In Revelation 7:1-8, we have 144,000 Jews who are sealed while on the earth. It is evident that they are literal physical Jews from the passage, as it lists the Twelve Tribes of Israel. These same 144,000 show up in Revelation 14:1, but this time we see that they are located in Heaven (before the Throne of God).

The Mount Sion is in the Third heaven

In Hebrews 12:22 we see that mount Sion is referred to as the heavenly Jerusalem:

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Hebrews 12:22

In Psalms 48:2 we see that this mount is located on the sides of the North

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psalms 48:2

And we know from Isaiah 14 that the sides of the north is located above the stars

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isaiah 14:13

Tribulation Saints and the Body of Christ

So in Revelation 14, we have a group of 144,000 tribulation saints who keep the law and are called virgins that belong to the twelve tribes of Israel.

They will be raptured at the end of the tribulation to attend the marriage of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ.

This 144,000 are NOT the Body of Christ; however, we are going to look at some similarities between the 144,000 tribulation saints and the Body of Christ:

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.
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:
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.
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.
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14:1-5

Four truths that should apply to every born again believer

They have the mark of God on their lives

The first truth that will be true for the 144,000 tribulation saints and the truth that cross applies to every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth that they were sealed by God.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 7:4

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.

Revelation 14:1

They were all sealed by God; therefore the number of them did not change from chapter 7 to chapter 14. In other words, the Lord did not lose any of them (John 18:9).

If you have believed

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:12-14

If you have believed, you are also sealed until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). You are not sealed because you deserve to be sealed, or because you have followed all the “rules”, or because you have done more good in your life than bad. No, you are sealed not of yourself, but you are sealed by God himself:

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

The Lord knows who belongs to him and he won’t lose any of them

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2 Timothy 2:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

They received a new song to sing

The second truth that will be true for the 144,000 tribulation saints and the truth that cross applies to every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth that they received a new song to sing.

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.

Revelation 14:3

Notice that it was their song, they received a song to sing that was specifically for them, and no-one else could learn their song.

If you have believed, the Lord has also given you a new song to sing, it’s your song. Your song is personal to you. Sure, during a worship service you will pick up a hymnal and sing songs along with the rest of the congregation, but each of those songs will have a personal application to you, once you become a believer.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Psalms 22:3

You have been lifted from the pit of despair

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalms 40:1-3

Your most effective witnessing tool

The new song that you have to sing, is your personal story of what God has done in your life. No-one can argue with your personal story, it’s yours.

People will argue with you about:

• The Bible
• Your beliefs
• even about the facts

They lived pure lives after they were sealed

The third truth that will be true for the tribulation saints and that should cross apply to every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth that they lived pure lives after they were sealed by God.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14:5

The Bible tells us that they will not be defiled (vs4) and that they are without fault before God. When you become a believer, you are sanctified:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27

The definition of sanctification according to the Websters 1828 dictionary is as follows: To cleanse from corruption, to purify from sin

To be sanctified, or to live a pure life before God, does not mean that you become sinless, it is a work that the Lord does in you:

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians 9:27

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Corinthians 6:12

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Romans 6:19-22

They followed the Lamb

The fourth truth that will be true for the tribulation saints and that should cross apply to every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth that they followed the Lamb everywhere that he went.

…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.

Revelation 14:4

These tribulation saints will follow the Lord Jesus Christ, everywhere that he goes and they will follow him every day

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Don’t just check-in from time to time with the Lord, but make it a daily practice to follow him.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus is more than just following a list of do’s and do not’s. It’s not about following rules. There are plenty of unsaved people out there that are really good at following rules and putting on a show. Following Jesus is all about fellowship with him, It’s about maintaining constant communication with him.

Are you following Jesus every day?

Are you following Jesus every day, by staying in constant communication with him through prayer and his word? Or are you just checking-in from time to time?

Checking-in with the Lord isn’t the same thing as following him. Do you follow him wherever he goes? Do you do whatever he tells you to do?

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:31

Are you walking with Jesus?

• Everyday?
• Wherever he leads?
• Is he first in your life?
• Do you listen to him?
• Do you spend time in His word daily?

Or have you just been checking-in?

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.