Revelation 14 Study

Announcements - dinner next week (Stiles and Hand)

Introduction

Revelation 14 is a hopeful reminder to God’s redeemed people while also describing the reality of God’s judgment on the wicked. One commentator said, “John gives us this passage so that we will never stop resisting Satan. John gives us this passage so that we will never join the world in its idolatry and immorality. John gives us this passage to enable us to persevere to the end and be saved.” (Hamilton)

Prayer

Read Revelation 14:1-5

Revelation 14:1–5 ESV

1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar 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 were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 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, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

Let’s start with the Lamb. As we know from Scripture, this is Jesus. The Lamb who was slain, who takes away the sins of the world. There’s something important about where he is in v. 1 - does any one see anything significant?

He is standing on Mt. Zion. He is standing on top of the mountain of God. This is in direct contrast to the dragon in 12:17. He is standing on the sand of the sea. And from the sea, he calls out the beast. Jesus, on the other hand, is on top of Mt. Zion. This is important because the prophets said the Lord God would reign on Mount Zion. Here he is as the triumphant King.

How are the 144,000 described?

Standing with the Lamb on Mt. Zion

Had the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name on their foreheads.

They sing a new song of praise to God

They are redeemed - they are those who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

They are undefiled, blameless, and follow the Lamb wherever he goes

There are differing interpretations on who the 144,000. Based on how we have interpreted Revelation up to this point, we would say that it isn’t a literal number, but the complete people of God.

This is the bride of Christ who is presented without spot or blemish and completely pure.

It is said of them that the redeemed “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This is a call for us today still to follow him. What are some challenges you face when it comes to following Christ?

We still have sin remaining in us that rears its head at times. Leaving worldly comfort, ease, and preferences behind can be difficult.

How do we help one another overcome those challenges?

We share our lives together in discipleship. We help one another follow Christ. Genuine relationships that stir each other up are so important in our walk. That is why we do Growth Groups, so that we can disciple others and be discipled. And this happens outside of Tuesday nights too. This happens throughout the week as we go about our lives.

Now let’s read Revelation 14:6-13.

Revelation 14:6–13 ESV

6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he 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, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever 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 their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Let’s talk a little about the first and third messages. We will talk more about the second when we get to chapter 18.

The first proclaimed the eternal gospel and called for a response to fear, glorify, and worship God.

The second proclaimed the fall of Babylon.

The third proclaimed that those who worship the beast will face eternal torment.

First message: In our day-to-day lives, what does it look like to fear, glorify, and worship God?

All three go hand-in-hand, they are not separate acts.

Fearing God means living with a proper reverence for his greatness, holiness, and power.

Worshipping God means that the totality of our lives are oriented toward him and that brings him glory.

As we live for Christ, we display the character of God and glorify him.

Second message: How does the third angel’s proclamation inform our understanding of hell?

It is a place of eternal torment for those who reject Christ.

There is no rest there, forever.

Let’s read the final section now, Revelation 14:14-20.

Revelation 14:14–20 ESV

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

This describes the harvest that will come at the Day of Judgment. Let’s read the parable that Jesus taught and explained to help us understand what is being said here. Turn to Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:24–30 ESV

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:36–43 ESV

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

So those who trusted in Christ for salvation and followed him will be with their Father in his kingdom forever. But those who reject him will be judged for eternity.

How does this reality of hell and judgment impact our worship of God and our burden for lost people?

First, we should so grateful and humbled that Jesus took the wrath of God in our place. Isaiah tells us that he was crushed for our iniquity. We should think of that when we consider the crushing of those grapes in this passage. Jesus took our punishment for us.

Second, we should be motivated to share this grace with those around us. We didn’t earn or deserve it and we wouldn’t have salvation without someone sharing the gospel with us, so we must take our role as ambassador and witness for Christ seriously.

Verses 12-13 help us understand what we do with this passage. We are called to press on and endure. It may be difficult being a follower of Jesus, but we can endure knowing that we can have eternal rest now and more fully to come in the future.