Next Part 4 The 144,000
Chapter 14 The 144,000 and the Victorious Judgment of the Lamb
To </font>"follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" (14:4) describes the 144,000; but, should no less characterize the Saints of these Last Days. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). Consequently, the 144,000 have simply followed their Master home to Heaven, with His blessing and at His Command, i.e., "Come Up Hither" (Revelation 11:12). Just as the 24 Elders, who represent the entirety of both Old and New Testament Saints, were bought, purchased, and redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, i.e., "And they [24 Elders] sung a New Song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed [Greek, agorazo] us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (5:9), the 144,000 will also be "redeemed from among men" (14:4). "And from Jesus Christ, Who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the Dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood" (1:5). These 144,000 male virgins represent the first of the eventual harvest of Elect Israel at the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ; therefore, they are called the "firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (14:4). "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children" (Isaiah 66:8).</p>
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- "5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the Throne of God."
In completing the description of the 144,000, John records that "in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the Throne of God" (14:5). Guile is the willful deceit of heart that cannot be separated from a man without the cleansing that comes from the forgiveness of God. "If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Salvation under both the Old and New Covenants has always been by the LORD imputing His righteousness to man, in response to faith and repentance. "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile" (Psalm 32:2). It will take the miraculous preservation of the Almighty to keep alive these 144,000 during the Second Half of the Tribulation Week, for they imitate their LORD's guileless conduct before His persecutors. "22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: 23 Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (1Peter 2:22-23). Their position is "before the Throne of God" (14:5), meaning that they have been translated from their earthly position to the joyousness of Heaven, where Jesus is. "2 In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3).
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- "6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of Heaven, having the Everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,"
Three angels preach to the Earth (14:6-11), much like a team of evangelists:
(1) The First Angel (14:6-7) universally declares the necessity and opportunity of embracing the fear, glory, and worship of God.
Next Part 5 The 144,000