"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1).

"[The 144,000] bore the signet of heaven. They reflected the image of God."–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 978.

Suggested Readings: Maranatha, pp. 241, 242.
The Great Controversy, pp. 648, 649.

Sunday September 16

1. THE GREAT TEST BEFORE US

a. What test is awaiting the people of God in the near future as far as buying and selling is concerned? Revelation 13:17.

"The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast."–Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 152.

b. What argument will be used by the people of God when brought before the authorities? Acts 5:29.

"We are not to inquire, What is the practice of men? or, What is the custom of the world? We are not to ask, How shall I act in order to have the approval of men? or, What will the world tolerate? The question of intense interest to every soul is, What hath God said? We are to read His Word and obey it, not swerving one jot or tittle from its requirements, but acting irrespective of human traditions and jurisdiction."– The Review and Herald, October 1, 1895.

c. What is the number of that power which uses traditions to persecute God’s people? Revelation 13:18.

Monday September 17

2. VICTORY OVER THE BEAST

a. What company did the prophet see on Mount Zion? What did they have on their foreheads and what were they doing? Revelation 14:1; 7:4.

"‘And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him a hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads’ (Revelation 14:1). In this world their minds were consecrated to God; they served Him with the intellect and with the heart; and now He can place His name ‘in their foreheads.’"–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 590.

"With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had."–The Great Controversy, pp. 648, 649.

b. What is special about this company of 144,000, and where else were they seen? What promise is given to the overcomers in the period of Laodicea? Revelation 15:2; 3:21; 20:4.

"While John was shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers, he was also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful. He saw the church brought into deadly conflict with the beast and his image, and the worship of that beast enforced on pain of death. But looking beyond the smoke and din of the battle, he beheld a company upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having, instead of the mark of the beast, ‘the Father’s name written in their foreheads.’ And again he saw ‘them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God’ and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb."–Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 752, 753.

Tuesday September 18

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL

a. What have always been the characteristics of God’s remnant people? Zephaniah 3:12; Revelation 14:5 (first part).

"One of the marked features in the representation of the 144, 000 is that in their mouth there was found no guile. The Lord has said, ‘Blessed is the man . . . in whose spirit there is no guile.’ They profess to be children of God, and are represented as following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints." –Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 424.

"It is not enough to live in the atmosphere of truth; the truth itself must be in our hearts, its principles being interwoven in our lives day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Then we shall have a knowledge of the truths, of the Bible, and they will have an influence on all the faculties, freeing all from this backward spirit in meetings where they have the privilege of testifying for God. They will speak with a freedom from hesitancy, and their testimonies will be invigorating and refreshing. Such will be living channels of light, and their mental powers will expand as they grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. If Christ’s spirit is in them, it will not create disorder and confusion, but will rectify all these mistakes and disturbances."–The Review and Herald, December 2, 1884.

b. How careful should we be in our conversation if we wish to be without guile? Colossians 3:8, 9; 4:6; Ephesians 4:29.

"O that every one of our youth would realize the evil of foolish conversation, and correct the habit of speaking idle words! Let every one who has indulged in this sin repent of it, confess it before God, and put it far from him. In speaking foolish words, you have dishonored the name of Christ; for you have misrepresented Him in character. No word of guile was found in His lips, no word of prevarication or falsehood."–The Youth’s Instructor, June 27, 1895.

Wednesday September 19

4. AN UNDEFILED COMPANY

a. In Bible symbolism, what does a "woman" represent? Jeremiah 6:2. What is the meaning of the words "not defiled with women"? Revelation 14:4 (first part); 17:3—6.

"In Revelation 17 Babylon is represented as a woman–a figure which is used in the Bible as the symbol of a church, a virtuous woman representing a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church."–The Great Controversy, p. 381.

"I saw that the women of Revelation 14:4 meant the churches and that we were bid to ‘come out of her’ that we be not defiled, partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues."–Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, p. 202.

"‘The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the preexistence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God’s holy and sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various churches, and thus the Scriptures are fulfilled that say, "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."’" –The Review and Herald, September 12, 1893.

b. What spiritual condition must be reached by all who wish to be members of the 144,000? Hebrews 12:14; 1 John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.

"Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me’ (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble."–The Great Controversy, p. 623.

Thursday September 20

5. THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB

a. Where did John see the 144,000 and what were they doing? Who will join them in that song? Revelation 14:2, 3; 15:2, 3.

"While John was shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers, he was also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful. He saw the church brought into deadly conflict with the beast and his image, and the worship of that beast enforced on pain of death. But looking beyond the smoke and din of the battle, he beheld a company upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having, instead of the mark of the beast, the ‘Father’s name written in their foreheads.’ [Revelation 15:2, 3 quoted.]"–Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 752, 753.

b. Describe the grand choir in heaven. What will they sing? Revelation 19:1—6.

"I saw the beauty of heaven. I heard the angels sing their rapturous songs, ascribing praise, honor, and glory to Jesus. I could then realize something of the wondrous love of the Son of God. He left all the glory, all the honor which He had in heaven, and was so interested for our salvation that He patiently and meekly bore every indignity and slight which man could heap upon Him. He was wounded, smitten, and bruised; He was stretched on Calvary’s cross and suffered the most agonizing death to save us from death, that we might be washed in His blood and be raised up to live with Him in the mansions He is preparing for us, to enjoy the light and glory of heaven, to hear the angels sing, and to sing with them." –Testimonies, vol. 1, pp. 123, 124.

Friday September 21

1. What threat will soon face those who refuse the mark of the beast?
2. How do Revelation 3:21, 15:2, and 20:4 interrelate?
3. How does our speech affect our salvation?
4. What qualities will characterize the 144,000?
5. Describe what is soon to be seen and heard in heaven.

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