January 24, Revelation 14
The gospel divides the human family into two groups. When judgment comes, the division will be certain and permanent. One group will be celebrating with the Lamb who redeemed them. The other group will be in a place of torment, restlessness and banishment from God’s presence. John wrote about the coming judgment to encourage the saints. He stressed the reward awaiting them, and assured them
that evil would not win the conflict or escape divine wrath.
I’ve tried to avoid symbol-mongering in these essays. But two figurative descriptions in this passage have been so misunderstood and misapplied that the hope and confidence they were meant to convey has been turned into fear and confusion. I’m thinking of the 144,000 and the marks on the foreheads. Maybe a brief word about each of these matters will be encouraging.
The image of the 144,000 came up a few chapters ago. It is rooted in the symbolic significance of numbers in apocalyptic literature. 12 is a significant Old and New Testament number—the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Christ. 1,000 (the largest practical number in the thinking of many ancient peoples) represented the full extent or totality. In typical apocalyptic math, these factors could be combined: 12 times itself times 1,000, or 144,000. Those who suggest a literal 144,000 are the only ones who will be redeemed or go to heaven remove one detail from this symbolic context and insist it is literal. The passage identifies the group. They knew the song only the redeemed could know. They were pure virgins (spiritually) who had not been defiled by worshipping the false god. They were
firstfruits, not in the sense of the first wave of harvest with more to follow, but in the sense of being holy to the Lord.
The redeemed had the Father’s name on their foreheads. Remember, we’re reading apocalyptic literature, full of symbols. This one seems to suggest bearing God’s likeness, having God’s character, being loyal to God and belonging to God. That’s contrasted to the beast worshippers who had the beast’s mark on their foreheads and hands—again a symbolic way of saying these people had the character and conduct of the one to whom they had been loyal. I don’t believe the mark of the beast is a
literal mark, such as a UPC barcode or your Social Security number as some have alleged.
Remember John’s intent. Revelation was not written to terrify the saints, but to assure them, to bolster their confidence and encourage them to remain faithful to God regardless of what happened around them. So he contrasted the victory celebration in heaven with the terrible ruin of the Lamb’s enemies. The same gospel that brings salvation to those who accept and respond to it brings condemnation to those who
despise and reject it. The same judgment which brings honor and eternal blessings to the Lamb’s people brings the wrath of God and eternal punishment to his enemies.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—January 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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