Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 14:1-5”
Categories: Revelation“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”
Following the horrifying image of the Roman imperial cult, we have a completely antithetical image after the same style of chapter 7. As monstrous and grotesque as the images of the enemies of God have been in Revelation, this image depicts complete and total serenity! Given the death, denial, and dastardly betrayal the church experienced during the first few centuries, particularly under emperors like Domitian and Trajan, this deliverance picture would have been sorely needed.
The Lamb is Jesus (compare chapter 5). Such was the trademark of His identity and the image is made all the more picturesque by the reflection that God so often characterizes His people as sheep. The Lamb is the One on Whose account the martyrs are dying and Who Himself had been slain. Notice that He is STANDING on Mount Zion; He does not rise up off of the land or from the sea; He is above and over them (compare Psalms 2:6-12). The fact that He is standing indicates two complimentary ideas: power/control and interest. Knowing that the Lamb was in control during this persecution would be hard to keep at the forefront of one’s mind. Nevertheless, to spiritually survive the ordeal was to keep this image burned into one’s mind. That He is standing on Mount Zion is also notable. Mount Zion was the literal hill in the Old Testament where David established his throne. This becomes a symbol of God’s presence among His people via the rule of the Messiah (Psalms 2:6; 110:2, 5-6). The law would go forth from Zion (Isaiah 2:2ff), and those ransomed would “come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads” (Isaiah 35:10).
The number of these “redeemed from the earth” who are with Jesus is 144,000, the same numbered in chapter 7 with the same symbolic significance. From chapter 7, we learned that they wore white robes and they waved palm branches. Here in chapter 14 is added: “they were not defiled with women” (i.e. they were virgins), they “followed the Lamb wherever He goes”, and “there was found no guile in their mouth/they were without fault”. The imagery of the virgin symbolizes purity and fidelity to God (cf. 2 Corinthians 11.2f; Ephesians 5.27). This should be understood in contrast to the imagery of adultery, which is used of idolaters. That they follow the Lamb wherever He goes alludes to submission to the ultimate sacrifice, martyrdom. There is also the striking irony that the Lamb was leading when lambs typically are led. That there was no guile found in them is to be understood as the antithesis of what came out of the mouths of the sea beast and his followers (13:5-6, 15). It also references their blamelessness in regards to rejecting the temptation to lie about their faith when challenged by authorities. Pliny the Younger attests to this in his letter – “Others who were named by that informer at first confessed themselves Christians, and then denied it; true, they had been of that persuasion but they had quitted it, some three years, others many years, and a few as much as twenty-five years ago. They all worshipped your statue and the images of the gods, and cursed Christ.” (Pliny, Letter #96)
And what is this great multitude doing with the Lamb? They are singing of course! They are learning a new song from Heaven's hymnal (5:9ff). This song is reserved for them alone. The blood of the Lamb has purchased these special people. Compare Exodus 15:6 – “Terror and dread fall upon them; by the greatness of your arm they are motionless as stone; until your people pass over, O Lord, until the people pass over whom you have purchased.” No doubt the inspiration behind this new song is praise and thanks for the salvation given to them. The allusions from the Old Testament are many. “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wonderful things, his right hand and his holy arm have gained the victory for him.” (Psalms 98:1) “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Let Israel be glad in his maker; let the sons of Zion rejoice in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing; let them sing praises to him with timbrel and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 149)
While we are much distanced from the enemy that was the Roman Empire and imperial cult worship, there remains today the hope and reality that God’s people who would remain faithful to Him, will join the angelic chorus and pay homage for all eternity to our God and Father. Such blessed faithful individuals are labeled by the very name of God upon their foreheads. For those who would falter and stumble, they will be trademarked by the enemy of God and devoted to destruction for an eternity. Let us all be found without guile at the end of our life, rejecting all temptations to disavow ourselves of Christ. In so doing, we will join God’s firstfruits before us!
Please read 14:6-8 for tomorrow!
Have a blessed day!
-Eric Parker
