Revelation 14:1-5--The Lamb and the 144,000

Revelation 14:1-5
English Standard Version

The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

---

The narrative has now returns the focus to Jesus and the 144,000 Tribulation martyr who are with Him.  He is standing on Mount Zion (where Jerusalem is located) and these 144,000 have been sealed with His name and His Father's name that was written on their foreheads (now we know what the seal was that was put on them and what the Mark of the Beast was meant to be a counterfeit of).

The John hears the heavens erupting in music that sounded like thunder, but it was like the sound of many people playing many harps.  They are playing a new song (so far we have been singing the same old son with additional verses, but this song is something brand new), and only the 144,000 Tribulation martyrs are allowed to sing it--everyone else in heaven is content to play the accompaniment.

Why are they so special that they alone get to sing this new song?  Because they have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.  They have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.  That may raise some eyebrows, but these people understand that the end is coming in there is no time to get wrapped up in the affairs of this world because they are on mission for Jesus.  Every moment they had left they wanted to spend telling other people about him.  They chose to give up those good and godly desires that they had because they understood the times they were living in and that there were more important things than the things that made them feel satisficed and happy.

They stay devoted to the Lord not only in life, but in death.  Even after they are martyred, they follow the Lord wherever He goes and stay close to Him.  Though they will be some of the last saints chronologically in Church history, they will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and what Jesus said will be true--many who are last who will be first, but the first will be last.  The disciples argued about who was going to get the best seats closest to Jesus (on His right and left) but Jesus told them these seats were reserved for those whom the Father chooses.  These 144,000 will consider it a great honor to be chosen by the Father to glorify the Father, Son, and Spirit, but especially the Son, in this way.  They are the firstfruits--the best of the harvest--that are offered as a memorial portion to the Lord.  There is a lot of other fruit from the harvest, but these are the best.  Why are they so good?  They are blameless.

That's not a words that is used very much in the Bible to describe people.  While we are all called to be blameless, there are only a few that are called that by God.
1)  The first is Noah--we know he sinned, but Genesis 6:9 says, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God."

2) Job--Job 1:1, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." and Job 1:8, "And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”" and Job 2:3, "And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”" (there are many other times in the book where Job calls himself blameless, but I'm not counting those, just the ones where God calls him blameless)

3) Daniel--Daniel 6:22, "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”" (I'm counting this because Daniel correctly declares that God's actions here are statement/judgment/verdict being made from a higher court on his behalf.  We also have the testimony of his enemies in Daniel 6:4-5, "Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”"

4) I would also include Joseph in this list.  Though there is no particular verse where the word blameless is used, he is usually when of the first people that anyone would reference in a sermon or lesson about blamelessness and integrity.

Outside of these men, there are many calls from God for people to be blameless there are so many passages here, but I'll pick just one or two).  Ephesians 1:3-4, "3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." and Colossians 1:21-23, "21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." and finally Jude 1:24-25, "24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Though we all are going to be made blameless because God will forget our sin, these Tribulation saints, though not perfect in their own righteousness, are in a position where God has nothing bad to say about them.  That only sounds like one of the Seven Churches that we talked about in the beginning of this book.  I'll quote it here with some emphasis added.

Revelation 3:7-13
English Standard Version

To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

That certainly sounds like a promise fulfilled with these 144,000 witnesses who were marked with the name of the Father and the Son and will be kept safe from the plagues written in this book.  Yes, I believe that there was something there for the actual church of Philadelphia that it was addressed to, but it would seem that there is a greater future fulfillment with these being the firstfruits from among all believers in all places at all times.  What a group of people to get to be a part of, but they had to endure so much to be a part of that group.  Oh that we would be found faithful and blameless should the Lord tarry and choose for us to remain alive during the last days.