Revelation 14:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

NIV: No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

NASB: And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

CSB: No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

NLT: They have told no lies; they are without blame.

KJV: And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

NKJV: And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

This verse further describes the 144,000 as totally honest and blameless. They stood resolutely against the deception of the age that reached its peak in the words and actions of the false prophet. Whereas the false prophet deceived the masses by his wonders, the 144,000 faithfully represented Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6).

These faithful followers of the Lamb are also depicted as "blameless." The word translated "blameless" is the Greek amōmoi, which describes an animal that has passed inspection and is qualified to be a sacrifice because it has no defect. The apostle Peter described Jesus as having redeemed us with his blood, "like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Although the 144,000 are not sinless, they cannot be rightfully accused of any lies or wrongdoing. We, too, ought to live in such a way that no one will be able to accuse us of bad speech or evil deeds.

Revelation 14:1–5 reports that John saw the Lamb and the 144,000 sealed Jews standing on Mount Zion. This continues Revelation's temporary break from a moment-by-moment account of end-times judgments, looking forward to the end of all things. The 144,000 are those we read about in Revelation 7. They come from the tribes of Israel and receive God's seal on their foreheads (Revelation 7:2–4). They serve God faithfully throughout the tribulation and are among those who survive to enjoy shelter, refreshment, and comfort in Messiah's kingdom (Revelation 7:15–17). There is great rejoicing in heaven as the 144,000 stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.

This chapter distinguishes two groups of people: those who believe in Jesus during the tribulation and those who worship the beast. John sees the Lamb, Jesus, and the 144,00 sealed Jewish servants of God standing together on Mount Zion. The scene anticipates the end of the tribulation with the 144,000 celebrating their victory over the beast. Heaven, too, celebrates their triumph. The eternal good news of salvation reaches the ends of the earth, calling upon everyone to turn to God or face His judgment and announcing the collapse of commercial Babylon and the eternal punishment of the beast, whose image so many unbelievers worshiped. This impending judgment is cause for believers to stay loyal to the Lord. Many believers will face martyrdom, but their temporary suffering does not compare with the eternal suffering worshipers of the beast will experience. When Christ returns to earth, the destruction of the wicked will be so complete that blood will flow so high it will reach a horse's bridle.

This chapter continues a segment of Revelation which deviates from the chronological account of the end times. These events occur at the end of the tribulation, when Christ returns to defeat all the remaining wickedness on earth. This event is given more details in chapter 19. In Acts 14:19–22 we learn that Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged the believers by saying believers must endure many tribulations before they enter the kingdom. Revelation 14 and 15 offer similar encouragement to stay loyal to Christ in the face of persecution. Chapter 16 resumes a step-by-step account of the end times.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''

Accessed 5/7/2024 10:53:20 AM