Revelation 14:1-5

The Lamb and the 144,000

1 Then I looked, and behold, on 1Mount Zion 2stood the Lamb, and with him 3 144,000 who 4had his name and his Father's name written 5on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven 6like the roar of many waters and 7like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of 8harpists playing on their harps,
3 and they were singing 9a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. 10No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for 11they are virgins. It is these 12who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as 13firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
5 and 14in their mouth no lie was found, for they are 15blameless.

Revelation 14:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVALATION 14

This chapter contains three visions; one of the Lamb on Mount Zion, another of the three angels preaching against Babylon, and the third of the harvest and vintage. The vision of the Lamb is in Re 14:1, which is no other than Christ, described by his similitude, as a Lamb; by the place where he was, Mount Zion; by his position there, standing, and by the company that were with him, whose number were 144,000, and their character, his Father's name written on their foreheads; at the same time a voice was heard from heaven, comparable to the sound of many waters, of thunders, and of harps: and a song sung which none learn but the above number with the Lamb, Re 14:2,3, who are described by their purity, chastity, and strict adherence to Christ; by their redemption through him; by their being the firstfruits of God and of the Lamb, and by their integrity and unblemished character, Re 14:4,5; next follows the account of the three angels; the first comes with the everlasting Gospel, to preach it to all men, loudly calling upon all to fear and worship God, and give glory to him, since he is the Creator of all, and the hour of his judgment is come, Re 14:6,7; the second proclaims the fall of Babylon, with the reason of it, Re 14:8; and the third denounces the wrath of God upon the worshippers of the beast in the most public manner, and that for ever, Re 14:9-11; and this vision is closed with some expressions, showing that, till this was done, the patience of the saints would be tried, and the true worshippers of the Lamb be discovered, and comforting them with an assurance of that rest that remains after death for the faithful followers of Christ, Re 14:12,13; after this is the vision of the harvest and vintage of the earth. The reaper is described by his form, like the son of man; by his seat, a white cloud; by a golden crown on his head, and by a sharp sickle in his hand, Re 14:14; who is called upon by an angel out of the temple to make use of his sickle, and reap, because the time of reaping was come, the harvest being ripe, Re 14:15, upon which he thrusts in his sickle, and reaps the earth, Re 14:16; after this, another angel appears out of the temple, with a sharp sickle, to whom another angel from the altar, that had power over fire, calls to make use of his sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine, since the grapes were fully ripe, Re 14:17,18; upon which he thrusts in his sickle, and gathers them, and casts them into the winepress of divine wrath, which being trodden, blood comes out of it to the horses' bridles for the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs, Re 14:19,20.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Psalms 2:6; Hebrews 12:22
  • 2. See Revelation 5:6
  • 3. Revelation 7:4
  • 4. Revelation 3:12
  • 5. Revelation 7:3
  • 6. See Revelation 1:15
  • 7. Revelation 6:1; Revelation 19:6
  • 8. Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:2
  • 9. Revelation 5:9
  • 10. [Revelation 2:17; Revelation 19:12]
  • 11. 2 Corinthians 11:2
  • 12. [Revelation 3:4; Revelation 17:14]
  • 13. James 1:18
  • 14. Zephaniah 3:13; [Psalms 32:2; Isaiah 63:8; John 1:47]
  • 15. See Jude 24
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.