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Here is Ellen G. White's basic statement on the 144,000 of
Revelation 7 and 14:
Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it
were mingled with fire,--so resplendent is it with the glory of God,--are
gathered the company that have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." With the Lamb upon
Mount Zion, "having the harps of God," they stand, the hundred and forty and
four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the
sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, "the voice of
harpers harping with their harps." And they sing "a new song" before the
throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four
thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb--a song of deliverance. None but
the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of
their experience--an experience such as no other company have ever had. "These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." These, having been
translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as "the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they
which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the
anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor
through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered,
for they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb." "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before
God. "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." They
have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to
scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger,
and thirst. But "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 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.
(The Great Controversy, pp. 648,
649)
"Christ says that there will be those in the church who will
present fables and suppositions, when God has given grand, elevating, ennobling
truth, which should ever be kept in the treasure-house of the mind. When men
pick up this theory and that theory, when they are curious to know something it
is not necessary for them to know, God is not leading them. It is not His plan
that His people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is
not taught in the Word. It is not His will that they shall get into controversy
over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as who is to compose
the hundred and forty-four thousand. This those who are the elect of God will
in a short time know without question.
"My brethren and sisters, appreciate and study the truths God has
given for you and your children. Spend not your time in seeking to know that
which will be no spiritual help. 'What shall I do to inherit eternal life?'
This is the all-important question, and it has been clearly answered. 'What is
written in the law? How readest thou?'"--Selected
Messages, book 1, pp. 174, 175.
"Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among
the hundred and forty-four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help
others to gain heaven."--Review and Herald, March 9,
1905.
"The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me,
and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious.
The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet
song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble,
majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their
countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of
the place. . . . 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.'"--Early Writings, pp. 39,
40.
*Note: Observe that the promise was given to Mrs. White that
if she was faithful, she with the 144,000 would have certain
privileges.
"I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings, who had just died] was sealed and
would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with
the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of
trouble."--Letter 10, 1850 (2SM 263).
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[The following letter from C. C. Crisler, leading secretary in Mrs.
White's office, addressed to Elder E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific
Union Conference, was called forth by a request from him to Sister White for
any light she might have bearing on the teachings of Dr. B. E. Fullmer of Los
Angeles, that the 144,000 will be made up of Americans only, none from other
lands.]
"Elmshaven, Sanitarium, California
December 8, 1914
Elder E. E. Andross
Box 146
Glendale, California
Dear Brother Andross:
During the few minutes remaining of the noon hour before close
of mails, after receiving your special delivery letter of inquiry, I sent you a
hurried reply to your communication, promising further word by wire. Tonight I
am sending [you] the following telegraphic letter:
"'Mrs. White instructs me to inform you she has no light further
than that the presentation of uncertainties as certainties, and the urging of
mysteries as revealed truths, is perilous and leads to disappointment. She
suggests building on Holy Scriptures, the true foundation, rather than on
personal conjecture.--C. C. Crisler.'
"When reading the letter to Sister White, and listening to her
remarks in response, I had with me as a witness Elder D. E.
Robinson.
"'I have no light on the subject,' she said, upon hearing the
letter. 'It is a very delicate time in which we are living--a time when we must
individually cling to the Lord with all the powers of our being.' She said
further:
"'Those who urge theories regarding matters that are not revealed,
are placing themselves where they are in peril of meeting with disappointments.
"Hide yourself in God; hide your mysteries in God"--these words have been
repeated during the night season, over and over again. From the fist, I have
been instructed that the Lord Jesus can give counsel that will not bring
disappointment.
"'Please tell my brethren that I have nothing presented before me
regarding the circumstances concerning which they write, and I can set before
them only that which has been presented to me.
"'There are those who attempt to deal with uncertainties as
certainties; and when they reach this position, they are where it is possible
for the enemy to use them.
"'In the past, light has been given me repeatedly that when a
crisis arises, we are to take the counsel of God, and trace interestedly every
item that presents the truth in its verity.
"'The greatest help will come when we see the influence of the
teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Their influence is to lead us to stand on an
exalted basis, where we will build our faith and the faith of others, not on
this one's say-so, and that one's say-so, and another one's say-so, but on the
real foundation, the Word of the living God.'
"I have tried to write out from my notes the words spoken by Sister
White after listening to your letter and to portions of the letter written by
me, also to my hastily written reply to you. By no word or sign did Sister
White attempt to say which party is right and which party is wrong. In no wise
did she make any comment on my letter to you, and, so far as we could understand,
in no wise did she attempt to interpret or explain that which she has written
in former years regarding the 144,000. But, rising above mere detail, she
outlined the principles set forth above.
"I have nothing to add to that which I wrote at noon. Yes, there is
one comment Sister White did make when I was
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reading to her my letter. She expressed pleasure over the fact that
I had included in my letter to you the words, 'On the matter of the exact
meaning of the 144,000 Sister White was repeatedly instructed us that "silence
is eloquence."'
"She also commented favorably upon hearing the words with which I
closed: 'So far as I now know, no one knows the full truth of the matter, nor
will we know until we are on the other side of Jordan.'
"I feel confident, Elder Andross, that the brethren in Southern
California will find blessing in reviewing the teachings of Scripture
concerning the 144,000, and bringing to bear upon these teachings whatever
light there may be in the published writings of Sister White. And as prayerful
consideration is given the matter in all its bearings, I believe that God will
make the truth sufficiently clear to make possible the avoidance of needless
and unprofitable controversy over questions not vital to the salvation of
precious souls.
"With kindest regards, and praying that God may given breadth of
sympathy was well as clarity of vision to those called upon to handle this
perplexing problem that has arisen, I am as ever,
"Yours truly,
C. C. Crisler"
Ellen G. White Estate
December 21, 1964
Revised
September, 1990