By Nab B.
September 8, 2022
Updated Nov 2025
The Meaning is Spiritual!
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(John 6:63)
(1 Cor 2:13-14)
Verse By Verse Series©
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Revelation 14:1
“I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion and with Him one 144,00, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” NKJV
The word resurrection means "standing up" in Greek. So, "A Lamb standing" is the resurrected Christ among his churches.
"Among the lampstands (all churches) was someone like a Son of man." (Rev 1:13)
Jerusalem is often referred to as old Zion. Some Christians believe that Christ will come back and rule the earth from literal Zion or Jerusalem. Far from it! Zion in Revelation is a spiritual city. It is the heavenly new Jerusalem, the church of the firstborn, the body of Christ, or the city of God.
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:22-24) See also Micah 4:1-3
The number symbolizes all spiritual Israel (the church). The number is both squared (12 x 12) and multiplied by 1,000—a double emphasis on the completion of the church, all sealed and gathered.
Having his Father's name on their foreheads differentiates them from those who have the mark of the beast on their foreheads, as seen in Rev 13:16. A name "on the forehead" is a clear identification of a true believer serving God with a whole mind.
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Revelation 14:2
“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.” NKJV
This "voice of many waters" symbolizes the voice of Jesus Christ, "His (Jesus) voice as the sound of many waters." (Rev 1:15)
The "many waters" refer to nations, tribes, and peoples (see Rev 17:15). As Jesus communicates his messages through them, and lives his new life through them, his voice is amplified as that of "many waters" and "loud thunder".
Lyres and Harps are instruments that represent the sounds of joy, celebration, and praise to God and Christ. “Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.” (Psa 33:2)
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Revelation 14:3
“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” NKJV
There are seven recorded songs of praise in Revelation listed below:
1st song offered to God (Rev 4:8,11)
2nd song offered to the Lamb (Rev 5:9,11)
3rd song offered to God and the Lamb (Rev 5:13)
4th song offered to God and the Lamb (Rev 7:10,12)
5th song offered to God (Rev 11:18)
6th song offered to God (Rev 15:4)
7th song offered to God (Rev 16:6)
The Psalmist always offered a ‘New Song’ to God:
“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1)
A “New Song” is an original song to celebrate our God who is "Making all things NEW"—a new heaven, a new earth, a new man, a new Jerusalem, a new song, etc.
"No one could learn the song," not because it is difficult, but because only humans who need redemption can learn it and sing it. Thus, it is only the redeemed, a figurative 144,000, the church, who are the ones able to sing it!
The ’New Song’ is a song of redemption and salvation. It expresses the redeemed delight, gratitude, and thankfulness to God and Christ.
“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Eph 5:19)
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Revelation 14:4
“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” NKJV
This is not literal. True believers do not commit spiritual adultery with false religions that are portrayed as women.
Note how spiritual whoredom is referred to in those verses:
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4)
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” (Matt 16:4)
“I have seen...your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings...O Jerusalem!” (Jer 13:27)
This is spiritual virginity. The Greek word for virgin is ‘parthenos’, which means chaste and pure. A true believer is spiritually pure for Christ who doesn't follow "another Jesus", "another gospel," or receive "another spirit."
“For I am jealous over you...For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Cor 11:2,4).
Following Christ is to hear and do his commandments and not pay attention to the voices of false teachers or pursue other distractions.
These passage helps to know what following Christ involves:
"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also." (John 12:26)
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34)
Revelation chapter 7 shows that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of (spiritual) Israel. Here, we are told, "They are redeemed from among mankind.” This should not be confusing if you keep in mind that the twelve tribes of Israel are spiritual tribes. God did not change the structure of His Kingdom. He just made old physical types into new spiritual realities. After, God consolidated or gathered everything in Jesus Christ.
The redeemed believers appear by different names, yet they are the same:
The 144,000,
The great crowd,
The new Jerusalem,
Church of the firstborn,
Mount Zion,
Etc.
First fruits are the BEST offering. All sacrifices offered to God are the best. First fruits also mean being set apart for God.
God has been redeeming only the best spiritual men and women (as His first fruits). The best here has nothing to do with physical abilities, but with the spiritual qualities of those who are humble, hungry, and thirsty for righteousness.
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (1 Cor 15:23)
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Revelation 14:5
“And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” NKJV
Christ reveals the sharp contrast between His own true followers and the unchaste followers in Babylon the Great.
This does not speak of little white lies! True believers neither speak falsehood nor are affected by the deceitful teachings from the "Mouth of the dragon, the beast, or the false prophet." (Rev 16:13-14)
They are without fault only because they were redeemed and washed clean "by the blood of Christ." He has made them blameless and unblemished from the harmful effects of sin. They are (not will be) already a "New spiritual Creation"!
The passage below proves it:
“You were enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ…He has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col 1:21-22) NLT