Verse
By Verse
Series©
Who are the 144,000 with the Lamb?
The Church and Jesus as seen in Revelation 14:1-5
Nab B. September 8, 2022
Spiritual Understanding of Scriptures
“The flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
“We speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual...the things of the Spirit of God...are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:13-14)
Verse By Verse Series©
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Revelation 14:1
“I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion and with Him one 144,00, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” NKJV
"A Lamb Standing"
The word resurrection means "standing up" in Greek. So, "A Lamb standing" is the resurrected Christ among his churches.
"Among the lampstands [all the churches] was someone like a Son of man." (Rev 1:13)
"On Mount Zion"
Old Zion is sometimes referred to as Jerusalem, the city of David, or the city of God. Some Christians believe that Christ will come back and rule the earth from literal Zion. This is not what it means, the meaning is spiritual. Zion in Revelation is a spiritual city. Spiritual Zion is heavenly new Jerusalem. It’s the church of the firstborn, the body of Christ—the city of God.
“But 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 Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:22-24) See also Micah 4:1-3
"With Him one hundred and forty-four thousand"
This number is symbolic of all spiritual Israel [the church]. The number is both squared (12 x 12) and multiplied by 1,000—a double emphasis of the completion of the church, all sealed and gathered.
"Having His Father's name on their foreheads"
This contrasts those with the name of God on their foreheads with those who have the mark of the beast on their foreheads in Rev 13:16. "On their foreheads" identifies them clearly as His own serving with their whole minds.
Revelation 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.” NKJV
"The voice of many waters and the voice of loud thunder"
This "voice of many waters" was heard before. it's the voice of Jesus Christ, "his [Jesus] voice as the sound of many waters." (Rev 1:15)
The "many waters" refer to the redeemed nations, tribes, and peoples. They can hear His voice which sounds like "many waters" and "loud thunder".
"I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps."
Lyres and Harps are instruments that represent the sounds of joy, celebration, and praise to God and Christ. “Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.” (Psa 33:2)
Revelation 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.” NKJV
"A new song"
There are seven recorded songs in Revelation listed below:
1st song was offered to God (Rev 4:8,11)
2nd song was offered to the Lamb (Rev 5:9,11)
3rd song was offered to God and the Lamb (Rev 5:13)
4th song was offered to God and the Lamb (Rev 7:10,12)
5th song was offered to God (Rev 11:18)
6th song offered to God (Rev 15:4)
7th song offered to God (Rev 16:6)
The Psalmist always offered a ‘NEW SONG’ to God:
“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1)
A “New Song” is an original song to match the marvellous things because God is "making all things new"—a new heaven, a new earth, a new man, a new Jerusalem, a new song, etc.
"No one could learn the song except the 144000"
Since only humans need redemption, then 144,000 are the only ones able to learn it!
The ’New Song’ is a song of redemption and salvation. It expresses the redeemed delight, gratitude, and thankfulness to God and Christ.
“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Eph 5:19)
Revelation 14:4
“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 first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” NKJV
"Who were not defiled with women"
They do not commit spiritual adultery with false religions portrayed as women.
Note how spiritual whoredom is referred to in those verses:
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (Jame 4:4)
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” (Matt 16:4)
“I have seen...your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings...O Jerusalem!” (Jer 13:27)
"For they are virgins"
This is spiritual virginity. The Greek word is ‘parthenos’ which could mean chaste and pure. A true believer is spiritually pure for Christ who doesn't follow other christs, hear other gospels, or receive another spirit:
“For I am jealous over you...For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Cor 11:2,4).
"These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes"
Follow Christ by not paying attention to other voices of false teachers and other distractions.
This is what following Christ involves:
"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also." (John 12:26)
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34)
"Redeemed from among men [mankind]"
In Rev chapter 7, the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of (spiritual) Israel. Now we’re told, "They are redeemed from among mankind.” Is this confusing to you yet? It certainly confuses Christians.
No confusion if you keep this in mind:
The twelve tribes of Israel are spiritual tribes. God did not change the structure of His Kingdom. He just made old physical shadows into new spiritual realities. Then He consolidated everything in Jesus Christ.
The different names for those redeemed:
The twelve tribes of Israel,
The 144,000,
The great crowd,
The new Jerusalem,
Mount Zion,
Etc.
"Being first fruits to God and to the Lamb"
First fruits are the BEST offering. All sacrifices offered to God must be the best. First fruits also mean being set apart for God.
God has been redeeming only the best spiritual men and women (as His first fruits). The best here has nothing to do with fleshly people, but with those who are spiritual, humble, hungry, and thirsty for righteousness.
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (1 Cor 15:23)
Revelation 14:5
“And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” NKJV
"In their mouth was found no deceit [or lie]"
Christ reveals the sharp contrast between His own true followers and the unchaste followers in Babylon the Great.
I don't think this is about white little lies! True and pure believers are not affected by the deceit that comes from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, or the false prophet. (Rev 16:13-14)
"For they are without fault before the throne"
They are without fault only because they were redeemed and washed clean by the blood of Christ. He has made them blameless and unblemished from the marring effects of sin. They are (not will be) a ‘New Creation’ already! The passage below proves it:
“You were enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. NOW he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ…he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col 1:21-22) NLT