Times of Enmity and Suffering III

 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb.

5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

The Three Angels

6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people.

7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, ‘ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,

10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning Sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.”

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

18 Still another angel, who had charge of fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.”

19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.

20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

John’s Reflection Concerning His Time and/or All Lifetimes

In Chapter 13 John reveals the beast is controlled by Satan (i.e. the dragon). The beast is human.  Evil tyrants in every age.

In Chapter 14 enmity, suffering and persecution by evil Satan controlled human tyrants moves to John focusing on the New Jerusalem.

Symbols with John mean different truths. In 7:4-8 the 144 000 are the tribes of the Old Covenant. Here (14:3) the 144 000 are “redeemed from the earth.” This is saved Jews and Gentiles from every age.

These are the Gentiles grafted into the elect of the Old Covenant (Romans 11:24-32; with 11:24 cf Ephesians 2:12). The 144 000 symbolise those saved.

They are brought back “purchased…offered as first fruits to God…”.   They are blameless (v5).

The Three Angels

The first with the eternal gospel – the good news of Jesus’ victory – a completed victory for all time and eternity. Jesus “has conquered” (Revelation 5:5). The Cross and the resurrection are the victory by Jesus over death.

14:7 “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of judgement has come.” Holy fear is the reverence, the respect and honouring of God’s authority. God’s Glory is the excellence of His being – His perfections attributes.

Now begins a warning to repent and to stop following the first beast – the sea beast – the Emperor-god. The same warning applies to all lifetimes to today. We remember the fanaticism of Germany following Hitler and Japan following The Emperor. Still many wars – terrorism.

14:8 The second angel says – fallen is Babylon – Satan awaits his death. Jesus is in control and rules the nations (Mk 1:15). John uses Babylon as a symbol for Rome – the madness and evil therein (cf Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21). Rome was the centre for the empire. Remember the second beast of the earth was the high priest of the Emperor-cult whose power, through Satan, enforced worship.

Remember Satan’s servants who persecuted the saints were themselves hated by Satan and destroyed.

14:9-12 The third angel announces God’s wrath (v16). “Torment burning Sulphur smoke of torment rises for ever and ever…”.  What an awesome encouragement to be faithful and obedient to Jesus.

In Revelation 13:10 John encouraged faithfulness – and continuing:

14:12-13 John teaches faithfulness of the saints again in all ages until Jesus comes. Remember, the battle is won! Even through pain and persecution there is great joy through perseverance. (Romans 5:1-9). Being with Jesus in the New Jerusalem for eternity (John 14:1-9; 17:1-9).  There may be great pressure on the saints in each age but faithfulness gives eternal success. (See Appendix – The Christian’s Wisdom and Assurance).

Further, John records “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord they rest from their labour..”. They are with Jesus at Mount Zion (Philippians 1:21, 23) – forever!

The Son of Man and the Harvest

Revelation 14:14-20 The harvest symbolises the judgement to come (Matthew 13:30; 40- 43).

Remember the Father is the only one who knows when judgement will come (Mark 13:32).

Prayers (Revelation 6:10; 8:3) are efficacious with the Father. Will there be repentance – or will there be a dreadful end in the “winepress of God’s wrath?” (v19). A shocking picture!