144,000
“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.”
(Rev 14:1-5 KJV)
Chapter 14 gives an overview of what’s to come in chapters 15-19, covering the blessings and judgments that are to come. It opens with Jesus standing on Mt. Zion with the 144,000. These are the believers in the last days that God has called as His chosen people from every tribe of Israel to proclaim His message. We first see them in chapter 7 fulfilling their earthly ministry. Now we learn a little more about them. They have the name of Jesus written in their foreheads. This is symbolic to show that they belong to God. They are sealed with His name. They play harps and sing a new song that only they can know. This shows that they have been redeemed and received victory over sin. They were not defiled with women is symbolic if spiritual purity. The first fruits show their end-time ministerial position of those redeemed in the end-time. They are blameless servants of God.
First Fruits – 536 ἀπαρχή aparche {ap-ar-khay’}
Meaning: 1) to offer firstlings or firstfruits 2) to take away the firstfruits of the productions of the earth which was offered to God. The first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared.