Revelation 14:1

¹ J. A. Seiss, The Apocalypse: Lectures on the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966), 349.

² “The word ‘Zion’ is first used of the stronghold or fortress of the ancient city Jebus. Though the Jebusites considered their city impregnable, David was able to conquer it. He lived in the fortress and named the city ‘the city of David.’ In time the word ‘Zion’ took on a broader meaning. It came to mean the entire city of Jerusalem, not just the fortress in it. The word was even used at times of a group such as ‘the daughters of Zion’ (Isa. Isa. 3:16-17), that is, female inhabitants in the city. Later the word came to mean the entire Jewish nation.”—Mal Couch, “Israelology in the Book of Revelation,” in Mal Couch, ed., A Bible Handbook to Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2001), 180.

³ Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002), s.v. “Zion.”

⁴ By the same logic, we know that passages such as Isaiah Isa. 62:1 record promises which will be fulfilled in the earthly Jerusalem rather than the New Jerusalem. For what need has the heavenly city ever had for watchmen on its walls (Isa. Isa. 62:6)?

⁵ Although it is possible they could have been taken up directly to heaven, the text is completely silent as to this possibility.

⁶ “The two distinct companies—of Israel and the Gentiles—were beheld by the Seer in separate visions (Rev. Rev. 7:1+). The elect company from the twelve tribes (Rev. Rev. 7:4-8+), is not only distinct from their Gentile associates (Rev. Rev. 7:9-17+), but is equally distinct from the 144,000 from amongst Judah who emerge out of the horrors of the coming hour of trial standing on Mount Zion. There are two Jewish companies of equal number. The hundred and forty-four thousand of Israel ) (Rev. Rev. 7:1+) and the hundred and forty-four thousand of Judah (Rev. Rev. 14:1+).”—Walter Scott, Exposition of The Revelation (London, England: Pickering & Inglis, n.d.), 158.