October 17, 2020 8:14 PM | A PRAYER FOR AMERICA |
October 17, 2020 8:13 PM | MESSAGE FROM ANNE BELLRINGER TO ALL EARTH PEOPLE -- [WITH DIRECT COMMENT FROM PATRICK H. BELLRINGER ABOARD THE PHOENIX COMMAND SHIP] [UPDATED 10-17-20] |
October 17, 2020 8:13 PM | SANANDA: I SHALL PREVAIL |
October 17, 2020 8:13 PM | THE TRUTH OF THE END TIMES |
October 17, 2020 8:12 PM | EXPERIENCES OF ANNE AND PATRICK BELLRINGER - Updated Oct. 17, 2020 |
October 17, 2020 10:53 AM | ~~~PHOENIX JOURNAL 5 'FROM HERE TO ARMAGEDDON - CHAPTER 6 - ASHTAR-THE DARK BROTHERHOOD [DDB's] |
October 17, 2020 10:52 AM | ASHTAR: CALL IN THE PROTECTION OF GOD |
October 17, 2020 10:51 AM | Hunter The Hunted Admits “I Am A F*cked Up Addict”—Father Joe Says “Give Me Half Of Your Salary” |
October 17, 2020 10:51 AM | ~THE LAWS OF GOD AND THE CREATION~ |
October 17, 2020 10:49 AM | THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK IN THE WHOLE WORLD! |
October 17, 2020 10:49 AM | UPDATE TO FOURWINDS READERS FROM ANNE BELLRINGER- Oct. 1 , 2020 --PART 3 |
October 17, 2020 10:47 AM | X22REPORT:Message Sent During Town-hall Interviews, Patriots Ready The Second Wave, Buckle Up – Episode 2304 |
October 17, 2020 10:47 AM | ~~~HIDDEN TRUTH SERIES~~~ |
October 17, 2020 10:46 AM | MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS ON EARTH, WERE BANNED BY US GOVERNMENT ..HERE THEY ARE! |
October 17, 2020 10:46 AM | Senate Judiciary Committee to Subpoena Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Over Blocked Hunter Biden Posts |
October 17, 2020 10:45 AM | FULFORD: WHO backpedals on Covid-19 scam as criminal, civil charges filed [FULL Report] |
October 17, 2020 10:33 AM | Romney Will Vote to Confirm Amy Coney Barrett |
October 17, 2020 10:31 AM | Retired U.S. Rear Admiral Asks Fellow Retired Flag and General Officers To Endorse Trump |
October 17, 2020 10:29 AM | Source Verifies Damaging Biden Corruption Info |
October 17, 2020 10:25 AM | Brucellosis Outbreak in China Worsening as Disease Spreads to Farms |
October 17, 2020 10:24 AM | Twitter Alters Content Moderation Policy After Backlash |
October 17, 2020 10:22 AM | GOP Files FEC Complaint Against Twitter Over Blocking of Hunter Biden Article |
October 17, 2020 10:20 AM | Thoughts to Ponder 10-17-20 |
October 17, 2020 10:19 AM | Twitter and Facebook’s Assault on Freedom of the Press |
October 17, 2020 10:15 AM | Giuliani Details Steps Taken to Authenticate Hunter Biden Material |
October 17, 2020 10:12 AM | Alexander Hamilton just lost his voice.. |
October 17, 2020 7:52 AM | The Matrix Revealed: My interviews on space-time manipulation |
October 17, 2020 7:44 AM | U.S. Consumer Sentiment Rose by More Than Expected in Early October, Trump Enjoys Slight Advantage with Independents |
October 17, 2020 7:03 AM | Poll: Donald Trump Holds Narrow Lead in Battleground Michigan |
October 16, 2020 10:15 AM | FBI Rushes Into Q Town After Hunter The Hunted And Obama Banker Bobo The Clown |
October 16, 2020 10:01 AM | X22REPORT: Welcome To 1984, Sometimes You Must Show The People, FCC Takes Aim – Episode 2303 |
October 16, 2020 9:59 AM | If Biden wins, the election is NULL AND VOID because of Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube election interference |
October 16, 2020 9:57 AM | Historic crossroads |
October 16, 2020 9:55 AM | Banks Could Face US Sanctions for Doing Business With Officials Undermining Hong Kong’s Autonomy |
October 16, 2020 9:41 AM | Joe Biden Says He Supports 8-Year-Olds Changing Gender: 'I Will Flat Out Just Change The Law' |
October 16, 2020 9:39 AM | Dutch government set to allow doctors to kill sick children |
October 16, 2020 8:51 AM | GOP Gov Turns on Trump, Kamala’s Phony Story, Social Media Censoring Team Trump, Trump’s Big Comeback & More |
October 16, 2020 8:44 AM | 'But I spoke with my virologist friend and he said..' |
October 16, 2020 8:37 AM | Ideology in Science Is Destroying Trust |
October 16, 2020 8:12 AM | Locals Skeptical as Chinese Authorities Claim No New Virus Cases, Issue Strict Containment Measures |
October 16, 2020 8:10 AM | North Carolina Absentee Ballots Must Have Witness Signatures, Judge Rules |
October 16, 2020 7:48 AM | 2 With Biden Campaign Test Positive for COVID-19; Harris Cancels Campaign Events |
October 16, 2020 7:46 AM | Thoughts to Ponder 10-16-20 |
October 16, 2020 7:39 AM | US gun sales soar amid pandemic, social unrest, election fears |
October 16, 2020 7:35 AM | Senate Republicans call on Twitter, Facebook bosses to testify amid censorship claims, say subpoena in works |
October 16, 2020 7:33 AM | Twitter now restricting access to an official government website in order to censor NY Post's bombshell Hunter Biden story |
October 16, 2020 7:29 AM | Utah: County Mails Over 13,000 Ballots with Missing Signature Line |
October 15, 2020 10:40 AM | Hunter Becomes The Hunted As Crack Addict Son Of Biden Upends Election And Stokes Seth Rich Murder Fears |
October 15, 2020 10:36 AM | X22REPORT: October Surprises, The Gift That Keeps On Giving, Wait For It – Episode 2302 |
October 15, 2020 10:34 AM | LIVE: Senators Hear From Witnesses on Final Day of Barrett Confirmation Hearings |
October 15, 2020 10:32 AM | Attacking a 'Woman of Faith' |
October 15, 2020 10:29 AM | Trump, Biden Set for Competing TV Town Halls After Debate Canceled |
October 15, 2020 10:29 AM | ENOUGH CENSORSHIP! It’s time for the DoJ to SEIZE Facebook and Twitter, arrest Zuckerberg and Dorsey over malicious blocking of bombshell NY Post article exposing the Biden crime family |
October 15, 2020 9:58 AM | Hollywood Is Dying, And The Elites Don't Care.. |
October 15, 2020 9:55 AM | Imagine If MSM Consistently Applied The Evidentiary Standards It’s Applying To Hunter Biden’s… |
October 15, 2020 8:03 AM | If the virus isn’t there..why do they believe it is? |
October 15, 2020 7:12 AM | FBI, Homeland Security Say Hackers Have Gained Access to Election Systems |
October 15, 2020 7:06 AM | Supreme Court Nominee Barrett Faces Final Day of Questioning in Confirmation Hearings |
October 15, 2020 7:03 AM | BREAKING: Twitter Locks White House Press Secretary’s Account for Sharing Hunter Biden Report. |
October 15, 2020 6:56 AM | Home Opinion Commentary Government made mental health and domestic violence worse during COVID-19 pandemic |
October 15, 2020 6:30 AM | Brit Hume Exposes Biden’s Achilles Heel – He Could Lose The Election Over His Senility |
October 15, 2020 6:25 AM | Joe Biden Goes Low With Seniors In Florida – He Just Accused Trump Of Seeing Seniors As Expendable Nobodies |
October 15, 2020 6:21 AM | Senate Democrat Candidate In NC Under Investigation – He’s Accused Of Misusing Campaign Funds While Having An Affair |
October 15, 2020 5:57 AM | After Nancy Questions If Trump Is Fit For Office – Congressman Collins Calls For Removal Of Speaker Pelosi In Resolution |
October 14, 2020 1:25 PM | China Orders Troops To “Prepare For War”—America Gives “StormBreaker Is Ready” Reply |
October 14, 2020 1:25 PM | ~~EVACUATION--FROM HERE TO ARMAGEDDON - PHOENIX JOURNAL 5, CHAPTER 5 |
October 14, 2020 1:23 PM | PEOPLE OF THE LIE: LIFT-OFF ONE OR HOW TO LEAVE PLANET EARTH |
October 14, 2020 1:22 PM | ~~~LIFT-OFF INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR EVACUATION FROM PLANET EARTH |
October 14, 2020 1:20 PM | DUTCHSINSE: 10/12/2020 -- EARTHQUAKE WATCH -- USA -- Plate goes into motion -- Pacific NW 'slow slip' begins |
October 14, 2020 1:16 PM | X22REPORT: Patriot’s Caught The [DS] Red Handed, October Surprises Being Prepped And Warmed – Episode 2301 |
October 14, 2020 12:55 PM | America Warned Is Just Weeks Away From Unstoppable Violent Civil War Outbreak |
October 14, 2020 12:38 PM | ANIMALS and POWER OF MUSIC? |
October 14, 2020 12:38 PM | Over 34,000 Health Experts Sign Declaration Against COVID-19 Lockdowns, Petition by Epidemiologists Claims |
October 14, 2020 11:34 AM | Declassified Spreadsheet Reveals Shoddy FBI Corroboration of Steele Claims |
October 14, 2020 11:33 AM | Supreme Court Nominee Barrett Refuses to Prejudge Issues Amid Grilling by Senators |
October 14, 2020 11:28 AM | Exclusive: China Had COVID-Like Patients Months Before Official Timeline |
October 14, 2020 11:25 AM | Men Who Plotted to Kidnap Michigan Governor Also Discussed Abducting Virginia Governor: FBI |
October 14, 2020 11:23 AM | Over 1 Million Mail-In Ballots Will Be Rejected, Study Predicts |
October 14, 2020 11:22 AM | Thoughts to Ponder 10-14-20 |
October 14, 2020 11:12 AM | Trump Court Sides With Trump on Request to Halt Census |
October 14, 2020 11:01 AM | Pelosi Loses it During Interview With CNN’s Wolf Blitzer |
October 14, 2020 9:48 AM | Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad |
October 14, 2020 9:37 AM | Huge sea lions spotted hanging out on a boat in Olympia |
October 14, 2020 9:34 AM | Opinion ‘Handmaid’ reality: Deeply religious marriages have more spousal equality |
October 14, 2020 9:26 AM | Ex-White House physician Ronny Jackson ‘convinced’ Biden not fit for office |
October 14, 2020 9:16 AM | The virus that isn’t there has a hypnotic effect |
October 14, 2020 9:10 AM | Senators need to hear from you today! |
October 13, 2020 11:13 AM | ~LIFT-OFF INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR EVACUATION FROM PLANET EARTH |
October 13, 2020 10:33 AM | ASHTAR: MAN MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK |
October 13, 2020 10:23 AM | X22REPORT: Dark Secrets Will Be Exposed, [BO] Was Not Tricked, Walls Are Closing In On The [DS]- Episode 2300 |
October 13, 2020 10:20 AM | Fifth of countries at risk of ecosystem collapse, analysis finds |
October 13, 2020 10:18 AM | Trump Just Went After Obama And Biden – Donald Calls On Attorney General Bill Barr To Charge Them |
October 13, 2020 10:17 AM | Trump Tests Negative for CCP Virus on Consecutive Days: White House Doctor |
October 13, 2020 9:53 AM | Radical left-wing group posts BATTLE PLANS to unleash mass CHAOS and shoot Trump supporters in the streets if Trump wins the election |
October 13, 2020 9:39 AM | The countdown has started: Liberal insanity levels over the next ten days will reach a fevered pitch as the Senate confirms Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court |
October 13, 2020 9:31 AM | Senator [Feinstein] who badgered Barrett about Catholicism in 2017 presses her on abortion at confirmation hearing |
October 13, 2020 9:12 AM | Lockdowns Have Killed What’s Left of the United Nations’ Credibility |
October 13, 2020 9:09 AM | Democrat Senator Makes Sexist Statement to Amy Coney Barrett |
October 13, 2020 8:50 AM | The Supreme battle begins today.. |
October 13, 2020 8:47 AM | Biden Says He’ll Accept Election Result ‘Without Any Questions’ |
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Bitcoin Address Lookup Search and Alerts. View and research bitcoin ownership, transactions and balance checker by name, bitcoin address, url or keyword. He will wound Jesus with the betrayal, not only of Judas, but also of Peter (22:3, 54-62). At the cross, he will mock Jesus through the voices of the leaders, the soldiers, and the criminal (23:35-39). And yet, the devil will fail, because Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit and is led by the Spirit (v. 마크 에스퍼 미 국방장관이 14일(현지시각) 열린 제52차 한미안보협의회(scm)에서 “함께 (한미)양국은 모두에게 자유롭고 개방된 인도태평양을 유지하는데 전념할 것”이라면서도 “예전에 말한 것처럼 우리 공동 방위의 비용을 분담하는 더 공정한 방법을 찾아야만 한다”고 말했다. PrefEdit4.2mactorrents.co PrefEdit 4.2 11.6 MB PrefEdit is a utility that allows you to inspect and edit all preference settings for OS X applications. The settings are displayed in a browser and can. In preparation for Sunday, February 3, 2008 Passage: Luke 4:14-44 Memory Passage: Luke 4:32 TODAY: From your study this past week, what is one thing that impressed you that can be of help in your life? DAY 1 – ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE (a) Read Luke 4:14-21. What did Jesus do following the temptation in the wilderness?
(4, 5) These are they . . .—The characteristics of the servants of the Lamb are given in this verse and the following. The first is purity: they are virgins. The expression can hardly be limited to the unmarried, as the 144,000 represent the wide society of the choice ones of God. They are those whose hearts have been made as the hearts of little children (Matthew 18:1-4), who have that purity of heart which Christ declared to be blessed, and which St. James declared to be the first mark of heavenly wisdom (Matthew 5:8, and James 3:17). The next is implicit obedience: they follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Some, indeed, take this to be a kind of heavenly reward: they shall be the nearer companions of the Lamb. But it is better to take it as describing their complete consecration to Christ. They are those who are with Christ, who have tasted the cup that their Lord tasted, and have taken up their cross and followed Him (Matthew 20:22; Luke 14:27; John 12:24-26). It is well to weigh these words; it is in the “wheresoever” that we may test the reality of our Christian life. Here lies the cross that Christ bids us take up. Here is the echo of Christ’s words, “Whosoever forsaketh not all he hath cannot be My disciple.” The third mark is separation, or unworldliness: they were purchased from among men, as a firstfruit to God and to the Lamb. They were a chosen generation, a peculiar people (Titus 2:14; 1Peter 2:9), as the Israel of God (Deuteronomy 7:6). The fourth feature is utter truthfulness: in their mouth no guile or no falsehood. (Comp. Psalms 14 and Deuteronomy 32:1-2.) The verse emphatically ends with “They are blameless.” The words “before the throne of God” must be omitted. (Comp. Revelation 7:14-15; Ephesians 5:27; and Colossians 1:22.)We have seen the servants of God; we have marked their character; we are now to see the weapon which is to be employed in the conflict against the enemies of Christ.
14:1-5 Mount Sion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church, and in the midst of her in all her troubles, therefore she is not consumed. His presence secures perseverance. His people appear honourably. They have the name of God written in their foreheads; they make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and this is followed by suitable actings. There were persons in the darkest times, who ventured and laid down their lives for the worship and truth of the gospel of Christ. They kept themselves clean from the wicked abominations of the followers of antichrist. Their hearts were right with God; and they were freely pardoned in Christ; he is glorified in them, and they in him. May it be our prayer, our endeavour, our ambition, to be found in this honourable company. Those who are really sanctified and justified are meant here, for no hypocrite, however plausible, can be accounted to be without fault before God.These are they - In this verse, and in the following verse, the writer states the leading characteristics of those who are saved. The general idea is, that they are chaste; that they are the followers of the Lamb; that they are redeemed from among people; and that they are without guile.Which were not defiled with women - Who were chaste. The word 'defiled' here determines the meaning of the passage, as denoting that they were not guilty of illicit sexual intercourse with women. It is unnecessary to show that this is a virtue everywhere required in the Bible, and everywhere stated as among the characteristics of the redeemed. On no point are there more frequent exhortations in the Scriptures than on this; on no point is there more solicitude manifested that the professed friends of the Saviour should be without blame. Compare the Acts 15:20 note; Romans 1:24-32 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:18 note; Hebrews 13:4 note. See also 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3. This passage cannot be adduced in favor of celibacy, whether among the clergy or laity, or in favor of monastic principles in any form; for the thing that is specified is, that they were not 'defiled with women,' and a lawful connection of the sexes, such as marriage, is not defilement. See the notes on Hebrews 13:4. The word rendered here 'defiled' - ἐμολύνθησαν emolunthēsan, from μολύνω molunō - is a word that cannot be applied to the marriage relation. It means properly to 'soil, to stain, to defile.' 1 Corinthians 8:7; 'their conscience being weak, is defiled.' Revelation 3:4; 'which have not defiled their garments.' The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament, except in the passage before us, and it will be seen at once that it cannot be applied to that which is lawful and proper, and consequently that it cannot be construed as an expression against marriage and in favor of celibacy. It is a word that is properly expressive of illicit sexual intercourse - of impurity and unchastity of life - and the statement is, that they who are saved are not impure and unchaste.
For they are virgins - παρθένοι parthenoi. This is the masculine form, but this form is found in the later Greek and in the Christian fathers. See Suidas and Suicer, Thes. The meaning of the word, when found in the feminine form, is well understood. It denotes a virgin, a maiden, and thence it is used to denote what is chaste and pure: virgin modesty; virgin gold; virgin soil; virgin blush; virgin shame. The word in the masculine form must have a similar meaning as applied to men, and may denote:
(a) those who are unmarried;
(b) those who are chaste and pure in general.
The word is applied by Suidas to Abel and Melchizedek. 'The sense,' says DeWette, in loco, 'cannot be that all these 144,000 had lived an unmarried life; for how could the apostle Peter, and others who were married, have been excluded? But the reference must be to those who held themselves from all impurity - 'unkeuschheit und hurerei' - which, in the view of the apostles, was closely connected with idolatry.' Compare Bleek, Beitr. i. 185. Prof. Stuart supposes that the main reference here is to those who had kept themselves from idolatry, and who were thus pure. It seems to me, however, that the most obvious meaning is the correct one, that it refers to the redeemed as chaste, and thus brings into view one of the prominent things in which Christians are distinguished from the devotees of nearly every other form of religion, and, indeed, exclusively from the world at large. This passage, also, cannot be adduced in favor of the monastic system, because:
(a) whatever may be said anywhere of the purity of virgins, there is no such commendation of it as to imply that the married life is impure;
(b) it cannot be supposed that God meant in any way to reflect on the married life as in itself impure or dishonorable;
(c) the language does not demand such an interpretation; and,
(d) the facts in regard to the monastic life have shown that it has had very little pretensions to a claim of virgin purity.
Framer x individual. These are they which follow the Lamb - This is another characteristic of those who are redeemed - that they are followers of the Lamb of God. That is, they are his disciples; they imitate his example; they obey his instructions; they yield to his laws; they receive him as their counselor and their guide. See the notes on John 10:3, John 10:27.
Whithersoever he goeth - As sheep follow the shepherd. Compare Psalm 23:1-2. It is one characteristic of true Christians that they follow the Saviour wherever he leads them. Be it into trouble, into danger, into difficult duty; be it in Christian or pagan lands; be it in pleasant paths, or in roads rough and difficult, they commit themselves wholly to his guidance, and submit themselves wholly to his will.
These were redeemed from among men - This is another characteristic of those who are seen on Mount Zion. They are there because they are redeemed, and they have the character of the redeemed. They are not there in virtue of rank or blood John 1:13; not on the ground of their own works Titus 3:5; but because they are redeemed unto God by the blood of his Son. See the notes on Revelation 5:9-10. None will be there of whom it cannot be said that they are 'redeemed'; none will be absent who have been truly redeemed from sin.
Being the first-fruits unto God - On the meaning of the word 'first-fruits,' see the notes on 1 Corinthians 15:20. The meaning here would seem to be, that the hundred and forty-four thousand were not to be regarded as the whole of the number that was saved, but that they were representatives of the redeemed. They had the same characteristics which all the redeemed must have; they were a pledge that all the redeemed would be there. Prof. Stuart supposes that the sense is, that they were, as it were, 'an offering especially acceptable to God.' The former explanation, however, meets all the circumstances of the case, and is more in accordance with the usual meaning of the word.
continued..
4. virgins—spiritually (Mt 25:1); in contrast to the apostate Church, Babylon (Re 14:8), spiritually 'a harlot' (Re 17:1-5; Isa 1:21; contrast 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25-27). Their not being defiled with women means they were not led astray from Christian faithfulness by the tempters who jointly constitute the spiritual 'harlot.'follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth—in glory, being especially near His person; the fitting reward of their following Him so fully on earth.
redeemed—'purchased.'
being the—rather, 'as a first-fruit.' Not merely a 'first-fruit' in the sense in which all believers are so, but Israel's 144,000 elect are the first-fruit, the Jewish and Gentile elect Church is the harvest; in a further sense, the whole of the transfigured and translated Church which reigns with Christ at His coming, is the first-fruit, and the consequent general ingathering of Israel and the nations, ending in the last judgment, is the full and final harvest.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins; that is, that would not comply with antichristian idolatry and superstition; for idolatry is all along in holy writ compared to whoredom and fornication. Which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; that follow the Lord Christ fully, in all things keeping close to the rules of worship and life which he hath given.
These were redeemed from among men; these show themselves to be redeemed by the blood of Christ from the vain conversation of men, whether towards God, in matters of worship, or towards men.
Being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb;
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that are consecrated to, and accepted of God, as the first-fruits were, being the only part of the world that are not profane. These are they which were not defiled with women,.. With the whore of Rome, and her harlots, she is the mother of; while the kings and inhabitants of the earth were drunk with the wine of their fornication, or committed idolatry with them, which is spiritual fornication, and is here meant by being defiled with them, these were free from such pollutions, or idolatrous practices:for they are virgins; for their beauty and comeliness in Christ, chastity, sincerity of their love, uncorruptness in doctrine and worship, and for the uprightness of conversation; See Gill on Matthew 25:1;
these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; as the sheep follow the shepherd of the flock, and which is a character of Christ's sheep, John 10:4. These follow Christ in the exercise of the graces of humility, patience, and love; and in the performance of the several duties of religion, and subjection to ordinances, and in the path of sufferings; and in every way in which Christ the Lamb has gone before them, or in his word and providence leads and directs them to, whether it be grateful to the flesh or not; particularly they follow where he is preached, and his Word and ordinances are faithfully administered; and they follow him to heaven, where he is: it was part of the oath taken by the Roman soldiers, ' , 'to follow the generals wherever they should lead' (n), to which it is thought there is an allusion here; see 2 Samuel 15:21;
these were redeemed from among men; 'by Jesus', as the Syriac and Arabic versions add, and so the Complutensian edition; by the blood of Christ, for all men are not redeemed by it; and in consequence of this they were called, and delivered from this present evil world, and the men of it, and from a vain, wicked, and idolatrous conversation with it:
being the firstfruits unto God, and to the Lamb; in allusion to the firstfruits under the law, which represented and sanctified the lump, and showed that harvest was coming; so these persons are called the firstfruits to God, and to the Lamb, being called by grace, and consecrated to their worship and service, with reference to the harvest of souls, or that large number of them which will be gathered in during the spiritual reign of Christ, which these persons will be at the beginning of; and as those who are first called and converted in a country or nation are said to be the firstfruits of it, Romans 16:5; so these being the first, in the period of time to which respect is had, bear this name; and as the converted Jews received the firstfruits of the Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, and at other times, so these will receive the firstfruits of the far greater pouring forth of the Spirit in the latter day, which will begin, and usher in the kingdom of Christ; see Romans 8:23.
(n) Vid. Lydii Dissert. de Jurament. Xscope 4 4 1st. c. 2. p. 258.
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb {1} stood on the mount Sion, and with him {2} an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's {3} name written in their foreheads.(1) The history of the Church of Christ being finished for more than a 1300 years at which time Boniface the eighth lived as has been said: there remains the rest of the history of the conflicting or militant church, from there to the time of the last victory in three chapters. For first of all, as the foundation of the whole history, is described the standing of the Lamb with his army and retinue in five verses, after his worthy acts which he has done and yet does in most mighty manner, while he overthrows Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth, in the rest of this chapter and in the two following. To the description of the Lamb, are propounded three things: his situation, place and attendance: for the rest are expounded in the former visions, especially in the fifth chapter.
(2) Prepared to do his office see Ac 7:56, in the midst of the church, which mount Zion pictured before.
Prefedit 4 3 14 Equals
(3) This retinue of the Lamb is described first by divine mark
Prefedit 4 3 14 Esv
(as before in) Re 7:2 in this verse. Then by divine occupation, in that every one in his retinue most earnestly and sweetly Re 14:2 glorify the Lamb with a special song before God and his elect angels. Flesh and blood cannot hear this song, nor understand, Re 14:3. Lastly by their deeds done before, and their sanctification in that they were virgins, pure from spiritual and bodily fornication, that is, from impiety and unrighteousness. They followed the Lamb as a guide to all goodness, cleaved to him and are holy to him, as by grace redeemed by him. In truth and simplicity of Christ they have exercised all these things, sanctimony of life, the guidance of the Lamb, a thankful remembrance of redemption by him and finally (to conclude in a word) they are blameless before the Lord, Re 14:4,5.