ending armies, John, in his vision, hears a
glorious voice, [see i: 15 and xix: 6.] and harpers harping with their
harps. His eye is turned to the point from whence came the heavenly music,
and he beholds a glorified company, with their INVINCIBLE Commander,
standing away up on the Mount Zion, that had followed him through his
fiery trying conflict, and he had brought them off victorious, and clothed
them with immortality and everlasting life; and the Father had stamped
"his name in their foreheads," and they numbered 144,000, redeemed from
the earth; all the living saints that are saved out of the mighty host of
nations. Now read the first five verses of this chapter and methinks you
will agree with me, that John is here describing the character of the
144,000 as he had seen them sealed, as stated in the seventh chapter;
where he closes their history with the 8th verse, to describe the dead
saints, and seven angels with their trumpets, and the effect produced by
them, from the 7th chapter, 9th verse to the 12th chapter. Then in the
12th and 13th chapters, the dragon, the beast and his image, &c., &c. And
then he takes up the history of this same 144,000, from where he had seen
them sealed in the 7th chapter, 4-8 verses; and begins by describing them
sealed and redeemed from the earth, in company with the Lamb--the Lord
Jesus. From the 6th to the 14th verse, he gives the outline of what they
had been passing through, and the mighty host with whom they had been
engaged. It will here be remembered that this message, or proclamation of
"the hour of his judgment," has gone to every nation and tongue, and
people; therefore as Jesus has stated that his elect are to be gathered
from the four winds, or from one end of heaven to the other, then his
144,000 will be composed of all nations, particularly the poor ignorant,
but honest hearted Slaves of this doomed country. But more especially
those described in the 12th verse, walking out in their faith of all the
living _present truth_.

An objection may arise with some; still, supposing that the 144,000,
because they are named after the tribes of Jacob in the 7th chapter, they
cannot mean the Israel of these last days. Micah, speaking of Jesus, says,
"He is _to be_ the ruler in Israel."--v: 1-2. Gabriel said he would "reign
over the house of Jacob _forever_."--Luke i: 33. Paul says "they are not
_all_ Israel that are of Israel;" "If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's
seed and hei