144,000


Revelation 14:1-5
1Then 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. 2And 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, 3and 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. 4It 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, 5and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

After witnessing the onslaught of evil and violence brought about by the unholy trinity of the red dragon and the two beasts, John’s vision returns to the Church Militant as first viewed in Revelation 7:1-8. They are marked with the name of their Savior (in their Baptisms) and are now marching victoriously into the heavenly realm with Christ as their Leader. The battle with the dragon and his beasts is over. Again John is reminded that even though the battle was fierce all of God’s people were protected and now participate in the victory that was always theirs. The final outcome of the struggle was never in question. Christ reigns victorious with His bride, the Church.

“When the 144,000 are described as “virgins” in Rev 14:4, this signifies that through faith in the redemption of Christ, the church on earth is pure and holy in God’s sight. Though torn and hunted by the dragon (12:13), though tempted and besmirched with sin and impurity, nevertheless through Christ’s blood and righteousness she is holy and without blemish. As ones who speak the truth, the 144,000 are blameless or “unblemished ones” (Rev 14:5). They are not tainted or polluted by lies and liars but rather are dressed in the righteousness and truth of God. Their “unblemished” status as witnesses to the truth stands in sharp contrast to the “perverse” and “depraved” people of this sinful world. They stand with God in a blameless state of purity and holiness because they have been presented to him by Christ, the “unblemished Lamb” who was sacrificed for us. By his blood Christians too are rendered unblemished.”
Brighton, L. A. ©1999. Revelation (p. 371). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House.

Our take-home point for today is not that there can be found an actual 144,000 who are virginally pure of their own accord. They are called this only by the blood of Jesus and that can be said of all believers. The number corresponds back to chapter 7 and identifies us all as members of this group. We are pure in the Lord and thus fit to spend eternity in His heavenly kingdom. Despite the ugliness of the unholy trinity, we are secure in the hands of our Savior.

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