I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy — 
But I’m in the Lord’s army.

Yes, Sir!

No, Christian, the church is not a hospital for sinners. Yes, Christian, you may need your wounds patched up from deflecting the flaming arrows of the evil one. But in the Bible Christ’s people are numbered as soldiers in a war, not as patients on a hospital roster.

Where do I get that? There are multiple texts for Christians to regard themselves as soldiers in battle, but here I will focus on the use of 144,000 in the book of Revelation (7:4; 14:1, 3).

This number is symbolic of an army. Under the Mosaic Covenant, when God’s people were threatened by enemies, men from the 12 tribes were numbered for battle. In Revelation the 144,000 represent the church on earth in war (I have explained this in depth here). As Christ builds His church from every tongue, tribe and nation around the globe, His people are summoned to stand in opposition to the devil’s lies and the rebellion of the unrepentant.

All Christ’s people are part of a spiritual/moral/ideologies battle ^{(II Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-17; Colossians 2:8-9; Rev. 17:14)}. Physically weak and seemingly insignificant as we may appear to be – nonetheless, we are to be alert, to stand resisting the lies and pressure of the devil and the world ^{(I Cor. 16:13; I Peter 5:8-11)}.

From Revelation 14, here are seven characteristics of those in the Lord’s army.

First, their commander is the victorious ruling Christ (14:1)

“The Lamb standing on Mt. Zion” is language taken from Psalm 2, a messianic psalm. The one true God scoffs at mankind in his attempts to overthrow Him. He declares to them that He has installed His king upon Zion – and that king is His Son. To His Son, the Father has given all the nations as His inheritance and the Son will rule over them (Ps. 2:5-9). Zion is symbolic of the ascended Christ saving and gathering all His people from every tongue, tribe and nation and God dwelling among them ^{(Heb. 12:22-24)} .

Second, they keep themselves spiritually undefiled (14:4a)

When at holy war, the Israelite married men were to abstain from sex. This kept them from being ceremonially defiled ^{(Deut. 23:9; I Sam. 21)} . The chastity of Revelation 14:4 is symbolic of those who keep themselves spiritually undefiled. Whereas the unrepentant adulterate their souls with various defiling beliefs and idolatries (Rev. 17), those in the Lord’s army remain devoted to Christ as revealed in Scripture. Paul writes to the church at Corinth using similar language:  For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ ^{(II Cor 11:2)}.

Third, they follow the Lamb wherever He goes (14:4b)

‘Following’ is in the military sense. The once-slain Lamb now ruling is their commanding officer. This is the language of, “Yes, sir!” in obedience to His commands. When Jesus spoke of His sheep hearing His voice and following Him, He meant following Him in faith and obedience ^{(John 14:15; 10:27-30; Matt 16:24-26).}

I am grateful many pastors lovingly confront the fragility today the undisciplined practice. Being easily upset, venting, being bitter (“Why are bad things happening to me!?!?”) is more akin to being AWOL, than being followers of a Lamb who was slain. The example Christ has left us is a sheep led to the slaughter, yet not opening his mouth in complaint at how unfair it was ^{(Rom. 8:35-39; I Peter 2:21-24; 3:13-17)}.

Praise the Lord for the joyful soldierliness that many saints have accepted and seek to model. In Revelation 13 we see the beast that brings overt coercion through earthly rulers and governments in hatred of Christ and His people. And we see the false worship that comes with it. The believer is to remain steadfast considering the former (13:1-10) and needs wisdom in light of the latter (13:11-18). Test yourself: A true soldier’s prayer life will reflect his need for endurance and discernment. As John Piper has stated: “Prayer is a wartime walkie talkie for spiritual warfare, not a domestic intercom to increase the comforts of the saints.”

Four, they live in light of glory (14:4b)

They understand they are ‘first fruits.’ The idea here is similar to Romans 8:18-25 where believers’ hope of their future glorified bodies shapes their view of sufferings today. Just as Christ was the first raised to a glorified state, so they will as well. The Lord’s soldiers are resurrection people.

Five, they are truth tellers (14:5)

Those in the Lord’s Army grow to no longer be tossed about by waves and winds of false doctrine; they see through the trickery of men ^{(Eph. 4:14).} Christ is not their occasional good luck charm. He’s not a personal placebo to help through tough times. He is the only God-Man, the only Savior for the world, the Lord of all lords, King of all kings ^{(Rev. 19:16).}

In contrast to the worship of multiple false gods, or false worship of the true God, soldiers bear witness to the true Christ ^{(I John 2:22).} Following the Lamb who is Truth makes them truth tellers.

Six, they are the real deal (14:5b)

‘Blameless’ does not mean sinless perfection but honest before God followers. They are legally blameless before God because of Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. And because the holy Lamb is their Commander, they are becoming holy. They become like Who they behold. Those of the unbelieving world become like their counterfeit lamb (deceiving and being deceived – ^{II Tim. 3:13}). Deception in; deception out. Christ in; Christ out.

Seven, they sing (14:33)

The opposite of God’s holy chaste army is the whore Babylon (Rev. 17:1-5). One of the eternal judgments that comes upon the unrepentant is no music, no art to enjoy (18;21-22). Forever.

Christ’s people confidently sing now in battle and will sing forever in eternal triumph. All throughout Scripture, God’s people sing in response to His great acts of glory and deliverance. Even at creation the morning stars sang together as the angels shouted for joy. Moses and the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea. When the thirsty Israelites dug a well and the Lord provided water, they sang. When the Passover was reinstated, they sang. In Ezra’s day, when the foundation of the temple was laid, they sang. When Jesus went to the cross to forever athe devil’s accusations in heaven against the saints, He led His disciples in singing a hymn.

Together on the Lord’s Day, or alone throughout the week, Christ’s soldiers always have something to sing about.