TOPIC:‌“The Triumphant Lamb and His Elect”

‌‌   by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Revelation 14:1-20

 

‌‌“And I looked and, lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him an hundred ‌‌‌forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads”

(14:1).

 

‌As we approach chapter 14 of Revelation we find it is a chapter of disconnected scenes without chronological order as they appear to John, but events which lead up to the climax of the ultimate triumph of Christ over the wicked on earth. It is a chapter of seven separate visions with prophetic pronouncements found in each of them. In chapter 12 and 13 John has been given a vision of what Satan's activity will be during the Tribulation period, but here in chapter 14 John is given insight into Heaven as to what God is accomplishing for His people. Let's find out what John saw.

 

I.

 

‌Well, for one thing, we have the PORTRAIT of GOD'S ELECT. From verse 1 we read these words: “And I looked and, lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand.”

 

‌This chapter opens with John observing the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 people. Two important questions to be answered are the identity of the 144,000 and the location of Mount Zion. As to their identity, this group seems to be the same 144,000 who were seen sealed in Revelation 7:1-8. J. B. Smith in his commentary convincingly writes: “These hundred and forty and four thousand are apparently the same company as those mentioned in 7:1-8. Were this not the case, it would be an exception to the usual careful distinction made by the sacred writer by the use of “another.” For instance, note “another beast,” “another angel,” “another sign,” “another voice;” hence we should have here “another” 144,000. Observe too that mention is made of a seal or mark of identification upon their foreheads.” So because of the exact number of this blessed group to those in chapter 7 and because both groups are described as having the seal of identification upon their foreheads, the 144,000 without doubt in this chapter are the same as those in chapter 7.

 

‌Concerning the exact place of Mount Zion where this company is located there is disagreement. Some believe Mount Zion refers to “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” as set forth in Hebrews 12:22. Those who hold this view believe the mention in verse 3 of the throne, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders picture a heavenly scene rather than an earthly scene. However, . . .