The Lamb is seen standing on Mount Zion (v. 1) before the throne (v. 3) with the 144,000 who have been purchased out of the earth. The place they are standing refers to heaven, the new Jerusalem, and the 144,000 that were previously mentioned in Revelation 7:4-8 as having been redeemed out of Israel at the end of the age. These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation (7:14) who were among the faithful Jews of our Lord’s own generation. When Paul went to Jerusalem during the Passover, Luke records, “When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law ...(Acts 21:17-20). The 144,000 have his name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. A similar description was given as a promise to the saints in Philadelphia. Revelation 3:12 reads, “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” These names are written on their foreheads as proof of their identity just as the Beast had a sign to mark his loyal subjects (cf. 7:3).
The old victory song was the song of Moses that was sung after their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 15:1-21). But, now there is a new song victory song that the 144,000 sings. They stand before the throne singing a new victory song that celebrates the Lamb’s accomplishments. They are the first fruits of a new nation, who alone can sing this new song. Others of the redeemed can only listen as they sing because they did not experience the great tribulation.
Their description is given in Revelation 14:4. It is as follows:
1. These are men “not defiled with women”. Some translations give “virgins” as the translation and I used to wonder about the significance of the 144,000 being virgins and why this number excludes all others. The translation points to men who are “undefiled” and when considering Hebrews 13:4 as a commentary for this, we understand that this would not exclude married men. Marriage is an “undefiled bed” and was permitted in Paul’s advice to Corinth. He would only advise against marriage during distressing persecution, only because of the difficulty of providing proper care for her. Even then, marriage was God’s plan to fulfill sexual desires. Nothing about that desire is inherently sinful. A divinely approved marriage, like the Jewish circumcision, does not alter one’s standing with God for the better or worse. The sexual desire is honorably fulfilled in marriage and Paul categorically denies any fault in marrying. It is better to marry than to burn with desire and sin against God (1 Cor. 7:25-28). Verse 9 speaks of some not having “continence.” These should get married. The justification for the imposition of celibacy on today’s priests is taken from this passage and is altogether a terrible misapplication leading to untold damage in the lives of good men. Paul wrote, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband” (1 Cor. 7:1-2).
2. They were purchased from among men as the firstfruits unto God. This same group is described in Hebrews 12:22-24 as the gathering of firstborn ones. This is not a physical collection or gathering. Instead, it points to a class of people who is very distinct from the rest. Not being the first-born does not remove the inheritance and privileges of sonship. But, being first-born does give certain prerogatives and blessings. In this particular context, the firstborn apply in the context of God’s purchase possession and redemption.
3. No deception is in their mouth. Liars have their place in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). This distinguished group, by contrast, love truth and seeks to speak only the truth (cf. 1 John 4:5-6).
4. They are without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 reads, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the ‘called-out and gave himself up for her that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the ‘called-out to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” This body or class of people are God’s who are purchased out of the earth, called out of the world, and into His marvelous light. They are Christ’s bride, the consummation of which took place with their redemption (Rev. 19:6-9, 21:9-14; Matthew 25:1-13). They are without blemish and are taken in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5-6) along with their fellow saints who were translated at His coming. Those who were defiled with the world and whose garments did not remain white were cast out of the marriage feast (cf. Matthew 22:1-14). Concerning those who were alive at His coming, only those who had not defiled their garment were translated to participate in this marriage feast of the Lamb (“garments”, 3:14, 18; 16:15).