Verses 1 through 5 of Revelation depict the 144,000 people encircling the throne in a future vision (Revelation 7:9).
The following are this group's characteristics:
1. The Father's Name is inscribed on their forehead. Their personalities have changed so that they more closely resemble the Father.
2. A brand-new song is sung. This expression encapsulates their unique experience during this difficult time.
3. They are virgins who have not polluted themselves with women. Their religion is completely pure. They have become one with the complete, and unadulterated truth.
4. Wherever the Lamb goes, they follow Him. They maintain unwavering loyalty to the Lamb and faithfully follow Jesus in all circumstances.
5. They are the first-fruits and receive salvation. According to 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, Jesus was the First Fruits from the Grave (observe the Feast of the Wave Sheaf and the two loaves of the Feast of Pentecost-Leviticus 23:10–11, 17). The earliest fruits' appearance predicts a larger harvest. The messages that the three angels proclaim result in a larger harvest. Chapter 7 depicts an enormous throng gathering around the King.
Revelation Chapter 14 verse 1 to 5
1 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.
2 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:
3 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.
4 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.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
This Lamb is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
We have previously discussed who this group is.
God's anger on the Egyptians was shielded from the Israelites in Egypt, sealing them (Revelation 6:14–7:4) for their safety on the day of vengeance. The blood was to serve as a mark, symbol, or token for them, designating that the angel of death would pass over them upon seeing it. The symbol represented the children of Israel's promise to escape the plague.
Revelation 7:3 describes the sealing of the 144,000 "in their foreheads". The inscription of the Father's name on the forehead signifies the interchangeability of the seal and His name. Old seals bore the names of authenticating agents.
The name applied to the 144,000 represents:
• Ownership - The 144,000 belong to God.
• Character - Through the grace of God, the 144,000 have progressed to a point in their spiritual development where they perfectly exemplify the character of Christ, their Savior. This is indicated by the Greek word for name, which also signifies character.
Isaiah 8:16 - “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.”
In Isaiah 8:16, we learn that God's law will be sealed among His people. (Exodus 33:18–19; 34:5-8; 20:5–6) The law also reflects God's character. Every law requires a seal to be valid. The fourth Commandment, known as the Sabbath Commandment, has the seal of the Law.
a) The Sabbath is also a seal or sign of creation, indicating that God created all things (Exodus 31:17).
b) It is a sign that you regard Jesus as your Lord because Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8).
c) It is a seal or sign that God is the One who sanctifies you (that is, the restoration of the image of God in man—Ezekiel 20:12).
d) The way in which a believer receives the seal of the Sabbath is by hallowing it (Ezekiel 20:20).
Redeemed means “to buy,” “to purchase.”
Romans 3:24 - “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 - “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Scripture uses a woman as a symbol for a church: Revelation 12:1 uses a pure woman to symbolize the true church, while Revelation 17:1–5 uses an immoral woman to symbolize the apostate church. (Revelation 17:1–5) An impure mother and her daughters represent the Church of Rome, as well as various apostate sects that follow her.
The saints are referred to as virgins because they either avoided Babylon or had no dealings with her. (Revelation, 18:4) They refused any association with Babylon and her daughters at the time when they had become Satan's instruments in his final attempt to eliminate the saints (Revelation 13:15). Despite coming from one of many false churches, Satan did not tempt them to compromise.
The ancient Israelites gave the Lord their first fruits as both personal (Deuteronomy 26:1–11) and national (Leviticus 23:10–17) gifts. They gave the first fruits as a thanksgiving for how good God was for giving them the crop. Usually, the national gift was also very important (1 Corinthians 15:20).
The term “first-fruits” applied to the 144,000 may be understood in two ways.
The first payment or promise represents the great harvest. The 144,000 are the ones who won the big battle against the beast and his image (Revelation 14:1). They are freed from this fight and can now stand before God's throne in safety.
As simply meaning “gift” or “offering.” Therefore, we could describe the 144,000 as "first fruits," either as a part of a larger group or as a gift to God.