The 144,000 and the Victorious Judgment of the Lamb
• "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."
It must be remembered that the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 19:10) that inspired the Apostle John to write the Apocalypse, intended the imagery of the Revelation to be understood in a conversational manner, "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus 33:11). But, in the narrative of Chapter 14, like our own conversations, not every event described is in a rigidly chronological order. Thus, this chapter depicts a heavenly scene with the "hundred forty and four thousand" (Rev 14:1) "before the throne of God" (Rev 14:5) after the Pre-Wrath Rapture (about 9 days prior to the End of the Tribulation Week). It then speaks of three angels preaching to the Earth (Rev 14:6-13). A statement follows, that "Blessed are the dead which die in the LORD from henceforth" (Rev 14:13), which this commentator believes to be a retrospective statement of the blessedness of the death of Saints prior to the Pre-Wrath Rapture (Rev 11:15). Concluding the chapter, another three angels act in concert with the Son of Man, Who is judging the Earth (Rev 14:14-20), finishing the Tribulation Week.
The Lamb (Rev 14:1) of God "which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), is Jesus. In this vision, John sees the LORD Jesus Christ on "mount Sion" (Rev 14:1), which in this instance, refers to a heavenly scene. "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). It has become more apparent that much of what God has directed man to do, i.e., "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in Earth" (Luke 11:2), and build upon Earth, has been modeled upon what exists in Heaven, i.e., earthly Jerusalem was based upon heavenly Jerusalem. "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8:5).
The 144,000 (Rev 14:1)-- the same 144,000 Jewish Believers, who were sealed in Chapter 7 shortly before the Middle of the Tribulation Week-- are standing with Christ in Heaven This triumphal scene in Heaven indicates that the 144,000 were preserved from the Antichrist and were Pre-Wrath Raptured, i.e., "Hurt not the Earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads" (Rev 7:3). Again, why the trouble to seal the 144,000 from the effects of the Divine Judgments, only to be killed by the Antichrist? "3 O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit... 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise Thee? shall it declare Thy Truth?" (Psalm 30:3, 9).
• "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:" The "voice from Heaven" (Rev 14:2) that John heard was that of the Almighty God, i.e., "as the Voice of many waters" (Rev 14:2). "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the Earth shined with His glory" (Ezekiel 43:2). God's awesome Voice was heard as a mighty Niagara, and His Speech was punctuated with the "Voice of a great thunder" (Rev 14:2). "The LORD thundered from Heaven, and the Most High uttered His Voice" (2Samuel 22:14). As mortals, we often forget that this God of power and majesty has condescended to make a covenant with us-- His presence in exchange for our trust-- i.e., "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:1, 2).
Throughout the ages, the Saints have been enjoined to sound their praises of God with "all manner of instruments" (2Samuel 6:5), even as David and all Israel used harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals. Both men and angels are seen before the Throne praising God with harps, i.e., "And when He had taken the Book, the four beasts [angelic seraphim] and four and twenty elders [glorified Saints] fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of Saints" (Revelation 5:8). "Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings" (Psalm 33:2). Who are the "harpers harping with their harps" (Rev 14:2)? Most probably the harpers are the 144,000 Jewish Believers, who have been Pre-Wrath Raptured-- for they would have much to celebrate! "1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of Our Salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms" (Psalm 95:1-2).
• "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." Jehovah Jesus, Who is the Lamb (Rev 14:1) before the Throne, will teach His people their New Song, because He personally will serenade us after we come into His presence. "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). Likewise, the 144,000 will sing a "New Song before the Throne" (Rev 14:3) of God. The Creator alone is truly the Author of "all things new" (Revelation 21:5). "And have put on the New Man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Colossians 3:10). In Salvation, Jehovah "hath put a New Song in my mouth" (Psalm 40:3). "No man could learn" (Rev 14:3) the song of the 144,000, because God has covenanted His secret personally and only to those that fear Him. "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant" (Psalm 25:14). [Read our series, "Keeping Covenant", for instruction and encouragement to be faithful to God, even as He is the "Faithful God, Which keepeth Covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9).] The 144,000 "were redeemed [Greek, agorazo] from the Earth" (Rev 14:3) by a miraculous Rapture. The Father, Who purchased us "with the precious Blood of Christ" (1Peter 1:19), will simply take delivery on His purchased possessions, i.e., the Tribulation Week Saints at that Rapture. "Ye are bought [Greek, agorazo] with a price; be not ye the servants of men" (1Corinthians 7:23).
• "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." In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks of the entire Body of Believers as a "chaste virgin" , i.e., "For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to One Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin [Greek, parthenos] to Christ" (2Corinthians 11:2). The Apostle John also uses the Greek word parthenos, in describing the 144,000 as "virgins" (Rev 14:4). Virginity, though it most often describes a woman who has not known a man sexually, was also used to identify both the men and women of Israel, i.e., "This is the Word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him [Sennacherib king of Assyria]; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee" (Isaiah 37:22). However, the "virgins" (Rev 14:4) here described, "were not defiled with women" (Rev 14:4), seems to indicate that the 144,000 are unmarried and chaste men, who will abstain from marriage during the difficult days of the Tribulation Week. Even the married Saints of these Last Days, as much as possible, should dedicate themselves more to the LORD than their devotion to their cherished spouses. "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none" (1Corinthians 7:29).
To "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" (Rev 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" (Rev 5:9), the 144,000 will also be "redeemed from among men" (Rev 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" (Rev 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" (Rev 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
• "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" (Rev 14:5). Guile is the wilful 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" (Rev 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).
• "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 (Rev 14:6-11), much like a team of evangelists: (1) The First Angel (Rev 14:6-7) universally declares the necessity and opportunity of embracing the fear, glory, and worship of God.
(2) A warning is given by the Second Angel (Rev 14:8) that the worship system of Babylon the Great is collectively dead. And,
(3) individually, the Third Angel (Rev 14:9-11) warns his hearers against their personal participation in the worship of the Beast. Since "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), the Everlasting Gospel (14:6) is not limited to any specific location or group of people, but it will be preached, as it was always intended, to "them that dwell on the Earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev 14:6). "19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
What a compelling event! Three angels canvas the globe, assaulting the senses of all Earth dwellers with the sight and sound of the preaching of the Gospel (14:6-11). "O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the Word of the LORD" (Jeremiah 22:29). This is akin to giving the Earth dwellers one last chance before the Almighty returns for the Final Judgment of the Earth, which occurs only a few days hence. "Who hath heard such a thing?" (Isaiah 66:8). Though the term Gospel has many connotations today, it specifically describes the Good News of man's opportunity to turn away from his selfishness and return to trusting God. "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel [Greek, euaggelion, or Good News]" (Mark 1:15). As the Gospel announces man's opportunity for repentance and Salvation, the Law of God simply declares what God justly requires of man, "Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... and... thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37, 39). The Gospel understands that man has transgressed that Law, thus, requiring his death. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). "2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect So Great Salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him" (Hebrews 2:2-3).
• "7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him that made Heaven, and Earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The Gospel message preached by the First Angel is a righteous command to "fear God", "give glory to Him" , and "worship Him" (Rev 14:7). Though the Gospel offers the opportunity of repentance for Eternal Salvation, it requires, then as well as now, obedience to the commands of the Gospel, i.e., "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel" (Romans 10:16). When the First Angel preaches the Everlasting Gospel (Rev 14:6) with a "loud voice" (Rev 14:7), the impression is that all the inhabitants of the Earth are constrained to hear his command to respond to the Gospel. This has always been the case with the preaching of the Gospel, that God "now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). The command to "fear God" (Rev 14:7) is the "beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). To "give glory to Him" (Rev 14:7) is God's demand to return to the original purpose of man, i.e., "Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev 4:11). And, to "worship Him" (Rev 14:7) is the clarion call whereby God requires man to return to True Worship, i.e., "True Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23).
The phrase, "the hour of His Judgment is come" (Rev 14:7), similarly refers to the "hour of temptation" (3:10), which is a period of 15 days from the Pre-Wrath Rapture (the Second "Come Up Hither" [Rev 11:12]) to the Millennial Reign of the LORD Jesus Christ. Though the Promise to the Church of Philadelphia, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation" (Rev 3:10), is commonly appropriated as a Promise for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture (the First "Come Up Hither" [Rev 4:1])-- which this writer believes to be spiritually true, since there is more than one Rapture-- but, it more specifically applies to the last 8-9 days of the Tribulation Week following the Pre-Wrath Rapture, as well as the approximately 6 days following the Tribulation Week, i.e., Armageddon and the Second Coming, up to the beginning of the Millennial Reign of the LORD Jesus Christ. An appropriate Scripture of encouragement for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture would be Luke 21:36, which promises escape from all the events of the Tribulation Week for those who watch and pray, thus, necessitating a Pre-Tribulational deliverance. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
• "8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Advising all Earth dwellers that "Babylon is fallen" (Rev 14:8) is appropriate, because at this point Babylon has already fallen. By this, it is meant that the judgment of "Babylon the Great" (Rev 18:2), the Harlot Religious System that seats itself in that "great city" (Rev 14:8) of Rome, must have already occurred at the beginning of the "hour of [Jehovah's] Judgment" ( Rev 14:7) upon the world. It appears that this judgment of Religious-Economic Babylon, as described in Revelation 17 and 18 occurs immediately after the Pre-Wrath Rapture, which takes place about 8-9 days before the End of the Tribulation Week. Few cities have ever had the infamy of representing the wickedness of the world system than Babylon and Rome. "Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon" (Acts 7:43). Babylon the Great is primarily the Harlot Religious System that makes "all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Rev 14:8) through an ecumenical sharing of her false religious practices; however, she exerts inordinately large influence through her enormous economic power throughout the Earth. "The love of money is the root of all evil" (1Timothy 6:10).