REVELATION CHAPTER FOURTEEN

2. REVELATION CHAPTER FOURTEEN A Vision of Victory Vs. 1-5

3. Rev. 14:1 And then I looked and there before me was a Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty-four thousand, having the name of His Father written upon their foreheads;

4. Many say Mt Zion is symbolic of ruling with Christ on the earth. The Jewish hope of all its history is a kingdom with Messiah as its King, reigning in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of God's promise to king David long ago I believe it is the Heavenly New Jerusalem Heb. 12:22 - But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.

5. We see the protection of God We see the presence of the Lamb We see the print of God on their foreheads * What a contrast to the mark of the beast * What system do you embrace the most?

6. Rev. 14:2 And I heard a sound from heaven, it was like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a peal of thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: Rev. 5:8 (See Rev. 15:2)

7. Rev. 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders:and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. We see the Praise of God What is the new song?

8. Rev. 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were purchased from among men, the first fruits offered to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit: for they are blameless before the throne of God. *The purity of the 144,000 - virgins This doesn’t knock marriage – Heb. 13:4 This is speaking of fornication *The practice of the 144,000 – follow the Lamb (see II Pet. 2:21)

9. *The purchase of the 144,000 *The produce of the 144,000 *The position of the 144,000 “Blameless before the throne”

10. The 144,000 • Twelve thousand Jews from 12 tribes of Israel Rev. 7:4 • The name of the Father is on their foreheads *The Father’s name is the seal of Rev. 7:2 *No judgments on the earth could begin until they were sealed Rev. 7:3 *They are first seen on earth in Rev. 7 • They are not mentioned again until Rev. 14

11. * This time they are in the heavenly Mt. Zion * They are with Jesus * They sing a new song before the throne No one can learn the song but them * They were purchased from the earth 14:3,4 * They were virgins 14:4 * They’re the first-fruits among men Rev. 14:4 * They are without deceit and faultless before the throne of God 14:5

12. Views of Interpretation 1. Literal Jews (Martyred or Raptured) 2. Special class of Jehovah Witnesses 3. All the redeemed of the church age 4. All the people of God since Adam

13. A vision of Judgment Vs.6-8

14. Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

15. 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.

16. How many gospels are there? Gospel = Good news * The gospel of the kingdom – Mt. 4:23 * The gospel of Christ – Rom. 1:16 * The gospel of God – II Cor. 11:7 * The everlasting gospel – Rev. 14:6 The gospel is a message that brings men to God. The angel's message emphasized three things: "Fear God ... give glory to Him ... worship Him." That is the gospel and always has been. God's ultimate purpose is that He might receive worship and praise from all He has created

17. The Prediction of the Fall of Babylon v. 8

18. 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.

19. The word Babylon appears here and in Revelation 16,17 and 18, and is frequently called "the great city." We will study the identity of Babylon the Great in later chapters, but at this point it might be well to list the major viewpoints concerning "the great city" called "Babylon." 1. Jerusalem - 2. The rebuilt city of Babylon in Iraq 3. Rome

20. The Reason for Babylon’s fall "she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Political leaders throughout history have committed fornication with this woman, the false religious system, and the people of earth have accepted it. But God's judgment will come. The details are graphically portrayed for us in Revelation 184 66 18:1.

21. The Punishment of those that follow the Beast v.9

22. 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,

23. Rev. 14:10a The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his wrath;

24. Worshiping the beast and his image is a demonstration of loyalty and allegiance, whereas receiving the mark is a matter of economic survival. According to Revelation 13:16-18 • Worshipping the beast causes an undiluted dose of God’s wrath The following verses is one of those most powerful verses in the bible concerning the eternal retribution.

25. Rev. 14:10b…and he shall be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

26. Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

27. Does God punish people forever? It appears that His holiness, justice, and righteous character demand it. If we refuse His offer of salvation from sin, death. and hell, what else could He do and remain a holy God? Revelation 14:9-11 leaves us no alternative

28. The Patience of the saints

29. Rev. 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints: here are they that keep (guard, watch carefully over) the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Obeying God is the primary characteristic of the saint

30. Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, the Spirit says, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. The future condition of the saints Eternal Rest - Eternal RewardFor God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

31. The Vision of the Final Harvest Vs. 14-20

32. 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.

33. 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 you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

34. Rev. 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

35. Rev. 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

36. Rev. 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; (Rev. 8:3-5) and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle,

37. Rev. 14:18b - saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

38. 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.

39. The Condition of the Harvest The "harvest of the earth is ripe." When the judgment of God finally falls upon the unbelieving world, it will come as a judgment long overdue. No one can accuse God of acting too rashly or judging without just cause (Romans 1:32; Romans 2:5). God's judgment is always righteous. The Connection With Prophecy The picture of God's judgment being like a sharp sickle reaping a harvest comes from Joel 3:12-16

40. 12 `Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow-- so great is their wickedness!` 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

41. 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 16 The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

42. 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 (200 miles).

43. Megiddo * * Valley of Jehoshaphat 200 miles Edom *

44. Is. 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." 2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.