Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Redeem the 144,000 (8/28/25)

I'm cautious about letting my kids use permanent markers – after all, they're permanent! However, for their swim meets this summer, I made an exception, allowing them to use permanent markers to draw pictures on each other's backs (though not on their faces).

One day, we'll all have permanent writing on our faces, but it won't be from a marker. In contrast to the second beast in last week's passage, which required everyone to receive a mark (the name of the first beast) on their right hand or forehead, Jesus chooses to put His name on the foreheads of the redeemed.

Revelation 14:1-5 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.

You might recall the 144,000 from Revelation chapter 7, who were sealed by God on their foreheads before the final judgment. Some scholars interpret this number of 144,000 as symbolic, while others believe it's literal. There's debate about whether it refers specifically to Israelites who follow Christ in the last days or represents the broader body of believers across the ages – the Church, including Gentiles. Based on the passage in Revelation 14, it seems to me that the 144,000 might not represent all believers, as they're described as firstfruits. What's clear, however, is that Jesus is worthy of praise for His redemption of both the firstfruits and all who accept His redemption.

As we reflect on this, we're faced with a question: Whose name will you have on your forehead? Will you be claimed by Satan and the beast, or by God the Father and Jesus? The good news is that Jesus's redemption is permanent – His purchase with His shed blood on the cross was a one-time, definitive act for those who receive it.