Answer
Revelation 14 describes a group of Jews during the tribulation period who will “follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb” (verse 4). This group of men, numbering 144,000, will have a special commission during the tribulation. They are faithful to complete their divine task, and they are, in some way, “firstfruits” to God.
In general, firstfruits are the beginning of the harvest—literally the first fruits that the farmer gathers out of the fields, orchards, or vineyards. The Feast of Firstfruits, which is described in Deuteronomy 26:1–11, is celebrated in spring, when, in ancient times, the wheat and barley harvest took place.
In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Christ is said to be the firstfruits of all who will later be resurrected. His resurrection was just the “first of the harvest,” and there will be much more to come. The fact that many more will be resurrected is guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection (see John 14:19).
In Revelation 14:4, the 144,000 are said to be the firstfruits of the redeemed. To use another metaphor, the 144,000 are but the “tip of the iceberg.” There are many, many more who will come to faith in Christ during the tribulation.
As to the question of “who” they are, that is a point of disagreement among interpreters. We view the 144,000 as a literal Jewish men, who fit the description given in Revelation. They are sealed “servants of God,” which means they have the special protection of God (Revelation 7:3). They are kept safe from the divine judgments of the tribulation and from the wrath of the Antichrist. They are virgins (Revelation 14:4). They follow and obey Christ. They are redeemed, “and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless” (verse 5, ESV).
The 144,000 are said to be “redeemed from the earth” and “purchased from among mankind” (Revelation 14:3–4). Since they are “offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb” (verse 4), we know that there will be many others to follow who will also be redeemed. The Bible predicts that Israel will one day repent and turn back to God (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25–27), and the 144,000 Jews are the “firstfruits” of that redeemed Israel.
With God’s protection, these “firstfruits” of salvation can freely perform their mission during the tribulation. Their job seems to be to evangelize the post-rapture world and proclaim the gospel. As a result of their ministry, “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9) will come to faith in Christ. Sinners are saved, and God is glorified.
These future missionaries will go throughout the earth spreading the gospel. They are the firstfruits—men who are saved early on in the tribulation and help bring in a great harvest of souls to the glory of their Redeemer.
