The History of the Ages – Lesson 41
Chapter 14 contains seven separate parenthetical passages. It starts with one (verses 1-5) describing John’s vision of the manchild or 144,000 that we saw in chapter 12. Here, he sees them with the Lamb in heaven before the throne of God. Again, I’ll examine this scene and list what I think are the significant points and give accompanying references or observations.
- First, we know the location of what John saw is heaven, because he says he saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and the 144,000 were there with Him. This is not the earthly Mount Zion, the highest point of a ridge that runs just south of Mount Moriah. To pinpoint the exact location, Mount Moriah is where Abraham offered Isaac to the Lord (Genesis 22), where David saw the destroying angel and was commanded to build an altar to atone for his sin of numbering the people (II Samuel 24:17-25), where Solomon built the first temple and where the next two temples were built and is now occupied by the Muslim Dome of the Rock mosque. Instead, this is the heavenly Mount Zion where raptured saints go (Hebrews 12:22-23) and from which Christ will come at His second advent (Romans 11:26). In the Book of Revelation the earthly Mount Zion is never mentioned and all visions of Christ are scenes in heaven. And in verse 3 the throne, the four living creatures and the 24 elders are mentioned. This is where God is (compare Revelation 4).
- The 144,000 is the same group sealed in 7:1-8 and protected from the seven trumpet judgments and then “caught up to God and to His throne” in 12:5. These Jewish believers have the Father’s name written on their foreheads, which is the seal or mark of protection from 7:1-4.
- John doesn’t describe only what he saw, but what he heard. The sound (most translations have “voice” from phone, it should be “sound” as in the NIV) is like “many waters”, “great thunder” and “harpers playing their harps”. You have to use your imagination here. What would it sound like when 144,000 harps are played at the same time? There is a similar description (only the number involved should be greater) when a “great multitude” celebrates the marriage supper of the Lamb in 19:6-7. Using the terms “many waters” and “great thunder” is simply John’s way of saying it was really loud.
- Here’s an interesting point. In 14:2 the 144,000 redeemed Jews have harps and are playing them. In the next chapter we see all the redeemed tribulation martyrs in heaven and they all have harps (15:2). And if we go back to 5:8 we see the four living creatures and the 24 elders all have harps. Now, I have to believe if they all have harps, then all the rest of the redeemed saints will have them too. I’ve always wanted to play my very own musical instrument.
- The 144,000 are singing a “new” song. The word “new” is kainos and means, fresh or recent. This is a song they had just learned and that no one else could “learn”. This is manthano, to learn by observation or experience. This is a song that probably expresses the unique situation, experiences and deliverance of this group. This is said to be the only song mentioned in Scripture where the words or theme of the song is not given. We’ll see examples of songs in chapter 15.
- This brings us to John’s statement in verse 4, “these are they who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate.” I have “celibate” where most translations use “virgin”. This comes from parthenos, a word that does not refer only to men or only to women. Now, if you take this statement literally, all of the 144,000 are men who have never had sexual relations with women. I don’t think so. First of all, there’s no reason to think, based on both the Old and New Testament record, that all of the 144,000 are men. Women have always had a significant role in God’s plan and purpose and will continue to have an important part of what He has for all believers in the future. Later in this verse we see “these were redeemed from among men”. “Men” is the plural of anthropos, a word that is usually translated “man”, but generally describes a human being without reference to sex or any other distinction. If not taken literally, but in context to the time and circumstances of the tribulation period, these are the ones who have never defiled themselves by being a part of the idolatrous, fleshly religions of the world as represented by the great whore, the mother of harlots in Revelation 17. The idea is to illustrate their Godly character and loyalty to God under difficult circumstances. Paul uses a similar analogy in II Corinthians 11:2.
- Now I will confess that my next point is not one that I can back up definitively with Scripture, but it makes sense to me. John says they “follow the Lamb wherever He goes”. Like those caught up in the rapture, the two witnesses that are called up to God and like the tribulation martyrs in chapter 15, these glorified Jews have that spirit body that Paul describes in I Corinthians 15:51-54 and that Jesus demonstrated after His resurrection. They can go wherever He goes, no problem. But why would they? Are those who were caught up in the rapture following Him too? Are the 24 elders tagging along, as well? As far as we know from the record only the 144,000 are following Jesus. Let me hazard a guess. One of the next major events on God’s calendar at this point is Christ’s return to earth to establish His Millennial kingdom. The 144,000 may be engaged in the only legitimate discipleship class since Jesus was on the earth with the twelve, training to be the spiritual leaders of the earth during that thousand-year period and beyond. They are, after all, the ones “destined to rule the nations with a rod of iron” in Revelation 12:5. More on this when we study the Millennium.
- This brings us to the last statement in verse 4, where the 144,000 are called “the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb”. Christ is called the firstfruits of the resurrection with believers to follow (I Corinthians 15:20, 23). This designation is also applied to the first converts of a particular place or time (compare Romans 16:5 and I Corinthians 16:15). This is the meaning here. The 144,000 are the first Jews who come to God after the rapture and during the tribulation period.
- This brings us to the last description of this group in verse 5, “in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God”. “Guile” is dello and literally means, decoy and is used figuratively to mean, trick, deceit or lie. Here it is used with a negative to describe those who do not present themselves as something other than what they are. These are not religious pretenders; they’re the real deal.
