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. 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. 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. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless (Rev. 14:1-5 NIV).
Notice the term "firstfruits unto God" which is a reference to the Feast of First Fruits! There were three feasts all men were to attend (Exodus chapter 23). 1. Passover - the barley harvest- the church 2. Pentecost - the wheat harvest - the Jewish remnant 3. Tabernacles - the fruit harvest - the seven continents. Notice the three important points in Rev. 14:1-5. 1. The number of the men is 144,000 Jewish men. 2. The noise in heaven is like water and thunder as the harpers play their harps and sing. 3. The new song is sung only by the 144,000 (new songs were songs in the night watches). Only the redeemed can appreciate what God has brought them out of!
The law of the three harvests, which shows the catching up of the Church: 1. Exod. 34:26 - Harvesting the first fruits - the first fruits are removed. 2. Lev. 23:22 - Harvesting the main field - the main field is harvested. 3. Lev. 19:9 - Harvesting the gleanings - the four corners are "gleaned."
The three harvests in Revelation: 1. Harvesting the first fruits (Rev. 4:1) - The church/overcomers 2. Harvesting the main field (Rev. 14:15) - The 144,000/martyrs and 3. Harvesting the four corners (Matt. 24:13) - The elect remnant. The Old testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
Comments
The Book of Revelation is the Old Testament Temple rituals. The imagery of chapter 14 is: The morning service has ended (the doors are closed) and the night services begin. A new company of priests ascended to the mountain of the Lord (Rev. 14:1). The first forty-two months the church is serving as the worshippers - the morning service. The final forty-two months the 144,00 are serving as the worshippers - the evening service, when the harps were played in the temple. In heaven there is thunder - lot of noise and praising. Earth will be the most quiet planet. In hell, there will be weeping and wailing.
In Rev. 14:6 an angel is flying through heaven preaching the eternal Gospel. In Rev. 14:8 an angel then follows, announcing the fall of Babylon. In Rev. 14:9 an angel appears, warning man not to take the mark of the beast. There are three angels with three messages. No saints are on earth to preach the gospel at this time.