“And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1, New American Standard Version.

Revelation 14:1 was taken from the New American Standard Version to illustrate a point in the study of Revelation 14:1-3 posted on 8-31-22.

I recommend that you read that post to better understand this one if you have not already.

“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. And 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.” Revelation 14:2-3.

The above are added to maintain context with this post. We continue now with Revelation 14:4-5.

“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.” Revelation 14:4.

This is a difficult passage and the safest thing to do is to take it just as it is stated. Or we can risk doing violence to Scripture and try to see the first sentence in a different light.

The plain and simple reading would go this way. The 144,000 Israelites who are sealed for the tribulation in Revelation 7:1-8 remain single and virgins because the chaos of the tribulation will not allow one to raise a family.

Nor would a man have the ability to care for his wife as he should; especially since these men are evangelists who are constantly giving out the gospel to any and all audiences that they can find.

They would also be in constant danger and continually in the process of hiding from those who would kill them. They are men because of the rampant misogyny (hatred of women), debauchery, and sex slave trade that will characterize this period.

Concerning the word misogyny, even today you can see the denigration of women because they do not refer to them as women, nor can they seem to define one, so women are relegated to being just child bearers.

Nothings, chattel, as women are in Muslim countries; this is the goal of The Great Reset.

The last phrase in Revelation 14:4 says that they are firstfruits, a Jewish term which can also refer to Christians. The law required that an Israelite should give of the firstfruits of his labor, harvest, so this is the essential meaning of the word.

“Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia [Asia] to Christ.” Romans 16:5.

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [died].” 1 Corinthians 15:20.

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” James 1:18.

As you can see, while this may mean that these 144 thousand are Israelites the New Testament usage does not demand that.

So much for the plain and simple, now let us take a few risks. The first thing to note is the following.

“…no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:3b.

“These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:4b.

These men were redeemed from the earth and redeemed from among men; this would suggest that they were redeemed from throughout the earth throughout time, and redeemed from all mankind, not just Israel.

While Tim LaHaye feels that these are redeemed specifically from the church period, which we are still in. My personal feeling is that they are redeemed (saved) from out of all time periods on earth, which would actually go back before the flood.

Let us continue with the statement:

“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.” Revelation 14:4a.

Scripture says this about being defiled.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4.

Those who honor and keep the marriage bed undefiled are also considered chaste.

Do not let anyone tell you differently, if you are married and having relations with your own spouse, God is not in heaven looking down on you and saying, “Oh, when they get up here, I am going to punish them for having fun during sex! I gave them sex for procreation only!”

That is not what this verse in Hebrews 13:4 says is it?

But I digress; women do not defile a man unless it is a case of fornication (all unmarried sex between anyone) or adultery. And do not be deceived ladies; you can be defiled by men.

Just because these verses do not mention women does not mean that it does not include them.

To carry this defiled with women idea a bit further, hear what Paul says to the Corinthian Church.

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2.

Here you see women used in a positive way. This is the bride of Christ spoken of here, and this bride is made up of both men and women who make up the church; and they are seen as chaste virgins.

If you will look up the above verse in your Bible you will see that the last sentence has the words “you” and “as” in italics, this means that the words are not there in the original, but were added to clarify the meaning.

Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not.

Read it here without those words: “For I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present a chaste virgin to Christ.”

One thing is certain, the church is not made up of virgins, and sad to say, much less chaste ones. The apostle’s intent in this letter is to warn the Corinthians of error which has crept in to pollute the purity of the doctrine of Christ.

Just as the woman has often been symbolic of spiritual adultery, idolatry, and error, so the chaste virgin is one who follows Christ only.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2.

How many of us can present ourselves as living sacrifices.

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19.

And then consider that this is just “your reasonable service”.

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:2-4.

These are the virgins, undefiled by women, “who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” “Redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb”, the word men refers to male or female, from humankind.

Firstfruits for the Israelite were the first of his crops, and the best. Who might these people be “who follow the Lamb wherever He goes”? To follow the Lamb wherever He goes means during their lifetime and on into glory.

These are folks who love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, from the moment that they are saved.

These are those who never worshipped an idol. Idolatry is the same as committing adultery against God.

King David comes to mind here, he did some bad stuff but he loved the Lord unreservedly and never considered an idol as anything but an abomination.

Better choices might be Enoch:

“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:24.

Enoch was so dedicated to God that he did not die one of only two instances in history.

Moses:

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His [God’s house] house as a servant…” Hebrews 3:5a.

“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” Exodus 33:9-11.

Simeon, who blessed the Christ child:

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Luke 2:25.

Anna the prophetess:

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:36-37.

Would you add John the Baptist to this, the Apostle Paul, the Apostle John, or James the Lord’s half-brother who was known for his prayers and devotion?

This list may not even be correct; it is given to illustrate what it would take to be among this 144 thousand if they are not the Israelites of Revelation chapter seven.

“And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5.

The characteristics of these folks are rounded off by saying that they are free of deviousness they are truthful and honorable, a trait almost dead in today’s society, yet of great value in the sight of God.

Bear in mind that in spite of the glowing description of this group of people, they, like us, were all sinners saved by grace, and it is by the shed blood of Christ and in Christ that they were able to live a life consecrated to Christ.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

It is still possible for you to become one of them.

Is this the 144 thousand Israelites sealed with the seal of God in chapter seven, or are they 144 thousand gathered from all of mankind?

If they are from mankind, are they from the church age only, or from all of earth’s history? Are they just men, or men and women?

Weigh the evidence carefully, and remember the best evidence for the interpretation of these verses will be when we see it with our own eyes.

Revelation 14:4-5 taken from godisrevealed.com updated on 1-15-17, reposted on 9-3-22.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.