Lesson: IV.A.4: The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1-5)
Series: Verse By Verse Through Revelation
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Revelation 14:1-5 (KJV)
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1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Introduction
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Introduction to Chapter 14
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With chapter 14 there comes a change and a turning of the tide. The ebb sets in and flows faster and ever faster, as God takes over in direct and determined intervention in the affairs of men. From here on, we have set before us a picture of a world rescued by God. This is a long section of the book and covers a very long period of time. It runs on to the end of chapter 20, and thus covers the final throes of the great tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, the golden millennial` age, the final rebellion of Satan, the great white throne judgment, and onto the edge of eternity.
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In chapter 14, we see God’s response to the attack of the two beasts described in chapter 13. The beast’s goal, from the beginning, has been to stop the Messiah, destroy the Jews and persecute the church. Here God claims His own and begins the final harvest.
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Chapter 14 gives a glimpse into eternity to show believers what awaits them if they endure. Their suffering will not be meaningless; it will only be a prelude into eternity with God. This chapter explains what will happen to those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast, and what will happen eventually to the beast and his servants.
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Introduction to Verses. 1-5
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If I were to give a title to this chapter it would be “Protection.” In this lesson, God prevents the plan of the beast from coming to fruition by sealing 144,000 people to keep them from being killed by the beast. He will seal them with a sign on their foreheads (1).
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We have met this company before. This is the illustrious company of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel, who are sealed (Revelation 7). These sealed ones have been preserved unharmed throughout the great tribulation, despite the rage of the dragon and the beast. Unscathed, they have marched right down those dreadful years with horrors abounding on every hand and with every demon from the pit clutching at them in vain. In chapter seven this company is seen anticipating the great tribulation which, at the time, lay ahead. They are now seen anticipating the great triumph, which at that time, lay ahead.
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Commentary
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
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The Lamb is none other than the Jew’s Messiah and Deliverer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John has dramatically shown the great powers of satanic evil embodied in the two beasts as they have forced the world into idolatry. Now he abruptly shows us a vision of the Lamb and His army standing on Mount Zion. It is refreshing to have Him appear when almost all of the people on the earth are worshipping Satan. The place of his appearing is “Mount Zion.” In constructing this image, the author may have in mind Psalm 2: “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:6). In traditional Judaism this is the place where the remnant of Israel would be gathered together in the messianic age (Joel 3:5; Obadiah 17; Micah 4:6-8; Zephaniah 3:12-20).
Note: Most Bible versions give the place of Christ’s appearing as “Mount Zion,” (earthly Jerusalem) however some versions have translated this place as “Mount Sion” (heavenly Jerusalem), and that the scene anticipates Christ coronation and the establishment of His kingdom when he returns to earth (Zechariah 14:4).
This is an earthly scene, a picture of Christ returning to reign at the selected place from which He shall rule gloriously. This is not the “heavenly Jerusalem,” sometimes called “Mount Sion”: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22; KJV). The Lamb seen standing on this mount is also a prophetic forecast of Christ’s return to the earth as recorded in Zechariah 14:4 as well as here. The Lord Jesus is going to reign from Jerusalem. God Himself called it the city of the Great King. And in Psalm 2:6 He says this: “Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.” It is the Father’s intention to place the Lord Jesus upon the throne of David in Jerusalem, and specifically at Mount Zion. This scene in Revelation 14 is the assurance to God’s people that He cares for His own and finally will take them to Glory. God always has His faithful people, no matter how wicked the world may become.
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In his description of the beasts, John repeatedly reminded us that the authority behind the land beast was the sea beast, which in turn had his authority and power from the dragon who was a defeated angel on borrowed time. Standing back of the Lamb was the power of the omnipotent Creator.
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Who are these 144,000? I believe that the 144,000 in this chapter are the same group of 144,000 in chapter 7. I see no reason for making the number 144,000 symbolical in this chapter. They are the saved and the sealed, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, and they have been faithful to the trust committed to them from the time they were called. During the reign of the Antichrist they are God’s witnesses, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and announcing the coming of the King. Notice that the Lamb is standing with them on Mount Sion. Although He is in His person the Lamb, He is also the Shepherd. Remember that He started out with 144,000 and that He came through the Great Tribulation with 144,000. He didn’t lose one.
The first thing we are told about these 144,000 is that “They are an exalted company.” This is evident from what John says. “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.” Not one of their number is missing. There were a hundred and forty-four thousand before the tribulation began; all are safe now in heaven. “Mount Sion” is probably the heavenly Jerusalem, but here, it may refer to the earthly location where Christ will begin his millennial reign, or it may refer to the Church, the heavenly mount Zion—“You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly” (Hebrews 12:12). The heavenly Jerusalem is evidently in view, because the Lord has not yet descended to earth. Also, events in the immediate situation seem clearly connected with the activity of Heaven. We are not told how or when these Jewish believers were caught up to heaven. But there they are, the firstfruits of the tribulation harvest (5), standing now in the very location described by John in chapters four and five; standing before God, before the living creatures and before the twenty-four elders. “And I looked” indicates that John is still the spectator to these events.
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In chapter 7 we are told that they are sealed in their foreheads (7:3-4). The 144,000 men mentioned in 7:4 had been sealed against the difficulties to come on earth. That is, all those who have been or will be saved are protected spiritually and sealed for heaven. In this passage, all those who have been sealed and promised heaven we’re standing with Christ. In other words no believers will be lost, forgotten, or misplaced. Everyone who has been sealed with God’s seal will one day be with Christ. All believers throughout history will be with Christ. The promise is certain. The number will be complete.
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Here we are told what that sealing is and why they are sealed. The company is clearly identified with Jesus Christ and the Father. It seems that the seal is visible to the eye, not the invisible seal of the Holy Spirit, as is the case with Christians in this dispensation (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). In chapter 13 the mark of the beast is upon each of His worshippers. In chapter 14 God puts His mark upon them who worship Him. The idea surrounding the sign on the forehead is that God is marking those individuals as His and His alone. The marking of the forehead is an Eastern practice, both in the first century and today. A person places the mark of the god he or she serves on his or her forehead. When God marks his name on these people, he is declaring them His exclusive property.
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2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
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The apostle begins with a wonderful description of the voice of God.
First of all, John tells us that the voice came from heaven. It was unexpected, so it probably startled him. The voices he had heard previously had been from Christ (1:10-15; 4:1; 10:7-8; 11:12), the living creatures (6:1-7), an angel (5:2; 7:2), many angels, (5:11-12), all of creation (5:13).
It was like the sound of many waters. Here we are reminded of the power of the voice of God, for there is no power like the crash of the mountainous waves upon the beaches and the cliffs.
It was like the voice of great thunder. Here we are reminded of the unmistakableness of the voice of God. No one can fail to hear the thunder-clap.
It was like the sound of many harpers playing on their harps. Here we are reminded of the melody of the voice of God. There is in that voice the gentle graciousness of sweet music to calm the troubled heart. The Lamb’s company was singing a song which only they could learn. Here there is a truth which runs through all life. To learn certain things a man must be a certain kind of person. The Lamb’s company was able to learn the new song because they had passed through certain experiences.
The presence of harps in heaven points to some exciting possibilities for us: (1) God may well include countless new learning opportunities in heaven; (2) Our understanding of God will be so heightened that any opportunity to increase our praise will simply expand our own joy; and perhaps (3) some of us will finally learn to play a musical instrument.
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John tells us what this exalted company is doing in heaven. “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” The book of Revelation, so full of sorrow, strife and tears, is also a book filled with song! Bring the Lamb into the picture, and immediately there is a song!
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This is not a heavenly choir, but an earthly choir of Jews redeemed from the earth—purchased by the blood of the Lamb (see also 7:14; 12:11; 19:13). The angels, creatures, and the elders could not sing it, for they had not experienced redemption from sin, so they could not learn the song. The redeemed sang a glorious song of praise to the Lamb, who was standing with them, and the hosts of heaven were the audience. Only because of His sacrifice will they be able to be in heaven. We are not told the words of this song. Regardless of the dispensation in which a man has lived, if he has been redeemed by God, he has something worthwhile to sing a about.
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Dear reader, we need to know Jesus in a meaningful way. We need to draw closer to Him. By the way, when was the last time that you told Him that you loved Him? He has said that He loves you, and you ought to tell Him that in return.
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3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
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“And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders.” The Lord has an amazing ability to make His people happy. One of the wonders of the God of the Bible is that He is a happy God! The gods of the pagans are fierce, wicked, and cruel, delighting in the tears and trembling of men and feasting on human fear. But our God is a happy God. He picks us up from the horrible pit, plants our feet upon the rock, and puts a new song into our mouth. One of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is simply that there can be no real happiness apart from true holiness. God is altogether holy; therefore He is altogether happy. When we are filled with the Spirit we sing! (Psalms 40:2-3; Ephesians 5:18-19). This exalted company of God’s people is also a joyful company. They fill the courts of heaven with their song until the very hills thundered back the sound. They sing this song in the presence of the living one’s (creatures) and the elders who are wearing golden crowns and the Bride (those of us who are believers and make up the Church). The Word of God does not say that these 144,000 have crowns. They sing before the throne, but are not said to be connected with the throne.
The song is powerful and beautiful, it is sung before the throne of God, and the only people able to sing it are the 144,000 whom God purchased from the earth (7:4-8). It is the song of redemption, being sung by all the redeemed saints in one gigantic choir. They are rejoicing over the accomplishment of God’s entire redemptive work before Christ returns (Psalm 33:1-3; 40:3; 96:1).
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There are two notable things in this passage. The first is that this psalm is exclusive to this particular group of people. The second is that these people have been purchased “from the earth”—God has redeemed them.
Note: Many believe the 144,000 represent a remnant of Jews brought to faith to stand for the restoration of Israel. Others see this number as a symbol of completion. They see the 144,000 as a representation of all the redeemed who are now the spiritual children of Abraham—in other words the Church.
There are not many like them, even in heaven. John says, “And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” Their experiences are almost unique. Not many, even of God’s choicest saints, have walked through the flood and the flame as God’s untouchables. There has been a Meshach, a Shadrach, and an Abednego, and a Daniel in the lions’ den, saints “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33-34). There have been some, but their ranks are thin. But no other age has produced a company like this, a veritable army of militant believers marching unscathed through every form of danger.
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The devil knows about this coming band of conquerors, and writhes already in an agony of anticipation. He is preparing for them by building a cult to give a false impression of these witnesses. These saints are not sealed and set apart by God in their present age of grace, but they will appear on earth after the church has gone. They will triumph gloriously while on earth, and then they will celebrate that triumph in a new song before the throne. The words of that song will be theirs alone to sing, no one else will be able to learn its words, never having had their unique experiences.
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4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
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“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.” This is not easy to interpret, but it is of the utmost importance to get its meaning clear. It describes the unsullied purity of those who are in the company of the Lamb, but in what does that purity consist? Are we to assume that these are all men because they “were not defiled with women”? Or are we to assume that they are all women because they “are virgins”? Frankly, I do not believe that either assumption would be absolutely correct. But what does it truly mean? It can have a literal or spiritual meaning, and I think it includes both. The Great Tribulation is a period of unparalleled suffering. The 144,000 have been through that period. The abnormal times demanded an abnormal state. That was the reason they were unmarried.
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When Paul says, “These are they which were not defiled with women,” he is providing an illustration of God’s ability to keep believers remarkably pure in the midst of great difficulty. This phrase indicates that the 144,000 Jewish evangelists will have not only resisted the perverse system of Antichrist, but they will have also resisted all temptations to elicit sex: “I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself” (2 Corinthians 11:2). During the Great Tribulation there will be an exaggerated emphasis upon sex, and obviously immorality will prevail. The 144,000 will have kept themselves aloof from the sins of the Great Tribulation.
Now, considering adultery in the spiritual sense, in the Old Testament idolatry was classified as spiritual fornication. The classical example is in Ezekiel 16 where we find God’s severe indictment against Israel for fornication and adultery—which was idolatry. The 144,000 will also have kept themselves from the worship of the beast and his image during the Great Tribulation. Therefore, the comment, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins,” is probably referring to chastity in both the literal sense and the spiritual sense. And this makes good sense, by the way.
I should point out that some scholars have suggested that this vision of John’s represents the gathering of God’s army in anticipation of holy war, since soldiers who engaged in holy war were expected to abstain from sexual activity during military service. Others have argued that sexual abstinence is consistent with their role as priests in this heavenly observance. Still others have suggested that the virginal state of the 144,000 should be viewed as a metaphor for their refusal to participate in the emperor cult, since Jewish and early Christian writings often describe idol worship in terms of prostitution and adultery. Whether one or all of these meanings are intended, we can be quite sure that it should not be taken literally, so as to saying that only celibate Christians are redeemed.
These verses say that the company is made up of men and women who are exemplary in five ways; verse 4 offers three excellent characteristics of these worshippers (Verse 5 will add two).
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Sexually Pure. First, they are exemplary in their conduct. John says, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.” This may be a figurative reference to their separated, sanctified spirituality, for no doubt these people will be marked by lofty standards of separation from the world and by spiritual sanctity. However, there is more than figurative reference to spirituality here. These witnesses have separated themselves absolutely, in a practical, purposeful way from the Babylonish, worldly religious system of the beast. The religion of the beast, in common with so many pagan religions, will have at its base a vile immorality which will openly pander to every lust of the human heart. With the man of sin enthroned, lust will be applauded. It will be considered an act of worship as it was by the ancient Canaanites and has been in fertility cults ever since. This company sets itself apart from all that. Perhaps the best meaning of this first sentence is explained to some extent by the sentence which follows, namely: “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.”
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Dear reader, perhaps someone reading this will ask, “Does it describe those who have remained celibate? The days soon came when the Church glorified virginity and held that the highest Christian life was possible only for those who renounced marriage altogether. But that idea didn’t last long, since it is far from the teaching of the New Testament. Jesus glorified marriage, saying that for this cause a man left his own family and was so closely united to his wife that they were one flesh, and warning that what God has joined no man may put asunder (Matthew 19:4-6). In his highest teaching Paul glorified marriage, likening it to the relationship of Christ to His Church (Ephesians 5:22-23). The writer to the Hebrews may say it best: “let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4).
Devoted to Jesus. Second, they are exemplary in their consecration. We are told, “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth,” indicating that they had followed Him exclusively—referring to following Christ’s instructions and His example. The Apostle Mark wrote: “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35; NIV). Their reward for such conduct while on earth will be to accompany Him as His constant companion in heaven. Absolute devotion to Christ is the driving force behind their godly lives on earth. Like Caleb, their testimony is that they wholly follow the Lord. They allow no rivals, no refusals, and no restraint to mar their dedication to Him. Does He need someone to stand upon the steps of the Vatican and cry out against the marriage of Christendom to the beast? There are a hundred and forty-four thousand ready to go! Does the Lord need someone to seize the beast at some high function of state and roundly denounce him, his policy, his statecraft, his religion, his economic boycott, his mark, his ministers, and his alliance with Satan? There are a hundred and forty-four thousand eager to go! Does the Lamb need evangelists to proclaim to the untold millions the gospel of the coming kingdom of God? To climb the highest Himalayas, to cross the desert sands, to blaze evangelistic trails through steaming jungles or to mush huskies across wide arctic waste? There are a hundred and forty-four thousand ready to go! And though the beast’s Gestapo dog their footsteps and wreck his direst vengeance upon their converts, yet on they go undaunted and undeterred. That was the very spirit of their consecration as they followed the Lamb whithersoever He led them on earth, and their reward in heaven is great.
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Purchased as Firstfruits. Third, they are exemplary in their calling. John says, “These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the lamb.” “These were redeemed from among men” means that Christ had bought them with His blood (5:9; 7:14; 12:11; 19:13). The price of people’s sin was paid on the cross—it is a free gift for believers.
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Israel kept an annual feast of firstfruits.Each year the farmer went into his fields of swiftly ripening grain and cut out one sheaf. This sheaf was then presented to God as an act of worship, indicating that the worshipper understands that all things belong to God. It was not the whole harvest, but it represented the whole.It was a token of a work well done.On the Feast of Firstfruits, the priest waved the sheaf before the Lord as a sign that the entire harvest belonged to Him (Leviticus 23:9-14).
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This company makes up the firstfruits of those who throughout the tribulation will make their calling and election sure. I believe that they will occupy a unique place in the millennial kingdom. These men will be set apart for special service to God (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). Some see the firstfruits as the first large group of redeemed Israel, saved much earlier and representative of more converts to follow (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15), the firstfruits of a redeemed Israel (Romans 11:1-5, 11-15, 25-27). They evidently will be the Vanguard with the Lamb when He returns to set up the kingdom as we will see in chapter 19.
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5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Verse 5 offers two characteristics of these worshippers.
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Righteousness. When the text states that no lie is found in their mouths, it means that because their hearts are righteous, their words and actions are righteous as well. To say a person speaks no lie is the same as saying that his or her heart is governed by truth. It follows from this that they are commendable in their conversation. John made a simple statement, “and in their mouth was found no guile (no lie).” The simple meaning is that they did not participate in the big lie of the Beast when he used lying wonders. They didn’t fall for his lie. Remember that the Lord Jesus said that if it were possible to deceive the very elect, they would be deceived. But they will not be deceived. When preaching the gospel, they do not conceal from their hearers that faith in Christ will be followed by swift retribution from the beast. They tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Others are mouthing the slogans of the beast, chanting the vile creeds of his new world cult, and hailing him as the revealer of secrets, the savior of mankind, but these victorious believers refuse to pay lip service to him. They refuse to sing the praise of the beast. In their mouth is not found the lie. In contrast to the evil world that loves “to live a lie” (22:15; NLT), these people were blameless because of their faith in Christ.
It is a wonder that these one hundred and forty-four thousand are said to be truthful, for the tribulation period in which they live is particularly one where deceit and falsehood reign. The Antichrist will come in the power of Satan with “lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9), so that the multitudes shall “believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11). Satan being “a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44), and his man, who is the Antichrist, will appear in the tribulation as “the liar” (1 John 2:22).
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Blameless. The final characteristic is that these Jews are blameless; they are exemplary in their character. This means that these people live lives that are beyond reproach. To be righteous is to have a heart that is pure before God, and to be blameless means that your life is pure before the world. John says, “For they are without fault before the throne of God.” They have entered into the truth of Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” They have entered fully into the righteousness of Christ of whom we read that He “offered himself without spot (faultless) unto God” (Hebrews 9:14). The word implies they are without blemish just as the Old Testament sacrifices were without blemish. Animals offered on Jewish altars were scrutinized to make sure that they were perfect. Here, then, is a company of God’s people who are saved, sealed, separated, sanctified (not sinless, but sanctified), and spotless! Yet we, in this age, members of the body of Christ, are of a higher and holier order than that! What manner of people should we be!
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Over against all the false worship in the tribulation, here is a group which maintains loyalty to God and the Lamb. It is not that they are perfectly sinless, but that they are true when everyone else is conforming to a lie. Well might believers in our own dispensation follow the example of these saints of a far more difficult age that succeeded in remaining spiritually pure. Spiritual purity is not popular today, but God requires it of His followers. To remain spiritually pure means resisting the seductions and idolatries of the present world—power, wealth and sexual immorality. To do so requires daily application of God’s Word, for it has a purifying effect on the mind and heart. It requires great resolution not to give in to these temptations. Stand strong and don’t give in.
