In Revelation 14, we find the number 144,000. While the number 666 is probably the most-popular number today in the Book of Revelation, the number 144,000 is probably the second most popular number.
In the previous chapter, John saw a beast that looked like a lamb, Revelation 13:11, but here he sees the real Lamb, which is Jesus, John 1:29 / Revelation 5:6, standing on Mount Zion, Revelation 14:1 / 2 Samuel 5:6-7. Notice, He is standing, Acts 7:56. He is standing in the place of salvation, Psalm 14:7 / Isaiah 59:20 / Romans 11:26 / Hebrews 12:22-23.
Notice that with Jesus are the 144,000, Revelation 14:1. Have you ever had someone come to your door and ask you, ‘Are you sure you’re part of the 144,000’? as if the 144,000 is a literal number of which we must be a part because this is the number of people whom God will literally save. That’s not what is being stated here.
Notice something interesting about the 144,000. If this is a literal number, then let’s take other such things in Revelation literally, too. Revelation 7:4 says that these were Jews only.
Revelation 14:4 says that they ‘had not been defiled by women’, thus, they were male virgins. Therefore, those who are part of the 144,000 are: (a) Jews; (b) males; and (c) virgins.
How many people are going to buy into such a concept today? We must recognise that such passages aren’t speaking literally; the 144,000 isn’t literal. And when Revelation speaks of ‘Jews who had not been defiled by women’, it’s speaking of purity. The number 144,000 isn’t to be taken literally.
The number 12 represents humanity. If you take 12 and multiply it by 12, you get 144,000, meaning simply a large number of those members of humanity who had been redeemed. This number simply represents those members of humanity who had decided to obey God’s will and become Christians.
It’s not saying that if you aren’t a part of a literal 144,000 people, then you will miss out on Heaven. The number 144,000 is the redeemed of all the ages who have obeyed God and who are living faithfully to Him.
Rather than having the name of the beast or the number of his name on their foreheads or hands, Revelation 13:16-17, the 144,000 had the Name of Father and Jesus written on their foreheads, Revelation 14:1 / Revelation 3:12. Remember this isn’t literal.
John now hears the sound from heaven, which sounds like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. He says it sounded like the noise of a harpist playing their harp, Revelation 14:2.
John didn’t literally hear water, thunder and harpers with harps. The water probably represented soothing peace and tranquillity, the thunder described volume, and the harpers with harps, beauty, and harmony.
Now the 144,000 sing a new song, Revelation 5:9, before the throne and before the four living creatures, Revelation 4:6-11 and the elders, who represent the church, Revelation 3:3.
Apparently, now one could sing with song except for the 144,000, those who had been redeemed from the earth, Revelation 3:3. This implies that only those who had experienced salvation could really sing the new song. This is a song praising God for his victory over the enemy and thanksgiving for God’s work. The 144,000 are victorious, and they are singing a song of victory.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following concerning the new song, Revelation 3:3.
‘Here, there is a truth which runs through all life. To learn certain things, a man must be a certain kind of person. The Lamb’s company were able to learn the new song because they had passed through certain experiences.’
The 144,00 didn’t defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins, 2 Corinthians 11:2 / Ephesians 5:27 / Romans 7:4 / Revelation 19:7-8.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Jesus glorified marriage, saying that for this cause a man left his own family and was so closely united to his wife that they were one flesh, and warning that what God has joined no man may put asunder, Matthew 19:4-6. In his highest teaching, Paul glorified marriage, likening the relationship of Christ to his Church to the relationship between man and wife, Ephesians 5:22-33. The writer to the Hebrews lays it down: ‘Let marriage be held in honour among all’, Hebrews 13:4.’
Refusing to worship Domitian was a priority to those who would stand with the lamb on Mount Zion, but it was by no means the only requirement. In addition to refusing to bow down to Domitian, the redeemed had to be faithful to Jesus and keep His commandments, whatever they may be or wherever they may lead, Matthew 16:24-26 / John 14:15.
They were also purchased, purchased by the Lamb, Acts 20:28. They offered firstfruits to God and the Lamb. The use of the word ‘firstfruits’ leaves no doubt that there will be more redeemed than those pictured in this imagery, Revelation 14:4, and they told no lies, Psalms 32:2 / Isaiah 53:9, and as we know, there will be no liars in heaven, Revelation 21:7-8 / Revelation 22:15.
They were also blameless, they were blameless because they had been washed in the blood of the Lamb, Ephesians 1:4 / Colossians 1:22 / Revelation 14:5 / Revelation 1:5.
John now sees yet another angel, this one flying in midair, Revelation 14:6 / Revelation 8:13. And what is this angel doing? He’s proclaiming the eternal Gospel, that is, the Gospel message which was always in the mind of God before the world was created, Romans 16:25.
This is the Good News which was to go out to everyone on earth, Revelation 14:6. The angel mentioned here is representative of God’s saints preaching the gospel to the whole world, Matthew 24:14 / Colossians 1:23.
His message is clear: fear God, because God is ready to judge. Give Him glory, worship Him, not Domitian. God created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water, not Domitian, Revelation 14:7. God is about to bring judgment upon Domitian.
John now sees yet another angel, who speaks of the fallen Babylon, which is a reference to Rome. Note the text says, ‘fallen’, not will fall.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This proclamation, and when the book of Revelation was written, the Roman Empire had not yet fallen. So, what is happening in this proclamation? This is something that is called “prophetic certainty.” An event is prophesied as having already occurred, not because it had happened yet, but because God had decreed it. Therefore, the event must happen. Isaiah did the same things in his prophecy, Isaiah 21:9. The fall of the Roman Empire is pictured as a certainty even though it had not occurred yet.’
Rome is described as adulterous because of the many associations it had with other nations. In other words, Rome seduced other nations into a relationship with it.
Another angel followed them who basically said, don’t worship the beast or the idols of the beast and do not receive the stamp of the emperor Domitian, Revelation 14:9.
Anyone who worships the beast will drink the wine of God’s wrath, Revelation 14:10. John says it is full-strength wine; they will drink of God’s wrath undiluted, Jeremiah 51:7. God’s judgment is not going to be watered down. They will receive the full brunt of God’s anger for their sins.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following concerning Revelation 14:10-11.
‘The doom of the apostate is thought of in pictures of the most terrible judgment that ever fell on this earth–that of Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘Lo, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace’, Genesis 19:28. John echoes the words of Isaiah describing the day of the Lord’s vengeance, Isaiah 34:8-10.’
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The everlasting punishment of the unforgiven does not take place in heaven. It does not take place in the presence of the holy angels of the Lamb, 2 Thessalonians 1:9.’
The angel declares that those who keep the faith, those who endure and die in the Lord, will be the ones numbered at the side of the Lamb, Revelation 14:12.
To Christians who were suffering, and to those who had seen family members die for the cause of Christ. The redeemed needed to know that if they died for the cause of Christ, they still would be blessed. Death wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.
Did you know that you cannot get to Heaven without dying first? Death is a marvellous thing for the child of God. If we’re living faithfully as a Christian, death isn’t a bad thing; death is a wonderful thing.
The Scriptures don’t promote a black, cold, dreary view of death like some in this world do. Death is viewed as wonderful. This is how God views death, Psalm 116:15.
When one of His children dies, and that person has lived faithfully, even though that person may have died at the hands of an evil Roman government, it is a blessing for that person.
Death is a wonderful thing for the child of God, Philippians 1:21, who has lived faithfully because that person has had his sins washed away, and therefore has the promise that if he walks in the light, he will remain in fellowship with God.
He also has the promise of eternal life, Matthew 25:46 / 1 John 2:25. This verse is practical for us today, too, but we must be faithful unto death, and then God will give us the crown of life, Revelation 3:5.
John now sees a white cloud with someone seated on it, Revelation 14:14. They are white, which signifies purity. He sees someone like a son of man, which is a clear reference to Jesus, Revelation 1:7 / Revelation 1:13 / Daniel 7:13-14 / Matthew 24:30.
Jesus is wearing a crown of gold, symbolising the highest of authority, and He has a sharp sickle in his hand, which was a sharp-edged tool used to harvest grain. An angel calls out to Jesus and tells Him now is the time for reaping and harvesting, Revelation 14:15-16 / Joel 3:13 / Matthew 13:24-43.
Here again, we find another angel coming out of the temples with yet another sharp sickle, Revelation 14:17. And another angel who had charge of the fire came from the altar, Revelation 14:18.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The second angel is associated with the altar of burnt offering (brazen altar) at which all the sacrifices are burned. God is about to sacrifice something or someone.’
This angel tells him to take the sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe, Revelation 14:18. Those who were cut and gathered were cast into a press and trodden out with an enormous river of blood issuing forth, Revelation 14:19-20 / Lamentations 1:15 / Isaiah 63:1-3.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘We may regard the one like the son of man, the risen and victorious Lord, reaping the harvest of his own people, while the angel with the sharp sickle reaps the harvest of those destined for judgment.’
The devastation of this onslaught is in the distance of 1,600 stadia, Revelation 14:20.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The wicked are put into the winepress of God’s wrath, and the blood flowed as high as a horse’s bridle for 1600 stadia. The distance is approximately 184 miles, and a horse’s bridle is a few feet high.’