There are many interpretations and speculations about who
these 144,000 are and what their role is in God's plan. Some believe that they
are literal Jews who will preach the gospel during the tribulation period
before Christ's second coming. Others believe that they are symbolic of the
faithful remnant of God's people throughout history who have kept his
commandments and have not defiled themselves with idolatry or immorality. Still
others believe that they are representative of the church as a whole or a
special group within the church that has attained a higher level of spiritual
maturity and purity.
One of the interesting aspects of the 144,000 is their
tribal affiliation. The list of tribes in Revelation 7 differs from the
traditional list of tribes found in other parts of the Bible. For example, the
tribe of Dan is missing from the list, while the tribe of Manasseh (the son of
Joseph) is included. Also, Joseph is listed as a separate tribe instead of his
sons Ephraim and Manasseh who usually inherit his portion. And Levi, the
priestly tribe that did not receive a land inheritance in Israel, is also
listed among the sealed tribes.
There are various explanations for these differences. Some
suggest that Dan was excluded because of its involvement in idolatry and
apostasy (Judges 18:30-31; 1 Kings 12:28-29). Others suggest that Manasseh was
included to replace Dan and to balance the number of tribes to twelve. Some
propose that Joseph was listed instead of Ephraim because Ephraim was also
associated with idolatry and rebellion (Hosea 4:17; 5:3-5). Others propose that
Levi was listed because all the sealed tribes are priests to God (Revelation
1:6; 5:10).
But what about Reuben? Why is he listed as one of the sealed
tribes? Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, but he lost his
birthright because he slept with his father's concubine Bilhah (Genesis 35:22;
49:3-4). He also failed to protect his brother Joseph from being sold into
slavery by his other brothers (Genesis 37:21-22; 42:22). He was not a prominent
or influential tribe in Israel's history. He settled on the east side of the
Jordan River along with Gad and half of Manasseh, and was often exposed to
attacks from neighboring enemies like Moab and Ammon (Numbers 32; Judges 11).
He did not produce any notable leaders or heroes for Israel. He was almost
forgotten among the other tribes.
So why did God choose to seal 12,000 people from Reuben?
Perhaps it is because God is gracious and merciful to those who are weak and
unworthy. Perhaps it is because God does not show favoritism or partiality to
anyone based on their natural or social status. Perhaps it is because God can
use anyone who is willing to follow him and serve him faithfully. Perhaps it is
because Reuben represents all those who have sinned against God and lost their
privileges but have been restored by God's grace and forgiveness.
One author who wrote about Reuben and his significance for
Christians today is Chuck Missler. In his book The
Kingdom, Power and Glory: The Overcomer's Handbook (2009), he argues
that Reuben is a type or foreshadowing of the overcomers in Revelation who will
inherit the kingdom of God. He writes:
"Reuben was a type of those who have lost their
inheritance through sin but have been restored through repentance. He
represents those who have been born again but have failed to grow spiritually
and have forfeited their rewards. He also represents those who will be raptured
but will not reign with Christ during the Millennium." (Missler, p. 131)
Missler believes that not all Christians will enter the
Millennial Kingdom, but only those who overcome sin, self and Satan by abiding
in Christ and obeying his commands. He bases his view on passages like
Revelation 2-3, where Jesus addresses seven churches and promises different
rewards to those who overcome. He also cites passages like Matthew 25:14-30,
where Jesus tells a parable of three servants who are given different amounts
of talents and are judged according to their faithfulness.[1]
Missler's interpretation is controversial and not accepted
by all Christians. Some argue that he confuses salvation by grace with rewards
by works, and that he contradicts other scriptures that affirm the security and
equality of all believers in Christ. Others agree with him that there are
different degrees of glory and responsibility for Christians in the future
kingdom, and that we should strive to be faithful and fruitful for our Lord.
The Truth from the Zohar
The Book of Zohar is not a book that can be read like any
other book. It is a source of wisdom and light that can illuminate the soul and
connect it to its divine source. The Book of Zohar explains the purpose of
creation, the nature of reality, and the role of human beings in achieving
spiritual perfection. The Book of Zohar also reveals the inner structure of the
spiritual worlds and the laws that govern them. By studying The Book of Zohar,
one can attain a higher level of consciousness and awareness, and discover the
true meaning of life.
In the initial volume of Zohar, Bereshit, Vayishlach
21: 203-205, Rabbi Yehuda, the commentator, divulged the truth about Reuben's
actions towards Bilhah. However, the identity of the informant who reported
this to Jacob remains a mystery. This has led to a conspiracy to strip Reuben
of his birthright as the first-born among the twelve brothers. The question
remains: who could be behind this plot? The answer lies in the one who assumed
Reuben's position. To uncover the truth, let us delve into the Zohar itself.
21. "Reuven
went...Now the sons of Ya'akov were twelve"
Rabbi Yehuda discusses the power and influence of the Torah
for the dead. When the soul of one who labors in the Torah departs this world,
it ascends by the Torah's familiar ways, and the Torah preserves the body and
guards it against the Judgments of the other world until the day of resurrection.
However, when the soul of one who does not labor in the Torah leaves this
world, it does not know the paths to follow. Therefore, it "stumbles"
and receives punishment.
This section also provides an explanation of Reuven's
questionable actions, as related in the title verse. The discussion of this
issue reveals that Reuven did not actually lie with Bilhah; rather, he
disarranged the couch in order to prevent the Shechinah from performing her
conjugal duty with Ya'akov. Thus, Reuven was punished. He was deprived of
his birthright, which was transferred to Yosef, in accordance with God's
Wisdom. However, Reuven's merits remained intact and his descendants remained
worthy of inclusion among the twelve tribes. Similarly, the actions of Eli's son--recounted
in the verse, "Now Eli was very old..."--do not mean that he lay with
the women at the entrance to the Temple. Instead, he detained them, preventing
them from entering until the other sacrifices had been offered, as was
appropriate.
The Relevance of
this Passage
The quality of life we create for ourselves in the physical
realm mirrors the quality of life awaiting us after our departure from this
existence. Our quality of life is determined by our actions and their degree of
spiritual development via the path of Torah. This section enlightens us to the
power of Torah and the path it offers. The radiating Light helps us clearly see
the darkened corridors of this life, in order to avoid traveling darkened
byways in the hereafter.
203. "And it came to pass, when Yisrael dwelt in
that land, that
Reuven went and lay with Bilhah his father's
concubine: and Yisrael
heard of it. Now the sons of Ya'akov were
twelve" (Beresheet 35:22-
23). Rabbi Elazar said: "when Yisrael dwelt
(Heb. shkon) in that
land," REFERS TO THE SHECHINAH CALLED 'LAND',
for at that time
when Leah and Rachel died, THE SHECHINAH became
mistress of
the house.
204. HE ASKS: Could you possibly think that Reuven
lay with
Bilhah? HE ANSWERS: As long as Leah and Rachel were
ALIVE, the
Shechinah hovered over them; once they died, the
Shechinah never
departed from the house, but dwelt in Bilhah's abode.
HE ASKS:
Although it was appropriate that the Shechinah should
be mistress
of the house, THAT IS, BE UNITED WITH YA'AKOV AFTER
RACHEL'S DEATH, WHY WAS IT SAID THAT THE SHECHINAH
DWELT WITH BILHAH? HE ANSWERS: She would not hover
openly
about the house if Ya'akov had not formed a union of
male and
female. Therefore, the Shechinah was to be found in
Bilhah's tent,
WHERE THERE WAS A UNION OF MALE AND FEMALE.
205. When Reuven saw that Bilhah had inherited his
mother's place,
he upset YA'AKOV'S bed BY TAKING IT AWAY. As the
Shechinah
was upon it, it is written as if he "lay with
Bilhah." Rabbi Yesa said
that he slept on the same bed, thus showing
disrespect for the
Shechinah. FOR THAT REASON, THE VERSE INTIMATES THAT
IT
WAS AS IF HE LAY WITH HER. But because HE DID NOT
SIN, he was
not excluded from the TWELVE tribes. Therefore
scripture does the
reckoning, SAYING, "NOW THE SONS OF YA'AKOV WERE
TWELVE," and then, "Reuven, Ya'akov's
first-born," thus appointing
him head of all the tribes.[2]
This passage is a commentary on the biblical story of Reuben
sleeping with Bilhah, his father Jacob's concubine. The Zohar offers a mystical
interpretation of the story, suggesting that the Shechinah, or the divine feminine
presence, was intimately involved in the events.
Rabbi Elazar suggests that the phrase "when Yisrael dwelt in
that land" refers to the Shechinah, which became the mistress of the house
after the deaths of Leah and Rachel. This suggests that the Shechinah was
intimately connected to the family and the household, and played an important
role in the story of Reuben's sin.
The Zohar suggests that Reuben's sin was not a physical act of
adultery, but rather a symbolic act of disrespect towards the Shechinah. When
Reuben saw that Bilhah had inherited his mother's place, he took away Ya'akov's
bed, which upset the Shechinah. Although the Zohar suggests that Reuben did not
actually sleep with Bilhah, the text implies that he did, as a way of
indicating the depth of his offense.
Despite his transgression, Reuben was not excluded from the twelve
tribes. The Zohar suggests that this is because he did not actually sin,
but only showed disrespect for the Shechinah. This is why God choose to
seal 12,000 people from the tribe of Reuben. This interpretation emphasizes the
importance of spiritual purity and reverence for the divine, even in the
smallest actions and gestures.
From
the GUIDANCE SERIES TO ALL PBMA MISSIONERS
6. Dito talaga isinilang, kasama ang sampo kong mga kapatid, ako
ang ikapito sa mga anak niya.
7. Dahil ako’y tagapagmana ng pulong ito, karapatan kong bantayan
ito.
a.) Sino pala si Master Jr. noong araw?
1.) Si Master
ay kalahi ni Jacob, siya ang PANGANAY sa unang asawa.
2.) Walang
makakapantay sa kapangyarihan na iniwanan ng aming Ama dahil siya ang panganay
sa lahat ng mga anak niya.
b.) Ilang porciento ang napili ng Diyos sa kanyang mga tauhan?
1.) Sa loob ng
27 taong mayroong 15% na napili ng Diyos ng kanyang mga tauhan.
2.) Lahat ito’y
lahi ni Jacob.
3.) Nandito
rin ang lahi ni Israel, ni RUBEN at ni Noe.[3]
TANONG: SINO BA TALAGA SI MASTER JR? (Vol. II Part 49, P - 5)
SAGOT: 1. Ngayon ko lang masasabi sa inyo kung sino talaga si Bobong.
2. Bobong ang aking panganay na anak na lalaki in the Spiritual Division.
3. He is my right hand, you will respect Him as your Master, while I'm still hiding.
4. Ang aking anak, hindi ninyo kasama, siya ay taga ibang daigdig.
5. Siya ay mabait na tagasunod sa mga ninuno ni Jacob.
6. Dahil dito siya'y pinangalanang Ruben talaga, dahil si Ruben anak ni Jacob.
7. Isa siya sa leader sa labindalawang (12) ninuno na pinili sa Diyos.
2. Ipaalam ko sa inyo ang lahi ni Jacob. Hindi pa ito nawala hanggang ngayon dahil naglilipat-;ipat lang ang material na katawan. (Guidance Series, Volume IV, Part, 146, P-1)
According to the Master, over the span of 27 years from 1965, only
15% of the Reuben tribe has been selected. This indicates that in 1992, there
were roughly 1,050 members who were chosen.[4]
[1] Missler,
Chuck. The Kingdom, Power and Glory: The Overcomer's Handbook. Koinonia House,
2009.
[2] Shimon
bar Yochai (Author), Rav Yehuda Ashlag (Contributor), Rabbi Michael Berg
(Editor), The Zohar: Zohar, Bereshit, Vayishlach 21: 203-205.
[3] GUIDANCE SERIES TO ALL PBMA
MISSIONERS Part 41 to 80 Questions & Answers VOLUME – II 1994 TAGALOG, Part
44, p. 3-4.
[4] “By 1988, the PBMA was reporting a total membership of 6,687
to the SEC. In interviews at that time, Ecleo Sr. aimed a membership of more
than 20,000.” (Faith,
Hope and Politics (archive.org)
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