In this enlightening episode, journey through the visionary lens of Revelation, exploring the profound symbolism surrounding the 144,000 standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Dive deep into the interpretation of these figures, often termed as virgins in the spiritual context, and unravel the historical and theological significance behind their portrayal. The discourse further draws connections to Old Testament texts, offering a comprehensive view on Israel’s symbolic role as the ‘virgin’ and what it means for future prophecy.
You say, why do we fellowship with God’s people on Sunday? Because we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s a reminder that because he lives, we also shall live. So it’s not just on Easter. It’s every Sunday is a celebration for believers of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So Sunday morning when you’re sleeping in and somebody in your household wakes you up and says, we need to go to church. Just understand, we’re going to celebrate the resurrection. Now get out of bed. Amen.
SPEAKER 1 :
Amen.
SPEAKER 04 :
The terror of the beast in Revelation 13 was shattered in an instant. And now, as John looks again, a vision of triumph explodes before his very eyes. The Lamb stands on Mount Zion, surrounded by 144,000 who bear His name. pure, blameless, set apart. Then a sound like the roar of mighty waters, like a choir of harpists shaking the heavens. They sing a new song that only the redeemed can learn. It’s an anthem of victory. Who are they and why are they marked as his own? And what does their song reveal about the future still to come? Just before today’s message, did you know that you can get a set of study notes? These are David’s original sermon notes that go along with each of the 48 messages in our series in Revelation. And the complete pack? Just $10. And you know, these notes… They help you to follow along verse by verse, catching details you might miss. And, well, it gives you a written resource that you can return to again and again. It’s a wonderful way to get everything you can out of this current series on Hope for Today in Revelation. To get your copy of the Revelation sermon notes, just call 1-800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. Or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible by the numbers 24253. Or you can make the purchase online and download them. You’ll have them right away at DavidHawking.org. And here’s David with day three of 144,000 on Mount Zion.
SPEAKER 02 :
Revelation chapter 14. We see the protection of God in verse 1 and the praise of God in verse 2 and 3. But what is the purpose of God for these 144,000 in verse 4 and 5? And there are three things I’d like you to observe about these Jewish believers. The one has been a confusing interpretation among many commentators. And what I’m going to say about it will tell you what I believe about it. The Bible calls these people virgins, those who are not defiled with women. Three things to observe. Number one is their moral purity. No, I do not believe it’s talking about 144,000 single people. Maybe you do. For instance, you could go to 1 Corinthians 7, as some of the commentators do, and point out that single people are called virgins. That is, people who have never been married. Not single because of divorce, but simply single. They’ve never been married. It calls them virgins in 1 Corinthians 7. So some people, with a limited look at the word, use 1 Corinthians 7 to say, the only point is here, we have 144,000 celibate Jews. Maybe because God’s going to send them around the world, they don’t want to have family responsibilities or whatever. There’s lots of arguments on that. But I think it misses the point. Turn back to Matthew chapter 24, please. According to verse 21, there will be great tribulation such as would not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there shall no flesh be saved. But for the elect’s sake, these days shall be shortened. God is going to spare an elect group. We believe it’s referring to Israel. They are the generation that will not pass away till all of this be fulfilled. The nation of Israel will survive because it’ll look like they won’t. Now look at chapter 25 and what do we have? The kingdom of heaven will be likened unto ten what? Virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five of them foolish and five of them wise. The foolish took their lamps, took no oil, the wise did. And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Verse 6, At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh. That would be at the end of the tribulation. Go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise said, or answered, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they that were ready… went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgin, saying, Lord, Lord, open us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man cometh. The virgins do not represent the church of Jesus Christ. The church is the bride. Behold, the bridegroom cometh means that he’s coming to the bride’s home, which is earth. When you announce an engagement in a Jewish betrothal, the bride goes to the bridegroom’s home to announce the engagement. But when you have the marriage supper, the bridegroom comes to the bride’s home, and it’s usually a seven-day feast. And that’s what we have pictured here. The bridegroom’s coming is to the bride’s home, namely earth, when he returns out of heaven with power and great glory. The bride has already gone to the bridegroom’s home for the beginning of it before the tribulation. At the end, we come back to the bride’s home, earth, and there we have the marriage supper to launch the great kingdom, the messianic kingdom of God on earth. Now the virgins are attendants. Like we have in a wedding, we have attendants. both men and women usually, but that’s what it’s picturing. These virgins are referring to people in the tribulation, either tribulation believers or Israel. I have a tendency to lean towards Israel. Why? Because they are the elect of Matthew 24 and 25. Are there going to be unbelieving Israelis in the tribulation period? Yes. Who will not be ready when the Lord comes at the end? Yes. How many of them? Zechariah 13, 8 to 9 says two-thirds of them are going to refuse to turn to the Messiah, and they will be cut off as the rebels of Israel be judged by the Lord. Only one-third of Israelis are going to turn, or Jewish people are going to turn to the Lord at the end of the tribulation. They are the wise virgins that are ready and will be meeting him. It could be tribulation believers as well, but I think the primary emphasis is on Israel. Now this isn’t all we have. Turn to 2 Kings chapter 19. We believe the term virgin is a primary term for Israel. The proof is not simply in Matthew 25, which I don’t think is real conclusive, but I think it is very clear in many passages of the Old Testament. 2 Kings chapter 19, verse 21. It says, this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him. This was Isaiah going to Hezekiah. when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was invading the land. And Hezekiah prayed and asked for God to deliver. It says, this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him. The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at thee. They’re going to trust in the Lord. And what happened was the angel of the Lord came that night and killed 185,000 Assyrians. Now turn to Isaiah chapter 37. And look at verse 22. The virgin is referring to the daughter of Zion. We’re talking about Israel. It’s the quote that you just read in 2 Kings. It says, This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning him, the virgin, the daughter of Zion. There it is again, the daughter of Jerusalem. This is a very common illustration of Israel. Turn to Jeremiah chapter 18 and look at verse 13. When you speak of the virgin, you are speaking of Israel. In Jeremiah 18 verse 13, Therefore thus saith the Lord, Ask now among the heathen, the nations who have heard such things, the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing. Yes, Israel is called the virgin. Chapter 31 of Jeremiah. Look at verse 4. It says, Look at verse 21. The same passage. Chapter 31 of Jeremiah. Verse 21. Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps. Set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest. Turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? Israel is the virgin. Now let’s go back to Revelation chapter 14. Therefore, it’s very fitting, I believe, that 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe, are called virgins. Now in all of that that is expressed in the Old Testament about Israel being a virgin, the issue is moral purity, whether or not she has a heart for God or whether she is going after false gods or other lovers. That’s why I believe the issue here should be moral purity. When it says not defiled with women, they are virgins. It’s talking about 144,000 who are washed in the blood of the Lamb and are in fact going to walk with God in godly lifestyle in this world during the tribulation. Second thing, in addition to their moral purity, look at their faithful practice. Their faithful practice. In chapter 14, verse 4, it says, These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goeth. Kind of almost an incongruous thought because lambs follow the shepherd. But our great shepherd is also called the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. We are to follow the lamb wherever he goes. When Jesus first called his disciples in Matthew 4, 19, he said, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. In John 21, 19, when Peter was wrestling with issues of his own commitment, as he had taken a few disciples and gone fishing, and the Lord had confronted him and said, Do you love me, Peter? And said it three times and told him to feed my sheep and feed my lambs. And Peter looked at John and said, What about this man? And Jesus said, What is it to thee if he stays around until I come again? I got one message for you, Peter. Follow me. That’s what I want you to do. Interesting. If any man will come after me, says Luke 9, 23, and take up his cross daily and follow me. In 1 Thessalonians 1, 6, Paul wrote to these new Christians and said, be followers of me and of the Lord. Follow me, he says over and over again. What a beautiful description of these 144,000. Not only their moral purity, but their faithful practice. They will follow the Lamb wherever he goes. Is that true of you? Is that what you made a commitment to do? To follow the Lord Jesus Christ wherever he would lead. Where he leads, I will follow. The third thing I notice in Revelation 14 is their spiritual position. And there’s a number of things said about this. One is that they are redeemed from among men. Verse 4 says, They’re redeemed, just like we are, redeemed by the blood of Christ. They’re purchased, they’re bought by our Lord. Another thing that is said is that they are firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Firstfruits means the harvest is coming. We’re going to sample it now and see what kind of harvest we’re going to have. Firstfruits were brought out the week of Passover. Whatever day Passover is on, that Saturday is the day before firstfruits. Firstfruits always lands on Sunday. We know in 1 Corinthians 15, 21 and 23, it calls Jesus Christ the firstfruits, as it refers to his resurrection. What day did Jesus arise from the dead, anyone? Sunday. You say, why do we fellowship with God’s people on Sunday? Because we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s a reminder that because He lives, we also shall live. So it’s not just on Easter. It’s every Sunday is a celebration for believers of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So Sunday morning when you’re sleeping in and And somebody in your household wakes you up and says, we need to go to church. Just understand, we’re going to celebrate the resurrection. Now get out of bed. Amen. Now the harvest is coming. It’s interesting, in the Jewish Feast of Jehovah, they celebrated this. You had another day of first fruits, and it was a day of Pentecost. Fifty days later, you celebrate Pentecost. And by the way, Pentecost is always on Sunday. On Pentecost, we wave two loaves of bread, which we actually make by taking some fruits from the harvest that we haven’t reaped yet, but we bring in, and it’s usually around July, so the harvest isn’t going to be reaped until September and October, but we’re going to take some of it in and bake a loaf of bread, have two loaves, and we’re going to wave them in a symbolic gesture that, hey, the harvest looks good. Now, my friends, on the day of Pentecost, the church of Jesus Christ was born. You say, well, what are the two loaves? God took Jew and Gentile and put them into one loaf. On the day of Pentecost, it’s called firstfruits again. You can read all about this in Leviticus 23. We have firstfruits again. at the time of the Passion Week, right after Passover, representing the resurrection of Christ, who is our firstfruits. We have firstfruits of the harvest on the day of Pentecost. And on that day, 3,000 people came to know the Lord. And now throughout history, no doubt millions now have come to know the Lord. But the harvest is going to keep going, and in the tribulation period will be the biggest harvest of all, as a multitude out of every nation, tribe, tongue, and people will become believers in the Lord. And so the harvest is likened unto the tribulation. It’s a harvest not only in the sense of redeeming believers, it’s a harvest also of judging unbelievers. And we’re going to see at the end of this chapter that it calls the judgment of unbelievers the harvest of the earth. So the harvest time is coming. Remember the parable of Jesus about the wheat and tares. He said the end of the age is the harvest when the angels will come and separate the wheat from the tares. We’re talking about the end of the tribulation. So it’s very interesting when you keep the symbolisms going. These 144,000 would therefore be firstfruits of the final harvest. They’re the first ones who are redeemed from the earth, and through them you will see the final harvest, because they’re going to take the everlasting gospel around the world, as we shall learn in our next time. By the way, turn back to Romans chapter 11. It’s interesting what the Bible says about what God is doing in this present age in Romans 11. You’ll pick it up in verse 25 and verse 26. Romans 11, 25 and 26. It says, For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles become in. What is that talking about? It means every last Gentile that God ever wanted to be saved is going to be saved and then the end is going to come. And it’s the end of the tribulation. And verse 26 says, and so all Israel shall be saved. Israel is going to be saved at the end as a nation. There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And the Lord is going to come at the end of that period and they will look on him whom they have pierced. It’s marvelous when you look at it. Go back to Revelation 14. Their spiritual position includes being redeemed from among men, being firstfruits unto God and the Lamb in that final harvest of the tribulation. But it also says of them, in their mouth, verse 5, was found no guile. That’s the word pseudos. Something is pseudo, it’s false. There’s no untruth, no lie. The same word is used in Revelation 21, 27, and 22, 15 when it speaks about the heavenly city that there’ll be no lie in it at all. In their mouth was found no guile. They’re going to speak the truth. There’ll be no falsehood at all. By the way, that’s in contrast to the false prophet who will constantly be speaking lies and the Antichrist. But these 144,000 Jews, not a bit of untruth was found in them. They’re telling the truth to that final generation. And the last thing is said about them in verse 5, they are without fault before the throne of God. You know that’s used to believers. In Ephesians 1.4, it says we’re chosen before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame. Same word. These 144,000 are without blame, without fault, before the throne of God. Why? Because they’ve been redeemed. You know, God chose you before the foundation of the world so you could be holy and without blame. Because if he left it up to you, it never would happen. He settled it long ago. You are holy and without blame in Christ. Not by your own performance and efforts, but because of what he has done. You can be holy and without blame. No spot, no blemish whatsoever before God. Turn to Jude 24. The little book right before Revelation with this we’re through. It says, “…now unto him that is able to keep you from falling.” and to present you faultless, that’s the same word, no blame, no fault, before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. How many of you really can say, I got joy in my heart because of what Jesus has done for me? I really do, I got joy. Well, I’ll tell you, I know what you mean, but we have not yet begun to experience joy. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when we stand in his presence? joy unspeakable and full of glory, exceeding great joy. In his presence, there’s fullness of joy at his right hand. There are pleasures forevermore. Father, thank you so much for your wonderful word. And thank you, Lord, for reminding us through this special group of people that you will seal and protect during the tribulation. Thank you, Lord, for reminding us that you love us and that we belong to you. And we also are redeemed. We are part of that harvest that began on the day of Pentecost and that final expression of it in the tribulation. What a marvel that is to us to realize more people will be coming to know the Lord, multitudes that no man can number. And I pray that some of the things we’ve said about the 144,000 would be true of us, that we’d walk in holiness and purity before you, that we would be faithful followers of the Lamb and go wherever we He leads. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SPEAKER 04 :
That’s David Hawking, and you’re listening to Hope for Today. David will return shortly to share his closing comments on today’s study, so do stay with us for that. First, his son Matt’s here, and together we’re going to share a powerful home Bible study that you’re really going to find encouraging, particularly in the days that we’re living through right now.
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Matt? Are you experiencing a difficult season, an overwhelming challenge, or several? Perhaps someone you know, someone you love, is suffering right now. Man, it’s easy. It is so easy to be discouraged and defeated.
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You feel like your dreams, your expectations have come to an end. And for a lot of folks, and you’ve been there.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, yeah.
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It seems like there’s no hope in sight. Yeah, where’s God in all of this? And does anyone really care? Well, Hope in Difficult Times, this is a great book by your dad, Matt. I’m so glad we’re offering this. What a perfect book for the times we’re in right now, what we’ve experienced as a nation, what many of our listeners have told us they’re experiencing. Hope in Difficult Times by David Hawking. It’s all about… Hope, hope that God’s word provides in abundance.
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Not simply whistling in the dark, nor does it promise false comfort in serious times. Hope in difficult times. Jim, it’s a book about getting up when you fall down, starting over. Healing and restoration. It believes in the God of the second chance.
SPEAKER 04 :
Sometimes, Matt, we experience difficulties in our life that we have no part in creating. It just happens. Other times, it’s our own doing. Either way, God is a God of hope, and he cares, and he’s into restoration.
SPEAKER 03 :
He has everything we need in his word, doesn’t he? Yeah. And during these times, you know, when you have to press on, look, we all know it’s not going to be easy. You know, people and circumstances may fight against you or, you know, you may just want to give up and all your failures might seem too great to overcome.
SPEAKER 04 :
But the Bible is a book of hope. Romans 8, 24 and 25 puts it this way, for we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he yet for? But if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait for it. Hope in Difficult Times by your dad, David Hawking. That’s our featured resource this month.
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And Matt, it’s just $20. It’s 195 pages of hope.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, yeah. And your purchase will also help the ministry of Hope for Today. And please, please pray for Hope for Today in these challenging times. And if you’d like to be a part of this work and help meet our financial need, consider sending a donation as well. And you can do that by calling 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, Bible by the numbers 24253. You can also donate at DavidHawking.org. That’s David, H-O-C-K-I-N-G.org, DavidHawking.org. And just before David returns, although no one knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return, the Bible warns us the time is short. Many Bible scholars, and that includes David, agree that prophecy appears to be unfolding right in front of us. The signs are everywhere. Nations in turmoil, deception rising, people blindly following lies. And yet in the middle of this, God has given us his word, clear, unchanging, true. And that’s why Hope for Today exists. This broadcast isn’t entertainment. It’s a lifeline. Every message is an urgent call back to the scripture, back to the cross, and back to hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Let me ask you a quick question. What happens if that voice goes silent? What happens if the teaching of God’s word is pushed aside in a world that desperately needs to hear it? Your support makes the difference. When you give, you’re ensuring that the truth is heard while there’s still time. You’re putting the Word of God into the hearts of people who may never get another chance. So if God is stirring your heart today, send your gift to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S, 8P1. Or call us at 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S., 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Contribute online at davidhawking.org. And thanks. Once again, here’s David.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thanks for listening. I hope you’re enjoying our study. We’re teaching the book of Revelation, and we’re wrapping up chapter 14, verses 1 to 5, on the 144,000 Jews who will take the everlasting gospel to every nation on earth. It’s amazing. By the way, that’s more than all the missionaries presently from North America. Boy, God has a great missionary force coming, and they will be standing with the Lamb of God on Mount Zion, being sent out by Him to reach every nation and tongue in the world. What wonderful news that is. So plan to be with us.
SPEAKER 04 :
God bless you. Well, next time on the program, David moves ahead in the book of Revelation. So be sure to invite someone, you know, to listen along with you right here on Hope for Today.
