Studies in the Apocalypse

1. Studies in the Apocalypse With he Lamb on Mount Zion Chapter 14

2. Two main sections The redeemed saints with the Lord Jesus Christ. (v.1-5) The righteous judgements of God to subdue the nations. (v.6-20)

3. 1. The redeemed are united with the Lamb. 2.They are ‘without fault’ before the throne. 3. They constitute Spiritual Jerusalem. 4. The patience of the saints is rewarded. 5. Nations given a final warning, Fear God ..... 6. Spiritual Babylon is completely destroyed. 7. The reaping of the harvest of the earth.

4. v.1 The Faithful and True Witness The Bright and Morning Star The Root and offspring of David The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the World The Lion of the Tribe of Judah He which hath the sharp sword with two edges The King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Beginning of the Creation of God

5. Dragon Ch.12 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb…. Earth Beast Ch.13 How can a lamb & His followers overcome these beasts? Scarlet Beast Ch.17 Sea Beast Ch.13 Phil.2:7-10

6. “a Lamb stood on the mount Sion,” Gen.22:7-8 Provided by God Ex.12:3-5 Without blemish Ex.29:40-41 Sweet savour to the LORD Isa.53:7 brought to the slaughter John 1:19 To take away sin 1 Pet. 1:19 Redemption through his blood Rev.7:17 leads from death to life

7. 2 Sam.5:7 A strong hold Ps.2:6 “my holy hill” Ps.48:11 Mount of rejoicing(because of righteousness) Ps.50:2 The perfection of beauty Ps.74:2 Purchased and redeemed Ps.76:2 Dwelling place of God Ps.87:2 Mother of the redeemed Ps.102:13 Receives God’s mercy Ps.110:2 Rules over its enemies Ps.125:1 Abideth for ever Ps.132:13 Desired by Yahweh Isa.26:1 A city of salvation “on mount Sion,”

8. Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion The Lord Jesus Christ will rule Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,... stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. The Saints will rule The nations

9. Rev 14:1 …. and with him an hundred forty and four thousand 12 – Apostles of the Lamb 12 - tribes of Israel 12x12 + thousands (Government of Israel) Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

10. Rev 14:1 …..having his Father's name written in their foreheads. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Sealed of God - Rev.7:2-3 John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. Song 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: Sealed of the beast. Rev. 13:16, Rev.17:5

11. Saints ruling in (political) heaven 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: 2 Sam 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. Ps.87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. 1 Chron.25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals

12. 3 And they sung as it were a new song Ps.33:3,40:3,96:1,98:1,149:1,Isa.42:10, Rev.5:9 Rev. 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, (Ex.15) and the song of the Lamb..... Contrast ch.11:2 & 12:17 Learn ‘manthano’ - to increase one’s knowledge, to hear, be informed, to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of, accustomed to

13. 2 Cor.11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear ..... v.4 .. not defiled with women; for they are virgins. 2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

14. 4 ..they follow the Lamb HOW? Mat.26:58 1 Peter 2:21 Where & When? “Withersoever he goeth”

15. v.4 ... These were redeemed ... Revelation 7:14 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. 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

16. v.5 Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

17. V. 6-9 Three Angels give Warning of Judgement 6 ¶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel …... 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, ….. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, …... V.15-19 Action of three Angels to bring Judgement 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: 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;

18. V. 6-7 First Angel to warn ‘Human convenience is the rule of the present age: “Glory to God in the highest” is the motto of the future’ (R.Roberts) Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Rev. 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

19. V. 8 Second Angel to warn Revelation 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. She has taken the word of God, changed it, used the authority of scripture to gain power and deceived the nations into believing a lie. Jeremiah 27:15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

20. V. 9-11 Third Angel to warn Don’t worship the beast, it is controlled by the woman, (ch.17:18) both will be destroyed together Re 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21. V. 9-10 Third Angel to warn There will be no respite until the woman, the beast and its followers are completely destroyed. Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Mat. 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

22. v.12 Ch.6:9-11 Their patience is now rewarded Ch.19:2

23. v.13 . The reward stated It is ‘from henceforth’ ie from the time of resurrection (1) They rest from their labours - “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb.4:9-11) (2) their works follow (Accompany) them - “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10) ie Their works are taken into account at resurrection

24. v.14 - Preparations for action Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. (Job.37:11-13) Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

25. v.15-16 The first angel of action 2 Cor.6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. This angel represents saints who remained separate in the days of their probation. They now ask Christ to Judge the nations

26. “the loud outcry must be understood, not as a command, but as an entreaty, that he would now “thrust in his sharp sickle” ...... Remembering their former sufferings in the flesh, which they endured without retaliation, they now long to begin the work of vindicating the truth, which cost so many of them their lives, by overthrowing Babylon, destroying the beast, grinding to powder the broken fragments of the image, so that these evil and accursed powers being abolished, they may enter upon “the rest that remaineth for the people of God” (Eureka vol. 3B page 55)

27. v.17 The second angel of action Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne This angel signifies the fact the saints are now no longer ‘trodden under foot’ but they are in the political heavens.

28. v.18 The third angel of action This angel signifies the fact the saints are now no longer ‘under the altar’ (ch.6:9-11) but they ‘have power over fire’ and help to administer the righteous judgments of God. Ps.149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 ¶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

29. The Judgements extend to nations beyond “Babylon” (v.8) 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. ie - to the horse riders see ch.6:4-8 1600 = 40 X 40 - The number of testing – the nations ‘weighed in the balances & found wanting’ ‘Space’ Gr. Apo a state of separation, physical, of distance of place temporal, of distance of time

30. Thus the righteous judgements of God will bring peace to the earth - the mortals who remain will‘Fear God and give Glory to to him’