Against the backdrop of the Dragon and the Beast who are wreaking havoc on God’s people and his creation, John’s vision now returns to the throne room. Here again we see the Lamb, the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and the 144,000. And a new song was sung by them. The orchestral accompaniment is awe inspiring. John describes it as harpists playing harps and yet it is like the roar of rushing waters and loud peals of thunder. This is music we’ve never heard on earth!
Let’s revisit the 144,000. As I stated earlier, 144,000 is a number describing those who have been redeemed, not a head count. Also, from the context, they are all men, if one takes a literal approach. I’m referring to the verse (4) which says they have not defiled themselves with women.
All kinds of nonsense emerges if one takes a literal approach to this passage. Are we to suppose that women are the source of defilement? Are all believers to be celibate? Are all believers men?! See how quickly this approach falls apart! Not to mention the preceding chapter where a woman is a leading character in the eternal saga!
Many of the idolatrous worship practices in John’s time involved temple prostitutes. Old Testament prophets likened Israel’s chasing after other gods as harlotry. The book of Hosea takes this theme and involves the prophet in play-acting it in his own marriage, describing the promiscuity of God’s people with foreign gods and God’s own longsuffering and yearning to bring them back.
So, this glorious band of believers described as 144,000 and as virgins, stand in stark contrast to the Beast’s minions who defile themselves with temple prostitutes. They have the name of God and the Lamb written on their foreheads, not the mark of the Beast.
Let’s revisit the 144,000. As I stated earlier, 144,000 is a number describing those who have been redeemed, not a head count. Also, from the context, they are all men, if one takes a literal approach. I’m referring to the verse (4) which says they have not defiled themselves with women.
All kinds of nonsense emerges if one takes a literal approach to this passage. Are we to suppose that women are the source of defilement? Are all believers to be celibate? Are all believers men?! See how quickly this approach falls apart! Not to mention the preceding chapter where a woman is a leading character in the eternal saga!
Many of the idolatrous worship practices in John’s time involved temple prostitutes. Old Testament prophets likened Israel’s chasing after other gods as harlotry. The book of Hosea takes this theme and involves the prophet in play-acting it in his own marriage, describing the promiscuity of God’s people with foreign gods and God’s own longsuffering and yearning to bring them back.
So, this glorious band of believers described as 144,000 and as virgins, stand in stark contrast to the Beast’s minions who defile themselves with temple prostitutes. They have the name of God and the Lamb written on their foreheads, not the mark of the Beast.
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