4. virgins--spiritually
(Mt 25:1);
in contrast to the apostate Church, Babylon
(Re 14:8),
spiritually "a harlot"
(Re 17:1-5;
Isa 1:21;
contrast
2Co 11:2;
Eph 5:25-27).
Their not being defiled with women means they were not led
astray from Christian faithfulness by the tempters who jointly
constitute the spiritual "harlot."
follow the Lamb whithersoever 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
a "first-fruit" in the sense in which all believers are so, but
Israel's 144,000 elect are the first-fruit, the Jewish and
Gentile elect Church is the harvest; in a further sense, the
whole of the transfigured and translated Church which reigns with
Christ at His coming, is the first-fruit, and the consequent
general ingathering of Israel and the nations, ending in the last
judgment, is the full and final harvest.
JFB.
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