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.
Virgins - spiritually (Matthew 25:1): in contrast to the apostate church, Babylon (Revelation 14:8), 'a harlot' (Revelation 17:1-5; Isaiah 1:21). Contrast 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27. Their not being defiled with women means they were not led astray from Christian faithfulness by the spiritual 'harlot.'
Follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth - in glory being especially near His person: the fitting reward of their following Him so fully on earth.
Redeemed - `purchased.'
Being the - rather, 'as a first-fruit.' Not merely in the sense in which all believers are so (James 1:18), but Israel's 144,000 elect are the first-fruit; the Gentile elect, of "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people," who refuse to worship the beast, are the harvest: in a further sense, the whole transfigured and translated Church, which reigns with Christ at His coming, is the first-fruit, and the consequent universal ingathering of Israel and the nations, ending in the last judgment, is the full harvest.