Though heretofore unrecognized, the marriage of the Bride of Christ, "Jerusalem," answers the questions many have had about the justice of God in allowing only 144,000,  in a world of billions of people,  to be saved.    The following quotation  should  put  to rest any ideas some may  have  that  only 144,000 will be saved without tasting death. 

    "God did not design that His wonderful plan to redeem men should achieve only insignificant results." Desire of Ages 667. 

    How could anyone think when the full power of the Holy Spirit  will  be poured  out  in  the loud cry that only a small group would be saved without dying?  This is an idea spawned by the enemy to discourage,  just like other fallacious doctrines such as the rapture. 

    New light identifying the Bride eliminates the need to make the 144,000 a figurative or symbolic number.  This argument was weak at best,   for  John plainly states in Revelation 7:4: 

             "AND I HEARD THE NUMBER OF THEM WHICH WERE SEALED AND THERE WERE  SEALED A HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND OF ALL  THE  TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL." 

    This  interpretation also tells why Ellen White in Early Writings talks about only the 144,000, to the exclusion of all other groups  In fact, not understanding  her emphasis necessitated alternative interpretations about  the 144,000 as Christ's true Bride. 

    The book Early Writings,  as pointed out before,  is a book specifically written  for those who walk the Pathway to heaven in the time of the end.   But it  is  more.  It is a book that deals primarily with the experience of  the 144,000, and a book written for the guidance of the 144,000 through the time of the end. The events she describes are the things that we can expect to happen to us if we are part of that group. 

    All  references to the elect and people of God in Early Writings describe primarily the experience of the 144,000.   They are the focus of attention only because  they were at that time to be the Bride of our Lord.   They are a major focus of the plan of salvation.   The marriage of the Son of God and the adoption  of  the members of the bridal procession into the family of God has always been the ultimate goal of the plan of salvation.

    SDA's were told  to strive with all the power God has given us to be  among the 144,000"  (RH Mar. 9, 1905),  and we know most have not done so and are not part of that group.   THE 144,000 ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST FOR ONE REASON ALONE: During  the beginning of the latter rain of the Spirit,  when only drops of  it were  falling, the Lord began to call those who were seeking with  all  their hearts to establish a relationship with Him.   Those chosen to be the Bride  of
Christ have sought Him with ALL their hearts, continually,  persistently, and patiently.  Nothing else was important to them but this relationship.  They learned to hear His voice calling them. These were the first volunteers to come forward to join His army,  which at that time was being formed.   But  not all who were called joined,  and some who joined dropped out and were  replaced by new recruits.   As new truths were presented to individuals and groups, very few  accepted  the Lord's call.   Through fear of being deceived, or through finding  supposed errors in the message, many turned against the call.  Truly the words of our Lord in Scripture were fulfilled, "MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN." 

    The  144,000  are the Bride of Christ because they are the first  and  only group to ever be prepared and perfected AS A GROUP for the wedding and sealing.  They are the first fruits of the harvest to be presented to the  Father  (Rev. 14:4).

    "Christ was the first fruits of them that slept.  It was to the glory of God that the Prince of Life should be the first fruits, the antitype of the wavesheaf.  'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among  many brethren' (Rom. 8:29).....  The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise
         His church and glorify it with Christ, AS HIS BRIDE,.... "     1 Selected Messages 305. 

    As  Jesus was the first fruit of those raised from the dead, so today  the 144,000 first fruits will be presented before the Father as was Jesus after His resurrection.  As  near as can be determined, this presentation before the Father for His approval and blessing must occur at the time of the wedding. 

   The only thing that has held up the wedding for over 140  years was lack of a  Bride. Only when the Lord is able to make up and completes His perfect number of 144,000 saints (including those who died in the 1800's)   can  the wedding and sealing take place.  He truly has had to search the highways  and byways in our church to find enough believers to accept His offer.  And what is this  offer?  TO  BECOME THE BRIDE OF CHRIST,  for there cannot be  a  wedding without a  Bride.   And our Lord cannot conceive and bear spiritual offspring (begin  the loud cry)  before the marriage.   All the rest of the wedding party who after the wedding answer the call,  are the spiritual children,  the result of union between "Jerusalem" and Jesus. 

    The  reason only the 144,000  are the Bride of Christ is that THEY ARE  THE FIRST AND ONLY ONES TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER OR HAND IN MARRIAGE.  These have walked with Him and talked with Him.   They knew the truth of the statement  "Jesus is attractive.  He is full of love mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend."  (ST March 17, 1887)  The Bride-to-be because of her love of Jesus finds that He "proposes" to her, not just to be her friend, but husband and lover as well.   To the others who are not His Bride, He "proposes" to be their "friend" and elder brother. 

    The marriage takes place when the first 144,000  IN NUMBER accept his offer of  marriage.    And this offer of marriage is given when the Groom  sees  that these 144,000  reflect His image perfectly.   When they are of one heart,  will and mind,  He marries them.   Those whom He calls but who reject His offer will lose  out  in  the  most fantastic privilege ever offered  to  man--TO  BE  THE PERSONAL AND ONLY BRIDE OF CHRIST FOR ETERNITY.