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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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).
5 And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. (See Church of Philadelphia)
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.
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.”
8 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."
9 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.
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.
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.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
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.”
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).
16 And He that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Raptured)
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.”
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.
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.