Revelation Study 18 Chapter 14

Where did we leave off in chapter 13??

We were given a look at the “how” of the influence of satan and the persecution of the Church.

Two beasts emerge, one from the sea and one from the land.

These beasts are not satan.

One is the military/political/system power of satan and his influence.

The other is the propaganda machine that all evil empires have.

The first beast is all about power and blaspheme,

What is blaspheme? Devaluing God or elevating something or someone in creation to be like God.

So this blaspheme would be godly titles and claims about himself, or false claims about God.

He is ruling by force and might. This is the culmination of all the beasts in Daniel, meaning this is the culmination of all evil empires.

This could be Rome, Domitian was referred to the beast from the sea, a huge massive statue of himself in the apse of the university that could be seen for miles.

This could be a future kingdom. Regardless, the dragon gives the beast all his power, his throne, and his authority, to rule and be worshipped.

He was allowed, by God, to make war on the saints and to conquer them, but this is their victory, like Jesus’ , death is not the end, but the entrance into glory.

The earth dwellers respond with worship.

This is for a period of time, like with the two witnesses, and like with the “woman” who flees into the wilderness for a period of time.

The second beast look like a lamb but speaks like the dragon, deceiving and lying. Propaganda, convincing the world that evil is good and good is evil.

All authority is not transferred to this beast, but not the power or the throne.

He causes, influences, forces, people to worship the fake beast, remember based on what? His resurrection from the fatal head wound.

Again, the beasts are the system and the power behind them is the dragon.

The beast gives authority to kill those who won’t bow down and worship the statue of the beast or take his mark.

666—gematria, the alpha-numeric system, and also not quite 777, the false trinity.

Remember we also talked about the parodies, the fake or imitations, copying going on, trying to be God or like God.

Let’s look at chapter 14, verse 1

Revelation 14:1 ESV

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.

Remember we talked about John presenting two alternate and opposing views, two kingdoms, to worship systems, to objects of worship, two ethics or way to live.

Well, here we go again.

So in 13 John sees two beasts and the Church being persecuted, now what does he see in 14:1? On Mt Zion, Jesus, with all Gods people represented by the 144K.

And what is on them? Not the mark of the beast on their foreheads, but the name of Jesus and His Father.

Remember the mark is ownership and privilege to participate, worship, so is the seal.

Revelation 14:2–3 ESV

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, 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.

So verse 2, the voice is who? God, remember Mt. Sinai, remember Revelation 1:15,

Ezekiel 43:2 ESV

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

Jeremiah 10:13 ESV

When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

What do we make of the harps? An instrument always associated with worship.

Psalm 144:9 ESV

I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,