Revelation – Uniqueness of the 144,000 Three Angels Message and The Reaping

(Revelation 14)

Revelation 14:1-5 “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.[2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:[3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.[4] These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.[5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

144,000: These verses in Revelation chapter 14 shed some light and insight on what type of people the 144,000 would be. The mark placed upon their forehead that is spoken of in Revelation 7:3 is actually the name of God. Some think that it speaks of them only being men, because of what verse four says. The 144,000 being not defiled by women and being virgins is not speaking at all about them physically, but spiritually. The “women” spoken of are talking about all the different “Christian” denominations. Them being “virgins” is speaking of them not being brainwashed or effected by those religious groups. When it speaks of them following the Lamb where ever it goes is speaking of the fact that the 144,000 follow the Word of God and the Lamb. Who by the way everyone forgets did all that his Father had commanded His people to do from the beginning, such as keeping the Ten Commandments as they were supposed to be kept, which includes keeping the Sabbath not changing it to some pagan sun worshipping day. Others are the clean and unclean laws, the Holy Days (Feasts of the LORD), worshipping the Father and not the son as so many have and still do. Oh and that goes back to the First commandment of having NO other gods before Him, including not making His son out to be God. These are but a few things that Jesus and those that would follow his life as a blueprint of how they would live theirs. These are the characteristics of the 144,000 and no they are not all men either as there are women that live by the same standards as men when it comes to serving the LORD and keeping His Word.

Revelation 14:6-13 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,[7] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.[8] And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.[9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,[10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:[11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.[12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.[13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

Three Angels Message: The message that is given by the angels also gives of an idea of the sequence of coming events. The First Angel speaks of wanting people to turn from their own ways and to go and worship God for the time of His judgement has come. At the moment most of the inhabitants of the earth worship everything but God and that goes for the Christians as well. So, the first message is to get the attention of the people to turn back to God before it is too late. The Second Angel speaks of the fall of Babylon and we see how that unfolds later on in chapters 17 and 18. We will go more in detail about Babylon when we get to that point. Though Babylon’s fall is mentioned later on in Revelation it happens before the Wrath of God is poured out on the World. The Third Angel speaks of those that receive the Mark and what will happen to them. This also helps us see when the fall of Babylon takes places, because her fall happens before the mark comes on the scene. Then there is of course the good news about those that were faithful and how they lived their lives will not be forgot, but that they will be rewarded.

Revelation 14:14-20 “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.[15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.[16] And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.[17] And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.[18] And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.[19] And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.[20] And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”

The Reaping: For those that believe in the Rapture, this is the closest that they will get to seeing it clearly mentioned. I refer to it as the Reaping because that is what is taking place. Remember that this is all taking place between the beginning of the Seventh Trumpet and the beginning of the Wrath of God, the Seven Plagues, Bowls, Vials or whatever your translation may say. This Reaping is speaking of the return of Christ to gather the faithful mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” All those that are alive or have died in Christ will be reaped from the earth at this time except for the 144,000, which we will get more into soon enough.