144,000: Literal vs Symbolic

By Pastor Alden Ho

The prophecies of Moses were literally fulfilled. The chosen

nation was scattered among heathen nations. And only a
remnant, “few in number,” had repented and turned to God.
Only a few had renewed their covenant with him, and had
returned to restore that which had been destroyed because of
the disobedience of their fathers. And now, having solemnly
rededicated themselves to the Lord at the ancient altar set up
before the ruins of his temple, should they, at the very
beginning of their work, enter into a covenant with a people
who worshiped idols? – {RH April 25, 1907 Par. 10}

I will try to write you amid the jostling of the cars. We are on
our way to visit your Aunt Sarah, who is very low with
consumption. Poor sufferer! We have hastened to her as soon
as we could after the close of the Olcott meeting.... We are
called to ... comfort her in the conflict she must have in giving
up her children, five in number, the eldest, one year and a
half younger than Willie.... – {3MR 175.7}

“The next Sunday, at the commencement of love-feast, the

presiding elder read off our names, seven in number, as
discontinued from the church. He stated that we were not
expelled on account of any wrong or immoral conduct, that we
were of unblemished character and enviable reputation; but we
had been guilty of walking contrary to the rules of the
Methodist church. He also declared that a door was now open
and all who were guilty of a similar breach of the rules, would
be dealt with in like manner. – {LS80 175.1}

Then Satan imbues the wicked, that have been raised, with his
spirit. He flatters them that the army in the City is small, and
that his army is large, and that they can overcome the saints
and take the City. While Satan was rallying his army, the saints
were in the City, beholding the beauty and glory of the
Paradise of God. Jesus was at their head, leading them. All at
once the lovely Saviour was gone from our company; but soon
we heard his lovely voice, saying, “Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world.” We gathered about Jesus, and just as
he closed the gates of the City, the curse was pronounced upon
the wicked. The gates were shut. Then the saints used their
wings and mounted to the top of the wall of the City. Jesus was
also with them; his crown looked brilliant and glorious. It was
a crown within a crown, seven in number. The crowns of the
saints were of the most pure gold, decked with stars. Their
faces shone with glory, for they were in the express image of
Jesus; and as they arose, and moved all together to the top of
the City, I was enraptured with the sight. – {ExV 34.1}

Many have gladly availed themselves of the advantages for

rest and recreation afforded by the mountain home at this
place. We found here one family, eight in number, comprising
three generations, mother, daughters, and granddaughters. For
five months they have here enjoyed freedom from the claims
of society and the restrictions of fashionable life. All were
indisposed when they left Oakland, some suffering from
continual colds, and others from general debility; but during
their stay in the mountains they have greatly improved in
health. In the city they thought it a task to walk even a short
distance; but as they enjoyed the fresh, mountain air, the pure
water, and the restful quiet of this home, they were soon able
to climb the steep ascents, and daily to walk miles without
inconvenience. – {ST February 2, 1882 Par. 9}

We left Walling’s Mills about noon, mounted on our ponies. Mr.

Walling took his wagon along to carry the baggage. We rode
ten miles the first day.... A storm threatened us. We decided to
halt at a deserted hovel. We went in and found two bedsteads,
a table, a large fireplace. We were scarcely sheltered and
saddles and baggage inside when it began to rain in torrents,
soon followed by hail as large as bullets. The horses, nine in
number, shivered and shrunk, but we could do no better with
them. We prepared beds for us and had quite a comfortable
night. We felt grateful that ... we found a comfortable retreat.
—Manuscript 4, 1872 – {3MR 158.3}

“Finally the day was appointed for us to receive this solemn

ordinance. Although usually enjoying, at this time, great
peace, I frequently feared that I was not a true Christian, and
was harassed by perplexing doubts as to my conversion. It was
a windy day when we, twelve in number, were baptized,
walking down into the sea. The waves ran high and dashed
upon the shore, but in taking up this heavy cross, my peace
was like a river. When I arose from the water, my strength was
nearly gone for the power of the Lord rested upon me. I felt
that henceforth I was not of this world, but had risen from the
watery grave into a newness of life. – {LS80 145.3}

Every soul was put to work. There were over thirty in

number. The women and children worked in the first building,
cleaning windows and floors. Sister Worsnop came with her
baby and children, and while she worked on the inside of a
window, her eldest girl of 10 years worked on the outside.
Thus the work in the first building was nearly completed in the
first day. – {WV 327.5}

This day a fellow laborer was brought in his coffin from Ohio to
this place to be buried in Battle Creek. Brother Swift died in
Ohio October 23. The delegates, one hundred and thirty-
two in number, walked in procession to Oak Hill Cemetery,
while fifteen carriages slowly moved on their way, to lay the
body in the vault. It was a solemn sight to see this large
number with the funeral badges, following their brother, now
silent in death in his coffin. Oh, it is a sad thing that one of the
earnest, faithful workers will no more be present at our
General Conferences, to bear his testimony! – {1888 462.1}

Jezebel’s prophets, eight hundred and fifty in number, like

a regiment of soldiers prepared for battle, march out in a body
with instrumental music and imposing display. But there is
trembling in their hearts as they consider that at the word of
this prophet of Jehovah the land of Israel has been destitute of
dew and rain three years. They feel that some fearful crisis is
at hand. They had trusted in their gods, but could not unsay
the words of Elijah and prove him false. Their gods were
indifferent to their frantic cries, prayers, and sacrifices. – {3T
279.4}

In the feeding of the five thousand, Christ passed food from

His hands to the hands of the disciples. Of this we read, “So
the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And
Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He
distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were
set down.” John 6:10, 11. – {HFM 88.3}Health Food Work

“The chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the

priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had
raised”—these were the goodly remnant, about fifty thousand
strong, from among the Jews in the lands of exile, who
determined to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity
offered them “to go up to build the house of the Lord which is
in Jerusalem.” Their friends did not permit them to go empty-
handed. “All they that were about them strengthened their
hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with
beasts, and with precious things.” And to these and many
other voluntary offerings were added “the vessels of the house
of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of
Jerusalem; ... even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth
by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, ... five thousand
and four hundred” in number, for use in the temple that
was to be rebuilt. Ezra 1:5-11. – {PK 559.2}

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 spake the time, He poured upon us the Holy Spirit, and
our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as
Moses’ did when he came down from Mount Sinai. – {1T 59.1}

I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place.

I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world
again. Then the angel said, “You must go back, and if you are
faithful, you, with the 144,000, [Note: the wording is “you
with the 144,000,” not “you as one of the 144,000.”]
shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing
the handiwork of God.”— Ibid. – {1BIO 157.2}

This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent

gold, set with pearls most glorious. The wonderful things I
there saw, I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the
language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the
better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of
the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. – {1T 69.1}

Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud,

wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints,
then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried: “Awake! Awake!
Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a mighty
earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with
immortality. The 144,000 shouted, “Alleluia!” as they recognized their
friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same
moment we were changed, and caught up together with them to meet
the Lord in the air. – {1T 60.2}

We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to
the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right
hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of
victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square.
Some 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 mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us
as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised
His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on
its glittering hinges, and said to us: “You have washed your robes in My
blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.” We all marched in and felt
we had a perfect right there. – {1T 60.3}

As we were traveling along, we met a company who were also 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 had a hem of red on
their garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount
was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on
which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they
chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and
pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the
temple to beautify the place—the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the
myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig tree bowed down with the weight
of its timely figs; these made the place all over glorious. And as we were
about to enter the temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said,
“Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we shouted, “Alleluia!” – {1T
68.2}

I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could

not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the
angel said, “You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the
144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing
the handiwork of God.” – {EW 39.3}

Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His
Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from
heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud
thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They
sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living
creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn (meaning, that there are
others beside these 144k) that song except the hundred and forty-four
thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones
who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the
ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed
from among men, being first fruits to God (meaning, there arr other fruits
as well besides these 144k) and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was
found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.