THE 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. 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: 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. 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" (Rev 14:1-4).

Devotion 21 of 26

FROM AMONG MEN

       " . . .  the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth."

Salvation, whether on an individual basis, or that of an entire nation, always involves  redemption from the masses, i.e., "from among men." A separation from the populace occurs with identity  with "the Lamb." While, in a sense, the saved are "in the world" (Phil 2:15; 1 Pet 5:9), they are not "of the  world." Jesus told His disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because  you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19). That expression reflects the same condition as described in the words, "redeemed from among men." 

Those used effectively by God will be separated from the world. They will not think like the world, or be characterized by its "fashion" (1 Cor 7:31). A worldly church – if there be such a thing – will not be used by Jesus, for it does not follow Him. Following Him does involve leaving the path taken by the world.

BEING FIRSTFRUITS
Here the word "firstfruits" indicates the coming of a fuller harvest of souls. The term  "firstfruits" is always used as a pledge of a future abundant harvest. It was used in that way under the first covenant, in reference to the harvest of crops (Ex 23:16; 34:22; Lev 23:10).  It is used of the experience of  salvation itself, which is a pledge of the fulness to come (Rom 8:23). The Lord Jesus Himself is the  "Firstfruits of them that slept" His resurrection being the pledge of the universal resurrection in the last day (1  Cor 15:20,23).

Note the largeness of the "firstfruits" – 144,000. That betokens the enormity of the  harvest that will follow! Remember, God has affirmed the earth will be "filled with the knowledge of the  Lord" (Hab 2:14). This is no isolated declaration. David prophesied, "All the ends of the world shall  remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations shall worship before You.  For the  kingdom is the Lord's, And He rules over the nations" (Psa 22:27, NKJV). Again, the Psalmist wrote, "All  nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your  name" (Psa 86:9, NKJV). Isaiah avowed "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters  cover the sea" (Isa 11:9).

Salvation is an exceedingly large enterprise! The Father promised the Son, "Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy  possession" (Psa 2:6). Do not doubt the possibility of such a thing! During times of  oppression, God's people  may imagine that such greatness will never happen – that it is only a vain wish. However, our text  affirms this is not the case. Believe what God says!

There will yet be a Divine initiative that will bring great glory to the Lord. It will be preceded  by the turning of Israel, who will be the "firstfruits from among men ." They will set the tone for discipleship and identity with the Lamb – something that has been largely lost in the Gentile church. Jesus will yet be honored by a multitude of followers  that willingly abandon all competing interests to follow Him.

When we ponder the condition of the modern church, the dire need for an awakening of significant measure is evident. We are living in a time when it is considered a great advance when people "praise" God. Others imagine they have made a gigantic leap forward when they obtain some measure of love for the brethren. Still others think they are in the wake of a mighty move of God when professed believers obtain some semblance of unity. As honorable as all of these things may be, they are all at the threshold of one's entrance into the Kingdom of Christ. In order to be found without a love for the brethren, or in a state of division, a person has to fall from the position in which God placed him in Christ Jesus. By loving the brethren and declaring war on division, they have only stepped up to the starting line.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a salvation that is effective in moving men out of the world, and changing them from one stage of glory to another, in order that they might obtain the eternal inheritance You have reserved for those who love You.

-- Tomorrow: MINDING EARTHLY THINGS --