The Lamb and the 144,000

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.”

Revelation 14:1-4NKJV

We met the unholy trinity in our last post on Revelation 13 (read HERE). But now we are transitioning back to heaven in Chapter 14. Here the Lamb, Christ, stands on Mount Zion with the 144,00.

Although we know there is an earthly Mount Zion in Israel, this reference is to a heavenly Mount Zion, found in Hebrews 12:22: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (NKJV).

Who are the 144,000?

These are the 144,000 we met in Chapter 7 (read about it HERE). Now we learn more details about their identity.

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; and 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.

Revelation 14:2-5 NKJV

In a Nutshell

• The 144,000 sang a new song, accompanied by harpists, before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. No one else in heaven could learn it.
• Christ redeemed them from the earth.
• They were sexually pure virgins on earth.
• They are the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
• They follow the lamb wherever He goes.
• They are faultless and without deceit.
• Christ’s Name is on their foreheads, and they belong to Him. This contrasts with the 666 of the Anti-Christ on the forehead or right hand of his followers.

Special and Set Apart

These 144,000 are special and set apart from the rest of the saints whom the Anti-Christ will behead during the Tribulation. As the pure firstfruits to God and the Lamb, they alone will worship Him with their own song, and they will always follow Jesus wherever He goes.

The First Resurrection

These are also the ones who will be part of a special first resurrection at the start of the Millennium, where they, along with the beheaded saints who did not take the mark of the beast or worship him, will reign with Christ on earth for 1,000 years (see Revelation 20:4-6). Scripture tells us that they will be priests of God and of Christ. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power (Revelation 20:6 NKJV).

Do Not Fear

Yes, it’s frightening to read that Christians will face a guillotine for their faith in Christ during the reign of the Anti-Christ. However, God has a wonderful reward reserved for these saints. We must remember that if we’re ever put in the position of choosing between losing our heads on a guillotine or losing our eternal souls, there is only one right choice. Always choose Christ.

Our reward will be amazing, and only for such brave souls. We will come back to life first and rule and reign with Jesus for 1,000 years on earth. What a great honor Christ has in store for us who will suffer through the Tribulation. Christ is worth it all.

If you don’t want to face a guillotine, here’s how.

For those of us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior now, we won’t have to worry about going through the Tribulation. After Christ catches His church away (read about the Rapture HERE), we will be safe in heaven. I believe we will leave at the beginning of the seven years, but even if we are here for a little while, I firmly believe we will not be here for the last 42 months when Anti-Christ sets up his kingdom and rules the world.

If the church isn’t on the earth, who are these Christians who will be beheaded? Even though the church has left, the gospel will still be preached. For the first 42 months, the two witnesses will preach from Jerusalem, and after that, God has an angel whose assignment is to preach the everlasting gospel to men. Many thousands of people will still surrender their lives to Christ during this dark period, and these will be the saints who will take part in the blessed first resurrection.

Accept Christ Today

“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:

‘In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NKJV

Dear Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to die for our sins on the cross. We confess our sins and ask for Your forgiveness. Wash us in Christ’s blood and make us pure in Your sight. Fill us with the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and godly wisdom. Make us into new creations in Christ Jesus. We praise and thank You for the free gift of salvation, and we rejoice that our names are now recorded in Your Book of Life. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.