Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 14:4

"These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb." — Revelation 14:4 (ASV)

John’s most difficult statement about this group is that they did “not defile themselves with women.” Does he mean that this group consists only of men who had never married? Or should it be understood as referring to spiritual apostasy or cult prostitution? It is unlikely that “defile” (GK 3662) refers merely to sexual intercourse since nowhere in Scripture does intercourse within marriage constitute sinful defilement (cf. Hebrews 13:4). On the other hand, the word “defiled” is found elsewhere in Jewish literature in connection with the promiscuous intercourse practiced by the Gentiles that defiled them but from which the Jews have separated themselves. Therefore, the words can refer only to adultery or fornication; and this fact, in turn, establishes “pure” as the meaning of parthenoi (lit., “virgins”; GK 4221). In addition, we can relate the reference to purity to the defilement of idolatry. John seems to use “defile” this way elsewhere of cult prostitution (3:4; cf. 2:14, 20, 22).

The group as a whole has remained faithful to Christ; “they follow the Lamb wherever he goes” in obedient discipleship. They are purchased by Christ’s blood and offered to God as a holy and pure sacrifice of firstfruits. Surely this symbolically implies that the bride of Christ must be pure from idolatry. Paul, likewise, uses this figure: “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Corinthians 11:2–3).

Those spoken of in v.3 are “firstfruits” (GK 569) presented to God. This word can have two meanings. (1) It may designate the initial ingathering of the farmer, after which more follows. So it may mean a pledge or down payment with more to follow. This seems to be its meaning in Ro 8:23; 11:16? (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20; 16:15). (2) In the usual OT sense and alternate NT use, “firstfruits” means simply an offering to God in the sense of being separated to him and sanctified (wholly consecrated), where no later addition is made, because the firstfruits constitutes the whole (see “sacred contributions” in Nu 5:9; 26:2; Jeremiah 2:3; James 1:18). That this is John’s intended sense is evident from the expression “offered as firstfruits to God.”