Tsiyon News

Tsiyon Radio News

Succot Blessings! - Thanks to Brother Shix, the Chicago area will be reminded that the Remnant of Israel is among them this Succot. That's a fine booth, brother! I would love to hang out with you there awhile, for a little friendly scriptural discussion and maybe some lemonade. Great job! :-)

Succot Fulfilled:

And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth. John/Yochanan 1:14

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-10

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Listener Q + A

Listener Comment - 144,000 Virgins?
I was wondering about the word "virgins" in Revelation 14:4, I went to the original Greek and the other word that could have been used in the translation is: 'chaste', however, for some reason the KJV used the word "virgins", the question I have is: If these 144,000 where virgin men, then none of us could be part of any of the 12 tribes of the believing house of Israel! Am I on the right track here? Please help?

Tsiyon Answer - 144,000 Virgins
Thanks for your excellent question. Let's look at this together.

Here is the verse you mention, using "virgins":

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 YHWH and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4 RNKJV

Here is the verse you mention, using "chaste":

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4 NASB

The phrase "..the ones who have not been defiled with women" defines the meaning of "virgins" (chaste) in the same sentence. The phrase "defiled with women" cannot refer to literal Scriptural marriage, since the Scriptures everywhere hold such marriage to be righteous. Therefore, the 144,000 are said to be "virgins" i.e. "chaste" in relation to some sort of defiling connections which do not include righteous marriage. The very next sentence in verse 14 defines their faithfulness toward the Lamb, saying; "These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes." The point here is that the 144,000 are set apart from the world, especially from the whorish pagan daughters of Babylon, keeping themselves pure unto union with their Messiah, Who bought them for Himself. (Rev 14:8, also chapters 17, 18)

This same symbolism of "virginity" in the sense of undefiled from the world and its idolatry is used throughout Scripture. Here are some NT verses expanding on this idea:

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to the Messiah. 2Co 11:2 HNV

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Jas 4:4 NASB

Husbands, love your wives, even as the Messiah also loved the assembly, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious assembly, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:25-27 RNKJV

For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2Pe 2:20 HNV

Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever. 1Jn 2:15-17 HNV

Consistent with these verses and many more, the figure of "virgins" in Revelation 14:4 is a powerful statement of the set-apart lives of the 144,000, who diligently refuse sinful intercourse with this fallen world. If any of us aspire to be of that number, then we must give the highest priority to rooting out all vestiges of the world's idolatry, to be truly and wholly His. This stands in marked contrast to many nominal believers today, who see no wrong in continuing customs and practices that derive directly from paganism - let alone behaving just like the world in every other way. Unlike them, the 144,000 must put Him first and above everything else in our lives. Always being quick to obey Him, even if that makes us look like a fool in the eyes of the world. Spiritual adultery is being wedded to the world and partaking of its sins. "Bondslaves" must not do that! (Rev 7:3-4)

From Eliyahu

Succot is upon us once again. Often the questions we get about Succot are about customs and practices for these special days. These are simple. They are found in Leviticus 23:34-36, 39-43. These were meant to be done in the Land of Israel, so not all of this is possible in the exile. Do from this what you can do, until we return to Israel in the Second Exodus. Realize that Israel did all of these things as they came out of Egypt - yet, but for two, they all died in the wilderness without ever entering into the Land. Why did this happen? While all of them dwelt in booths, not all of them dwelt with YHWH! We can do better than that. Make dwelling with Him the center of your Succot and no matter what else you do or don't do, your Succot will be great. Listen to this week's program for more on dwelling with Him in His Tabernacle, and may you be blessed with His presence.

Succot Blessings and Shalom,

Eliyahu ben David
www.tsiyon.org