There were no more sacrifices of animals, largely because, shortly after the crucifixion, the Temple (where sacrifices took place) was razed by Rome.
The animal sacrifice like the mosaic law became obsolete when Christ came to the earth because they were only there as a temporary solution to atonement of sins until Christ had died for all sins.
You're holding "clergy" to a higher standard. That's not right.
There is one hope in Christ Jesus
Actually you are. I never mentioned the clergy. I mentioned the fact that he was an apostle. The apostles are kings and priests in the 1000 year reign of Christ. He was also to have his name on one of hte foundation stones of the figerative city of New Jerusalem (as the twelve apostles have their names on these) Rev 21:14
1 Cor :1-3
6 Does anyone of YOU that has a case against the other dare to go to court before unrighteous men, and not before the holy ones? 2 Or do YOU not know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by YOU, are YOU unfit to try very trivial matters? 3 Do YOU not know that we shall judge angels? Why, then, not matters of this life?
THey are Helping to judge the angels (now demons) with Christ mentioned here.
THe 144000 are mentioned here at Revelation 14:1-5
And I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound out of heaven as the sound of many waters and as the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was as of singers who accompany themselves on the harp playing on their harps.
And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth. These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish.
This only mentiones 144000 standing on Mount Zion (which is heaven)
Revelation 7:1-8 says
After this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of [the] living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:
Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed;
out of the tribe of Reu′ben twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;
6 out of the tribe of Ash′er twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Naph′ta‧li twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Ma‧nas′seh twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Sim′e‧on twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Le′vi twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Is′sa‧char twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Zeb′u‧lun twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand;
out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.
Only 144000 are sealed for a heavenly hope
After all this happens then the Great Crowd is seen, an
un numbered great crowd is seen. So above there is a specific number, then afterwards in Revealtion 7:9-10 we see the great crowd before the throne. Not in heaven with God but before it praising it
After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.
so this means that there is actually 2 hopes. The Earthly hope which has always been abd then the heavenly hope, which only came into existance
after Christs death on the earth.
.
It has never been understood that the apostles were to be "higher on the food chain" in such a way.
Maybe not until the time was right for this to be revealed by the holy spirit. Ormaybe nobody is bothering to pay attention to the bible, only paying attention to the traditions of men.
