144,000 Sealed - First Fruits
"1 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. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth." Rev 14:1-3
Jesus is the Lamb and mount Zion is the kingdom of heaven. The 144,000 are the people that were just sealed on their foreheads. God the Father’s name is written on their foreheads. It is not written visibly. It means that they have taken God’s name as their own and they have made a final choice to worship Him. They were spiritually sealed and spiritually entered the kingdom of heaven.
Heaven is a real, physical, perfect place but the 144,000 won’t get to go there until the Great Tribulation is over and Jesus comes to get them and takes them to heaven.
The 144,000 sing a new song that has never been sung before. It is the song of their experience and no one else has had their experience so no one else can sing this song.
First fruits to God
"4 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. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev 14:4,5
The 144,000 are spiritual virgins and have not committed fornication by joining Babylon. During the fifth trumpet Satan will come claiming to be Jesus and he will set up his worldwide kingdom called Babylon. Anyone who joins Babylon will be defiled and will commit spiritual immorality.
Babylon the great harlot
"8 And another angel followed, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'" Rev 14:8
"1 great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Rev 17:1,2
"4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Rev 17:4,5
The 144,000 are sealed before Babylon comes into existence and they will never join Babylon so they are not defiled by Babylon. They will not drink of Babylon’s wine. They will follow Jesus wherever He leads them. They have His faith and they live His life. They adore and worship Him.
They have been redeemed – saved from their sins by the blood of Jesus.
"21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Matt 1:21
First fruits of the harvest
Each year at the beginning of the literal harvest the children of Israel would select some of the first grain or fruit to ripen and offer it to the Lord. This was called the first fruits of the harvest. The rest of the field could not be harvested until the first fruits had been presented to the Lord. The 144,000 are the first fruits of the spiritual harvest that will bring people into the kingdom of God. Now that they have been offered to the Lord the rest of the world can be harvested. The 144,000 give the three angel’s messages to the rest of the world. As people respond by worshiping God they are harvested into His kingdom.
The 144,000 tell the complete truth. They do not lie.
Great multitude
"9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands." Rev 7:9
The first fruits are the 144,000 and the rest of the harvest is a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and tongue. The great multitude will heed the preaching of the 144,000 prophets and will choose to worship God. They will be clothed in white because they are covered with Christ’s righteousness.
"13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, 'Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?' 14 And I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" Rev 7:13-17
The great tribulation begins just before the 144,000 prophets of God are sealed. The great multitude hear the preaching of the 144,000 and obey their warning. They choose to worship God. They receive Jesus as their savior and are clothed with His righteousness. They have been hungry, thirsty, and hot during the Great Tribulation. But they have received salvation and God will wipe away all their tears.
| Question | 144,000 | Great Multitude |
| How many are there? | 144,000 in number | No one could number |
| Where are they from? | 12 spiritual tribes of Israel | Every nation, tribe and people |
| When are they sealed? | Before the seven trumpets | During the seven trumpets |
| Are they from Babylon? | No, they are virgins | Yes, they come out of Babylon |
| What part of harvest? | First fruits | General harvest |
| The 3 angel's messages? | They give them | They hear and heed them |
Read about Trumpets 1 - 4 next.