Revelation 14 Pt 1

In Chapter 13, we saw the picture of two beasts. The first being the antichrist, the terrible world ruler who will be the picture of evil. The second being his cohort, the false prophet, who will try to use religion to raise the false antichrist into a position of power. Both of them though, are described as nothing but pure evil. They have falsely gained power by deception and intimidation, ushered in by a false religion offering hope and peace when there is none to be found. They are from Satan. The antichrist rises out of the ocean, and is described as a ten horned, ten crowned, seven headed beast. It describes vividly the picture of the same number of horns, crowns, and heads that the dragon (the devil) had in Chapter 12. The false prophet rises from the earth - rising up from common people of the earth, he will be like one of us but holding a high office and would be the second most powerful man in government. Because he is like us, it gives him the opportunity to be strongly convincing to the people.

This week, as we look at Chapter 14, we are assured that there is VICTORY in Jesus Christ.

The Redeemed Will Be with Christ

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.

What comparison can be made from Chapter 13 and Chapter 14?

As bad as this world is going to get, there is still hope! The devil may unleash wrath and fury on the earth, he may choose a human or two to inhabit and cause chaos, and he may bring the false hope of peace, but once all those things are in place and he gains worldwide power, he is going to turn on the whole earth - not only those who have strong religious faith, but all the others. He will demand loyalty and allegiance, and will do whatever is necessary to get it. But in these first 5 verses, we see a picture of victory and this victory is assured through and by Jesus Christ. John is quickly given seven visions that show the victory that is to come for those who follow Christ and endure to the end. The first vision tells us the redeemed will all be with Jesus - all 144,000 Jews who take their stand with Christ. They are assured they will be sealed and secured with God’s name. They are assured they will hear the very voice of God. They are assured a privilege over all other beings. And last, they are assured they will be clearly identified to God.

Who stands with Christ on Mount Zion?

In heaven on Mt. Zion, will stand the same group mentioned in Revelation 7:4-8.

Revelation 7:4–8 ESV

4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

Since this is understood to be later on in the tribulation, God faithfully shows John and us that these chosen, those set apart and sealed, had been preserved through this time. Unlike the martyrs, who were killed in the name of Jesus, these “evangelist” had been preserved. But notice they are not the only ones to survive, as some other religions believe. There will be other Jews and Gentiles that will turn to Christ in the end times and escape martyrdom and be welcomed by Christ at His return.

We get a description of the voice of God that the redeemed with hear, like the roar of many waters, like the sounds of thunder, but like the sound of harps played by harpist. Isn’t this a wonderful thought, that we will one day hear the audible voice of God? What will he sound like? John’s best description would be as powerful as Niagara Falls. It is the deep, rumbling, and distinct like thunder. When it thunders, we don’t have to wonder what it was! As such, God’s voice will be distinct and recognizable. But it will also be peaceful, soothing, and relaxing like an orchestra of harps. While God’s voice will be powerful and distinct, it will be calming to those who hear it.

Notice, too, that the 144,000 redeemed have a unique privilege - there is a song in heaven that only they can learn and know the words to! Now, we know what it’s like to try to learn a new song on a Sunday morning without ever hearing it or singing it before. We mumble, we stumble, we fumble, and finally we humble ourselves and quit singing. “No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth”. They will have a song in their heart than no one else will ever be able to sing, and all those in heaven will have the opportunity to hear it being sung. Their song will be one of victory over the antichrist, over the false prophet and ultimately over death.

We are told in Revelation 7 that the 144,000 will be sealed. Now a deeper description is given - they will remain unmarried, they will faithfully follow Jesus fully, and wholly, separated from the sin and evil in the world. They will serve and be ministers of God who will bring the Word anywhere and everywhere they go, regardless of how difficult it may be. We now know these 144,000 are the first Jews to be saved in the tribulation. Finally we are told they will never lie or tell a falsehood. In these end times, we must remember that the antichrist has filled this world with false hope - and these sealed believers will vow to tell the truth, never lying or deceiving as is the custom of the others during this time. They will be seen as blameless, unspotted, undefiled, unpolluted, and without blemish in the eyes of God.

The Gospel Will Reach the Whole World

Revelation 14:6–7 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.”

Notice a final chance is given. Where is it delivered to?

…the Gospel is literally spoken to all creation across the whole world.

There is coming a day when we know the Word of Christ will reach the whole world - and it will be delivered by an angel. Isn’t it something to think that over 2,000 years ago an angel proclaimed the Gospel’s birth? And in the end, and angel will proclaim His victory? We shouldn’t be surprised this will occur, as Christ himself spoke of world-wide evangelism in

Matthew 24:14 ESV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

It doesn’t matter how evil or bad things are here on earth during the end times, the Gospel will still continue to be preached and spread throughout the world - only through a different messenger. Now, whether it will be the actual preaching by an angel, or whether the angel will deliver this message to preachers and evangelists during this time may be up for debate, but one thing is clear. God’s message will be delivered wholly, completely, and fully to all the world.

Verse seven points out a clear message - fear and worship God. They should be fearful because judgment is coming. Few people fear God. This is what God calls the day of grace, the day when He reaches out for people in love. But the day of His judgment is coming. This is the very message of Revelation. Therefore, we must fear God even in this day of grace and love. God tolerates our rebellion and denial of Him only for now, only to give us a chance to be saved and to escape the coming judgment. But this chance is going to soon pass.

We must, therefore, repent and fear God and do what the next point says, “Worship Him.”They should be worshipful by repenting and turning away from sin and worship of the antichrist and fully worship God.

Babylon Will Fall

Revelation 14:8 ESV

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.”

What does Babylon represent?

Jesus Christ is going to triumph over the godless society and corrupt religion of this world. No matter the government or religion, if the government and religion are godless and corrupt, they are going to be judged and doomed. The wrath of God is going to fall upon them, and they will be crushed as the dust of the earth. This is the third great assurance given to the godly people of this earth: Babylon will fall. Why Babylon? Because of their past, the very name of Babylon came to stand for …

• a corrupt political system that stood against God

• a corrupt economic system that stood against God

• a corrupt religion that stood against God

There is the reason why Babylon will be destroyed. Why will the political and religious system of the world be destroyed in the end time? Is not a one-world government and religion a good thing? Will not the dream of men for a one-world government and religion bring the kingdom of utopia to earth? This verse says that Babylon will be destroyed for one reason: she will make all nations drink of the wine of her fornication. The picture is twofold.

1. Babylon, the end time government, will be like a prostitute who entices men into bed with her by giving them wine and getting them so intoxicated that they can no longer resist her seduction.

The end time government will be just like the prostitute: Babylon will seduce and entice the governments of the world to join her in her corruption of idolatry, murder, sorcery, fornication, and thievery. The last days will be corrupt and evil and murderous days, and it will be because of the godless and secular society and government of the antichrist. This is the reason the one-world government will be destroyed.

2. Note a second picture: there is the picture of wrath. Babylon, the godless society of the antichrist, will seduce the world to drink the wine of her wrath. This means that she thinks her wine leads to pleasure, to the utopian state, to the glorious one-world government and religion that men have always dreamed about. But the government and religion of the end time will be discussed: they will lead to wrath, the wrath of God. The justice and fury of God is going to fall upon the whoredom of Babylon, the godless society of the antichrist. All the ungodly and evil people and nations of the world who follow him will suffer the wrath and fury of God.