The book of Revelation has been described as ‘a dramatic motion picture whose individual scenes portray the persons and actions every time from a different angle’, but ultimately these provide Christians, who were under enormous pressure, with ‘the visions of an alternative empire’ where Christ reigns supreme.** From the terror of the beast, John reorientates his readers – we have moved from a reign of evil on earth in Chapter 13 to a heavenly perspective where instead of oppression we find liberation, and instead of suffering, celebration.

In this passage, believers are stamped with the Lamb’s name (v 1), in contrast to those stamped with the beast’s mark in the previous chapter (13:16,17). These believers have clearly identified with Jesus and have paid the cost (‘offered as firstfruits’, v 4). The number 144,000 represents completeness. 

The ‘new song’ (v 3) with its theme of deliverance parallels the new song in Revelation 5:9. The term ‘virgins’ (v 4) is a metaphor for those genuine believers who have refused to compromise themselves with the world and whose character reveals them as ‘blameless’ (v 5). 

How might a ‘heavenly perspective’ help you to face challenging circumstances today?

**Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza, The Book of Revelation: Justice and Judgment, Augsburg Fortress, 1998, pp5,6.
 

We always thank God for … your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.’¹ 

If the previous chapter offered a stark picture from an earthly point of view, then this section offers, as a counterpoint, an uplifting one from a heavenly perspective. It tells us about the followers of the Lamb – where they are, what they are doing and what they are like. They ‘stand on Mount Zion’ (v 1), which in the Old Testament is another way of talking about the Temple in Jerusalem, the place of God’s presence. That is why those whom the first beast blasphemes are described as ‘those who live in heaven’.² As Paul puts it, he has ‘seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus’.³ 

The ‘144,000’ (v 1) are those whom John hears about⁴ and when he turns to see them they are ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language’,⁵ who have been described as ‘redeemed’ for God by the Lamb,⁶ the language repeated here (v 3). Their harps have become part of the popular cliché about heaven – but in fact they are the instruments of the Levitical priests in Temple worship.⁷ This is a priestly people,⁸ who sing the song of God’s gracious redemption to the whole world⁹ and who therefore sound like God himself (‘many waters’¹⁰) – these saints are singing from the same hymn-sheet as Jesus. 

The phrase ‘did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins’ (v 4) is metaphorical. It draws on the Old Testament metaphor of sexual purity symbolising devotion to God and the rejection of idolatry, so that God’s people become the ‘bride’ of Christ.¹¹ The seven qualities become a sign of hope (‘firstfruits’, v 4) to the world.

Identify areas of your life, in thought, speech or action, where you should open yourself to the Spirit’s purifying power. How can you be a better sign of hope?

¹ 1 Thess 1:2,3  ² Rev 13:6  ³ Eph 2:6  ⁴ Rev 7:4  ⁵ Rev 7:9  ⁶ Rev 5:9, AV  ⁷ 1 Chr 15:16  ⁸ Rev 1:6  ⁹ Ps 96:1,2  ¹⁰ Rev 1:15, AV  ¹¹ Rev 19:7