Though His Spirit will not be holding back evil on the earth, God will preserve a remnant of His people to proclaim His Name during the Tribulation.

Jews Will Come to Christ in the Tribulation

In Revelation 7:2–4 John writes, "Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.' And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty–four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed" (emphasis added).

In the verses that follow, details are shared. From each of the twelve tribes, 12,000 will be sealed with God's protection during the seven years of Tribulation. These men, along with the two evangelists, are the only ones that will not be harmed during the judgment on earth.

Though these 144,000 Jews would have rejected Christ as Messiah, their eyes will be opened after the Tribulation, and they will spend the next seven years spreading the Gospel and stirring up the greatest revival man has ever seen (Revelation 7:12–15).

They Will Lead a Massive Revival

The Old Testament prophet Joel foresaw the result of the ministry of the 144,00 servants of God and described how they will be agents of the Holy Spirit's power in the Tribulation period:

It shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:28—32)

They Will Be Virgins

These men will be sealed with the Holy Spirit who will empower them to fulfill their mission and create a revival across the nations. They will be devoted worshipers of God, beacons of light during the rule of darkness.

John tell us, "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…. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:4).

The 144,000 Jewish men will be virgins, serving God without the distraction of relational ties. Their heart and soul will be poured into their ministry, just as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord…. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but … that you may serve the Lord without distraction" (1 Corinthians 7:32, 35).

They Will Stand for Christ in the World of the Antichrist

Not only are they sealed with the Holy Spirit as every believer is promised, the witnesses are sealed with the Name of the Lord on their foreheads. This physical mark will protect them from the judgment that will be released when Jesus begins to open the seals (Revelation 7:3; 14:1). The mark of the Lord will stand in stark contrast to the Mark of the Beast. They will be servants of the Lord who will never bow to the Antichrist and his power. They will not be passive believers, hiding and running from the Antichrist's law. They will be bold and defiant, unashamedly preaching the Gospel. And God will protect them.

Even today and throughout history, when you are God's child, in God's will, you are immortal until God is finished with you. That doesn't mean that you should live life recklessly. But it does mean that God's plan prevails. He preserves His people for the ministry He has set before them.

They Will Be Preserved for All Seven Years of Preaching,

We don't know how it will happen exactly. But all 144,000 will survive the Tribulation by God's divine protection. Despite not taking the mark needed for buying food and necessities, and the war and bloodshed against those who do not follow the Antichrist, each of these men will live and proclaim the Gospel until the seven years is done.

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. 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. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty–four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:1–3)

All 144,000 will stand with the Lord when their work is done. They will see the fruit of their labor in the number of souls in heaven and sing praises to God that only they will know.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?

God always fulfills His promises. He always preserves a remnant of His people. Even in the Tribulation, God will set apart His people to proclaim His Name and preserve His light in the world. We don't want to lean on the hope of tomorrow as an excuse to put off our salvation, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. But we can have hope that God is always in control of this world, that He is faithful to fulfill His promises. And from history to eternity, He will preserve a remnant of His people to glorify His Name until the earth is finally purified and evil is forever eradicated.