Revelation Study Week 28: Chatper 14:1-20

We have been studying some visions that take place during the middle of the tribulation period.

chapter 12

The woman. the child, and the dragon

Chapter 13

The beast from the sea

the beast from the earth

Now we change tunes, we go from what’s happening on earth to what is happening in Heaven.

In chapter 14 there are a series of events that happen and are all leading up to the final Judgements, the bowl judgements.

Vs. 1-5Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found; they are blameless.

These vs are to remind us of what happens to those who are faithful to God. Just before this vision, john records the visions he had of the two beasts. The second beast forcing worship of the first beast, to the point of taking a mark.

We see a lamb, who is the lamb?

We see him standing on Mount Zion, where is mount Zion? some would say Jerusalem, but Jesus hasn’t returned to earth yet so this can’t be earth’s Jerusalem. Zion is also a reference to the heavenly Jerusalem.

There is a new song that will be sung known only to the 144,000. We have already discussed the identity of the 144,000 so we won’t rehash everything but to say some use vs 5 when it says “redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb” as additional proof that these 144,000 represent the whole of humanity’s faithful. First fruits in the OT was identified as God’s for God’s use only. What was left after the first fruits was available for man’s use.

Vs. 6-13 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

God is giving the people of earth one last chance to repent before God, and he is telling them who this God is…”him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 Then another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Babylon in the New Testament can represents several thing; 1. Literal Babylon, 2. The Roman Empire, 3. Wicked world system, 4. The ungodly in general

fornication is seen as unfaithfulness to God

9 Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, “Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 they will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image and for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”

Those who drink the wine of the wrath of Babylon’s fornication will now drink the wine of God’s wrath

Their punishment includes fire and sulfur, eternal torment, no rest. This is for those who do not take the mark.

vs 12-13 are meant to be words of encouragement. A call to endurance. The time that is coming will be bad, death (in the Lord) will be a blessing.

Vs 14-16 14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! 15 Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

“Son of Man” seated on a white cloud, who is he?

The crown he wears is a not a crown of royalty, which is what Jesus wears, but the greek word used is stephonos which is the crown one is given when they are victorious at the Olympic Games.

Another reason this man may not be Jesus is because he is told what to do by an angel.

Vs 17-20 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and he threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse’s bridle, for a distance of about two hundred miles.

Here we see another angel and another sharp sickle, the difference is the second harvest is pressed by the wrath of God.