And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb (1) stood on the mount Sion, and with him (2) an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's (3) name written in their foreheads.
(1) The history of the Church of Christ being finished for more than a 1300 years at which time Boniface the eighth lived as has been said: there remains the rest of the history of the conflicting or militant church, from there to the time of the last victory in three Chapter s. For first of all, as the foundation of the whole history, is described the standing of the Lamb with his army and retinue in five verses, after his worthy acts which he has done and yet does in most mighty manner, while he overthrows Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth, in the rest of this chapter and in the two following. To the description of the Lamb, are propounded three things: his situation, place and attendance: for the rest are expounded in the former visions, especially in the fifth chapter. (2) Prepared to do his office see (Acts 7:56), in the midst of the church, which mount Zion pictured before. (3) This retinue of the Lamb is described first by divine mark (as before in) (Revelation 7:2) in this verse. Then by divine occupation, in that every one in his retinue most earnestly and sweetly (Revelation 14:2) glorify the Lamb with a special song before God and his elect angels. Flesh and blood cannot hear this song, nor understand, (Revelation 14:3). Lastly by their deeds done before, and their sanctification in that they were virgins, pure from spiritual and bodily fornication, that is, from impiety and unrighteousness. They followed the Lamb as a guide to all goodness, cleaved to him and are holy to him, as by grace redeemed by him. In truth and simplicity of Christ they have exercised all these things, sanctimony of life, the guidance of the Lamb, a thankful remembrance of redemption by him and finally (to conclude in a word) they are blameless before the Lord, (Revelation 14:4-5).