Revelation 14:1-20

Revelation chapter 14 is part of what will occur after the opening of the seventh (7) seal of the book in heaven by the little-lamb which is representing the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 8:1). The seventh seal includes the implementation of judgments under seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7 - 14:20) including seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing (Revelation 15:1 - 18:24). The seventh trumpet with its seven bowls occur during the time of the great pressure of the completing together of the age - and will be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ's return on earth as recorded in Revelation chapter 19.

Revelation chapters 12-14 contain prophecy regarding the past, the present, and the future providing additional details of events leading up to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth (Revelation chapters 19 and 20).

Revelation 14:1-5 records what John saw regarding the events that take place in heaven (not on earth as Revelation 12:13 - 13:18).

Revelation 14:1-5:

^14:1And I saw, and look!, the little-lamb having stood² on the mountain of Sion and with him a hundred forty four thousands having his name and the name of his Father having been written² on their foreheads. ^.2And I heard a sound out-from heaven as a sound of many waters and as a sound of great thunder; and the sound which I heard as lyre-players playing in their lyres. ^.3And they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living-beings and the elders, and not-one used-to-be-able to learn the song except the hundred forty four thousands, the (people) having been bought² away-from the earth; ^.4these are the (people who) were not soiled with women for they are virgins; these are the (people) following the little-lamb where ever he may go; these were bought away-from the men - a first-fruits-offering to God and to the little-lamb; ^.5and in their mouth a lie was not found; they are without-blemish.

And I (John) perceived (knew with my mind)...

• and look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
• the little/small lamb (referring to the Lord Jesus Christ emphasizing the viewpoint of the man Jesus carrying out God's requirements during his life, including his sacrifice and his resurrection, in order to reach and attain the victory of redemption and salvation)
  • having stood and still standing
    • down on the mountain of Sion (Mount Zion, the hill named Zion, the place where God dwells and proclaims His salvation and pronounces His judgment)
• and in company and association with him are a hundred forty four thousands (referring to the 144,000 people from every tribe of the sons of Israel who were sealed in Revelation 7:2-8 prior to the opening of the 7th seal of the book)
• having
  • his name (the Lord Jesus Christ)
  • and the name of his Father (the only true God)
    • having been written and continuing written
    • on their foreheads (the area between/above the eyes - visible to everyone looking at the face - identifying and designating these people as belonging to God and to the little-lamb and living within their authority, ability, etc).

And I heard a sound (voice, uttered-tone) coming from heaven...

• in comparison to a sound of a lot of waters (which communicates strength and power in motion moving forward)
• and in comparison to a sound of a large amount of thunder (rolling, rumbling);

...and the sound which I heard...

• in comparison to lyre-players
  • playing in their lyres (stringed instruments such as lyres, harps, guitars, or lutes; these 3 words "lyre-players" "playing" and "lyres" all have the same Greek root word as "lyre").

And the 144,000 people sing a new song.

The Greek word translated "song" may be transliterated into the English as "ode" and refers to a song being sung in celebration and thankfulness, whether it is for a special occasion, a battle, harvest, etc - triumph and victory. Also, this song is "new" indicating that this song is newly-made and different compared to the old song previously in existence, new in comparison to what existed before, a new song replacing the former song. As with Moses' song regarding redemption and salvation from Egypt (refer to Exodus 15:1-21) - this new song is also regarding redemption and salvation - complete and final.

The 144,000 people sing a new song...

• in the sight and presence of God's throne
• and in the sight and presence of
  • the four living-beings (refer to Revelation 4:6 and 7)
  • and the elders (refer to Revelation 4:4),

...and not one person was continuing to be able (during that period of time none, no-one had the able-power, the capability) to learn the song (to become informed of it intellectually) except the hundred forty four thousands...

• the people who were bought and remain bought away from the earth (the price was paid for them, as a person buys in a market-place and pays the correct honorable price of/for the item concerned - at that time these people will have already been purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ for God and they are living on the earth; refer to Revelation 7:2-8);
  • these are the people who were not soiled (caused to be made filthy or muddy in their behavior as a dirty garment)
    • in company and association with women for they are virgins (they did not fornicate with those who worship idols);
  • these are the people following the little-lamb (coming after the Lord Jesus Christ)
    • where ever he would go (whatever location or place he would lead them, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else);
  • these were bought away-from the men (from the rest of mankind on earth at that time)
    • - a first-fruits offering (a beginning-portion which is consecrated or dedicated to God taken from the mass of people – the first-fruits offering is not the only part, but it is the first part of the whole)
    • to God and to the little-lamb;
  • and in their mouth a lie (falsehood, a lying statement in connection with the lie of idolatry)
    • was not found;
  • they are without blemish (unblemished, no fault to be found because of some defect as a spot or damage in them).

The devil/satan/serpent's lie is that he is God, and as such he is the one who gives and maintains life etc to all, and all must reverence, worship and serve him and whom/what he designates! This lie began in Genesis chapter 3, and continues being repeated throughout the centuries by the devil and those who decide to follow him as their god in the place of the only true God. This is idolatry - practicing rites and rituals of worship and service to so-called 'gods,' instead of only worshipping and serving the one-and-only true God Who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Reference: Exodus 28:36-38; Deuteronomy 4:48; II Samuel 5:4-10; Jeremiah 23:11; Romans 1:25, 9:33, 11:26; II Corinthians 11:2; II Thessalonians 2:9 and 11; Hebrews 12:22; I Peter 2:6; Revelation 1:15, 2:2 and 17, 3:9 and 12, 4:4, 6 and 7, 5:8 and 9, 7:2-8, 9:4, 16:13, 22:4. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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Revelation Chapter 15