Chapter Fourteen

Revelation chapter fourteen brings us to another pause in the narration. We have been introduced to the enemies of God and His people. Before carrying out His judgment against these enemies, God pauses to set aside the faithful.

As the chapter begins, the Lamb is standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000. We have already explained that this number represents all of the faithful. It is twelve times twelve times ten cubed.

Verse one tells us that these bear the name of the Lamb and the name of the Lamb's Father on their foreheads. This is in contrast with the ones at the end of the previous chapter who had the mark of the beast on their hand or forehead. So we have two groups, each bearing the mark of the one it follows. This chapter will reveal the fate of each group.

Those who have the mark of the Lamb and of His Father sing a new song before the throne. What kind of song is a "new song"? It is simply a song of praise for God's protection and deliverance.

"I waited patiently for the Lord;" David writes in Psalm 40:1-3, "and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.

"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

"And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, And will trust in the Lord."

"Sing to the Lord a new song;" David exclaims in Psalm 96:1-2, "sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day."

David has similar words about a new song in Psalms 98:1-3 and 144:9-11. Isaiah also refers to a new song in Isaiah 42:10.

Since this is a song of praise for God's protection and deliverance, only those who have experienced this protection and deliverance can appreciate the message of the song.

As we stated in a previous study, the description of the 144,000 as celibate men is figurative. Actually, these are men and women who are faithful to God.

Hebrews 12:22-23 states that Christians have "come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of men made perfect."

James 1:18 calls God's followers the "first fruits among His creatures."

Compare these two passages with what is said about the 144,000 in Revelation 14:4.

Verse five tells us that our interpretation is correct. Is any human being blameless? Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:10 both say that this is not possible. This is not possible, of course, unless we take into account the cleansing blood of Jesus. These are blameless only because Jesus has taken away their blame.

In verse six we find an angel having an eternal gospel. It says that this gospel is the same for every person on the face of the earth. Passages such as Galatians 1:6-9 and Jude verse three state clearly that there is only one gospel. It is a message that remains the same throughout eternity. What does this tell us about people who propose a gospel that changes with the times? God recognizes no such gospel. According to the passage in Galatians, those who preach such an idea are accursed.

Another angel, a second one, appears in verse eight. This heavenly being simply announces the fall of Babylon, which represents those who do not follow God. God's judgment is sometimes given in the past tense, even if it has not already taken place. When God says something, it is as good as done. An example of this is recorded in Romans 4:17.

A third angel reveals in verses 9-11 what will happen to those who received the mark of the beast. They have been promised luxury and well-being. What do they actually receive? Verse 13 gives the fate of those who follow the Lord.

God is said to ride on a cloud in Isaiah 19:1. Here in Revelation it is Jesus who rides on the cloud. Once again, what does this tell us about the divinity of Jesus? An order comes from heaven to begin the harvest. Does this make Jesus lower because He receives an order from an angel? Remember that an angel is a messenger from God. Remember that all of the instructions in this book have come from the throne. Remember also that Jesus Himself says in Mark 13:32 that there are some times that are known only to the Father. The angel is not giving Jesus an order. He is simply relaying a message from the Father that the time has come.

The first reaping that takes place is the gathering of the faithful. Matthew 3:12 and 13:24-30 both tell of the harvesting of the good wheat and the burning of the chaff.

Another angel then comes from the temple in heaven to harvest the disobedient. These are thrown into the wine press of the wrath of God. Blood runs out for a distance of 1600 stadia. This is four times four times ten squared. This is a complete number from an earthly standpoint. Translations that give this distance as 200 miles destroy the meaning of the number.

This slaughter takes place outside the city, which is an interesting twist. Parts of the Old Testament sacrifices were carried to a place outside the city to be burned. Hebrews 13:11- 13 parallels this with the sacrifice of Jesus outside the city. Now in Revelation we have those who have refused to accept that sacrifice being punished outside the city.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."