The Rapture, End-of-Days

“The Rapture is perhaps the most enigmatic image of the End-of-Days. Imagining the Son of God descending from heavens to rescue 144,000 souls from the Day of Judgment makes a formidable impression. According to tradition, it is only the faithful that will qualify for salvation. The remainder of humanity will suffer through the Tribulation. What better way could be conceived for dispensing justice to those who need to be judged? The question that it raises in my mind is: who is it that decides who the ‘faithful’ are and why is the number, 144,000?”