The Apocalypse – Chapter 14 – Part 1
Onwards in the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse. Now at Chapter 14, we start to see a new day dawning. Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. The Lamb and the 144,000
First Fruits
Reclaimed from the earth,
spiritually undefiled;
See now heaven overflows.
Pure as virgins are they
Following the Lamb wherever He goes.
Purchased from among
the men on earth
To God and the Lamb as a
consecrated offering.
The first fruits they are blameless
No claims of falsehood
can anyone bring.
Carefully hand-picked these first fruits
They command the highest price.
Let them all be gathered in;
The perfect sacrificed.
Let us all seek to reach ripeness
By staying close to His Guiding Hand
For the Lamb seeks firstfruits
For His house of supreme demand.
By the late Andrew Feakin
[passed away 16th March 2019]
Keys – The Lamb and the 144,000
- Know that Christ is in the midst of His people in all their troubles, and therefore she is not consumed.
- It is His presence that secures our perseverance.
- The suffering of Christ has bought His people’s safety and fidelity.
- Those who make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ are known and approved.
- The true people of God do not defile themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery.
- They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
- Following the conduct of His Word and Spirit.
- They leave it to Him to lead them into what duties and difficulties He pleases.
- Know that our human infirmities can be freely pardoned in Christ.
- Its the happy remnant who attend upon the Lord Jesus as their head and Lord. He is glorified in them, and they are glorified in Him.
In previous accounts we have seen the great trials and sufferings which the servants of God had endured. Now a new day is dawning. Here represented is the Lord Jesus at the head of His faithful followers, Rev. 14:1-5. Three angels are sent successively to proclaim the fall of Babylon and the consequences of so great an event, Rev. 14:6-13. Lastly the vision of the harvest, Rev. 14:14-20
The Lamb and the 144,000
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Christ is in the midst of her in all her troubles
Henry says – This is one of the most pleasing sights that can be viewed in this world—the Lord Jesus Christ at the head of His faithful attendants. Christ appears as a Lamb standing upon Mount Zion. Mount Zion is representative of the gospel church. Christ is with His church and in the midst of her in all her troubles, and therefore she is not consumed.
It is His presence that secures her perseverance. He appears as a Lamb, a true Lamb, the Lamb of God. A counterfeit lamb is mentioned as rising out of the earth in the last chapter, which was really a dragon. Here Christ appears as the true paschal Lamb, the lamb sacrificed at the first Passover. His mediatorial government is the fruit of His sufferings, and the cause of His people’s safety and fidelity. His people now appear very honourably. There are many of them, all who are sealed. Not one of them lost in all the tribulations through which they have gone.
They are known and approved
They had the name of God written in their foreheads; as their distinguishing badge. They made a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ. And so they are known and approved.
Their songs of praise were particular to the redeemed (Rev. 14:3). Their praises were loud as thunder, or as the voice of many waters. They were melodious, as of harpers and were heavenly, before the throne of God. The song was new, suited to the new covenant and a secret to others. Others might repeat the words of the song, but they were strangers to the true sense and spirit of it.
The redeemed are described by their chastity and purity: They are virgins. They had not defiled themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery. They had kept themselves clean from the abominations of the antichristian generation. By their loyalty and steadfast adherence to Christ. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Following the conduct of His Word, Spirit, and providence, leaving it to Him to lead them into what duties and difficulties He pleases.
Their human infirmities freely pardoned
These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb, Rev. 14:4. Here is plain evidence of a special redemption. Some of the children of men are, by His redeeming mercy, distinguished from others. They were the first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb, His choice ones.
By their universal integrity and conscientiousness: There was no guile found in them. They were without fault before the throne of God. There was no prevailing guile; their hearts were right with God. As for their human infirmities, they were freely pardoned in Christ. This is the happy remnant who attend upon the Lord Jesus as their head and Lord. He is glorified in them, and they are glorified in Him.
Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary
Prayer for the Day
Prayer: Father, I come to You. Thank You that Christ in our midst helps us in all our troubles, and therefore we are not consumed. Your presence secures our perseverance. Thank You that the suffering of Christ has bought our safety and fidelity. May I be one who freely makes a bold and open profession of my faith in You that I be known and approved. Keep me from defilement from any idolatry and adultery. May I follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Help me to follow the conduct of Your Word and Spirit. I trust You to lead me into whatever duties and difficulties You please. Thank You that my human infirmities are freely pardoned in Christ. May I be one who attends upon the Lord Jesus as my head and Lord. Be glorified in me, and may I be glorified in You. In Jesus name. Amen.
The Lamb and the 144,000
Take a look at the Old City of Jerusalem here