144,000 during the Tribulation

Revelation 14:1–8
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Barclay quotes William Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, as defining worship as quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting … More

Worship

The beginning of chapter 14 refers to the preservation of the 144,000 during the Tribulation. Moving into chapters 14 and 15 we see various details of what is happening in heaven and on the earth just before the bowl judgements in chapter 16.

1. What is happening on Earth?

The 144,000 are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb (v. 1). This is the same group mentioned in earlier (7:4-8). The Lamb is Christ and Mount Zion is Jerusalem. Three Angels with different announcements are introduced.

a. The first Angel gives a summons to Worship God (vv. 6,7). This Angel comes with the message of the Gospel to all races, tribes, tongues and people.

b. The second Angel announces that Babylon has fallen (v. 8). This angel has seduced all the nations with her immorality. This may speak of the huge system of spiritual adultery and corruption that holds sway over the whole prophetic scene.

2. What is happening in Heaven?

A description is given of a song coming from heaven that only God’s own can learn to sing (vv. 2-5). With God’s voice it sounds like many waters, great thunder and many playing on harps.

Application

The tragedy of many who profess to know Christ is that they never learn what true worship is. Lord help me to be disciplined to be in your word and learn how to worship you in Spirit and in truth.

Revelation 14:1-8 (English Standard Version)

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality."

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More Revelation commentaries

144,000 during the Tribulation

Revelation 14:1–8» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Application

Revelation 14:1-8 (English Standard Version)

Revelation 14:1–8
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)