There have been speculation about who the 144 thousand are, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Stop and think. Who are the people who follow the Lamb wherever he goes? Doesn't the Apostle Paul say that those who are raised and then ascend to meet the Lord in the air will be ever with the Lord?

Well then, it is kind of obvious that the 144 thousand of Revelation, Chapter Fourteen are the victorious saints, the Christians who are sold out to God. (Will there be another group following the Lord wherever He goes?)

How do we know they are victorious saints? We know they are victorious saints because they are standing with Jesus on Mount Zion. This means they are with Him in victory. Mount Zion was the location of the Ark of the Covenant when the remainder of the Tabernacle was at the high place of Gibeon. Zion represents victory in Jesus.

They have Jesus' Father's name written in their foreheads, meaning they always do God's will. Is that true of you?

They are singing a new song because they are new creations in Christ Jesus.

They have been redeemed from the earth. They have counted their life in this present unstable world as a pilgrimage toward a city that has foundations.

Is this the case with you? It is of all true disciples of the Lord. Right?

They are not defiled with "women" meaning they are not "married" to their job, their money, their life in the world, or any other thing, circumstance, or relationship. Their love for Jesus is of supreme importance.

This does not mean they neglect their family. The true disciple of the Lord fulfills all his family obligations. The Lord Jesus will accept nothing less!

If you want your relationships to your family and other people to be satisfying and permanent, relate to them through Jesus. If you do not relate to your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, mother, father, through Jesus your relationship to the person will not prove to be as solid as a relationship established in Jesus.

Put Jesus first and all else will fall into line. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Is this true of you? I hope so. They are firstfruits to God and the Lamb. The first green beans picked from the vine are the best. If you cook them up with some ham and then put butter on them you don't need ice cream for dessert. Boy are they good! But after you pick over the vine a few times the beans begin to get stringy and woody. The firstfruits off the vine are the best.

The firstfruits off God's vine are the best. They are the victorious saints about whom you have heard so much recently. No guile is found in their mouth. The problem with us human beans is that we are as full of guile as the Internet is full of words. Satan has wounded our heel so we can't stand upright. Do you know why we talk so much? It is because we are trying to prove to people we are righteous in what we are doing. We all are con artists. The more mature we become as saints the less talking we do. We don't have to prove anything to ourselves or anyone else.

Only the Lord Jesus can burn the guile out of us until we stand upright on our feet and look people squarely in the eye. Being free from guile is the mark of spiritual maturity. Such are without fault before the Throne of God. They have become as children as far as malice and deceit are concerned.

There is no guile in God or Christ and there is to be none in us.

God says what He means and means what He says. Let us be like this. God has forgiven you through the blood of Jesus Christ. Your sins of the past have been cast behind God's back. Now He will strengthen you and give you wisdom until you are one of the 144 thousand standing on Mount Zion with the Lord.

What? You are afraid there already are 144 thousand with the Lord and you're too late? Don't worry. Like the rest of Revelation it is probably a symbolic number. Tell Jesus you want to join the group. I think you'll find there's room for you.

"Though millions have come, there's still room for one" (from an old hymn).

Move over, guys, there's a new kid on the block.

Again, the victorious saints are seen as those who escape being influenced by Antichrist because they keep the commandments of God and hold the faith of Jesus. If we have the faith of Jesus and yet do not keep God's commandments we are vulnerable to Antichrist.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

To be continued.