<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Visions, Proclamations, & Harvests (14:1-20) INTRODUCTION 1. In chapter thirteen we learned the means by which Satan would try to destroy the church after failing to do so in Palestine... a. By using the political and religious power of the Roman empire b. To enforce emperor worship and kill those who would not worship the emperor c. But Satan's power to deceive as he did would not last long ("forty- two months") - cf. Re 13:5; 20:1-3 2. Who would not succumb to Satan's deception and worship the beast...? a. Those whose names were written in the Lamb's book of life - Re 13:8 b. I.e., those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb through their obedience to the gospel! c. Even though it may have meant martyrdom for them - cf. Re 13:7 [In chapter fourteen, we notice visions and proclamations that would encourage the saints in Asia Minor to remain faithful to the Lord even unto death (cf. Re 2:10), beginning with...] I. THE 144,000 ON MOUNT ZION (1-5) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. Standing with the Lamb - Re 14:1 a. 144,000 together with the Lamb on Mount Zion b. With the Father's name written on their foreheads - cf. Re 7:3 2. Singing a new song - Re 14:2-3 a. John heard a voice from heaven 1) Like the voice of many waters 2) Like the voice of loud thunder b. John heard the sound of harpists playing their harps c. The 144,000 sang a new song 1) Before the throne, the four living creatures and the elders 2) Which none could learn except the 144,000 redeemed from the earth 3. Described more fully - Re 14:4-5 a. They are virgins, who had not defiled themselves with women b. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes c. They were redeemed from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb d. They are without fault before the throne of God, with no guile in their mouths -- What a scene of bliss and blessed redemption in heaven for followers of the Lamb! B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. I suggest this is a picture of saints triumphant in heaven - cf. He 12:22-23 2. Perhaps in particular the blessedness of faithful Jewish Christians depicted earlier - cf. Re 7:1-8 a. The 144,000 of Israel who had been sealed with the Father's name on their foreheads b. Prior to the great day of the Lamb's wrath - cf. Re 6:16-17 (i.e., the destruction of Jerusalem) c. Those sealed were then on earth, now they are in sealed in heaven! 3. Both the number and descriptive terms are symbolic a. For taken literally, women would be excluded, also married men (including the apostle Peter!) b. They were called "virgins" in the sense of being "unpolluted by idolatry" - David Clark c. Or possibly, for "their refusal to associate with the harlot Babylon" - Steve Gregg -- A wonderful scene illustrating the blessedness promised for those who will persevere in their faithfulness to God! [The scenes in heaven that would encourage such faithfulness continue with...] II. THREE ANGELIC PROCLAMATIONS (6-13) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. The first proclamation - Re 14:6-7 a. By an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel 1) To preach to those who dwell on the earth 2) To every nation, tribe, tongue, and people b. Saying with a loud voice... 1) "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come" 2) "Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" 2. The second proclamation - Re 14:8 a. By another angel which followed the first b. Saying... 1) "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city" 2) "Because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" 3. The third proclamation - Re 14:9-11 a. By a third angel which followed the first two b. Saying with a loud voice... 1) "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand..." 2) "He himself shall also drink of the of wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation" 3) "He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone..." a) "In the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" b) "The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever" c) "They have no rest day or night" d) "Who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" 4. Followed by a word of wisdom and a beatitude - Re 14:12-13 a. Here is the patience of the saints: those who keep... 1) The commandments of God 2) The faith of Jesus b. A voice from heaven saying... 1) "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" 2) "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." -- Visions certainly encouraging those who remain faithful to God and the Lamb! B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. These three visions followed by a word of wisdom and a beatitude make a clear distinction a. Between those who will worship God and those who will worship the beast b. Between those who will fear God and those who commit fornication with Babylon the harlot 2. Consider their different ends: a. Those who remain faithful to God and Jesus may die but will be blessed for eternity b. Those who succumb to the beast and Babylon will be tormented for eternity -- Visions like these may help us understand how the early Christians were so faithful despite great persecution in the early history of the church! [The chapter concludes with a depiction of two harvests...] III. THE TWO HARVESTS (14-20) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. Reaping the earth's harvest - Re 14:14-16 a. The Son of Man sitting on a white cloud 1) With a golden crown on His head 2) With a sharp sickle in His hand b. An angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice: 1) "Thrust in Your sickle and reap" 2) "For the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe" c. He who sat on a cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and it was reaped 2. Reaping the grapes of wrath - Re 14:17-20 a. An angel came out of the temple in heaven, also having a sharp sickle b. Another angel, having power over fire, cried to the angel with the sickle: 1) "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth" 2) "For her grapes are fully ripe" c. So the angel... 1) Thrust his sickle into the earth 2) Gathered the vine of the earth 3) Threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God d. The winepress was trampled outside the city 1) Blood came out of the winepress 2) Up to the horses' bridles, for 1600 furlongs (about 184 miles!) -- Two different "harvests", with two different outcomes B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. These two harvests may be different ways of describing the same judgment about to come upon those who follow the beast (the persecuting emperor of the Roman empire) 2. Or the first may depict that Jesus will safely harvest His own while God's wrath is being poured out on His enemies 3. I do not believe either represents that which will occur when Jesus comes at the end of time (though they may certainly foreshadow that great event) -- Like the angelic proclamations they reassured the Christians of John's day that God's hour of judgment was soon to come upon their enemies (the pagan Roman empire) CONCLUSION 1. With such visions and proclamations as those found in chapter 14, the saints in Asia Minor would be more likely to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ despite the persecutions they would face 2. Though written to encourage the faithfulness of Christians in the 1st century, they should also encourage Christians in the 21st century, especially this wonderful promise... Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." - Re 14:13 When it comes for us to die, will it be "in the Lord"?<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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