Revelation 14:2-4

Expanded Bible

² And I heard a sound from heaven like the noise of ·flooding water [rushing water; ^Lmany waters; 1:15] and like the ·sound [peal] of loud thunder [19:6]. The sound I heard was like ·people [^Lharpists] playing harps. ³ And they sang a new song [^Ca song celebrating divine deliverance; 5:9; Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1] before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders [4:4]. No one could learn the new song except the one hundred forty-four thousand [7:4] who had been ·bought [redeemed] from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who did not ·do sinful things [defile themselves] with women, because they ·kept themselves pure [^Lare virgins]. They follow the Lamb every place he goes. ·These one hundred forty-four thousand [^LThey] were ·bought [redeemed] from ·among the people of the earth [^Lhumanity; mankind] as ·people to be offered [^Lfirstfruits; ^Cthe earliest part of the harvest was offered to God] to God and the Lamb.