Today I received revelation from the Holy Spirit, and I know this because my face is stained with the abundance of tears that came when He showed me the answers. Maybe some of you saw all this a long time ago - I do realize that it was written right there in plain sight - but today is the first day I have had such profound, anointed understanding.
Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
The first thing that blew me away was this: these 144,000 have TWO names written on their foreheads - not just one! The name YHVH (Yehovah) is written there, but also the name YESHUA.
It appears to me to be a "double blessing." I don't remember any other place in Scripture where anyone is marked with BOTH the names of the Father and the Son.
These 144,000 young men are playing harps and they sang a "new song" before the four living creatures and the elders. In order to be before these heavenly beings, they have to be in the Heavenly Throne Room. And they are there before the rest of the saints are gathered (or "raptured.") They are the only ones who can learn this song. That means you can't learn it and neither can I. Why? Let's look into the answer for that question, which leads us to discover their true purpose.I have listened to many teachers say that these 144,000 men are "last-days evangelists" to go throughout the earth preaching the Gospel. It doesn't say that in the Bible! The verses that follow in Chapter 14 do speak about an angel "flying in mid-air, who had the eternal gospel to proclaim to all who live on the earth." But that is the job of this specific angel, not of the 144,000! So what is their purpose and why have they been given this honor to be in person with the Lamb (Yeshua) in the heavenly Jerusalem before any of the rest of us who are still alive and believe in Him?
As the Spirit showed me, I just couldn't contain my tears. These young men are blameless. They are virgins. They have never lied. They follow the Lamb (Yeshua) wherever He goes. This tells me that from a very young age they have been set apart to Him, wholly surrendered, keeping His commandments and doing whatever He called them to do, in perfect obedience.
There are 12,000 of them from every tribe on earth. I believe this is a literal number, not a symbolic one. So this tells me that there are 12,000 from each of the original 12 tribes, who are probably gathered from all the nations where they were scattered over the ages. Perhaps they were touched by the Ruach (Holy Spirit) at a very young age, chosen by God and marked for this very purpose. Maybe they even grew up in families that were not walking with God, and yet He touched them and kept them pure. I know of two families right now in my own circles who have little boys who believe deeply in Jesus, but whose parents do not! It is possible for the Ruach to continue to fan the flames in these young boys' spirits and cause them to be overcomers even if they are surrounded by unbelief.
Then we are told that these 144,000 holy young men were "purchased from mankind and offered as firstfruits to God." Yes, it has always been written right there - but I didn't get it. Not until today. Today, through my tears, I caught the vision! These 144,000 have one single purpose and that is to go before you and before me, to stand in the Heavenly Throne Room as firstfruits offerings from all mankind on the earth.
2 Cor. 15:20 tells us,
"But Messiah has indeed been raised
from the dead, the firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep.
Messiah Yeshua was indeed the firstfruits offering from those who have "fallen asleep," or died. He perfectly fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits, being resurrected from the dead and entering Heaven three days after His death on the stake. But these 144,000 - are they not then the firstfruits from the living?
They stand with Yeshua on the mountain in Jerusalem playing their harps and singing this wondrous new song, as they are offered to Him as a firstfruits offering of those still upon the earth awaiting their deliverance. As a reward for their pure, undefiled lives, they are offered on our behalf - because we are not undefiled! They sing and play to worship the King; but their worship is offered for all of us who cannot yet learn the song.
What a glorious purpose they have! It was written there all along, but many of us tried so hard to give them some other mission. "Surely they must be the earth's final evangelists," we thought. "Surely they will lead the military procession into Armaggedon!" No, I don't see any of that written. I see a higher purpose, a more beautiful expression of the fulfillment of the LORD's feast days. I think it is highly likely that these 144,000 men will be sealed on Mount Zion on the Feast of Shavu'ot (Pentecost). Just as the two "fine flour" loaves were waved before the LORD as the firstfruits offering in Leviticus 23:16-17, so these 144,000 fine men are "waved" before the LORD on Mount Zion and sealed with His Name and the Name of His Son, and offered as firstfruits to them both.
I am a worship leader. I used to read Revelation 14 and wish so much that I could know this song that they sing. But today I simply bow before Messiah and offer my gratitude that the song will be offered up on my behalf - as another gesture of His amazing grace!
