God’s Missionary Work During the Final Seven Years on Earth – The 144,000

Posted November 8, 2025 | End Times Watch | River Wilde

After Christ’s Church is rescued through the divine process of the rapture, what will happen next? With the followers of Jesus Christ removed from the earth, will the world plummet into darkness, and the word of God removed?

We have learned through the teachings of the Bible that there will be those who come to God during the Tribulation period. Many scholars refer to these people as “Tribulation Saints.”

Their Identity

Revelation 7:9, 13–14 (KJV)

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

These are the same people who missed the rapture due to not being a follower of Christ, yet they somehow were able to be taught of Jesus Christ, and turn their life over to Him. So how does this happen?

The Bible gives remarkable insight into providing answers regarding His planned, “Missionary Work”.

During the Tribulation, after the rapture has taken the Church out of the world, God will raise up 144,000 sealed Jewish believers (Revelation 7:3–8 and 14:1–5). These will be 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel — “servants of our God” — chosen, protected, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a very specific mission: to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ during earth’s darkest time.

Jewish Believers? Why is that?

The 144,000 will be Jewish believers because Scripture plainly identifies them as coming from “all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 7:4, KJV). John lists twelve tribes—twelve thousand sealed from each—showing that these individuals are literal descendants of Israel, not Gentile Christians. During the tribulation, these 144,000 Jews will recognize Jesus Christ (Yeshua) as the true Messiah and will be sealed by God to serve as His witnesses. They are called “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4), indicating they are the first wave of redeemed Israelites who will lead many others to faith during this time.

Their Jewish identity fulfills God’s promises to Israel and demonstrates that He has not forgotten His covenant people. These sealed believers stand as living proof that even amid global judgment, God’s mercy extends to His chosen nation and through them, to the world. Lineage is important here.

So, now we know about God’s plan to seal and protect these people to preach His gospel during the tribulation period. But how will they find people to teach during such a “hostile period?” Let’s dive back into the scriptures to find some insight.

Supernatural Guidance – The 144,000 will be sealed with God’s mark, meaning His protection and direction will rest on them. The Holy Spirit will lead them to the hearts that are ready — much like Philip was guided to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–29).

I certainly don’t picture these people going door to door, looking for people to teach. But knowing their Leader, God, who will oversee their efforts, will be sending them directly to those who are ready makes perfect sense.

I can certainly picture those who recognize the situation that they are in, and approach God in prayer to lead them back to Him. Then, God sends his missionary team to teach that person through the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Global Chaos Will Open Hearts – After the rapture, the world will be in shock and confusion. Many will remember what believers said about Jesus, the rapture, and prophecy. The 144,000 will reach these broken, questioning souls who now realize the truth they once ignored.

Modern Tools and Miraculous Power – Though much of the world will be in turmoil, communication networks may still function. These missionaries may use every available means — media, technology, or even miraculous means (as seen in Revelation 11’s two witnesses) — to spread the gospel message far and wide.

Word of Mouth and Underground Faith – In regions controlled by the Antichrist, faith will go underground. People will find the 144,000 through whispers, networks of believers, or divine encounters. God will orchestrate every meeting, ensuring the gospel reaches every corner.

Angelic and Heavenly Assistance – Revelation 14:6–7 describes an angel proclaiming the “everlasting gospel” to every nation, tribe, and tongue. This angelic message works alongside the 144,000, ensuring everyone hears the truth before judgment falls.

Ultimately, the 144,000 will succeed where human missionary efforts never fully could — because they’ll be operating under divine protection, power, and timing during the tribulation itself.

How Many People will be Saved During the Tribulation Period?

Do the scriptures give us any insight to answering this question?

The exact number of people who will be saved during the Tribulation period is not revealed in Scripture, but the Bible does give us clear insight into the magnitude of that number.

 A Great Multitude Beyond Number

Let’s return to that scripture above: Revelation 7:9–14 (KJV) describes a scene in heaven:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes… These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

This passage shows countless people—from every nation—who come to faith during the Tribulation and are martyred for their testimony of Jesus Christ. They are distinct from the Church (which was raptured earlier).

In short: millions—perhaps even billions—will be saved during the Tribulation, but at tremendous personal cost. The Gospel will still go forth powerfully, even in the darkest hour of human history.

I find great comfort in these words, for I have many friends and acquaintances who have not given their life to Christ. They are currently too focused on the “successes of this world,” and building their mansions here on earth. I’m grateful that they will have another opportunity to accept Jesus Christ, yet realize it will come through tremendous personal sacrifice.

When we consider the current battle: Good vs Evil, God is not just set on destroying evil. His battle plan includes saving His children. He wants them to come back; He wants them to be shown the way home. I see this as His primary focus…To Return to Him. Then when He has completed this task, He will send Jesus to destroy the evil that is upon the earth.

Perhaps it would be helpful to leave information about the 144,000 “missionaries” that will be sent during the Tribulation Period. Non-believers now might see this as a gem of information when they encounter the darkness of the Tribulation Period, and choose to seek these people out when the time comes.

I know that God will lead these missionaries to those who need them, but I also know that God works through people to accomplish His tasks. We can help plant the seeds right now teaching about the 144,000 that will soon come, and their purpose.

I hope that you are all doing well. I realize that there are many of you, myself included, that have just lost interest regarding the things of this world, and have had our thoughts consumed with the eternity with Christ that lies right before us.

We can spend this time walking in His Spirit—serving those in need, reaching out to the troubled and the hurting, and reflecting His love in all that we do.

I personally believe this season is a time of transition for those who will soon be caught up in the rapture. We are gradually letting go of the things of this world and setting our hearts and minds on our eternal home in Heaven. Do you sense this as well? I would be interested in your thoughts. Please leave them in the comments.