Follow the Lamb
Read: Revelation 14:1-5
Here we have what Matthew Henry calls “one of the most pleasing sights that can be viewed in this world— the Lord Jesus Christ at the head of His faithful adherents and attendants.”
If you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, you too will one day stand in Christ’s Kingdom, the New Jerusalem, and praise Him forever.
The “144,000” people who bear the mark of God on their forehead represent the whole church, the spiritual Israel, who have been delivered by God through many trials and tribulations, and now “make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ,” singing a new song before the throne.
John hears the saints praising God with this new song so loudly and passionately that it sounds to him like the roar of many waters, booming thunder, and harps. Throughout the Old Testament, and especially the Psalms, God’s people sang new songs to celebrate “a new day of victory for God.” This song is known and knowable only to those who are members of the 144,000, each of whom is known and sealed by God Himself. The unredeemed cannot participate in this song and are shut out of the kingdom for their rebellion and wickedness.
These 144,000, “who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins… follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” They are also described as trustworthy and blameless. Henry Swete writes that “after purity, truthfulness was perhaps the most distinctive mark of the followers of Christ when contrasted with their heathen neighbors.”
It’s common for the Bible to use metaphors that are sexual in nature to depict spiritual faithfulness or adultery (here, virgins). Unlike those who dwell on earth and who indulge in the idolatry, luxury, and excesses of Babylon, by God’s grace, Christ’s people reject the wicked’s siren song and the ways of their Old Testament forefathers by refusing to “play the whore.” They remain unstained from the world and faithful to their Master amid severe persecution.
In verse 4 of this chapter, we see one of the clearest marks of a true Christian:
It is these who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
As Henry puts it, “they follow the conduct of His word, Spirit, and providence, leaving it to Him to lead them into what duties and difficulties He pleases.”
This is perhaps the greatest distinction between earthly moralists and followers of Christ. The former follow His teachings only insofar as they feel comfortable, satisfied, or accepted, but the latter leave everything to follow Him. Even if He sends inconvenient duties and difficulties our way, we are concerned with one thing: to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, both in His life and in His death.
Follow Christ wherever He goes.
To help the needy.
To comfort the oppressed.
To confront the false teachers.
To love widows and orphans.
And ultimately to take up our cross and follow Him, even unto death.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
The eternal glories of Mount Zion await those who endure.
Watch and pray!
May God bless you,
T