Message #22183

[Psalm 51:17]

Not sure where that interprettion comes from, but I don't buy it. Makes no sense, based on the context of when it was said, and to whom it was said.

This is the context of "little flock"...(I take the term as a term of endearment)

28   If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 
29   And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 
30   For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 
31   But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
32   Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 
33   Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 
34   For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 
Luke 12:28-34 (KJB)

I also don't think the "other sheep" are the 144k. Not even related as I see it.

FYI, I have Matthew Henry's commentary - he(like alot of our "influential" bible scholars back in those days), held to the A-Mill escatology, which believes the 144K sealed is symbolic for the Christians.

Just a side note - not that I'm defending these "influential" evangelists in those days like Henry, Wesley, Bunyan, Eliot, Spurgeon, etc, but to be fair to them, they were living in the 17th-18th century days when the prophecies of Israel weren't even closed to starting to being fulfilled(and for that matter too the days of Popery were just getting started). But I will discuss this in its respective thread.

Anyhow, this 144K sealed symblic for Christians came from the A-Mill escatology doctrine, which ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO made up in the 4th century. St. Aug made this doctrine up b/c he thought the Pre-Mill escatology was carnal. Despite this, slowly but surely since the 19th century, Protestant and Baptist churches were slowly but surely buying into this nonsense. Funny how the modern-day church will scoff at Pre-Mill/7 year trib b/c supposedly it was "made up" by John Darby and Tim LaHaye, but en yet they just turn a blind eye to the heresies of St. Augustine while buying into this A-Mill nonsense.

A-Mill also teaches that Satan was already bound up in the pit sometime after Jesus Christ rose to heaven, and the nations were no longer deceived. Obviously, this is pure nonsense as well(just look at the times we are living in, nuff said). Here's the link to the A-Mill heresy exposed...
http://endtimesandcurrentevents.freesmfhosting.com/index.php/topic,6406.0.html

Here's scripture to debunk the A-Mill view of the 144K sealed.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2  And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

As you can see from the Ephesians 1 passage above, Christians have ALREADY BEEN sealed, wheras in the Rev 7:1-4 passage, the sealing of the 144K won't happen UNTIL the time appointed.

So if the 144K really means it's symbolic for Christians, then it doesn't make sense b/c obviously, unconditional security preached throughout the NT does NOT mean we won't get sealed until that appointed time.