Revelation was written to convey a message of hope to John’s first-century readers. We realize this in the vision that begins chapter 14. Here, John repeats an earlier vision of the 144,000 redeemed saints, who were seen in chapter 7 amid the world’s persecutions and calamities. Now the redeemed church has reached the glorified Christ. After the deadly warfare portrayed in chapters 12 and 13, chapter 14 begins: “Behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb” (v. 1). Revelation 14 assures struggling Christians that their perseverance in faith will lead to salvation. The reason for our confidence is not our prowess in slaying dragons or wrestling beasts, but that Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, stands exalted in sovereign authority on the heavenly Zion.

Last seen the assembly of the 144,000 was beset with many dangers in the great tribulation that is the church age, including the warfare of the dragon and his two beasts. From a worldly perspective, it might seem that none of them would arrive safely in heaven. Now on mount Zion, we find that not one of them has been lost, as Jesus promised in John 10:28. The exact number of those who begin the journey of salvation through faith arrive safely in His presence.

In presenting this view, we need to prove that the 144,000 represents the entirety of Christ’s people: past, present, and future. One way to show that the 144,000 stands for all believers is to see how it represents both the Old and New Testament eras. This number joins together the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Christ, twelve time twelve, multiplied by a thousand to depict “a great multitude that no one could number” (Rev. 7:9). Furthermore, the descriptions given to the 144,000 in this passage are true of the entirety of the people of Christ.

Having clarified the identity of the 144,000, we may consider their location. John saw them “on Mount Zion,” with “the Lamb” (v. 1). Whereas Satan, the dragon, “stood on the sand of the sea” (12:17) in calling forth the beasts to aid his rebellion, Jesus stands on the rock of God’s holy mountain with His saints. Seeing the vast multitude of the church present with Christ on Mount Zion, we know that our victory is established and secured.

By seeing the divinely ordained end of our salvation, John and his readers are encouraged as they face Roman persecution. His example urges Christians to think from the end of history back to our present trials. Rather than starting where we are in our weakness, doubt, and earthly affliction, looking forward from them with anxiety over our future prospects, we should reverse the process. We should instead fix our minds on the certainly of our future, on Mount Zion where the Lamb stands in victory, working back to find hope in our present trials.

Christians need have no anxiety when it comes to our spiritual warfare against Satan, sin, and worldly opposition. As the clouds are parted in this vision, John is enabled to look up and see Christ standing on the mount. The Lamb holds the high ground eternally, looking down on the conflict below. Seeing Jesus standing on Zion, we are assured that all of God’s promises to us will be fulfilled, that those who bear His name will be kept safe, and that our lives of faith will be crowned with success.

Those who bear God’s name not only enjoy His protection but partake of His attributes. John’s vision thus describes the character of the redeemed, urging that for believers the ultimate question is not physical prowess, or political or economic power; it is a question of true spirituality. Just as it is Christ who secures the victory for His people, it is Christlikeness that not only marks them out in the world but gives them power in spiritual warfare.

The first description of Christian character has perplexed many readers “It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins (v. 4). It would be possible to take this verse in a number of erroneous ways. However, the answer lies in taking this statement symbolically. It means that the people have lived up to what is implied in their betrothal to Christ. Spiritual purity cannot be separated from moral purity, of course. The apostles lived in a Roman world that was even more sexually debauched than the decadent West today. For this reason, the apostles placed a priority on sexual purity, requiring believers to engage in determined repentance from sexual sins.

In addition to being pure, Christ’s 144,000 are obedient: “It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (v. 4). Where Christ calls us to go we must go; what Christ calls us to do we must do. His way becomes our way, and though it may seem narrow, it leads to eternal life. Following Christ involves belief in His teaching, submission to His commands, and the zealous promotion of His gospel cause. As Christ sacrificed Himself for us, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices in service to God, as is implied by our description as “firstfruits.” Seeing the Lamb exalted on Mount Zion, we are reminded that following Jesus leads us to salvation and glory.

John’s vision defines Christian character in terms of truthful speech: “and in their mouth no lie was found” (v. 5). The ninth commandment requires believers to speak truthfully, and among those whom Revelation 21:8 sees cast into the lake of fire are “all liars.” Christian salvation stems from the truth of God’s Word and produces lives of truth. Whereas the world “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Rom. 1:25), believers reject idolatry and actively promote the gospel truth by which liars and all other sinners may be redeemed. John summarizes that by this Christlike character the redeemed church is “blameless” (v. 5). The point is not that godly character merits salvation but rather that it enables us to serve God as acceptable sacrifices of thanks and praise.

John’s vision has shown us the identity, location, and character of Christ’s redeemed church. His emphasis, finally, is on the activity of the redeemed, as they worship God and the Lamb in joyful song: “they were singing a new song before the throne” (v. 3).John writes that he “heard a voice from heaven like a roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder (v. 2). He is referring to the worship of the redeemed, since only the 144,000 can learn this song (v. 3). The singing is marked only not by volume, but also by heart-uplifted passion. John compares it to “the sound of harpists playing on their harps (v.2).

John tells us that the redeemed on Mount Zion sing “a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders” (v. 3). This shows that our worship is directed to God and to the Lamb, whose throne is surrounded by these glorious beings. We sing a “new song” not because we have discovered something different from the salvation message taught all through Scripture, but because our experience has provided fresh instances of its power and glory.

If we take our eyes off the daunting opposition and fix them on the glory of our mighty Savior, seeing Christ standing on Mount Zion, we will not fear to proclaim God’s Word in sincerity and conviction, we will not think lightly about the power of prayer, and we will not allow our worship in Christ’s name to be corrupted by the world. With Christ reigning sovereign in triumph, surely when we begin to sing and praise Him in the presence of every earthly foe, relying confidently on His saving provision, we will not fail to see His victory and then rejoice to sing the new song in praise to our Redeemer.

Revelation 14:1-5 Study Questions:

Who are the people gathered around the Lamb on Mount Zion (v. 1), and where have we seen them before in this book?

Why do they have God’s name written on their forehead?

Why is this crowd said to be “first fruits” for God and the Lamb?

If we are likewise to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, we first need to answer; where is He going? How would you answer that?

What lies about God and the world does the accuser tell you? How might we resist these lies and follow the Lamb in truth and faithfulness?