The Lamb And The 144,000 On Mount Zion Series

Lesson: IV.A.4: The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1-5)

Series: Verse By Verse Through Revelation

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Revelation 14:1-5 (KJV)

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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.

2 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:

3 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.

4 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.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Introduction

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Introduction to Chapter 14

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With chapter 14 there comes a change and a turning of the tide. The ebb sets in and flows faster and ever faster, as God takes over in direct and determined intervention in the affairs of men. From here on, we have set before us a picture of a world rescued by God. This is a long section of the book and covers a very long period of time. It runs on to the end of chapter 20, and thus covers the final throes of the great tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, the golden millennial` age, the final rebellion of Satan, the great white throne judgment, and onto the edge of eternity.

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In chapter 14, we see God’s response to the attack of the two beasts described in chapter 13. The beast’s goal, from the beginning, has been to stop the Messiah, destroy the Jews and persecute the church. Here God claims His own and begins the final harvest.

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Chapter 14 gives a glimpse into eternity to show believers what awaits them if they endure. Their suffering will not be meaningless; it will only be a prelude into eternity with God. This chapter explains what will happen to those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast, and what will happen eventually to the beast and his servants.

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Introduction to Verses. 1-5

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If I were to give a title to this chapter it would be “Protection.” In this lesson, God prevents the plan of the beast from coming to fruition by sealing 144,000 people to keep them from being killed by the beast. He will seal them with a sign on their foreheads (1).

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We have met this company before. This is the illustrious company of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel, who are sealed (Revelation 7). These sealed ones have been preserved unharmed throughout the great tribulation, despite the rage of the dragon and the beast. Unscathed, they have marched right down those dreadful years with horrors abounding on every hand and with every demon from the pit clutching at them in vain. In chapter seven this company is seen anticipating the great tribulation which, at the time, lay ahead. They are now seen anticipating the great triumph, which at that time, lay ahead.

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Commentary

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.

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The Lamb is none other than the Jew’s Messiah and Deliverer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John has dramatically shown the great powers of satanic evil embodied in the two beasts as they have forced the world into idolatry. Now he abruptly shows us a vision of the Lamb and His army standing on Mount Zion. It is refreshing to have Him appear when almost all of the people on the earth are worshipping Satan. The place of his appearing is “Mount Zion.” In constructing this image, the author may have in mind Psalm 2: “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:6). In traditional Judaism this is the place where the remnant of Israel would be gathered together in the messianic age (Joel 3:5; Obadiah 17; Micah 4:6-8; Zephaniah 3:12-20).

Note: Most Bible versions give the place of Christ’s appearing as “Mount Zion,” (earthly Jerusalem) however some versions have translated this place as “Mount Sion” (heavenly Jerusalem), and that the scene anticipates Christ coronation and the establishment of His kingdom when he returns to earth (Zechariah 14:4).

This is an earthly scene, a picture of Christ returning to reign at the selected place from which He shall rule gloriously. This is not the “heavenly Jerusalem,” sometimes called “Mount Sion”: “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” (Hebrews 12:22; KJV). The Lamb seen standing on this mount is also a prophetic forecast of Christ’s return to the earth as recorded in Zechariah 14:4 as well as here. The Lord Jesus is going to reign from Jerusalem. God Himself called it the city of the Great King. And in Psalm 2:6 He says this: “Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.” It is the Father’s intention to place the Lord Jesus upon the throne of David in Jerusalem, and specifically at Mount Zion. This scene in Revelation 14 is the assurance to God’s people that He cares for His own and finally will take them to Glory. God always has His faithful people, no matter how wicked the world may become.