The Lamb had taken the scroll from God’s hand and opened the seals, thereby triggering events on planet Earth that advance God’s kingdom (Revelation 6:1 – 13:18). As an element of his total sovereignty, Christ Jesus had given the first beast particular abilities (the original has the passive “was given”) and permitted it to do specific things (the original has the passive “was allowed”; Revelation 13:5, Revelation 13:7). Those divine passives point to the triumphant Christ as the Giver of these abilities. The 144,000, then, did not flinch in the face of Jesus’ leadership but followed him even when he permitted ungodliness and blasphemy and persecution to beset the saints.
4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,