CENSUS OF THE SAINTS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: profesorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

CENSUS OF THE SAINTS

“The Lord spoke to Moses... Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one”, (Numbers 1:1-2)

INTRODUCTION:

  Famoyin (1990:63) defines census as the real counting or enumeration of the persons living in a place at a particular point in time.  Popular opinion holds that it is better done at the intervals of ten years, and normally at the instance of the government of a country.  Certainly, from the scripture cited, it becomes obvious that census is not against the will of God.  However, when a mere sense of national pride and lack of dependence on God become the bases for a given census, God is not pleased.  David’s survey of his kingdom in order to glory of its size and its potential military strength as opposed to God’s desire for the nation to rely on Him for help and guidance brings to light the woes of a census that ignores God (see 1 Chronicles 21:1-7).

            CENSUS OBJECTIVES IN THE BIBLE

...”number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old 
or more who are able to serve in the army”, (Numbers 1-3).

   Biblically speaking, census seeks among other things, the ascertaining of the military manpower of the nation of Israel, possibly to train and in turn plan out military strategies in readiness for any external aggression.  Side by side with the military objective of census in Israel is its economic objective which allocates socio-economic duties to various groups in the nation, as a way of putting in place a formidable framework for the development of the country.  This, Moses indicates in the following lines, “count all men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting”, (Numbers 4:3)

   Anyanwu (1990:30) as a way of analogy hints that population census helps in manpower planning, distribution of political seats/administration, planning of education and other social services, revenue allocation, as well as, the ascertaining of the economic standard of a nation.  Similarly, census of  the saints is the census of all censuses, and aims at the gathering, as well as, the enumeration of all the saints in readiness for the return of the Lord to judge the wicked, and the subsequent setting up of the eternal administration.  The prophecy of Enoch authenticates this fact...” Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment...(Jude 14 - 15).

        BUILDING THE EMPIRE OF THE SAINTS

         FOR CENSUS THROUGH EVANGELISM

“Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations”...(Mathew 28:19)

   Our observation so far, both from the Bible and the analysis of scholars reveals that census aims at effective planning.  This challenges the church today (which is a type of Israel) in terms of harnessing her evangelical army and subsequently planning out an effective way of training them for an aggressive world-wide evangelism.  It is obvious that the population of the world increases against the backdrop of the under-population of the church.  Certainly, evangelism makes the saints, and saints are soldiers that make up the Lord’s army designed for further evangelism and other kingdom purposes.  Kennedy (1983) in reaction to the dwindling population of the church remarks that the population of the world has been increasing at a far greater rate than the church.  While the world has been multiplying, we have been making “addition to the church”.  Inferring from Thomas Malthus’ view about population, it may be well said that while the population increase of the world is at geometrical progression (1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 32, 64, etc) that of the church is at arithmetical progression (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.).  This trend poses a serious kingdom population problem.

     The population census in any country (like that of Nigeria in 2005) should serve as a point for the re-discovery of the population strength of both the church and the world in such a country.  To the Christian, it should be a time of revelation rather than a mere time of enumeration.  It should highlight the evangelical progress swell as, the ascertaining of the economic standard of a nation.  Similarly, census of  the saints is the census of all censuses, and aims at the gathering, as well as, the enumeration of all the saints in readiness for the return of the Lord to judge the wicked, and the subsequent setting up of the eternal administration.  The prophecy of Enoch authenticates this fact...” Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment...(Jude 14 - 15).

        BUILDING THE EMPIRE OF THE SAINTS

         FOR CENSUS THROUGH EVANGELISM

“Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations”...(Mathew 28:19)

   Our observation so far, both from the Bible and the analysis of scholars reveals that census aims at effective planning.  This challenges the church today (which is a type of Israel) in terms of harnessing her evangelical army and subsequently planning out an effective way of training them for an aggressive world-wide evangelism.  It is obvious that the population of the world increases against the backdrop of the under-population of the church.  Certainly, evangelism makes the saints, and saints are soldiers that make up the Lord’s army designed for further evangelism and other kingdom purposes.  Kennedy (1983) in reaction to the dwindling population of the church remarks that the population of the world has been increasing at a far greater rate than the church.  While the world has been multiplying, we have been making “addition to the church”.  Inferring from Thomas Malthus’ view about population, it may be well said that while the population increase of the world is at geometrical progression (1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 32, 64, etc) that of the church is at arithmetical progression (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.).  This trend poses a serious kingdom population problem.

     The population census in any country (like that of Nigeria in 2005) should serve as a point for the re-discovery of the population strength of both the church and the world in such a country.  To the Christian, it should be a time of revelation rather than a mere time of enumeration.  It should highlight the evangelical progress The basic fact here is that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, (Ezekiel 33:11).  And of course, “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints”, (Psalm 116:15).  Furthermore, let it be noted that every death carries a record that populates either heaven or hell.  Where will your record be?  “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God”,  (Psalm 9:17).

        CENSUS OF THE 144,000 AND A GREAT

                       MULTITUDE OF SAINTS

...”the number of those who were sealed.  One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel...After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed with white robes”...(Revelation 7:4;9)

     Here marks the climax of every census.  It highlights the consummation of a relationship which God began with the nation of Israel that culminates in His covenant relationship in Christ Jesus.  This pre-written head-count indicates a total figure of 144,000 from the nation of Israel.  Twelve thousand from each tribe are sealed, probably to protect the people of God in the coming judgments.  The number 144,000, to some,  refers to members of the actual Jewish tribes, the faithful Jewish remnants of the great tribulation.  To others, the number is symbolic to all the faithful believers who live during the period of tribulation.  The great multitude apart from the 144,000 identifies those who have come out of the great tribulation, from every nation, tribe, people and language.  This demonstrates the power of God to save, (verse 10).

      Be it as it may, the basic point is that both Jews and  Gentiles are saved and enumerated.  People from every nation, tribe and language are saved and enumerated.  That means people from one’s nationality, tribe and language are very much present.  The expression...”a great multitude that no one could number”...(verse 9), indicates an unlimited opportunity that results in an unlimited response.  Great opportunities abound for everyone in every nation, tribe and language, including every Jew, apart from the 144,000 already sealed.

   Dearly beloved, by this gospel project, it has become very clear that both the Bible and history support the concept of census. However, it will be regrettable, sorrowful and lamentable if one’s name appears on the census list of one’s nation without appearing on the census list of the saints in heaven.  “If one’s name is not found written in the book of life one is cast into the lake of fire”, (Revelation 20:15).  REPENT AND BE NUMBERED.