“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God“
Chapters 14 and 15 introduce three scenes of victory of the Lamb with his 144,000. These scenes in heaven and earth lay the groundwork for the seven bowl judgments.
The first five verses introduce what will transpire with the 144,000 people (7:4-8) during the Great Tribulation.
14:1
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
This verse anticipates the triumph of the Lamb and the 144,000 evangelists at the end of the Tribulation.
Mount Zion is a place of worship (Psalm 2:6; Isaiah 24:23; 28:16; Joel 3:5; Hebrews 12:22) in Jerusalem.
John sets forth six characteristics of the 144,000. First, God separates them to Himself. They have the name of the “Father” written on their foreheads in contrast to the mark of the beast (Re 13:16;14:11). These are those whom God set apart as His own. They march to the step of the Father.
14:2
And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
The 144,000 heard a voice like a thundering majestic waterfall.
There will be instrumental music in heaven. When we get there, God will delight us in the best music in the world. We have heard the saying, “Music charms the savage beast.” There will be great latitude for different tastes in music. I doubt that we will all have the same personality, the same physical looks, or the same interests in heaven. Some people falsely assume that there will be nothing but classical music in heaven!! Not only will we listen to music, but we will also make music.
14:3
They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
Second, they constantly (Greek) sing a new song. The 144,000 evangelists sing a song on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. They have a different song than their generation.
14:4
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.
Third, they lived celibate lives. The evangelists could not live in a normal married state. This is only for a few and only for those under special duress. Unmarried people can devote themselves more fully to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:1-7).
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
Fourth, they followed the Lamb where He goes.
These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Fifth, they are the “firstfruits” to God and the Lamb. The term “firstfruits” may indicate that the 144,000 will precede others of a great harvest who become believers just before the Second Coming (Zechariah 12:10). This is an earnest of the triumph of the Second Coming.
14:5
And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Sixth, they did not deceive in their communication. The 144,000 did not deceive with their mouth. As God sees them, they were without fault before God’s presence (throne). They had nothing to hide. They were who they were.
The New Testament uses the Greek word translated “without fault” for sacrificial animals that do not have defects. These witnesses had no soul kinks or unconfessed sins.
Principle:
God wants us to sell out to Him and His plan for this world.
Application:
John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who love nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will save the whole world for Christ.” Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Excuse me I have a question. I thought the 144,00 were the one that will be saved during the tribulations. Is this correct?
If they’re the ones that will be saved by His name during the tribulations, a second chance was given to them, how is it that only virgins are the 144,000 what about the non virgins that died in His name also?
Maggie, the 144,000 are more than those who saved; they are Jewish evangelists. Many gentiles will come to Christ during the Tribulation as well as Jews. The purpose of the Tribulation is to bring Israel back to God.
So gentiles won’t get saved only Jewish ones?
Maggie, both Jews and Gentiles will become Christians in the Tributation and they will lead each other to the Messiah.
I jumped here from chapt. 7:8, trying to get some more understanding of the 144,000. These folks were Jews not Christians? By God’s grace they were converted to Christian? This particular number were chosen because they were virgins and truthful? Were they given God’s seal even without knowing Jesus?
Sorry for all the questions and thank you for your help and concern.
Gregg, the 144,000 will be Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. The purpose of the Tribulation is to bring Jews or Israel as a nation to Christ the Messiah. They will also lead Gentiles to Christ. The church was raptured previously. All the tribulations of the tribulation will bring Israel to Christ. At the Second Coming (not the Rapture) Israel as a nation will believe in the Messiah and then Israel will establish a national entity under the Messiah in the Millennium.
Will the 144,000 be sealed after rapture, and before the great tribulation
Chuks,
The 144,000 are Jewish converts from the twelve tribes of Israel. God seals them from future effects of the Tribulation at the beginning of the Tribulation and after the Rapture. Chapter 7 shows the sealing of the 144,00 and in this chapter their deliverance. The purpose of the Tribulation is to bring Israel back to God.
My question is, during the tribulation will people who had known Christ but we’re backslidden be able to be saved or ines that had never heard?
Sheree, The church will be raptured before the Tribulation. There will be some who accept Christ during the Tribulation. These are the ones who believe during the Tribulation. People who become Christians during the Tribulation will be ushered into Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.
I’m under the interpretation that these 144,000, sinless virgin males are the Jewish baby boys who were slain during the time Christ’s birth took place. An innocent child would be sinless or without stain, however you want to see it. They were all males and they were Jews.
Shana, that interpretation cannot be true from a number of angles. First, these men were not tempted by women, that is, they were of an age to be tempted. Secondly, this entire section is dealing with a future Tribulation period in the world. Thirdly, they were old enough to be redeemed. Fourthly, they were old enough to know the lyrics of a song. Fifth, they were old enough to conquer deceiving others.
So the Christians who believe and follow Christ now are not counted on that number?and again is that not in a prophetic term which also has some meanings like woman-church,dragon-satan,water-multitude………
Bongo, the church had been raptured by this time. The saints in the Tribulation are those who became believers during that time. The 144,000 are converted Jews.
The Catholic church used as basis Revelation 14:4 in their teaching and practice of celibacy in priesthood, as your own commentaries explain, “Third, they lived celibate lives. The evangelists could not live in a normal married state. This is only for a few and only for those under special duress. Unmarried people can devote themselves more fully to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:1-7).”
Is the Catholic church correct biblically in its teaching and practice of celibacy in priesthood and in even using Revelation 14:4 as basis thereof?
rjn4justice, there is no revelation in Scripture about celibacy for those in ministry per se.
Hi Grant,
Many thanks for this great website. I am totally loving it! I wonder if you can help in answering a question that has been nagging me for many months:
1) What is the purpose of the Millennial reign of Christ? Am I correct to believe that the body of Christ will come back with Christ to rule for the 1000 years? Who would the “citizens” of the millenium be if the entire body of Christ are co-rulers with Christ? And would every saint be a ruler in the millennium?
Tee, the purpose of the Millennial reign of Christ is to prove that a man, the incarnate Christ, can fulfill the ultimate purpose of God for creation, which is His own glory (manifestation of His attributes). Christ will fulfill in time and space God’s purpose for man, which also was to glorify God. God will do this both through the Jews and Christians. Jews will live on earth and Christians will live in the satellite city over the earth. The purpose of the Second Coming is to fulfill God’s purposes and unconditional covenant to Israel, which is different from the Rapture, which is only for the church.
can a believer/christian be save during the tribulations that’s after rapture before the second coming ?
Haziel, there are a number of indications that people will become Christians during the Tribulation after the Rapture.
Please explain your statement about the Millennial reign of Chris
“Jews will live on earth and Christians will live in the satellite city over the earth. The purpose of the Second Coming is to fulfill God’s purposes and unconditional covenant to Israel, which is different from the Rapture, which is only for the church.”
Where in scripture does God say only Jews will dwell on the earth, and describes a satellite city over the earth where Believers reside?
Thank you.
Patti, When John was introduced to the New Jerusalem, he said, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21:2. The new Jerusalem is repeatedly called a city (21:2, 10, 14–16, 18–19, 21, 23; 22:2–3, 14, 19) and given specific physical dimensions.
Because the New Jerusalem is said to “come down” from heaven, not created like the new earth and new heaven, and because of its immense size, it could not rest on the earth. Because of this, some postulate that it is a satellite city.
This may solve a problem about the relationship between saints with resurrected bodies and those with natural bodies in the Millennium. It is to be admitted that this idea should not be treated as a formal doctrine of the Scriptures.
12 Tribes x 12 Gates = 144 Does this have anything to do with the number? Perhaps! Jehovah witnesses believe only 144,000 will be raptured. Be careful of these types of misinterpretations. All who believe and have the seal of Christ will be raptured at the Rapture. Many will be converted as Grant mentioned during the tribulation.
Towanda, thanks for your comments.