revelation 14:4

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

The hundred and forty-four thousand are ‘not defiled with women’ in that they are not defiled by the lies of apostate churches. They are ‘virgins’ in that they are spiritual virgins. The hundred and forty-four thousand ‘follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth’ in that they are led by the Spirit in paths of righteousness. They will not sin for such are the steps of Jesus. As Peter wrote, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (1 Peter 2:21,22)

The hundred and forty-four thousand are the ‘first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb’. The ‘first fruits’ are the first fruits to get ripe before the harvest. The hundred and forty-four thousand, therefore, will be the first group of servants to be redeemed in the fulfilment of the Revelation prophecy. The harvest was previously shown to John in the ‘great multitude’: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9,10)