Singing the Triumphal New Son:

 Vision 9 - REVELATION 14:1-20

Subject: The 144,000  are with the Lamb  on Mount Zion; anbelic  pronouncements sound through the earth; harvests are reaped

Time of fulfillment: 1914 to the great tribulaton

How refreshing it is to turn to John's next vision!  In contrast with the dragon's grotesque beastlike organizations, we now see Jehovah's loyal servants and their activities during the Lord's day.  (Revelation 1:10) Already,  Revelation 7:1, 3 has disclosed to us that the four winds  of destructo are being held back until all 144,000  of these anointed slaves are seaked Revelation 12:17) has  made known that these "remaining ones of [the woman's ] seed" become   the special target of Satan, the dragon, during that time.  And Revelation chapter 13 has vividly depicted the political organizations raised up on earth by Satan to bring intense pressure   and  cruel persecution  on Jehovah's faithful servants. But that archememy cannot thwart God's purpose!  We will  now learn that despite  Satan'  manevolent activity, all the 144,000 are trimuphantly gathered. 

John, and with him the John class today, is given a  preview of that happy outccome:  "And I saw, and look!  the Lamb standing upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred  and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Fathther written on their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1)  As we have seen, this Lamb is the same as the Michael who cleansed  the heavens by casting out the Devil  and his demons.  He is the Michael whom Daniel describes   as "standing in behalf of the sons of [God's ] people" as he prepares to "stand up" in executing Jehovah's righteous judgments.  (Daniel  12:1;  Revelation 12:7)  Since 1914 this self-sacrifing Lamb of God has been standing on Mount Zion as the Messianic King.

It is just as Jehovah foretold:  "I, even I have installed my  king upon Mount Zion, my holy mountain."  (ItPsalm 2:6; 110:2)  This no longer refers to the earthly Mount Zion, the geographical location of earthly Jeusalem. in w hich city human kings in the line of David used to reign.  (1 Chronicles 11:4-7; 2 Chronicles 5:2)  No, for Jesus after his death and resurrection in 33 C.E, was installed as a foundation cornerstone on the heavenly Mount Zion,  the celestial location where Jehovah determined  to place the "city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, which is the Kingdom.   (Hebrews 12:22, 28; Ephesians 3:6)  It is the glorious royal situaton to which Jehovah elevates them during the Lord's day.  Over the centuries anointed Christians, as "living stones," have earnestly looked forward to standing  on that heavenly Mount Zion, united with the glorified Lord Jesus  Christ in his majestic Kingdom. - 1 PETER 2:4-6;  LUKE 22:28-30; JOHN 14:2, 3. 

John sees not only Jesus but the compete body of the 144,000 fellow heirs  of the heavenly Kingdom standing upon the Mount Zion.  At the time represented by the vision, many, but not all, of the 144,000 are already in heaven.  Later in the same vision, John learns  that some of the holy ones  still have to endure and die faithful.  (Revelaton 14:12, 13)  Evidently, then, some of the 144,000 are still one earth.  So how is that John sees all of them standing  with Jesus on Mount Zion?  In that, as members of the congregation of anointed Christians, these have now "approached  a Mount Zion ad a city of the city of the living God  heavenly Jerusalem."  (Hebrews 12:22) Like Paul when he was still on earth, they have aleady-in a spiritual sense-been raised  up to be in union with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:5, 6)  Additionally, i 1919 they responded  to the inviataion,  "Come on up here," and in a figuratively way "went up into heaven in the cloud."  (Revelaton 11:12)  In view of these scriptures, we can see that all the 144,000 - spirituall speakig -are located on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ.

The 144,000 have no part with the worshippers of the wild beastm who are marked with the symbolic number 666. (Revelation13:15-18)  In contrast, these loyal ones have the name of God and of the Lamb written on their foreheads.  No doubt John, a Jew, saw God's name in Hebrew lettering of Jesus' Father symbolically written  on their  foreheads, these sealed ones make known  to all that they are Jehovah's Witnesses, His slaves. (Revelation 3:2) Their having Jesus' name also displayed  on their foreheads  indicate that  they acknowledge being owned by him.  He is  their "betrothed "husband," and they are his propestive  "bride," a new creation" serving God with heavenly life in view.  (Ephesians 5:22-24; Revelation 21:2, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:17)  Their intimate relationship with Jehovah and Jesus Christ affects all their thoughts and actions. 

Next time:  Singing  the Triumphal New Song -Singing as if a New Song

From the jw.orgpublications