Revelation Chapter Fourteen
Revelation 14:1
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Lamb Jesus (Revelation 5:6) (John 1:29) (John 1:36) (Isaiah 53:7)
Mount Sion (or Zion) a literal Mount, but referred to figuratively as God's spiritual kingdom (Psalm 125:1) and His Eternal City (Hebrews 12:22) (Hebrews 12:28)
hundred forty and four thousand all those saved during the church age. See notes on Revelation 7:5-8
his Father's name Jesus' Father (Revelation 3:12)
written in their foreheads they are eternally secure and protected in the salvation of God. Their foreheads
represent their minds or will, which have been conformed to the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5)
(1 Corinthians 2:16). see also (Philippians 2:13) (John 3:21)
(Hebrews 13:20-21)
This is a picture of all those saved during
the church age ruling and reigning with Jesus. This corresponds with the thousand years (Revelation 20:4),who are seated in heavenly places at
salvation and made a citizen here as Mount Sion (Ephesian 2:6) (Galatians 4:25-26).
Revelation 14:2
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:
voice of many winters this illustrates that these are not Jews by heritage, but the spiritual Israel of God (Galatians 6:16),
made up of many peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Revelation 17:15) note: Our Lord's voice is described as the sound of
many waters representing that the Gospel goes out to all people (Revelation 1:15) (Acts 10:34)
(1 Peter 1:17) (Romans 2:11) (Deuteronomy 10:17)
harpers instruments of praise and worship (Psalm 33:2-3)
Revelation 14:3
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
new song/no man could learn singing is a proclamation of Praise and worship (Psalm 66:1-2) (Psalm 81:1-2) (Psalm 95:1-2)
(Psalm 98:4-6) (Psalm 100:1-2) (Psalm 150) new refers to the fulfilment of God's promise of salvation (Hebrews 8:8-10) (Revelation 21:5),
that only those who have been born again (redeemed) can learn (1 Corinthians 2:14)
(1 Corinthians 1:18) (John 14:17)
Revelation 14:4
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
virgins spiritually speaking they are not defiled with sin, and are made chaste virgins (2 Corinthians 11:2) for the Lord Jesus who is their spiritual Husband (Revelation 19:7-9)
first fruits we have discussed that there will be two great harvests of believers according to the prophecy in (Joel 2:23). These are those
redeemed during the church age, the former rain harvest
(1 Corinthians 15:22-23) (James 1:1) (James 1:18)
Revelation 14:5
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
without fault/before the throne of God the complete atoning work of Christ makes believers without fault, and they have access before the throne of God (Hebrews 4:16)
Revelation 14:6
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,
preach unto them that dwell on the earth this seems to shift emphasis upon the latter rain ministry during the latter part of the tribulation. This is a very similar shift as we had in Revelation Chapter 7. Note similarities between (Revelation 7:9) and (Revelation 14:6), which shifts emphasis from the 144,000 (church age ministry) to the great multitude (latter part of tribulation ministry).
Revelation 14:7
7 Saying with a loud voice, 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.
Loud voice a time of housetop preaching outside the local churches which have become apostate (Matthew 10:27) (Matthew 24:17)
(Mark 13:15)
Fear God, and give glory to Him the emphasis of the message of the tribulation teaching and preaching, which is that Salvation is of the Work
of God alone (Philippians 1:29) (Philippians 2:13) (Hebrews 13:20-21) (John 3:21) (John 3:27) (John 6:29) (John 6:44) (John 6:45). Those who
have put their faith in the fallen churches, their false doctrines, creeds, rituals, etc... will find themselves lost on the great day
(Matthew 7:21-23).
"hour" of his judgement is come the term "hour" confirms our understanding that this is referring to the tribulation period. See study notes on Revelation 3:10
worship Him Jesus the creator (Colossians 1:15-19)
Revelation 14:8
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Babylon is fallen/that great city the great city which refers to the corporate churches, the Jerusalem below, that have fallen
and are now referred to as Babylon. Satan, the King of Babylon, has taken over the churches, so they are now referred to as Babylon. (Revelation chapters
17 and 18) also see study notes on Revelation 11:8. This is another reference to the Great Tribulation "Babylon is fallen"
see study notes (Revelation 11:2)
(Revelation 17:4-6)
Revelation 14:9-11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture 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 nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
drink of the wine/wrath of God these verse describes the fate of all those who were not written in the Lambs book of life
(Revelation 21:27).
Jesus refers to a cup that He willingly drank (Matthew 26:39), this was the wrath of God that Jesus endured on behalf of
the believers.
Now in remembrance we have the sacrament of the Lords table
(1 Corinthians 11:23-34), to remember what Jesus has done for us,
and is imputed to our account (Matthew 20:22-23). Everyone else who is not in Christ, without exception, will drink their own cup,
and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). See (Psalm 75:8)
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
patience of the Saints we had this in (Revelation 13:10) patience seeing lawlessness abound during the tribulation, good being called evil,
and evil good. Seeing the abomination of desolation etc... but worse of all, seeing the world mock and blaspheme our Lord Jesus.
See also (Luke 21:12-19) (Matthew 24:4-14).
commandments of God (Matthew 22:34-40) (John 13:34-35)
faith of Jesus believers true faith comes form the Lord, and not of their own. In the original language, the word translated believe is derived from the word translated into faith. To have faith is to believe, and to believe is to have faith (John 6:29)
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Blessed are the dead/die in the Lord for they rest from their labours, the labours of working to advance God's kingdom upon earth, and their works do follow them (John 4:31-38) (1 Corinthians 3:9-10). Those who have passed on their mantles to continue the building of God's Holy House. Believers share in the wonderful work that God has called them to do. No work is to be considered greater or lesser (Ephesians 2:8-9). As we all share in the same reward which is Christ (Matthew 10:40-42).
Revelation 14:14-16
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat 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 is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
upon the cloud/son of man (Revelation 1:7) (Matthew 24:30)
(Matthew 26:64)
he that sat on the cloud/earth was reaped this represents Jesus Christ at His second coming as He gathers the elect (Mark 4:26-29). This is the rapture of the saints (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Revelation 14:17-20
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which 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 grapes are 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 winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
gathered the vine of the earth/cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God this represents Jesus and His host as He gathers the unbelievers for the final judgement.
Revelation 14:14-20 See (Joel 3:9-16) (Revelation 19:11-21)
(Isaiah 63:1-6) (Matthew 13:24-30) (Matthew 13:47-51)
(Matthew 25:31-46).
