Ok...
So do you believe that He is returning for Israel and that the 144,000 are literal Jews? I ask because the above is a more spiritualized interpretation of prophecy, and with that it then becomes a question of how far you are taking things in a more spiritualized direction.
Yes, I take the future Salvation of National Israel quite literally. But I take the OT Prophetic description of it in a "spiritualized way" yes.
The language provided in OT times would likely describe things in the language of the then-current covenant of Law. Even the promise of a "New Covenant" was cloaked in the language of the Law, to be impressed upon the heart. But here, in the NT era, we know that the Law has been fulfilled in a new Temple, a new Priesthood, and a new Sacrifice.
The vision of the 144,000 was written down by John in the NT era, but utilizes the OT language to describe Israel's future Salvation, as led by a remnant of faithful Christians in Israel. They are not missionaries that lead to a harvest of many nations in just a few years after the Church has "gone up in the Rapture," but rather, a representative group depicting the fulfillment of God's promise that the 12 tribes would lead to a final national salvation among the hostile nations.
I do not feel that the 12 tribes of 12,000 each reflect a literal description for the simple reason that the 12 tribal areas ceased to exist thousands of years ago. The promise God made to all 12 tribes many years ago was to become a single nation of faith--something that failed in the time of Jesus.
This vision ensures that it will be fulfilled in the last days, not as a literal number but as a symbolic representation of it, just as Ezekiel's vision of the Temple high up on a mountain did. In reality, all 12 tribes did merge into a single nation following the captivities, but they have never become a large Christian entity representing the nation.
I believe this is literally happening. There are Messianic Jews in Israel who I think will emerge to lead the nation to ultimate deliverance for the whole nation. I encouraged a friend many years ago to "make aliyah," and he was accepted in Israel. While there he wrote and told me the Christians there would not use the name "Jesus." I didn't like that, but I'm just telling you.
This vision of the 144,000 did not allow the Romans to understand what John was saying so that they could not punish the Jews or the Christians for presenting themselves as a victorious nation over the Roman Empire. And yet the national salvation it represents could be understood by Jews and Christians as something literally to be fulfilled in the future.
One thing that sets my own beliefs apart from many other Christians is my conviction that God has planned throughout the NT era and on into the Millennium the idea of Christian nations, and not just Christian remnants within nations. Despite the fact entire nations devoted to Christianity nominally is never completely "Christian," and ends up being a corrupt "theocracy," I believe that's what God promised Abraham--a great multitude of people, emerging from *Christian nations.*
Of course, this has happened only temporarily in the current age. But in the Millennium I think it will be fulfilled, along with Israel's national deliverance from oppressive nations.
To be frank, I've argued these things for a long time, and almost nobody seems to agree with me. But I will believe what I think the Lord has shown me, and remain open to correction at any time and by anybody. I just have to say what I think the Scriptures say. It has never been prompted by the need for popular acceptance, though that, of course, is desirable. I'm more inclined to want God's approval.
