Revelation 14

Intro:

This chapter gives us much insight into the main characteristics of the Great Tribulation

1 world government

1 world religion

1 world economic system

Resistance = death

Satan’s final and ultimate attempt to cause the world to worship him instead of God.

Let’s GOOOO

V.1-5

Lamb = Jesus

144,000

These are the Jews who were saved from a specific time.. It seems that these people lived through the Tribulation period. So, there are 12,000 from each tribe.

They had the Father’s name on their forehead.. Whereas, you would get the mark of the beast on the forehead or right hand..

There will be many Gentiles and Jews who come to salvation in the end times.

Did not have intercourse..

So, it seems that these people stayed pure, maybe because living in that day will be extremely difficult.

Or, it could be a spiritual purity.. in the Bible, virginity is used to speak of spiritually as well.

Firstfruits...

It’s most likely that these 144,000 are converted Israelites..

Blameless.

Theses people, living in the time of Satan’s deception and oppression, were found blameless before God.

They were free from lying.. They chose to follow God and not stray away from that.

Application: If these people are able to be blameless during this time, we should be able to do the same today.

The way we live matters… We need to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh.

V.6-8

Angel is announcing judgment, the gospel is good news, judgment isn’t really good news for all those who don’t know Jesus.

It seems that this might be the last appeal for repentance from those who are about to be judged.

The angel is telling them to Fear God and give Him glory...

So.. it’s most likely that this message is of God’s righteousness and judgment rather than a message of salvation...

Again, it’s speculation.

V. 9-12

For those who get the mark, they are destined to the Lake of Fire with Satan, demons, and all unbelievers.

This is an everlasting torment, it doesn’t stop.

For the believers, this calls for endurance.

Be faithful and keep God’s commandments.

People don’t like the idea of eternal punishment, even some christians don’t believe it...

Jesus talks a lot about eternal punishment, so it must be a big deal.

So, when we see all this injustice in the world… When we see these corrupt leaders get away with everything.. They will get what’s coming to them.. If they do not repent before death.

Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary i. Three Angels Proclaim Judgment (14:6–12)

A consideration of ultimate realities sustains the people of God. They must pass through troubles, but they know that their troubles are temporary whereas those of their tormentors will be eternal. This sense of values keeps them calm.

V.14-16

John sees Jesus (or an angel), most likely Jesus, on a white cloud.

The sickle represents judgment… Jesus is going to bring judgment to the world.

V.14 refers to the harvest of the saints, where v.15-16 refers to the judgment of the wicked.

V.17-20

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 14:17–20

The custom was to produce grape juice by trampling on grapes in a winepress. The result here, however, is different. Blood flowed out of the press rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia, about 180 miles. While this distance may be literal and may designate the area of judgment as around the city of Jerusalem, it is of course impossible for the blood to reach a height where it would touch horses’ bridles. What this affirms is a tremendous bloodletting in which blood is spattered as high as the bridles of horses. This is a graphic picture of a great slaughter (Isa. 63:1–3). Other Scriptures (e.g., Rev. 16:14; Dan. 11:40–45) make it clear that there will be a world war of tremendous scope underway at the time of the second coming of Christ, and this may be a partial fulfillment of these prophecies.

Conclusion:

It’s about the preservation of 144 through the great tribulation.

It shares about terrifying judgments that will be inflicted on the world for following Satan.

Application…

Let us persevere through hardships that may come our way.