The Lamb and the 144,000

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Revelation 14:1-5 

Hebrews 12:22-23 “…you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect…”

Mount Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem. After the awful prophecy of the second beast enforcing a satanic mark on all the unbelievers, John now saw those who had been redeemed and permanently identified with the Lamb of God and with God the Father. We saw them being sealed in chapter 7. Their work of evangelism is now done and they are in heaven with the Lamb. A dynamic voice overwhelmed all other sounds. There was music like the sound of harps (now we know why angels are depicted with harps) and the 144,000 were singing a new song that only they know. Those whom God chooses to minister in His kingdom have special knowledge of things that ordinary humans are not privy to. This knowledge is produced in the mind of Christ, which the Holy Spirit enables His believers to learn. The mind of Christ is incomprehensible to unbelievers and to carnal believers, because it is Holy Spirit inspired and controlled.

There is some speculation about the stated virginity of these 144,000. Let’s not speculate. The Word of God says they are virgins. That means they have remained celibate in the performance of their ministry, and have totally dedicated their life and work to the fulfillment of their spiritual calling. These men are blameless because they have received in themselves the perfect Righteousness of Christ, the Lamb, who presents them blameless before the throne of God (Jude 1:24). When they speak, their word is truth. These, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb will form a new nation of Jewish believers in the Millennium.

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7

Now comes the outpouring of gospel proclamation to all the inhabitants  of the earth, delivered by an angel. Throughout history, the gospel has been proclaimed by humans. That was always God’s method of evangelism: human to human. Now, though, the judgment is near, and one last effort is made to get the attention of the fallen world before it is too late.

Verse 8: Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

Babylon is a term used for Rome, because of the highly commercial as well as politically dominating nature of the city. Everything revolved around money and ways to acquire and exchange it. The anything-goes mentality and practice of big commerce as well as big government is harlotry on a grand scale. Babylon also represents the false religious system which is always unfaithful to the Lord, for political and financial gain. She is greedy, power-mad and driven by insatiable lusts. She entices all nations to partake of her harlotry, as they are deluded by their own lust and greed.

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:9-11

These unbelievers have not received the mark of the beast by accident. Occasionally there is a well-meaning, though very confused believer who becomes obsessed with the mark, and thinks he has it, or his child may have it, and the thought of that drives that person to the brink of insanity. Keep in mind, the believers had already been identified and protected before the beast decreed his mark. These folks have decided AGAINST Christ before they were caught in this trap and forfeited their freedom. The evangelizing angels are making another sweep of the earth with the message from God because He is a God of grace before judgment. There is no one who will not have a chance to be saved. There is no one who will not have been warned of the consequences of rejecting Christ. Those consequences have just been spelled out for us one more time (vv 9-11).

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:12-13

There will be other deaths of believers during the tribulation, probably mostly martyrs for the gospel. That will enter them into their eternal rest, and their service for the kingdom will be rewarded.

They will be blessed indeed.