[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] Amazing facts devotion: WHO ARE THE 144, 000 MENTIONED IN REVELATION? PART 2

[Shelly Duffy]

WHO ARE THE 144,000 MENTIONED IN REVELATION? PART 2
September 05, 2021 

Average reading time is about 5 minutes


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People wonder if the 144,000 are literally 12,000 Israelites each from the 12 tribes. Even though this belief is common in some circles, after a close look, it becomes obvious that this is unlikely. A careful study in the Old Testament reveals an important clue. Because the 10 northern tribes gave themselves completely over to idolatry, God allowed the Assyrians to carry them away in 722 bc. “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria” (2 Kings 17:6). 

When the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were later carried off to Babylon, after spending 70 years in captivity, thousands returned. But with the 10 tribes, history never records any mass exodus from Assyria back to Israel. Instead, the king of Assyria transplanted an assortment of people from pagan nations in the land of Israel in the region of Samaria. “The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof” (2 Kings 17:24). 

The king did send one Hebrew priest back from Assyria to teach these transplanted pagans about the God of Israel, but not from the exiled 10 tribes (2 Kings 17:27). They eventually became known as the Samaritans. As is evident in the New Testament, the Jews detested this group. Why? They were no longer pure Israelites in blood or religion. 

Long before the time of Jesus, the 10 exiled tribes intermarried with the Assyrians, losing their distinct identity. Today, a genealogist would be hard pressed to find even one vaguely pure descendant from these tribes—much less 12,000! These tribes were so thoroughly scattered, assimilated, and absorbed around the world by their host nations, it is entirely possible you have traces of Abraham in your bloodline! 



KEY BIBLE TEXTS 
"And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries."
Ezekiel 12:15





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Shelley Duffy