Revelation Chapter 14

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 

The fate of the 144,000. Chapter 14 answers two important questions raised by chapter 13. The beast of chapter 13 was terrifying and awesome; he even can make war against the saints and overcome them (13:7). Is he completely victorious over all God's people? The second question has to do with this Satanic dictator himself: what happens to the beast and his followers?

Not 143,999: none are missing! "I have lost none." They have come through the Tribulation miraculously, just like the three Hebrews in Daniel 3—by the way, where was Daniel?

Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion. The 144,000 certainly haven't been defeated by the beast; here they are triumphant, worshipping, and standing firm with Jesus. Why are they gathered on Mount Zion? Zion is the place where the Messiah gathers His redeemed and reigns over the earth (Psalm 48; Isaiah 24:23; Joel 2:32; Obadiah 17, 21; Micah 4:1, 7). Some commentators see this as the heavenly Zion spoken of in Galatians 4:26, and the 144,000 as victims of the beast; but why? What does that prove? The 144,000 are like the Hebrews who survived the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:19-25; they are evidence of God's ability to preserve His people.

The followers of Satan and the beast may have a mark on their hand or forehead, but this is just a copy of the idea behind the identifying mark on the foreheads of each one of the 144,000 - they belong to the Father. The voice like the voice of many waters and like the voice of loud thunder is the voice of God (Revelation 1:15; 4:5); perhaps this is God proclaiming His approval of these 144,000 faithful servants in the spirit of Matthew 25:21 - Well done, good and faithful servant. We are told that the elders of Revelation 5:8 have harps; perhaps this is where their music is heard, to accompany the worshipful singing of the 144,000 as they sing a new song, unique to them.

It is strange to consider that the 144,000 seem to have their feet planted firmly on Mount Zion; yet their praise ushers them into the very presence of God. In our praise and worship, we really can transport ourselves and be heard in heavenly places .

Only the redeemed can truly sing praises to Him. [Do you?] We are not in this group, but we also have been redeemed out of the earth and this world system  (Jn 17:14-19; Phil 3:17-21).

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The description of the 144,000. Many take the virginity of the 144,000 as being symbolic of general purity (as in 2 Corinthians 11:2); but Paul recommended celibacy in distressing times (1 Corinthians 7:25-35), and Jesus spoke of woes upon those with children and families in that day (Matthew 24:19-21). It isn't hard to see that God would specially call 144,000 to a literal celibacy for the kingdom's sake during this period. Does virgins mean that all the 144,000 are women? No; "Parthenos can be applied to men as well as women".

The 144,000 are the beginnings of a greater harvest; the are a firstfruits, they are the "godly nucleus of Israel which is the token of redemption of the nation". Because they are described as a firstfruits, many have thought that they themselves will be instrumental in God's plan for bringing in a great harvest during the tribulation. Revelation 7:9 describes an innumerable company saved out of the Great Tribulation, and these 144,000, described as firstfruits, may have been used to preach the gospel to those who were saved n this period.

Clearly, they are believers in Jesus; otherwise they would not stand with the Lamb, follow the Lamb wherever He goes, and could not be without fault before the throne of God. Each of this vast multitude saved during the Tribulation will be saved in exactly the same manner as anyone today: by grace, through a personal faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation. Even though the rapture of the church ends God's dealings with the church as such on the earth, it certainly does not change the way people come to salvation or become part of the larger family of God, which includes all the redeemed, before and after the church.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

An angel preaches the gospel. The angel preaches the gospel, but also announces judgment; with the judgment of God so evident on the earth in these days, it is no wonder why the crowd of those saved through the great tribulation can't be numbered. The angel calls upon the people of the earth to Fear God and give glory to Him; they can give glory to God willingly now, or be compelled to give glory to Him later.  "Here is the bitter irony of their lot: though they damn themselves eternally by their refusal to face the truth, one day they will be forced to face it. Sooner or later the 'glory' they refuse to 'give' the Creator willingly will be torn from them by the spectacle of His wrath."

Verse 6 can be a valid fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Matthew 24:14 that the gospel would be preached to all the world before His second coming; but this can never be a valid excuse for neglecting the urgency of missions.  Although, this is the only place in the New Testament where we see angels preaching the gospel; in God's sublime wisdom, He has chosen to give that responsibility to men alone, apart from the rarest of exceptions.

Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

An angel announces Babylon's fall. More on Babylon will come in chapter 17; now it is enough to see it as a representation of mankind in organized rebellion against God. When we are told that Babylon has led all nations into fornication, the main idea is no doubt primarily spiritual, though we are never surprised to see spiritual fornication accompanied with literal immorality.

First mention in Revelation of "Babylon the Great" which will be center stage in Chapters 17 & 18. Babylon has been Satan’s Headquarters from the beginning. The worship of Semiramis—and the female principal in the deity; the fountainhead of false religions (cf. Jer 51:6-9; "Is fallen, fallen": Gen 41:32).

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.

An angel warns of coming judgment. Verse 9 reminds us that there is a connection between worshipping the beast and his image and receiving his mark on his forehead or on his hand; no one will "casually" or "accidentally" take the mark - the connection between worshipping the beast and taking the mark will be clear. Although, the taking of the mark may, to secular eyes, seem innocent enough; it may be a mere pledge of allegiance and devotion to the Antichrist and his government, even as the burning of a pinch of incense to an image of Caesar, and the pledge "Caesar is Lord" in the early church seemed an innocent act of civic duty to the ancient pagans.

Those who worship the Antichrist are forced to drink the wine of the wrath of God; this cup of God's wrath is like undiluted wine, mixed with spices to make it still stronger (full strength). The idea of God holding a cup of wrath, which He makes those under judgment drink is expressed more than thirteen times in the Bible (Psalm 75:8 and Jeremiah 25:15 are examples); this is the idea behind the cup that Jesus desired, if possible, to avoid (Matthew 26:39). Jesus willingly took the cup of the Father's wrath that we deserved; here, the enemies of Jesus have no choice - the cup is forced upon them.

The wine in the cup is associated with wrath (thymos), which is a passionate anger; the cup itself is associated with indignation (orge) which is anger from a settled disposition. Orge is the common word for God's anger in the New Testament; thymos is used only 11 times, and 10 of the 11 are in Revelation. Those who worship the Antichrist and receive his mark will endure this wrath and indignation for eternity in hell; "The modern vogue for dispensing with hell has no counterpart in Revelation". Here, the fact of eternal torment is plainly stated; forever and ever means "forever and ever"; if the only consequences for sin are in this life, or if the only penalty for sin is temporary, then clever sinners have won out over God. Their torment is in the presence of the Lamb; it is wrong to say that hell will be devoid of the presence of God; but it will be devoid of His love. The presence of Jesus will be there, but only the presence of His holy justice and wrath against sin.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

The blessedness of the saints, even in the midst of the Great Tribulation. We can easily contrast the saint's rest with the wicked's continual torment (11); the rest is come to through patient endurance and faithfulness to God and His Word (commandments of God and the faith of Jesus). Their works follow them: the patient endurance and work of these saints is remembered in heaven; our work for the Lord goes with us into heaven, giving dignity and significance to all work. Clearly, God is trying to encourage His people to be steadfast in times of trial, focused on what blessed rest and reward awaits them in eternity.

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

Time for Jesus to bring in the harvest. Many have difficulty identifying Jesus as the one doing the harvesting here; they have a hard time with Jesus responding to another angel who came out of the temple; but it is unlikely that anyone called the Son of Man, and wearing a golden crown is anyone but Jesus. When we are told that the harvest of the earth is ripe, ripe has a bad connotation, "to become dry or withered;" the idea is of something that is over-ripe.

Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

The winepress of God. This vivid picture of judgment was the inspiration for The Battle Hymn of the Republic: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vineyard where the grapes of wrath are stored He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword His truth is marching on!

The image of the second coming of Jesus as a harvest was also communicated in Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43, the parable of the wheat and the tares; the implication is that true believers will not be separated from mere church going religionists until the final harvest. Verse 20 probably describes blood spattering to the horse's bridles (a picture of tremendous carnage in the battle of Armageddon described in Revelation 16:16 and 19:11-19); it is not likely a description of a river of blood running the length of the promised land and as high as a horse's bridle.

Chapter 14 is the perfect answer to chapter 13, declaring who is really triumphant, powerful, and in control: God, His Messiah, and His people; not Satan, his messiah (the Antichrist) and his people.

[We tend to think of nuclear weapons. The 70,000 extinguished at Hiroshima pales before the 125,000 killed by firearms and bayonets at Iwo Jima earlier that same year. We also forget our own bloody Civil War, which was so vast and terrible that it consumed more American lives than World War I and II, Korea, and Vietnam combined—all with merely bayonets, firearms, and cannonballs.]

Psalm 45:3-7 is also a prediction of this. It is strange that Israel in its present state does not believe its own Scriptures. It is ironic that many Jews are atheists (a contradiction of terms!). [An agnostic Jew: one who knows what the God he doesn’t believe in requires of him.] Denying the God of the Old Testament, and the relevance of the Scriptures to their own destiny, This wine pressing is a judgment for apostasy, which Jeremiah 30 calls "the time of Jacob’s Trouble." We need make no apology for this. Sin is an awful thing. Sin is in the world. You and I are sinners. Christ is the only remedy for us. This judgment will inevitably come upon Christ-rejecters. Those who think that the Church is going through the Great Tribulation (The Great Day of God’s Wrath) understand neither the nature of the Church, nor the nature of the Tribulation. They underestimate both. Before that morning dawns, the long night of the human race will grow darker. Much darker. This chapter was just a prelude to the bowls that are coming in the next two chapters.