We can understand the movement of events from chapter 13 to chapter 14 in the light of Psalm 2, a Messianic psalm, which has many echoes in Revelation. In chapter 13 we see the nations raging against God’s people and the kings of the earth rising up to destroy them. Now in the first part of chapter 14 we have God’s response to this situation. He establishes his anointed one (Hebrew: ‘Messiah’) on Mount Zion; the Lamb who overcame the hold of evil on God’s people by his shed blood. And God’s people are pictured here as his army. This multitude are symbolically numbered at 144,000 and are said here to be the “firstfruits” of a greater harvest of people that God will draw into his Kingdom. The strange reference in verse 4 to their virginity relates to a battle law given to ancient Israelites. In ancient Israel, soldiers fighting God’s battles had to observe special rules of purity including abstinence from sexual relations. These laws are alluded to here to create a symbol which portrays something about the nature of God’s army: they are fit and ready for battle. And they go forth singing a new song because they are changing the tune of the world. It is a wonderful picture. This is who Jesus is calling us to be. We are his followers, called to be ever ready for battle. We are to keep our hearts pure and live to the new tune of Jesus. Let your life and testimony be like a new song in the ears of those around you. Sing to this tune so that others will catch on and join in.
Ask God to make you a powerful witness to his love today.
Read Revelation 14:1-5 and Psalm 2.
