Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 14:1

1 AND I looked, and so a lamb stood on the mount Sion , and with him , an hundred forty and four thousand , having his Fathers name written in their foreheads .

God in this part of the Vision, sheweth his Servant Iohn, that during the whole Reign of Antichrist, till the Voice mentioned v. 8. Babylon is fallen, should be heard, notwithstanding all his Rage; he would preserve his Church, tho it would be but a small number, bearing no better proportion to the whole World then 144000 (the number of those sealed of each Tribe of Israel, chap. 7.) bare to whole Israel, which were above 600000 upon both their numbrings, Numb. chap. 1. chap. 26. The Lamb here signifieth Christ, chap. 5.6. Mount Sion signifieth the Church of the Gospel, typified by Mount Zion amongst the Iews where the Temple stood.

144000 is the same number that was sealed ch. 7. of all the Tribes of Israel; not that there was just so many which made up the Church under Antichrist's Persecution; but it signifies 1. A small number in comparison of such as should be of another stamp. 2. It is a number made up of twelve times twelve, by which is signified that they were a People that should answer the Israelites indeed of the Old Testament, that remnant of the 12 Tribes whom God had chosen, who adhere to the Doctrine and Precepts of the twelve Apostles.

Making an open Profession of being the Children and Servants of God; as those Servants and Soldiers did that had anciently the Names of their Masters and Generals in their foreheads (It being an ancient custom for Masters to brand their Servants, and Captains their Soldiers, as we do our Beasts at this day.)

Marginal references: Chap. [illegible: 1 letter].4.