Transcript Book of Revelation: Chapter 14

Book of Revelation:
Chapter 14
Christ and His Righteous
Forces
Revelation 14:1
“Then I looked, and behold,
a Lamb standing on Mount
Zion, and with Him one
hundred and forty-four
thousand, having His
Father's name written on
their foreheads.”
The Lamb and His Own
• The Lamb
– Victorious Christ of Chapter 5
• Standing on Mount Zion
– Heavenly Jerusalem (Psalm 125:1; Hebrews 12:22,23)
• 144,000
– (7:1-8) sealed by God for their faithfulness
• His name
– Name carries power (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11)
• Father’s name written on their foreheads
– John 14:6; Revelation 13:16
Revelation 14:2
“And I heard a voice from
heaven, like the voice of
many waters, and like the
voice of loud thunder. And I
heard the sound of harpists
playing their harps.”
A Voice…
• A voice “from heaven” LIKE the sound of:
– “Many waters” (1:15)
– “Loud thunder” (6:1)
– “Harpists,” not only loud but melodious and
attractive.
– Remember, this is “figurative language”
Revelation 14:3
“They sang as it were a new
song before the throne, before
the four living creatures, and the
elders; and no one could learn
that song except the hundred
and forty-four thousand who
were redeemed from the earth.”
The New Song
• They were singing a “new song”
– “Before the throne”
– “Before the four living creatures”
– “Before the elders”
• “No one could learn the song except the
144,000”
– Only those who had been purchased with,
and received redemption in, Christ’s blood!
Revelation 14:4
“These are the ones who were not
defiled with women, for they are virgins.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb
wherever He goes. These were
redeemed from among men, being
firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 14:5
“And in their mouth was
found no deceit, for they
are without fault before
the throne of God.”
A Description of the 144,000
• The 144,000 (Ephesians 1:13,14)
– Have names (Father/Son) upon them
– “Were not defiled with women” (righteous individuals)
(2 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Ephesians
5:11ff)
– “Who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (1
Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21,22)
– “Redeemed from among men” (from the earth) (Acts
20:28)
A Description of the 144,000
• The 144,000 (Ephesians 1:13,14)
– “First fruits to God and to the Lamb”
(James 1:18) figure of harvest acceptable to
God—separated for His use (14:14-16)
– “Free from deceit” without blemish—Christ
is Lord! (Colossians 1:22; Ephesians
5:26,27)
Coming Attractions…
• Six great proclamations…
• Four “headline banners”
• Two “videos of the sickle of Judgment”
• Preview of what God is going to do…
• God knows what He is going to do; He
”rules in the kingdoms of man!”
– Revelation 14:6-20…
Revelation 14:6
“Then I saw another angel flying
in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach
to those who dwell on the earth-to every nation, tribe, tongue,
and people.”
Revelation 14:7
“Saying with a loud voice,
‘Fear God and give glory to
Him, for the hour of His
judgment has come; and
worship Him who made
heaven and earth, the sea
and springs of water.’”
Banner Number 1…
• Triumph of Righteousness
• Eternal Good News—Chapters 15,16
• Brought by “another angel” to differentiate from
those mentioned earlier
– “Flying in the midst of heaven”
– “Having an eternal gospel to preach to those living
on earth”
• Judgment—Romans 2:16
• Repentance—Acts 14:15
Banner Number 1…
• Triumph of Righteousness
• Eternal Good News—Chapters 15,16
• Proclaimed…
– “Fear God”
– He is Creator of all the earth.
– “Worship Him”
– “For the hour of His judgment has come.”
• John 3:18,19
Banner Number 1…
Triumph of Righteousness
Eternal Good News—Chapters 15,16
God’s purposes will not be defeated!
God will not allow His righteous children to be trampled on
indefinitely!
• Sinners will perish, and righteousness will triumph—rejoice!
• God’s wrath is as holy as His love.
• There’ll always be consequences for ungodliness.
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Revelation 14:8
“And another angel followed,
saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city,
because she has made all
nations drink of the wine of
the wrath of her fornication.’”
Banner Number 2…
• Judgment of Wicked Babylon
• Consequences—Chapters 17,18
• Brought by “another angel”
– “Fallen, Fallen”
– “Babylon the Great”
Banner Number 2…
• Judgment of Wicked Babylon
• Consequences—Chapters 17,18
• Old Testament Babylon was a place of
arrogance and rebellion against God.
• It was so wicked God overthrew it completely; it
was never rebuilt.
• Repetition for tragic emphasis (prophetic)
Banner Number 2…
Judgment of Wicked Babylon
Consequences—Chapters 17,18
Babylon is symbolic for Rome.
Seducer of the world (Jeremiah 51:7)
All nations made to drink of the wine of “the
wrath of her fornication.”
• Defeat is so certain, victory can be claimed
before the battle is even fought!
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Revelation 14:9
“Then a third angel followed
them, saying with a loud
voice, ‘If anyone worships
the beast and his image, and
receives his mark on his
forehead or on his hand.’”
Revelation 14:10
“He himself shall also drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out full strength into the cup
of His indignation. He shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in
the presence of the holy angels and in
the presence of the Lamb.”
Revelation 14:11
“And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they
have no rest day or night, who
worship the beast and his image,
and whoever receives the mark of
his name.”
Banner Number 3…
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Emperor worshipers judged
Consequences - Mark of the Beast (Chapter 19)
Brought “a third angel”
Proclaimed…
– “If any one…” (conditional)
– “Worships the beast and his image” (civil
persecuting power—sea beast)
– “Receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand”
Banner Number 3…
• Emperor worshipers judged
• Consequences - Mark of the Beast (Chapter 19)
• Proclaimed…
– He will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”
• “unmixed”—full strength nothing held back!
– “He will be tormented with fire and brimstone”
• In the presence of the holy angels.
• In the presence of the Lamb.
• Just as the saints who were tormented before by them.
Banner Number 3…
• Emperor worshipers judged
• Consequences - Mark of the Beast (Chapter 19)
• Fate of all those individuals who participated in
the worship of the emperor
• Shared in Babylon’s fornication
• God’s undiluted wrath will pour out on all who
helped in the persecution of the church—the
saints!
Banner Number 3…
• Emperor worshipers judged
• Consequences - Mark of the Beast (Chapter 19)
• No worse fate could be imagined!
• Compromise with emperor worship will bring
horrific results!
• Holy angels, the Lamb, and the faithful will
witness God’s retribution on the wicked!
Banner Number 3…
• Emperor worshipers judged
• Consequences - Mark of the Beast (Chapter 19)
• The smoke from such mens’ torture will ascend
for timeless ages.
• There will be no respite day or night!
• Torment as age-lasting as that suffered by Satan
himself!
Revelation 14:12
“Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who
keep the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus.”
Perseverance of the Saints
• The true Christian’s hope of the day is not in
compromise, but in:
– Remaining faithful, which brings steadfast hope!
– Keeping God’s commandments
– Having faith in Christ
• This brings rest, versus “NO REST!”
• Keeping God’s commandments while suffering
for righteousness is certainly better than the
alterative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Revelation 14:13
“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.’”
Banner Number 4…
• Christians triumph
• Rewarded for steadfastness (Chapters
20-22)
• A “voice from heaven…”
– “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord”
– “That they may rest from their labors”
– “For their works (deeds) do follow them”
Banner Number 4…
Christians Triumph
Rewarded for steadfastness (Chapters 20-22)
Encouraged to remain steadfast!
Die in the Lord—critical for those who were
facing death that “very hour!”
• Be refreshed from their toils and labors
• The quality of their deeds follows them—a
divine record!
• Testimony of their faith in Christ!
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Revelation 14:14
“Then I looked, and behold, a
white cloud, and on the cloud
sat One like the Son of Man,
having on His head a golden
crown, and in His hand a
sharp sickle.”
Revelation 14:15
“And another angel came out of the
temple, crying with a loud voice to
Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in
Your sickle and reap, for the time has
come for You to reap, for the harvest
of the earth is ripe.’”
Revelation 14:16
“So He who sat on the
cloud thrust in His sickle
on the earth, and the earth
was reaped.”
Sickle of Judgment—As Viewed by the
Righteous…
• Please keep in mind; this is not the scene of the
final judgment, but a judgment against
“Babylon.”
• When? The announcements of the first three
angels have been fulfilled.
• This is the execution of God’s wrath over Rome.
• The “one sitting on the cloud” having a “golden
crown” and a “sharp sickle”
Sickle of Judgment—As Viewed by the
Righteous…
• Angel announces “The harvest is right for
reaping”
• God’s messenger announces that the time for
righteous judgment has arrived.
• Signals the defeat and consequences upon
those who had tormented God’s children.
• This “reaping” is fearful for those who had been
with the beast!
Revelation 14:17
“Then another angel came
out of the temple which is
in heaven, he also having
a sharp stick.”
Revelation 14:18
“And another angel came out from
the altar, who had power over fire,
and he cried with a loud cry to him
who had the sharp sickle, saying,
‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and
gather the clusters of the vine of the
earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’”
Revelation 14:19
“So the angel thrust his sickle
into the earth and gathered
the vine of the earth, and
threw it into the great
winepress of the
wrath of God.”
Revelation 14:20
“And the winepress was
trampled outside the city, and
blood came out of the
winepress, up to the horses'
bridles, for one thousand six
hundred furlongs.”
Sickle of Judgment—
Viewed by the Unrighteous…
• Another angel out of heaven, out of the
temple, which is in heaven
– “Thrust a sickle” (judgment)
– Gathered the grapes
– Threw them into the great winepress
– Trampled without the city
• Blood came out of the winepress (for
200 miles)!
Sickle of Judgment—
Viewed by the Unrighteous…
• Gathered the clusters and cast them into the
“winepress” of the Almighty!
• Gathering of the vintage of grapes
• Not two separate judgments–reflects a single
event of divine judgment against Rome
• Came out of the altar—why?
• Final response to the saints prayers seeking
vindication!
Sickle of Judgment—
Viewed by the Unrighteous…
• Not wine, but blood, flowing from the
winepress…
• Heaven’s judgments against Rome
would be severe!
• Total destruction awaits those who
oppose God and His people!
• For those who find themselves
“beyond the pale of divine protection”
Review…
• Six angels…
• Four great banners of coming events…
• Two sickles of judgment…
• Wicked and righteous have two totally
different futures…
• Consequences for both groups…
• One is far better than the other!