Revelation 14 – The Gospel Declared Throughout the World and Babylon’s Destruction Soon to Follow
John is now given a 4th vision before the narrative on judgment is continued. He sees a Lamb (Jesus) standing on Mt. Zion [I believe in heaven] with the 144,000 Jewish believers who were sealed with the Father’s name. Some believe that this is a different group; I see no basis for differentiating this group from those previously identified as having been sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel (cf chapter 7). He hears a voice from heaven (that resembles other scriptural descriptions of the voice of God) accompanied by a group of singers who are also playing harps. They are singing a new song before the throne [in heaven], and point is made that no man can learn that song but the 144,00 who were redeemed from earth. They are further identified as virgins (not defiled with women) and as those that “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” They are the firstfruits of God’s harvest of the redeemed Jewish tribulation saints. This is a Jewish group being described with reference to Jewish festivals that I believe is a specific reference to the believing remnant of Israel/Jews that will result from the judgment fires of the 70th week of Daniel. They are described as speaking truth without deceit and without fault, as righteous. This is true of every believer that inherits heaven. We have been imputed His righteousness and will no longer be influenced by the sin nature. I can’t wait!
It seems to me that since the 144,000 are seen in heaven, their ministry ended in conjunction with the ministry of the two witnesses. They probably died as martyrs when Satan turned his attention to the Jewish saints on earth after being thwarted in his effort to destroy the remnant that God is protecting in the wilderness. Or maybe they were snatched away in similar manner to the raptured church.
John’s attention is now drawn to another angel flying in the heavens preaching the everlasting gospel to all those living on planet earth. This fulfills God’s promise that the gospel would be carried all over the world: “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.”
His message, “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.” The wording is confusing as to whether this is the message of the gospel or in addition to the gospel as we know it. I tend to think it is in addition to. I know that the two witnesses and the 144,000 were declaring the whole truth. God never changes and His truth never changes. It is obvious to me that the gospel as we know it has been revealed in increments throughout history according to God’s purposes. The acceptable response has always been to have faith in God’s provision. I know that God is righteous and He alone is qualified to judge the response of each individual to the revelation given him.
John now sees another angel declaring another message: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” I have heard it taught that the Bible is a tale of two cities—Jerusalem and Babylon. Jerusalem is recognized as the city of God, and Babylon as the city of false gods. This announcement has a two-fold application (is fallen, is fallen), to the destruction of the false gods and their teachings that originated from there beginning with Nimrod and to the destruction of the city itself as predicted in the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah in particular. This is yet to occur according to the specifics of the prophecies.
Is. 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Jer. 50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
Jer. 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
A third angel follows this one with yet another message; he warns that anyone who worships the beast and his image and receives the mark in his forehead or hand will suffer the full measure of God’s wrath. He/she will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of Jesus and the holy angels. This torment will continue forever; they will have no rest day or night.
I know that there are many who just don’t believe that hell, a place of eternal torment, is a real place. They just can’t seem to reconcile a loving God as consigning someone to eternal torment. They focus on the love of God to the exclusion of His righteousness and holiness. I personally don’t think He would have sent His Son to suffer on the cross for our sins to provide for our salvation if there was nothing to save us from. The cross was not a simple work of obedience for the Son of God; He had to suffer a break in fellowship with the Father for the first and only time of His being. This was suffering far beyond anything that we can imagine. His love caused Him to send His Son; His righteousness and holiness require that He condemn those who refuse His provision. The truth is, however, that they condemn themselves by choosing to reject God’s gift of salvation as provided by His Son.
It’s interesting to note that the saints on earth are encouraged to stay faithful and obedient in light of these announcements. Yes, they have more testing and trouble to endure, but their eternal victory is certain. Some will yet experience deliverance through death, but their works will produce fruit and will not go unrewarded.
John’s attention is now directed to one “like the Son of man” [Jesus] sitting on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle [a harvesting instrument]. Another angel/messenger emerges from the heavenly temple and announces that the time has come for Him to reap His harvest. This can be confusing because it’s easy to try to connect this harvest with the one about which the Lord told His disciples.
John 4:34-36 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Jesus’ discourse with His disciples was in reference to a harvest of fruit that resulted in eternal life. In this section of Revelation the harvest is one of judgment using a sharp sickle. Another angel holding a sharp sickle comes out of the temple and is joined by another angel who comes from out of the altar. This last angel is identified as having power over fire. He joins in the harvest of those on earth that are destined for the winepress of God’s wrath. I think the LORD’s words as recorded in Matthew and Mark are helpful in understanding these verses and identifying this as the harvest of the tares.
Matt. 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matt. 13:49-50 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The winepress of God’s wrath is identified as “without the city,” and I believe is a reference to the final battle of Armageddon outside the city of Jerusalem. Point is made that the battle will be very violent and bloody.
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