Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

144,000

March 21, 2011

The 144,000 who have the mark of the Lamb, not the Beast, the redeemed from the terrors of the beast and bloody Babylon. But I ask, redeemed from what?

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.
                                               - Revelation 14:1 TNIV

We are told that the 144,000 are virtually without sin, perfect, those who had only done the right thing for their lives, redeemed. Has the gospel suddenly changed? Is salvation after all by works, the accomplished pursuit of perfection? Doesn't the Lamb of God (from Chap 5) have to be slain to redeem sinners? Of course! This passage has been misunderstood by cults as a return to perfectionism, and works-oriented theology, sadly.

Salvation does not change, certainly not in Rev 14. All who look to the Lamb, like Moses' staff (Num 21:6-9) lifted up in the Wilderness will be saved. Today keep your eyes on the Lamb, the Lamb is worthy, the Lamb is our Redeemer.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson