hotcoffee
New Member
Revelation 14:1 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.
One of the commentaries cites Matthew 19:12 here.
Matthew 19:11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
The commentary says "Such a large group of men committing themselves to God in this way will be hard to miss." I would bet that 144,000 all going celibate at the same time after everything that has been going on would make the Washington Post or the local TV news. Of course with the beast in control, this wouldn't be a feel good story.... they would, instead, be pointed at and jeered at the very least.
The commentary also says that we will see "the woman" in Revelation 17. The commentary points out that in these verses the noun is women as opposed to woman. So these really are 144,000 celibate men.
