Following the Lamb || It’s a Zoo in Here || Part 5 (FINALE)

Revelation 14:1-5

1            Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads

2            And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of a mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

3            This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

4            They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb.

5            They have told no lies; they are without blame.

These people are the true believers whose robes have been washed and made white through Christ’s blood via his death. Throughout the Old Testament, idolatry is often shown as spiritual adultery. Their being “pure as virgins” is best understood symbolically, meaning that they are free from contamination by the pagan world system. I also want to note that it’s symbolic representation regarding 144,000. This isn’t saying that Heaven’s population maxes out at this number. It’s a representation to say that thousands upon thousands from the twelve tribes (God’s chosen people) will be rescued from the battle against sin. This connection meant the world to John’s audience. For us, it’s a representation that God’s chosen people will be rescued against the violence and evil against sin.

To remain spiritually pure means to resist the temptations and idolatries of the present world. Things like power, wealth, control, and sex. To do so requires daily application of God’s Word, for it has the purifying effect on the mind and heart. It requires great commitment to live for Christ and not give in to the world around us. Actually, I’ll be going over this a little deeper towards the end of the year. If you’re paying attention to the homepage of the blog, you’ll see that these series have changed (and will change) throughout the year. I know I wanted to slowly go through the books that no one talks about, but I’m recognizing that since no one talks about them – no one will read them. So, after a couple rounds of adjusting my focus, we’re looking at some key topics that will force us to slow down and reflect on our lives. We’re looking at the clobber passage, identity, purity, contradictions in the Bible, social justice issues and more. We’re going to look at ways to slow down our lives and see how we can double down and make sure we are living our lives for Christ.

Following Christ, the Lamb “wherever he goes” requires heroic effort; to carry out his commission may mean facing oppression and even death if needed. Too many shrink back when work becomes difficult, or the future looks bleak. In these times, we need to not succumb to hardships that are going on around us. It’s easy to look at the state of the world and think, “Nope. What good is it going to do for me to try and help?” Jesus reminds us that following him will not be easy. There will be hardships and opposition that we will be met with. There will be strife and condemnation. There will be oppression and potential physical harm, depending on the culture you are in currently. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, to be able to go out and do what we were called. To go out and meet our neighbors where they are and love them as he loved us. To be able to speak up and speak out about the marginalized communities that are unable to fight to obtain the same rights that all of us have. We must stand up and flip those tables when needed. We must fight against the evil in the world in order to show that love overcomes. For it was Christ’s love that overcame his death, and punishment he received for us.

Next bible study blog: Angelic Revelation – Part 1

Associated Scripture

Revelation 14:1          Revelation 3:12, 7:4

Revelation 14:2          Revelation 1:15, 19:6

Revelation 14:4          2 Corinthians 11:2

Revelation 14:5          Isaiah 53:9; Zephaniah 3:13, 1 Peter 2:22