1I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. 2I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3They sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.
6I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
8Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”
9Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
12Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
13I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.”
14I looked, and saw a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Send your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!” 16He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. 18Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!” 19The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20The wine press was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out of the wine press, up to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.
The Lamb and His 144,000 (purchased from the earth, chaste and blameless) stood on Mount Zion while they sang a new song to Him. This is the same 144,000 described in chapter 7. Now they are on Mount Zion, which is heaven. This indicates that these saints have been martyred. The two names, of God the Father and Jesus, being written on their foreheads, are in contrast to the mark of the beast. This shows possession and loyalty. They are God’s possession; His mark of ownership is on them. They are also loyal to him, similar to the meaning of the mark of the beast with his followers.
The two aspects of the sound, like “many waters” and like “thunder,” indicate its volume. This appears to be the music introducing the song sung by the 144,000. The mention of the four creatures and elders also clarifies that “Mount Zion” is the throne room of God. They are likely standing on the sea of glass before God’s throne and singing praise to Him.
The right to sing this song was limited to the 144,000. This is a special privilege they will have in heaven as a reward for their faithfulness till death in serving God during the Tribulation. Their moral character is first indicated by their virginity. This is an unusual designation. Normally, the term “virgin” is reserved for girls. This indicates that the 144,000 are unmarried men since marital sex does not defile.
A second privilege this group has is their close association with Jesus, the Lamb. They will follow Him continuously in eternity.
Their designation as first fruits to God indicates that they were the beginning of the harvest of souls during the Tribulation. The millions from every part of the world revealed in the second half of chapter 7 are the harvest that follows from them.
Their moral character is described further as blameless and as men who never lie. This makes this group unique among humans. Is this just symbolic language? No. This is Jesus’ assessment of these men who will be with Him throughout eternity.