The 144,000 and the Gathering of the Other Sheep

Yes, the 144,000 are the faithful members of Jesus' sheepfold who are called to proclaim the loud cry of the third angel's message to call others out of BabylonTTAM 15.1+1.

The 144,000 and the Sheepfold 🐑

The 144,000 are the living saints who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth and are redeemed from among men through a special translation at Christ's coming18MR 27.3+1. They enter the sheepfold through the only true door, which is Jesus Christ Himself John 10:7-9DA 477.2. These individuals are characterized by their perfect reflection of Christ’s image and the fact that no guile is found in their mouths18MR 27.3+1. They are a "little flock" to whom it is the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom Luke 12:32EVRR493.

The Mission of the Loud Cry 📢

The 144,000 have a vital role in the closing work of the gospel through the following actions:

• Proclaiming the Final Warning: The third angel’s message is to be proclaimed with a loud voice to prepare a people to stand in the last daysPH151 23.3+1.

• Calling People Out of Babylon: As the message swells into a loud cry, honest souls still in fallen churches will hear the call to "come out of her, my people" and will take their stand with the remnant Revelation 18:4EW 261.1+1.

• Lightening the Earth with Glory: This movement is attended by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—the latter rain—which gives power to the message until the whole earth is lightened with God's gloryLDE 200.2+2.

• Gathering the Great Multitude: While the 144,000 are a specific, limited number sealed in the last days, their work helps gather a great multitude from all nations who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Revelation 7:9-14EVRR493+1.

Preparation for the Work ✨

To be part of this company and effectively give the loud cry, one must undergo a deep work of heart preparation:

1. Purification: We must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GodTSDF 189.2+1.

2. Receiving the Seal: The 144,000 are distinguished by having the seal of the living God, which is the Father's name, written in their foreheads Revelation 14:1CIS 359.4+1.

3. Reflecting Righteousness: The loud cry is essentially the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, which must be lived out by the messengerMMM 351.3+1.

4. Humble Service: God often chooses humble instruments from the "sheepfold," the "plow," or the "vineyard" rather than the self-important to finish His work 2 Samuel 7:817LtMs, Ms 166, 1902, par. 13+1.

Ultimately, those who follow the Lamb in trustful, loving obedience on earth will have the privilege of standing with Him on Mount Zion and singing the new song that no one else can learn Revelation 14:33SM 424.2+1.

John 10:16

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The "other sheep" who are not of this fold are honest souls currently scattered throughout various religious bodies and the world who have not yet heard or accepted the final message of truthEW 278.2+2. Although they are not currently part of the visible remnant, Christ recognizes them as His own and is actively seeking them to bring them into perfect unity with His peopleST December 7, 1891, par. 7+2.

The Identity of the "Other Sheep" 🐑

The term "other sheep" refers to a specific group of people with the following characteristics:

• Scattered Souls: These sheep are currently scattered all through the religious bodies of the world, often referred to as Babylon, which has fallen due to its corrupt doctrinesEW 278.2+1.

• The House of Israel: In a spiritual sense, all the sheep whom Christ finds and brings back to the fold will be identified as Israel, for there is ultimately to be only one fold, which is the fold of IsraelPTUK August 1, 1895, page 484.4+2.

• The Great Multitude: Many of these "other sheep" will eventually compose the great multitude, which no man could number, gathered from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people Revelation 7:9-10TM 432.2+1.

• Recipients of the Call: These are the individuals who will answer the call of the "other angel" of Revelation 18 to come out of the doomed churches before the final plagues fallEW 278.2+2.

The Gathering into One Fold 🤝

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and has pledged to bring these scattered ones togetherST December 7, 1891, par. 7+1.

• Hearing His Voice: The defining characteristic of these sheep is that they will hear and recognize the voice of Christ when the truth is presented to them through the loud crySSP 257.2+2.

• Supernatural Unity: This gathering is intended to convince the world of Christ's divine mission, as these diverse people are brought into a unity of spirit and sentiment according to the Bible standardARSH April 26, 1860, page 177.14+1.

• One Shepherd: When the work of the gospel is completed and Christ returns in glory, there will no longer be many denominations or divisions, but only one fold and one Shepherd John 10:16SITI September 10, 1896, page 563.9+1.

• The Door of Entrance: All these children of God find entrance into the fold through the same door, which is Jesus Christ, rather than through human ceremonies or systemsDA 477.3.

Our Responsibility to the "Other Sheep" 📢

The mission of the current members of the fold is to cooperate with Christ in searching for these lost ones:

• Active Searching: The sheep that has strayed is helpless and cannot find its way back alone; therefore, the people of God must go out to hunt them up and bring them backCOL 187.3+2.

• Labor for the Lost: Instead of working only among those already in the fold, believers are called to reach out to the perishing ones in cities and villages where the light has not yet reached2T 115.1+2.

• Tenderness and Sympathy: In dealing with those who have wandered, Christ’s followers must avoid harshness, using instead winning invitations and manifest love, just as the shepherd carries the lost lamb on his shouldersSpM 112.2+2.

• Unselfish Ministry: True shepherds will inquire into the spiritual maladies of the flock and provide the necessary remedies to restore them to health2T 618.2.

The Lord has a distinct people in the world, and He will not suffer them to be destroyed by the coming judgments without first giving them a clear opportunity to join the one true foldLDE 43.3+2. Provisions have been made for every soul from Adam's time to the close of history to find salvation through the Lamb of God John 1:29ST January 22, 1894, par. 4.