Revelation 14:1-20

The Lamb and His Followers. Judgment on His Enemies

In the last two Chapter s were seen the enemies of the Church, and their fierce power. Now, by way of contrast, and to encourage the Church to resist her enemies with complete certainty of victory, pictures are shown of the blessedness of those who witness a true confession for Christ, and of God's judgment on the ungodly.

1-5. The Lamb (cp. Revelation 5:6, etc.) is seen on Mount Zion, i.e. the true and heavenly home of the Church: cp. Hebrews 12:22. With Him are the perfect number (cp. Revelation 7:4) of those who had been marked with His name and the name of His Father, instead of with the mark of the beast: see on Revelation 3:12, and cp. Revelation 7:3; Revelation 13:16. Both here, and in Revelation 7:4, '144,000' is a figurative expression for the whole number of the Redeemed (Revelation 14:1). A heavenly chorus is heard, in which the voice of Christ is followed by the voices of the living creatures and of the elders (Revelation 14:2). The Redeemed join in the strain (Revelation 14:3). They are described as undefiled by idolatry, which is often described in Scripture as adultery against God, and which was itself commonly allied with impurity; as following the Lamb through suffering to glory; as a choice offering to God (Revelation 14:4); as having confessed the true God and not the lying idol (guile, RV 'lie'); and as an undefiled (fault, RV 'blemish') sacrifice, perhaps with an allusion to the death of the martyrs: cp. Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19; (Revelation 14:5).