Unraveling The Book of Revelations

The 144,000

John's vision here includes Jesus and the same 144,000 sealed believers who were described in Chapter 7. These believers sing a song of praise to God while standing on Zion: the general area of the city of Jerusalem. The sealed believers are further described as spiritually pure, in stark contrast to the wicked people marked as worshippers of the Antichrist (Revelation 14:1–5).

John then sees three angels delivering messages of warning and prophecy. These messages predict God's impending judgment on sin and evil. Included in these statements is a comment about those who accepted the mark of the beast, described in chapter 13. Both Daniel and John also saw political systems and leaders that they described using the term "Beast". Those who take that mark are bound for eternal damnation. This further supports the idea that the mark of the beast is not some casual, hidden concept. Those who take it will know they are rejecting God by doing so.

Chapter 14’s conclusion depicts Jesus holding a sickle, which is a farming tool used to cut plants during the harvest. This passage symbolizes the return of Jesus, and the subsequent battle, in terms of a grape harvest. Just as mature grapes are fat and full of juice, the wickedness of unbelievers on earth will have reached a peak at this moment. Just as a winepress crushes and shreds grapes to make wine, the wrath of God will tear apart those who fight against Christ at the end of the tribulation (Revelation 14:14–20).

The unbelievers of the world will be deceived into believing that the Beast is a god (2 Thess. 2:4, 11). Only those whose names are written in the book of life will refuse to worship the Beast. The Beast will persecute the saints of God, and exercise power throughout the world. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world in the sense that Christ's redemptive death for mankind was part of God's plan from eternity past.

Revelation Chapter 14

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar and count the number of worshippers there."

 

 

1 And I looked and lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Zion:  the New Jerusalem (Heb.12:22-24), the eternal city into which the church will be received. ( Rev. 21:1)

The name of God on their forehead is to be contrasted with those who received the mark of the Beast “on their right hand or on their foreheads.” (Rev. 13:16)

  • Psalms 74:2: Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
  • Hebrews 12:22-24: Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
  • Rev 3:12: The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
  • Rev22:4: They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads
  • Joel 2:32: And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.

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.

  • Ezekiel 43:2: and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.
  • Revelation 1:16: His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.

3 And they sang, as it were, a new song before the throne, and before the four living beings and the elders; and no man could learn that song, except the hundred and forty and four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

  • Rev 5:9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

4 These are they that were not defiled with women, for they are virgins (in the spiritual sense). These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men (human beings) being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

  • Hebrews 9:15: For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

The firstfruits was the first portion of a harvest which was dedicated to God. It demonstrated the priority which was given to God because the first of that which had been long awaited was bypassed by the harvester and given to God (Lev. Lev. 23:10-14).

  • 2 Corinthians 11:2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
  • John 12:26: Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
  • John 10:27: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
  • James 1:18: He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation
  •  Hebrews 12:23: To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. (See Church of Philadelphia)

  • Ephesians 5:27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
  • The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.
  • Daniel 12:10: Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
  • Colossians 1:22: But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

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.

  • Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

7 Saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His Judgment is come. Worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters.”

  • Isaiah 24:17: Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

And there followed another angel, saying, “Babylon is fallen! Fallen is that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Catholic apologist Karl Keating writes: "Babylon is a code word for Rome."

  • Isaiah 21:9: Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs." And one answered, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground."
  • Jeremiah 51:7: Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
  • Revelation 16:9: The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If any man worships the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand.

Those who would not respond to God’s gracious offer of salvation are now warned of the eternal significance of worshiping the Beast and taking his mark.

The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error.

  • Rev 13:14: Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
  • Rev 13:16: And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.

10 the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out unmixed 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 16:2: The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image”
  • Rev 20:10: And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Those who worship the Beast and take his mark are irredeemable. Even though they have not yet died, their fate in the Lake of Fire is sealed.

  • Rev 20:10: And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain.

13 And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, “Write: ’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth.’” “Yea,” saith the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.”

  • Psalm 116:15: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.
  • Philippians 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
  • Romans 8:35: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle.

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 has come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

The harvest is used throughout the Scriptures to symbolize the final gathering and separation of that which is desirable and productive (wheat) from that which is useless and for the fire (tares, chaff).

  • Matthew 13:39: … The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

16 And He that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Raptured)

  • Luke 17:34: I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other left.
  • Matthew 24:41, 42: Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:3: Let no one deceive you in any way, for it (Rapture) will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness--the son of destruction--is revealed. (Antichrist)

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in Heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

All who remain alive on the face of the planet must now identify with one or the other of the two criminals crucified with Christ. All the world stands guilty. Those in the first harvest, like the repentant thief on the cross (Luke Luke 23:42), turn in desperation to Christ for cleansing of their sins. They are the wheat. Those in the second harvest (the vintage of wrath) are like the thief who continues to revile Christ (Luke Luke 23:39). They are the tares which are gathered for destruction.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, who 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 grapesare fully ripe.”

  • Mark 4:29: And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.
  • Joel 3:13: Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

  • Matthew 13:40: As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
  • Matthew 13:30: At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.

20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, for the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.