Revelation 14
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1-5 6-8 9-13 14-20
1-5 6-8 9-13 14-20
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As this chapter opens John has another vision, this of the Lamb, Jesus on Mount Zion with the 144,000 previously mentioned in chapter 7. Where Mount Zion is located is debated though. If this is referring to heaven as Mt. Zion then the 144,000 are deceased and in heaven. If this is referring to the earthly Mt Zion this is a return of Jesus to earth. The preterist see this as a repeating or retelling of the 7th chapter and the fall of Jerusalem as we move into what they see in the next chapters as the fall of ancient Rome. A post-mil position may be that this is in heaven and the 144,000 represent the church at the end of the age that is about to happen. A pre-mil position dispensationalist position would be that this is the 144,000 Jews that were marked and set apart after the church was raptured before the beginning of the tribulations and these will be the ones to go into the millenium alive. A non dispensational pre-mil may say that this is a picture of heaven as Zion is used when talking about the heavenly Jerusalem and there is a mention of being before the throne. I feel like the retelling of the tribulation from Satan’s view has ended and this chapter is like an overview of the last days before the millenium begins and the final details of the seventh seal, seventh trumpet, and all seven of the bowl judgement are to come in the next chapters. This type of overview at the beginning of the story and details coming after happens often in the bible, like in Genesis at the creation, all seven days are told of, then after what takes place on all seven days more details are described on the 6th day and the creation of man and woman.
While John is looking upon Jesus and the saints he hears a loud voice from heaven with accompanying harps, they start singing a new song that only the 144,000 can learn as the song is of redemption and the rest of the world is worshipping the beast and have hardened their hearts to God and cannot sing of redemption. We do not see here what the song contains but there may be some of it later in chapter 15.
Of them having not been defiled with women does not mean that these are virgins, relations with your wife is not a defilement, this means that they have not participated in the probable rampant sexual immorality and defilement during the time of the tribulation and the beasts reign on earth. They follow Jesus where ever he goes, they emulate him and keep his commandments.
The preterist would argue that verse 4 saying these men are the first fruits to God and the Lamb is proof that these 144,000 are the first saints of the Church age, and is not a literal number. But in other passages it refers to people being the first fruits 1 Corinthians 16:15 “Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—” in the KJV first converts is translated first fruits. These 144,000 are the first fruits of the post rapture tribulation saints, raised and used to spread the Gospel during the end times. Their testimony is true and they are blameless in Christ, not sinless, but redeemed and their sins covered.
6-8
6-8
John then sees these the first two of three angels flying above some versions say in the midst of heaven some directly above and some in mid-heaven which means the apex of the sun in the sky or directly above, the first proclaiming to the earth to fear God and give Him the glory and that the time of judgment is here. The term everlasting or eternal gospel is used and some dispensationalists say that there are two gospels, the gospel of the kingdom that was preached during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus and will be preached again after the Rapture, and the gospel of grace that is preached from Pentecost to the Rapture. John MacArthur, a dispensationalists, does not mention this but does say that the gospel is called many things throughout the Bible, the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of Jesus Christ, of God, of the grace of God, the glory of Christ, of salvation, of peace, and the glorious gospel. Here it is described as eternal or everlasting because it provides the means to eternal life and is the same gospel proclaimed throughout all history. This is addressed to those who live on the earth and every nation and tribe and tongue and people, this is to the unbelievers, one last warning to repent and turn to God. Isn’t is so reassuring and great how God wants the unrepentant to turn to him? Chance after chance after chance, warning upon warning. But he is a just God and the chances will run out and judgment will come.
The second angel proclaims that Babylon has fallen, he says fallen twice to emphasize the utter destruction of it. This could have few interpretations, it could be a literal city in the Antichrists kingdom, a resurrected Babylon that he could make his capital, or it could be a symbol of the false religious system that the false prophet creates for the worship of the Antichrist. Babel, Babylon, was the first organized system of false religion back in Genesis, the tower of Babel was man trying to make himself high and be like God. This Babylon will also be immoral and the unrepentant will become drunk in its immorality. This destruction of Babylon will be described in greater detail in chapters 16-19.
9-13
9-13
The third angel then proclaims destruction to all that have taken the mark of the beast and worships him as their god. The wrath of God for them will be at full strength, it was common in those times for the wine, which being fermented made it safer to drink than water, was watered down so it was not as potent, this cup of wine of God’s wrath will not be diluted, there will be no mercy or grace remaining in this wrathful outpouring of His anger at sin. Theirs will be ceaseless and unending torment, fire and brimstone, the same that God used to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Eternal torment in Hell where the fire does not consume and the worm does not die. This will be in the presence of the angels and Christ adding to their torment with shame and embarrassment.
In contrast the perseverance of the saints are those who did not take the mark of the beast, they have kept the word of God and their faith in Jesus Christ and will not have the same fate as those who did take the mark and worship the beast. They will have eternal joy in heaven not eternal torment in Hell.
Then there is another voice from heaven, most likely God the father, blessing those who die in the faith. The modifier from now on, either meaning those martyrs from the tribulation and that they will have nothing to fear and their deaths like all who die in the faith will be blessed, or meaning everyone who dies in the faith from the point of death onwards they will be blessed, Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”. They will have rest from their suffering and their good works are gathered up in heaven. And to this the Holy Spirit exclaims Yes, agreeing with God the Father, as they always are in agreement, here and in chapter 22:17 are the only two direct quotes of The Holy Spirit. Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
14-20
14-20
Then I looked and behold, signifying a new vision that John sees, and it is Jesus with a victors crown on this head holding a sharp sickle. MacArthur notes that this is the last time in the Scriptures that Jesus is referred to by his favorite title for himself, the son of man. An angel comes out of the temple of God and tells Jesus to reap for the time has come and the harvest of the earth is ripe. The angel here is not commanding Jesus to do this but delivering a message from God the Father in the temple.
There is a few different pre-millennial interpretations of the first of the two reapings described here. There is a consensus of the second one though and it is foretelling the battle of Armageddon seen in detail in chapter 19. The first interpretation of the first reaping is that both of these are the same event told twice back to back in two visions of the same event. The second would be the non-dispensational pre-mil view, so no rapture of the church before the tribulation, and that this first reaping is of the elect gathering the faithful to heaven. The pre-rapture view is that this first reaping is a picture of the seven bowl judgments that begin to be told of in the next chapter. The verb translated as ripe actually means dried up, withered, over-ripe, or rotten. This grain of the earth has passed the point of usefulness, all the chances are over.
For the second reaping John sees another angel coming out of the temple this time the angel has a sickle like Christ did previously. Then another angel, the sixth one mentioned in this chapter, who has power over fire which may be connected by him coming from the alter, calling out to the first angel with the message to gather the grapes from the vine of the earth because they are ripe. This ripe is not the same Greek word as before as this word means fully ripe and in its prime. The world is filled with wickedness and is prime for destruction. As I mentioned before this is picturing the battle of Armageddon, where all of the nations will gather to fight against the Lord Jesus Christ. Fight is probably a misnomer, it will be a slaughter, the nations will have no chance and the mention of the blood flowing four feet deep and 200 miles long, a horses bridle is about four foot tall and 1,600 stadia, or furlongs, is around 200 miles. There will not be much of a fight it will be a total victory for Jesus Christ and the beginning of his millennial reign on earth.