As we begin
chapter 14, we are continuing a parenthetical section that provides information
that helps us better understand unfolding events of the tribulation
period. After the sounding of the 7th
trumpet judgment, it was revealed that Satan and his angels were cast out of
heaven and banished to earth. Point is
made that he is very angry and eager to take out his wrath on the Jewish
people. Immediately after that we see
the Antichrist and his false prophet rising to positions of global power and
authority. John reveals that the
Antichrist will be given power to overcome the saints at that time, and I
believe that includes the 144,000 witnesses that were sealed after the rapture.
Revelation 14:1 “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount
Sion, and with him an hundred forty
and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice
of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of
harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before
the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn
that song but the hundred and
forty and four thousand, which
were redeemed from the earth. These are
they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they
which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among
men, being the firstfruits unto
God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth
was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
I think
the specific number of 144,000 seen with the Lamb and the fact that they are
sealed with the Father’s name in their foreheads directly connects them to the
witnesses identified in chapter 7.
Revelation 7:3–4 “Saying, Hurt not
the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till
we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the
number of them which were sealed: and
there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel.”
Just as
with the two witnesses, I believe these witnesses had completed the ministry to
which God had appointed them and then died as martyrs for their faith. They will not have to endure the hardships of the “great”
tribulation, the last 3.5 years before Jesus returns as King of kings.
An upcoming verse states that God sends
an angel to declare the gospel. I think this is necessitated by the fact
that His original appointed messengers are no longer on the scene.
I decided to do a word search on “Sion” to see if
it gave further insight, and I think there is a verse in Hebrews provides some insight.
Hebrews
12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels….
To interpret Sion as the heavenly Jerusalem makes
sense with the chronological flow unfolding in John’s narrative.
John hears a voice from heaven that again has the
description previously associated with Jesus (Rev. 1:15, 10:3). There is
a verse in Ezekiel that uses this description to describe the voice of God,
which provides another affirmation of Father and Son as one.
Ezekiel
1:24 “And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of
great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise
of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.”
He also hears the voice of harpers (a singer, one
who plays and sings to the lyre) singing as they play their harps.
Point is made that these men are singing a special
worship song that only the 144,000 can learn. The 144,000 are described as virgins (chaste),
celibate men that have been set apart as the firstfruits of redeemed Israel,
those who accept Jesus as the Messiah, according to the principal established
in Exodus.
Exodus
13:2 & 12 “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb
among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. That
thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every
firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the
LORD’S.”
When these servants speak, they are without guile
(deceit or trickery). They stand in the presence of God before the throne
without fault (unblemished, without blame). They are speaking the
truth. There appears to be a verse in Zephaniah that applies here.
Zephaniah
3:13 “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither
shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie
down, and none shall make them afraid.”
(to be
continued…)
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