144,000 - Rev. 14:3, 4

"...And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. For they are spiritually undefiled, pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes." Rev. 14:3, 4

This is a different 144,000 from ch. 7. These are Christians, not Jews, but definitely some kind of super-Christian. They were redeemed from the earth, so they could have lived anytime during the church-age; they are SPIRITUALLY undefiled, pure AS virgins, but NOT necessarily virgins as sex within marriage does not defile; and it seems that they are preselected for this purpose because it says they are a "special offering" or "first fruits." That "no falsehood can be charged against them" doesn't make them perfect, only remarkably "set apart" for this very special purpose of God's.

Jesus, thank you for inspiring me to stretch to be set apart for you.

Today's reading: Rev. 10-14