Hi Brenda,
I will attempt this one. Numbers are spiritual in scripture. There is at least one book I know on the subject. The two witnesses, 24 elders and 144,000 are all symbolically the elect. The way numbers work in scripture is pretty amazing but in this case, we know there were 12 disciples. Two witnesses times 12 disciples = 24 elders. 12 disciples times 12 disciples = 144,000. A 144,000 is also divisible by 24, 12 and 2.
I'm not explaining this very well but basically the numbers are not literal but spiritual:
2 = the number of witness
Deu 17:6 At the mouth of
two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by
two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
12 = the number of spiritual foundation/Christ in completion
Gen 49:28 All these are
the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, and blessed them;
every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Num 7:84 This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:
Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mar 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
The above scriptures don't really explain that those numbers are the elect but they show you that the numbers are not chosen randomly or literally. They are chocked full of spiritual meaning.
144,000 becomes the spiritual representation of the foundation of God's kingdom magnified (12 x 12) -- a witness and a part of the foundation -- that foundation which is Christ -- the elect that are a witness both to that foundation and a part of it themselves.
I hope I haven't confused you.
As far as the family in Florida, they are no more and no less the beast with their implants than I am without the implants. The mark of the beast is also spiritual and not literal. The mark is on the forehead and on the hand to represent our thoughts and actions -- are they of man, 666, or of God and Christ. God knows our hearts, minds and actions and doesn't need to see a literal mark.
There is an email of Ray's explaining the buy and sell. I have to go to class right now but if no one has pointed you in that direction when I get back -- I'll do a search. Needless to say, it has nothing to do with your abiity to buy and sell groceries
Carol