Revelation Chapter 14
The 144 thousand
Rev 14:1 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.
Rev 14:2 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:
Rev 14:3 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.
Rev 14:4 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.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The 14th chapter opens with a scene of rejoicing.
The 144 thousand are seen standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb
This is a continuation of the series that began in chapter 12, when we seen the woman fleeing into the wilderness, then the dragon giving his power to the beast, and then the image to the beast
They have endured and emerged on the other side of the great apostasy
They have the Lamb’s Father’s name in their forehead, clearly identifying them as God’s true people.
In contrast to having the beast name in their forehead
You will notice that they are not spiritual harlots but had kept themselves true to their relationship with God.
…and without guile no fault found
We saw the sealing of the 144 thousand back in the seventh chapter, before the powers were released
(Rev 7:3 KJV) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(Rev 7:4 KJV) And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
The seal denotes both God’s protection and His ownership
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
We saw in the series in Chapter 7 their triumph, robed in white, before the throne
Here we see them on Mount Zion with the Lamb
Through all the persecution and deception, God had kept His own
Now we see them with the Lamb on Mount Zion singing a new song before the throne
It was the song of salvation, that no one else could sing
Mount Zion is the highest peak in Jerusalem, and Zion and Jerusalem are used interchangeably
It was the habitation of Jehovah
In the New Testament, it is His church through the habitation of His Spirit
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
The three angels
Rev 14:6 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,
Rev 14:7 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.
Rev 14:8 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.
Rev 14:9 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,
Rev 14:10 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:
Rev 14:11 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.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 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.
We see next three angels, one proclaiming the everlasting gospel, another the downfall of Babylon and a third the dreadful wrath of God on the worshippers of the beast.
This is the message that began at the time of the Reformation
First, the everlasting gospel.
The everlasting gospel, the plan of salvation
Worship Him that made heaven and earth
…give glory God and fear God.
Notice it is not just the message of conversion
The clarity and fullness of the plan of salvation is again in view and is to be proclaimed
In verses 8 and 9, we find 2 more angels or messengers.
Their message is two: first Babylon is fallen and secondly, the calamity and judgment of those who worship the beast and his image.
Light has come exposing the beast and his image and those receive the mark of the beast will share in the awful judgment here shown.
Those who join with this apostate religion and have light shall surely reap the wrath of God.
Rev 14:14 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.
Rev 14:15 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.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18 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.
Rev 14:19 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.
Rev 14:20 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.
This is a scene of the judgment at the end of the age
I am not certain of the exact meaning of each symbol, but the overall picture is clear
The one on the cloud like unto the Son of man I believe is Christ
He has the golden crown and is waiting with His sickle
Another angel came from out of the temple saying “thrust in the sickle, the harvest is ripe”
Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
The awful judgment of God is portrayed