Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

ABSTRACT

The promise of deliverance and inclusion among the 144,000 prompts deep inquiries into the role of resurrected saints, yet scripture and inspired writings affirm their steadfast faithfulness and divine reward. Through their witness, wrestling for deliverance, proclamation of God’s message, and reflection of His love, these saints exemplify the unity of God’s people in victory, as Hebrews 6:10 summarizes: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (KJV). As we explore these truths, we see lessons for our community in mirroring such obedience amid trials, calling us to faithfulness in preparation for Christ’s return, while pondering how their faithful witness continues to inspire us today.

PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE AND INCLUSION AMONG THE 144,000

The promise of deliverance and inclusion among the 144,000 has sparked profound questions about the role of the resurrected saints. Objections often arise, questioning whether these saints have fully lived out their faith in the sight of the world, wrestled for deliverance, or warned others of God’s coming wrath, yet 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 proclaims, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (KJV), and John 5:28-29 adds, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (KJV). Ellen G. White, God’s messenger, affirms this eternal union in her writings, declaring, “The living righteous are changed; and, with the resurrected saints, they are caught up to meet their Lord in the air” (Early Writings, p. 35, 1882), while a passage from The Desire of Ages reminds us, “The precious dead, from Adam down to the last saint who dies, will hear the voice of the Son of God and will come forth from the grave to immortal life” (The Desire of Ages, p. 606, 1898). However, a closer study of scripture and Sr. White’s writings reveals a unified picture of their faithfulness and ultimate reward, raising the question of how their witness as faithful servants truly endures.

THE FAITHFUL WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTED SAINTS

Judges 5:11 reminds us of the righteous acts of the Lord: “They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord.” This verse highlights the importance of recounting God’s faithfulness. Sr. White emphasizes that those who die in the faith of the third angel’s message are resurrected to hear God’s covenant of peace, as inspired counsel reveals, “All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law” (The Great Controversy, p. 637, 1911), and through prophetic insight we learn, “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, p. 39, 1882). Clearly, their lives of obedience to God’s commandments testify to their inclusion among the 144,000, for Matthew 27:52-53 declares, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (KJV), while 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 affirms, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (KJV). They lived out their faith despite persecution, showing that even in death, their witness remains impactful, yet how do these saints participate in the deeper struggles for deliverance?

WRESTLING WITH GOD FOR DELIVERANCE

Some argue that resurrected saints do not share in the anguish of the living during the time of trouble. However, Sr. White clarifies that while their experience differs, they stand as part of the same triumphant group, since a prophetic voice once wrote, “‘Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth’ (John 5:28, 29). This voice is soon to resound through all the nations of the dead, and every saint who sleeps in Jesus shall awake and leave his prison house” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, p. 251, 1981), and in The Great Controversy she adds, “Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints” (The Great Controversy, p. 644, 1911). She writes in Early Writings (pp. 282-286) that resurrected saints are alive to witness deliverance, as Daniel 12:1-2 supports, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (KJV), and Philippians 3:20-21 echoes, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (KJV). Though they may not endure the same prolonged distress, their faithfulness is acknowledged as they are protected by angels and partake in the victory of God’s people, illustrating that deliverance encompasses the shared triumph of all faithful ones, but in what ways did these saints proclaim God’s urgent message during their earthly lives?

PROCLAIMING GOD’S MESSAGE IN LIFE AND BEYOND

Another objection centers on whether resurrected saints have warned the world of God’s coming wrath. The third angel’s message, initiated in 1844, stands as the defining call of the Advent movement (Early Writings, p. 254), for the inspired pen declares, “This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, ‘They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth’” (Early Writings, p. 254, 1882), while a passage from the same volume notes, “But few at first received it; yet the faithful continued with energy to proclaim the message” (Early Writings, p. 256, 1882). These saints, having proclaimed this message during their lives, fulfill their mission by living and warning others of God’s law and the impending judgment, since Revelation 11:3 states, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (KJV), and 2 Timothy 4:7-8 adds, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (KJV). Their faithfulness to this message assures their place among the 144,000, even if they rest before witnessing the ultimate death decree, prompting reflection on how such devotion mirrors God’s boundless love in our own journey.

REFLECTING GOD’S LOVE THROUGH FAITHFULNESS

How does this reflect God’s love? The inclusion of resurrected saints among the 144,000 demonstrates His mercy and justice. Scripture affirms that God rewards faithfulness: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord…they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13), as the role of divine guidance reveals, “Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth” (Early Writings, p. 254, 1882), and through inspired counsel we find, “Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan” (Early Writings, p. 256, 1882). Sr. White supports this, stating that these saints are resurrected to receive the reward of their obedience and to witness God’s covenant of peace (The Great Controversy, p. 649), for Colossians 3:24 promises, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (KJV), and James 1:12 assures, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (KJV). Their lives exemplify God’s love in honoring their faithfulness while uniting them with the living in ultimate deliverance, yet how can we in our community apply these examples to strengthen our collective witness?

LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY

How do we mirror this example? Society often measures success by visible achievements, yet God values steadfast obedience. The story of the resurrected saints calls us to support one another in living faithfully, even amid trials, since a prophetic voice declares, “When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life…. The wicked are filled with regret, not because of their sinful neglect of God and their fellow men, but because God has conquered” (The Great Controversy, p. 654, 1911), and in That I May Know Him she writes, “When the earth is reeling to and fro like a drunkard, when the heavens are shaking and the great day of the Lord has come, who shall be able to stand?” (That I May Know Him, p. 356, 1896). It challenges us to resist the allure of worldly approval and focus on proclaiming God’s truth, as Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (KJV), and Psalm 37:18 adds, “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever” (KJV). This has implications for our personal lives and collective mission as we reflect on how to uplift and restore one another in faith, leading us to consider what active steps will unite us in this final call to faithfulness.

A CALL TO ACTION

The questions surrounding the resurrected saints and the 144,000 lead us to a profound truth: faithfulness is rewarded in God’s time and way. Whether we live to see the second coming or rest in hope, our works follow us, for literary wisdom in The Great Controversy observes, “The clouds begin to roll back like a scroll and there is the bright, clear sign of the Son of man. The children of God know what that cloud means. The sound of music is heard, and as it nears, the graves are opened and the dead are raised” (The Great Controversy, p. 640, 1911), while through thematic guidance we hear, “In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels” (Our Father Cares, p. 306, 1988). Let us, as a community, rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, encourage each other in faith, and remain steadfast in proclaiming His message, since 2 Timothy 2:12 promises, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (KJV), and Revelation 2:10 encourages, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (KJV). Together, we look forward to the day when all God’s people, resurrected and living, will stand united in victory, fortifying our shared hope as we prepare for His glorious appearing.

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SELF-REFLECTION

How can I, in my personal devotional life, delve deeper into these truths about the resurrected saints and the 144,000, allowing them to shape my character and priorities?

How can we adapt these themes of faithfulness and sealing to be understandable and relevant to diverse audiences, from seasoned church members to new seekers or those from different faith traditions, without compromising theological accuracy?

What are the most common misconceptions about the role of resurrected saints in my community, and how can I gently but effectively correct them using Scripture and the writings of Sr. White?

In what practical ways can our local congregations and individual members become more vibrant beacons of truth and hope, living out the reality of Christ’s soon return and God’s ultimate victory over evil?