1. Revelation Chapter 14

2. REVELATION CHAPTER 14 3. The Four ViewsHistoricist Approach:In general, the seven bowls of wrath findfulfillment in the judgment upon thepapacy (Babylon), beginning with theFrench Revolution and the NapoleonicWars and concluding yet in the future. 4. The Four ViewsPreterist Approach:The judgments of these bowls are largelyagainst Jerusalem, culminating in its fall inA.D. 70, though the fifth bowl touches theRoman Empire as wellprobablyreferring to the chaotic state of affairs thatprevailed after Neros suicide.Alternatively, this section says nothingabout the fall of Jerusalem and refersstrictly to the judgment of God uponpagan Rome. 5. The Four ViewsFuturist Approach:The bowls represent future global judgmentsthat, in their devastating effects, areunparalleled in history.These occur at the very end of theTribulation period, culminating in World WarIII, or the Battle of Armageddon.This war is the last battle to be fought bymankind, and it will be ended by thepersonal appearing of Christ as He comes toestablish His millennial kingdom. 6. The Four ViewsSpiritual Approach:There is a relationship between the bowljudgments and the trumpet judgments.The former may be a recapitulation of thelatter.The principle distinction between thetrumpets and the bowls is that the formerare partial in their effects and serve towarn the wicked of their spiritual danger,whereas the latter are complete andrepresent final judgment upon theunrepentant. 7. The Four ViewsSpiritual Approach (continued):The same event in history may serve as atrumpet judgment or for one person (amere warning) and as a bowl judgment foranother (final judgment, resulting indeath).The disasters described recur in historyrepeatedly. 8. Revelation 14In chapter 14 the scene shifts from the shortlived victories of the false trinity, to the ultimatetriumph of Christ and His servants. Hinsonsums up this shift, saying, Chapters 6-11announced the prophetic message to the worldin general: Bad news, you lose! Now themessage focuses on the people of God: Goodnews, we win!The chapter is divided into three parts, eachbeginning with the words and I looked, or andI saw. 9. Revelation 14 The first part pictures the 144,000 with theLamb in heaven. The second part is the pronouncement ofthe fall of the government of the Antichristand a warning to the people of the earth tofear and worship God rather than theAntichrist. The third part is a description of judgmentupon the earth. 10. Verse 11 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standingon Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred andforty-four thousand, having His Father's namewritten on their foreheads.He sees a Lamb standing on Mount Zion TheLamb is not the false prophet, who is reallymore of a wolf in sheeps clothing. This Lamb isthe same Lamb identified in chapter 5, a Lambas it had been slain (5:6). This is none otherthan Jesus Christ Himself. 11. Verse 1 (cont.)Mount Zion refers either to: Jerusalem, which by the first century wascollectively referred to as Zion (Aune). To a heavenly place of power and authority(Lahaye) Or it is primarily symbolic, the place ofGods dwelling as a symbol of safety andstability for his people (Kistemaker). 12. Verse 1 (cont.)Perhaps this is a vision of the literal Jerusalem, butthe Lamb is to be seen as spiritually standing onMount Zion with His people who are still physicallyupon the earth. Just as Jesus is seen as walkingamong the lampstands(2:1), He is here standing withthe redeemed of the Tribulation. Not physically, butin His spiritual presence. This would be relevant forthe original readers, and a source of reassurance asthe church anticipates His return. In the face ofhostility toward the absolutes of the Christianmessage we stand on the promise of Christ, I amwith you always, even to the end of the age" (Mat.28:20). 13. Verse 1 (cont.)Sutton (2001) believes that this is a vision ofheaven and that the 144,000, along withtheir converts, will be taken up into heavenat the mid-point of the tribulation period. It isfor this reason, says Sutton, that the angelsinstead of the 144,000 begin to take on therole of pronouncing the gospel. 14. Verses 2-32 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice ofmany waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. AndI heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They sang as it were a new song before the throne,before the four living creatures, and the elders; andno one could learn that song except the hundred andforty-four thousand who were redeemed from theearth.These voices are the voices of the 144,000 who singa new song. It is a song, says John, that only the144,000 could learn. Mounce says, Only those whohave paid the full price of endurance in the faith areequipped by experience to give voice to thesubsequent anthem of victory. 15. Verse 4-54 These are the ones who were notdefiled with women, for they are virgins.These are the ones who follow the Lambwherever He goes. These were redeemedfrom among men, being firstfruits to Godand to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouthwas found no deceit, for they are withoutfault before the throne of God. 16. Verses 4-51. They were not defiled with women, they arevirgins.2. These are the ones who follow the Lambwherever He goes.3. They were redeemed from among men.4. They were the firstfruits to God and to theLamb.5. In their mouth was found no deceit.6. They are without fault before the throne of God. 17. Verses 6-76 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst ofheaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach tothose who dwell on the earth--to every nation,tribe, tongue, and people7 saying with a loudvoice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for thehour of His judgment has come; and worship Himwho made heaven and earth, the sea and springsof water."Part two of this chapter begins with I saw.What John saw was another angel. Another,simply indicates that this angel is distinct fromany of the previous angels in the vision. Thisangel comes with an announcement that isreferred to as the everlasting gospel. 18. Verses 6-7 (cont.)The gospel is summarized as, "Fear God and giveglory to Him, for the hour of His judgment hascome; and worship Him who made heaven andearth, the sea and springs of water."So while the Antichrist is trying to get people toworship him under the threat of death, the angel isin midair declaring the everlasting gospel with aloud voice. The angel is warning the world that thehour of judgment has come. The sand is slippingthough the hourglass and the time has come tochoose. 19. Verse 88 And another angel followed, saying,"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that greatcity, because she has made all nationsdrink of the wine of the wrath of herfornication."A second angel follows with thedeclaration, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.Which leads one to ask who, or what, isBabylon? 20. BABYLONSome believe that it is literal Babylon, which will berebuilt and become a center of world commerce.Hinson argues that the view that Babylon is theancient Babylon revived over literalizes Babylon inthe Revelation passages and misses the obvioussymbolism. John tells us that the Babylon of theApocalypse is a symbolic name for Rome. He callsit mystery Babylon (17:5). Two thousand years ofchurch history verify that apocalyptic Babylon isRome. It is either pagan Rome, papal Rom, or afuture revived Romebut it is Rome! 21. BABYLONBabylon was a powerful symbol of anti-godgovernment. Babylon had invaded Israeland had demolished the Temple. Likewise,Rome had persecuted the Jews, and theytoo had destroyed the Temple, but from aChristian perspective, Rome was the sourceof ongoing persecution against the churchand promoted the idea that the kingdomitself was worthy of worshipsomething truebelievers were not willing to do. 22. BABYLONThe message and the promise is thatjust as historical Babylon fell, the Romeof Johns day would fall, and anyrevived form of Rome, whether it be arevived Roman empire or merelyanother world empire that elevatesitself to the level of worship andallegiance at the expense of devotionto God, will fall as well. 23. Verses 9-119 Then a third angel followed them, saying with aloud voice, If anyone worships the beast and hisimage, and receives his mark on his forehead oron his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of thewine of the wrath of God, which is poured out fullstrength into the cup of His indignation. He shallbe tormented with fire and brimstone in thepresence of the holy angels and in the presenceof the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their tormentascends forever and ever; and they have no restday or night, who worship the beast and hisimage, and whoever receives the mark of hisname. 24. Verses 9-11 (cont.)The warning in chapter 13 was that anyonewho did not take the mark of the beast wouldface persecution from the beast and they wouldnot be able to buy or sell.However, the warning here is that if anyonedoes worship the beast and his image, or takesthe mark of the beast, he or she will face thefull strength of the wrath of God (full cup) whichwill not just be for a lifetime, but for eternity. 25. Verses 12-1312 Here is the patience of the saints; here arethose who keep the commandments of God andthe faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice fromheaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are thedead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes,"says the Spirit, "that they may rest from theirlabors, and their works follow them."In contrast to those who will face eternal torment,with no rest day or night, there are the saints.The promise is that they who have obeyed theLord are blessed, even those who die in the Lord.These believers will rest from their labors, andtheir works follow them. 26. Verses 14-1514 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud,and on the cloud sat One like the Son ofMan, having on His head a golden crown,and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 Andanother angel came out of the temple,crying with a loud voice to Him who sat onthe cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap,for the time has come for You to reap, forthe harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So Hewho sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle onthe earth, and the earth was reaped. 27. Verses 14-15 (cont.)Next, we come to the subject of the harvest.The question that arises here is whether twoseparate types of harvests are beingdescribed (namely, righteous andunrighteous), or if only one harvest is beingdescribed with two separate metaphorswheat and grapes (see verse 17). Inaddition, the question is asked whether theson of man is a reference to Christ, or toyet another angel. 28. Verses 14-15 (cont.)As to the identity of the Son of Man, theevidence from within Scripture weighs heavilyin favor of identifying Him as Christ. Wilsonsays that this is clearly Jesus. Kistemakernotes that the reference to Son of Man istaken from Daniel 7:13, 14, which appears tobe a clear reference to the coming Messiah andHis kingdom. Also, Jesus refers to Himself withthe title Son of Man in Mark 14:61-12. 29. Verses 14-15 (cont.)The position that the Son of Man in Revelation 14:14is Christ, is the position of most scholars. However, astrong case for identifying him as an angel can bemade. First, there is the rule of sevens. There are sevenseals, seven trumpets blown by seven angels, andseven bowl judgments. If the son of man here inverse 14 is an angel, then there would be sevenangels in chapter 14. Second, there is the question as to whether Jesuswould have to take a command from an angel, asopposed to receiving it directly from the Father. Third, it is argued that Christ is nowhere picturedwith this type of crown any place else in Scripture. 30. Verse 1717 Then another angel came out of the templewhich is in heaven, he also having a sharpsickle. 18 And another angel came out from thealtar, who had power over fire, and he cried witha loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle,saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gatherthe clusters of the vine of the earth, for hergrapes are fully ripe.The sickle represents both harvest andjudgment. The wicked seed produces a harvestof judgment. The time, in this vision, is right, theharvest is fully ripe, and judgment is coming. 31. Verses 18-1919 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earthand gathered the vine of the earth, and threw itinto the great winepress of the wrath of God.20 And the winepress was trampled outside thecity, and blood came out of the winepress, upto the horses' bridles, for one thousand sixhundred furlongs.The imagery is both frightening and graphic. Itis of humans being cut down like clusters ofgrapes and their blood flowing into the streets inrivers. 32. Verses 18-19 (cont.)It would seem that this is hyperbole and nota literal river of blood 180 miles long andfour feet high. The point is that the judgmentof God, withheld to this point only by themercies of God, will in fact come at theappointed hour. Furthermore, the threats ofSatan and the anti-god world governmentsdo not even compare to the wrath of Godthat will be executed upon a world that hasscoffed at Gods offers of redemption andsalvation. 33. Revelation 14: Conclusion This chapter gives us some assurances andsome warnings. First, we are assured by thewitness of the 144,000 sealed saints thatthose who have the seal of God upon theirhead and heart will be spared from the wrathto come. This does not insure immunity frompersecution, or even death on this earth, butthe assurance that death itself is already adefeated foe and holds no power over thebeliever who will merely use death as astepping-stone into eternal life. 34. Revelation 14: Conclusion There is the assurance that no power onearthpolitical, religious or militarycanmatch the might of an Almighty God. Theenemy may inflict pain and cause greatsuffering, but as Paul says, The sufferingsof this present time are not worthy to becompared with the glory which shall berevealed in us (Rom 8:18-19, NKJV). 35. Revelation 14: Conclusion There is the warning not to acceptmomentary and temporal relief from troubleand turmoil at the expense of eternity.Those who worship the beast and hisimage, and who take the mark of the beast,may gain some respite from thepersecution at the hands of the enemy, butthey will gain an eternity in a place wherethe smoke of their torment ascends foreverand ever; and they have no rest day ornight.