“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. . . . . 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 firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:1-4 (N.B. A different company to that found in chapter 7)
Not defiled with women!! Does this foster the idea of celibacy? Indeed not. God said, “It is not good for man to dwell alone. I will make him a helpmeet.” Once again we are required to interpret this saying from a spiritual viewpoint. Who are the women?
Later in Revelation we read about a scarlet woman and her daughters. These are the women mentioned in chapter 14. But who is the scarlet woman? She is the counterfeit of the Bride of Christ. Just as the Bride is corporate, so also is the scarlet woman. Just as the 144,000 follow the Lamb, those who constitute the Scarlet woman follow the Beast.
There are numerous pictures in Revelation. These are needed to give a full spiritual message about the distinction between two companies of people, those who follow the Lamb, and those who follow the Beast. In chapter 13 we saw how the concept of commerce was introduced, but here in chapter 14 sexual impurity is used. Each has its place. The whole point of these Wellsprings is to encourage a spiritual view of the imagery found in Revelation.
Our Lord used parables in order to prevent the “outsiders” from understanding the truth. In Revelation God uses picture language for the same purpose. Those who “follow the Lamb” will understand, just as the disciples understood the parables, but many will choose to major on the literal reading of the figures of speech, and miss the meaningful truth. Jesus spoke about “hidden manna”.
The author of these notes is still searching. He has by no means unraveled all these word-pictures in Revelation, but is fully aware of the need to see spiritual meanings. The Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see wonderful truths in this Book.
