is lifted up in us in this love, And wherever we will the love to be enflamed.

We thank you Father
That You are in us and we are in You; That through us Your Will is sent forth on wings of power; That Your Purpose is accomplished on earth as it is in heaven; That through us Your Light and Love and Power is manifest to all the Sons and Daughters of Mankind.


The Song is a symbol of the fresh outlook and designed to protect the workers of light from negativity so the new age can indeed have power to manifest. We must have open minds and hearts as we turn our sights toward the building of the Kingdom of God. Words and the music can be learned by anyone but only one of the 144,000 will sing it with the soul as well as with the lips. When an Israelite sings this song he or she will feel the Spirit of Peace descend upon him with fire and he will feel the seal of God burn in his heart and forehead and he will know that he is called to manifest the Presence of God on the earth.

John gives us further light on the 144,000 "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." Revelation 14:4


This verse has perplexed Bible students for ages and numerous interpretations have been advanced. Many believe that the 144,000 are men who have never been married or experienced sex in any degree. There is some substance to this belief for celibacy was definitely advanced in the early Christian days. Paul, who was unmarried at the time, said: "For I would that all men were even as I myself ... I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide EVEN AS I ... But if she depart (divorce her husband), let her remain unmarried ... So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better... The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband."
I Corinthians 7:7-8,11,38,34

Many fundamental sects interpret the Bible quite literally except when it comes to passages like the above. They seem to think that Paul went temporarily insane here and condemn the Catholic Church for its celibates and the virgin nuns, but it appears that the Catholics are on sounder scriptural ground than the Protestants on this issue. Furthermore, many early Christian writers back up the teachings of Paul here and they indicate that all Christians were encouraged to remain single.

What religionists have failed to understand is the reason celibacy was encouraged. Paul himself explains it: "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none."
I Corinthians 7:29

The key reason for the celibacy was that the time was "short". Paul and many others thought that the day of the Lord's coming was very near. For instance he said: "WE (Paul and others) which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord..." I Thessalonians 4:15

These early Saints expected Jesus to come and save them from the great persecutions which were forthcoming and because the time was short, and the message of Christ had to be spread abroad before he appeared, the early leaders thought it best that the saints should not marry, but totally dedicate themselves to spreading the word. The injunction to not marry was a temporary one due to the circumstances of the time.

This teaching of the early leaders was not without foundation, for Jesus told his disciples: "Verily I say unto you, There be some (more than one) standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom." Matthew 16:28

These early saints believed that the 144,000 would be a group of unmarried Christians who would be taken by the Lord.

Actually, there is some historical evidence that such a saving event did happen and it was recorded by none other than the respected historian, Josephus. He recorded a second coming of Christ on May 30, 73 AD: "Besides these, a few days after the feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month - Artemisius, a certain marvelous and incredible phenomenon appeared. I suppose what I am going to tell would seem a fable, were it not related by those who saw it, and were not the sad events that followed it deserving of such signs. Before sunset chariots were seen in the air, and troops of soldiers in their armour running about among the clouds. Moreover, at the feast which is called Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner temple, as was their custom, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that first they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a multitude saying, Let us remove hence." The Jewish War, Book 6, page 106, Chapter 5, section 3.

This sounds like an early UFO sighting, but we also have a "multitude" that was removed. Was this Christ appearing with his hierarchy, or Kingdom, as he promised? After all Paul told the saints: "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and the church of the firstborn which are written in heaven..."
Hebrews 12:22-23

Did members of the church on the earth join with the "church of the firstborn" in heaven? Or is it possible that they were merely transported to a different area for safety? Or did they join Christ and his hierarchy for a period of time?

Whatever the case we can see that a fairly literal interpretation was applied to Revelation 14:4 in that age. In this age the correspondences still match, but circumstances, and consequently the interpretation, is somewhat different. There is no impending necessity for Israelites to remain unmarried at this time; in fact raising a family is generally desirable. Would it be a contradiction of the scripture to have the 144,000 as committed couples?

In examining the Greek words we see that "women" comes from the Greek GUNE which is also translated as "wives". It is translated as "wife" or "wives" in most cases in the New Testament. Literally, "woman" is the more correct rendering because the men merely called a wife his "woman" in those days. However, GUNE usually referred to a married woman.

"Defiled" comes from MULUNO which literally means "to darken, or to soil." Instead of reading "These are they which were not defiled with women", it could read "These are they which are not darkened in their minds by women" or "These are they which are not darkened in their minds by female energy. It is impossible to tell here by scholarly deduction whether John intended the meaning of "women" or "wives" to be conveyed, but it is obvious that John was aware that GUNE was a popular term for both applications; thus it is most probable he was conveying a dual meaning, as is usually the case with prophecy.

John calls the men virgins which is a correct translation. Does this mean that the 144,000 will not be married as some suppose?

Those who do believe that the 144,000 can be married justify their belief by stating that a man or woman is a virgin even after they are married and had sex if they are still faithful to each other. They point out that Mary was still called a virgin even after she had children by Joseph.

This idea is not entirely correct. Nowhere in the Bible is Mary called a virgin after she had children by Joseph and even today when we refer to the "virgin Mary" we have reference to her virgin state. Neither in today's world or in bygone days was a woman called a virgin after marriage. As evidence we cite that the prophetess Anna lived with her husband "seven years from her virginity" (Luke 2:36) or from the time she was married. Even this righteous woman was not called a virgin after she was married.

Paul gives a better idea of the true meaning in his letter to the Corinthians: "For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
II Corinthians 11:2

Here Paul was preparing the Corinthians of his day (many of whom were married) to become virgins to present to Christ. Perhaps these were part of the 144,000 of that age.

How did he prepare them to be virgins for Christ? He espoused them to "one husband". "Espoused" comes from the Greek word HARMOZO and literally means: "to lift up and join together". The modern word "harmonize" is derived from its root and interestingly enough would make a more meaningful translation of HARMOZO than "espouse". In ancient days an espousal was a period before marriage where they were committed, yet in the virgin state, to harmonize with one another. The man was to elevate the mind of the woman to prepare for a union of souls. During this time of espousal the woman proved that she could be faithful to her future husband as well as show evidence that she could mentally embrace all that he taught her.

The 144,000 of today will be virgins espoused to Christ after a similar correspondence. They will be faithful to the Christ within them and "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth". [Revelation 14:4] When and if one stops following the Lamb, or the true light within that "shineth in the darkness" then he is no longer a virgin, but has gone after other gods. When he looks to the light without, his attention becomes diverted from the light within and it darkens and he is "defiled." One becomes darkened, or defiled, by a woman or wife, (or the wife by her husband) when he or she takes the place of Christ for prime attention. When he tries to please the spouse more than he attempts to follow God he has broke his espousal and is no longer a virgin prepared for the great marriage feast. He no longer follows "the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" when the Lamb goes in a different direction from the spouse.

A man and his committed companion make up one unit of the 144,000. A single man, or a single woman would also make a unit. Children belong and are identified with the unit of their parents.

John gives a final description of these people: "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." Revelation 14:5

To understand the full meaning we must examine two key words. "Guile" comes from the Greek DOLOS. Either this word or "deceitfulness" would be the closest English equivalent, but neither is a perfect match. A person with DOLOS is one who will take advantage of the weakness or delusion of a brother. He will use the weakness or delusion of another to his full advantage One may have DOLOS and appear very righteous and technically obey the commandments in the Bible. DOLOS is always selfish.

The words "without fault" come from AMOMOS which can also be translated as "unblemished, faultless, blameless", and so an. The root word it is derived from however is MEMPOMAI which means "to find fault or accuse". This presents an interesting antithesis to the description of Satan who is called "the accuser of the brethren." Those who are AMOMOS do not find fault with their brethren, nor accuse them in any harmful way. Perhaps the best rendering would be "harmless". They are without criticism except when moved upon by the spirit of God as Jesus was at times.

The phrase "before the throne of God" [Revelation 14:5] was not found in the original Greek; therefore we may render verse 5 as: "And in their mouth was found no desire to take advantage of the weakness of a brother for they are harmless."

AMOMOS can have an application that can apply to the person himself. A member of the 144,000 does not blame and condemn himself, but recognizes the Christ within as blameless. He may make mistakes.. as we all do, but he does not condemn himself for them. He sees an error for what it is and then seeks to correct it without hindering his progression.

If Jesus had condemned himself for breaking all the silly little rules of the Pharisees, the world would not have a witness to the resurrection of the Son of God. When condemnation subsides, the son of man becomes the Son of God and the Father recognizes another beloved Son who has found himself.