Followers Of The Lamb

Continuing his description of the 144,000 who are "bought from the earth," John tells us: " These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb, and no falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish." (Revelation 14::4,5) The fact that the 144,000 "are virgins" does not mean that members of this class are necessarily unmarried in the flesh. The apostle Paul wrote to Christians who had a heavenly calling that, whereas there are advantages to Christian singleness, marriage is preferable under certain circumstances. (1 Corinthians 7:1, 2, 36, 37) what characterizes this class is a spiritual virginity. They have avoided spiritual adultery with worldly politics and with false religion. (James 4:4; Revelation 17:5) As the betrothed bride of Christ, they have kept themselves pure, "without a blemish in among a crooked and twisted generation." -Philippians 2;15.

Additionally, "no falsehood was found in their mouths." In this, they are like their King, Jesus Christ. As a perfect human, "he committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1Peter 2:21, 22) In being simultaneously without blemish and truthful, the 144,000 are prepared as a chaste bride for Jehovah's great High Priest. when Jesus was on earth, he invited right hearted ones to follow him. (Mark 8:34; 10:21; John 1:43) Those who responded imitated his way of life and obeyed his teachings. Thus, during their earthly course, they "keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes" as he guides them through Satan's world.

The 144,000 are "bought from the earth," "bought from among mankind." They are adopted as spirit sons of God, and after their resurrection, they will no longer be mere flesh-and-blood humans. As mentioned in verse 4, they become the "first fruits to God and to the Lamb." True, back in the first century, Jesus was "the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep in death." ( 1 Corinthians 15: 20, 23) But the 144,000 are the "certain first fruits" of imperfect mankind, purchased by means of Jesus' sacrifice (James 1:18) Nevertheless, the in gathering of fruitage from mankind does not end with them. The book of revelation has already pointed to the harvesting of an unnumbered great crowd that cries with a loud voice: "Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb." This great crowd will survive the great tribulation, and as they continue to be refreshed by "fountains of waters of life," they will be raised to human perfection on earth. Sometime after the great tribulation, Hades will be emptied, and countless millions of other humans will be resurrected and have the opportunity to drink from those same waters of life. With this in mind, it would be correct to call the great crowd a first fruits of the other sheep -they are the first to 'wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb' with the hope of living forever on earth. -Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 20:12, 13.

These three first fruits (Jesus Christ, the 144,000 and the great crowd) have interesting correspondencies in the festivals celebrated according to the ancient Mosaic Law. On Nisan 16, during the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, a sheaf of the first fruits of the barley harvest was offered to Jehovah. (Leviticus 23:6-14) Nisan 16 was the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead. On the 50th day from Nisan 16, in the third month, the Israelites celebrated the festival of the harvest of the first ripe fruits of the wheat harvest. (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:15, 16) This festival came to be called Pentecost (from a Greek word meaning "fiftieth") , and it was at Pentecost 33 C.E. that the first members of the 144,000 were anointed with holy spirit. Finally, in the seventh month when the whole harvest was gathered in, there was the Festival of Booths, a time of joyful thanksgiving when the Israelites dwelt for a week in booths made of , among other things, palm branches. (Leviticus 23:33-43) Correspondingly the great crowd, who are part of the great in gathering, give thanks before the throne with "palm branches in their hands." - Revelation 7:9.

Next time: Declaring Everlasting Good News.