Mr. Mauro then passes on to Chapter 7 and makes the extraordinary statement that the 144,000 sealed of the tribes of the children of Israel refers to "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:1616And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)), that is, to the Church of God on this earth. But "the Israel of God," if that phrase is believed to refer to ALL God's children in this dispensation, as Mr. Mauro does, is made up of Jew AND GENTILE, and, we know, overwhelmingly so in point of numbers, of Gentiles. The Jews are but "a remnant according to the election of grace" (Rom. 11:55Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5)). How then. can this Chapter refer to the Church of God when it specifies "all the tribes of the children of Israel" (that is, of Jacob), for it goes on to enumerate them by name? It appears to us that we should take the passage as referring to the literal children of Israel. But this would not suit Mr. Mauro's theories.
Then to our amazement Mr. Mauro writes, referring to the multitude which no man could number, out of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples and tongues: "This vision I regard as another pictorial representation of the whole company of the redeemed, supplementing that which immediately precedes it [that is, the 144,000 of the tribes of the children of Israel], and showing details that could not be introduced into the preceding vision. Indeed, what is given in verses 4-8 is not strictly a 'vision' at all. These verses only record what John 'heard' concerning 'the number of them which were sealed.' But now he is given to see them" (The Patmos Visions, p. 257).
Of course, if the 144,000 are those who constitute the "Israel of God," that is, the Church, and if, as Mr. Mauro asserts, the siege of Jerusalem under Titus ended the history of the Jews nationally, then he is driven to make out that the two companies are one, though Scripture distinctly marks them as two separate companies in the Chapter. We are amazed to be asked to believe that things which Scripture gives as different companies are one and the same; and further that what is said of the sealing of the 144,000 is "not strictly a 'vision' at all." It was most certainly part of the vision. Why should hearing be not strictly a vision, as much as seeing? We read in Holy Scripture, "Then SPAKE the Lord to Paul in a vision in the night" (Acts 18:99Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: (Acts 18:9)). And if the Lord spake in a vision, Paul heard in a vision. Mr. Mauro's remarks here are inexplicable. He further says: "The elder expressly said of those whom John saw in that vision that they were then, at that very time, coming out of great tribulation. This alone forbids postponing the tribulation to a future dispensation" (The Patmos Visions, p. 260).
Our amazement deepens as we read this book. According to this statement he takes this part of the vision as being accomplished at the time of John's writing. But in that case he would need no vision. It would have been accomplished under his very eyes. Surely the vision was of "things which must shortly come to pass," that is to say, they were yet to come.
As to the seventh seal Mr. Mauro says: "As an ending to the seals series it is remarkable, and not a little mystifying" (The Patmos Visions, p. 261).