Revelation- Victory in Jesus!
Ch. 14

In this chapter, many things will be going on. A new 144,000 will appear. These are very similar to the group in Ch. 7. They too belong to God. They are his triumphant, his saved in heaven! They are those who have died faithful to God’s cause!
We also will see warnings of the Angels as what is yet to come. And we will see a two-fold picture of God’s harvest: a scene of joy for those who are saved, and doom for those who are not!

So, let’s get into the word:

The 144,000

V1- These 144,000 are with Jesus! They belong to him and are saved by his grace. They stand at Mt. Zion. What/ where is this? The literal is the hill on which Jerusalem was built. In scripture it symbolizes a dwelling place of the Lord, or God’s habitation.
These folks have a seal to indicate ownership by God. This is in direct contrast to the mark that the emperor worshippers received in the last chapter.

V3- They break out into a song of victory. No one could learn this new song if they had not participated in the song of redemption in Ch. 5. They had to have been redeemed, and purchased from the earth!

V4- What do you think this is talking about? Is it literal virginity? I do not think so! This is not physical celibacy, but a metaphor of such, referring to spiritual purity, those belonging to Christ! If interpreted literally then NO ONE would be acceptable. No married individuals, anyone who has ever had sex etc...could be a part of the “church victorious”. Obviously, a literal translation violates other very plain passages of God’s word. He is talking about spiritually pure, clean and forgiven!

V5- This suggests that in their former life they were honest and had integrity. They refused to profess Caesar as Lord, or to deny Jesus. They died faithful to Christ and now have the privilege of being before him on the throne. Does this same picture apply today? YES!!! When a faithful Christian experiences physical death, they will make this transition from the saved on earth to the saved in heaven! The indication is this: WE WILL BE WITH JESUS FOREVER!

Angel’s Messages and Voice of Warning

V6- The angel is flying in heaven, but can be seen and heard throughout the earth. As this message was for those who inhabited the earth. What was his message? It was the everlasting Gospel preached to the whole world! It was the message of God’s power to save, the “good news”.

V7- The message is easily summed up in 3 phrases: fear God, give him glory and worship him. The message is to worship the TRUE God….and not Caesar! The hour of judgment that is referred to is what is coming upon the Roman Empire! But this judgment SHOULD NOT be limited to just Rome! His judgment occurs over and over in history!

V8- Here Babylon is introduced in revelation for the 1st time! What is he referring to do you think? He is referring to Rome (OT Babylon had been destroyed for many years when this was written)! So why does it say it is fallen if Rome does not literally fall until AD 395? Because, the whole process of Rome’s fall is regarded in one momentary act! When God announces something, it is certain and definite and is so sure that it can be stated in the present tense!

V9- This backs up what we studied last week. The penalty for emperor worship is hell! “Beast, image and mark” all refer back to Ch. 13, and suggest allegiance to someone or something other than Jesus.

V10- This further deals with the punishment they will receive. However, it is not limited to them as all who live and die disobedient to God will receive the same verdict. What does “without mixture” mean do you think? I believe it indicates that God’s judgment will not be tempered by mercy. Most wines drunk that day were mixed with spices and water, but God’s wrath pictured as wine is prepared UNMIXED in the cup of his anger and wrath. It is undiluted with mercy, for that day has long past!------------ OUCH huh?????

A 2-Fold picture of Harvest

Here John presents God’s harvest from what seems to be 2 contrasting viewpoints. There are only 2 responses possible to his judgment. The righteous will view it in the same way a farmer views his harvest…with joy and excitement. It is a time of thanksgiving and excitement. For the unrighteous of Rome, is like a “stomping of grapes”. They will be pressed in his winepress of wrath! It is an extreme sorrowful picture of judgment. The death of a non-Christian is surely a time for sorrow, pain and tears.

V14- Clouds usually symbolize judgment or the coming of judgment. White is the symbol of purity or holiness. The judgments then, about to be described are associated with holiness and purity. Who is the rider of the clouds? It is Jesus Christ!!!! He wears the crown of ultimate victory!

V15- Where did the judgment announcement come from? It was divine…with it coming from the temple it indicates it came directly from heaven! It is time for it to begin!!!

V16- Jesus is shown as the one with total control. God’s people are coming to be with him when the judgments are over, because many lives will be lost in this judgment.

V17- This verse begins a new viewpoint! It is judgment as viewed by the unrighteous.

V18- The angel seems to come from the altar of incense. If so, this judgment could be considered as an answer to the prayers of the martyrs in Ch. 6. God began to answer them in Ch 8 and 9, but here it is finally made complete- judgment is coming in full!

V19-20- What a vivid picture of judgment and wrath!!!! God casts the grapes into his press. This press will have to be experienced eventually by all who live without God in their lives! The vine of the earth stands in direct contrast to the true vine and its fruit!! (John 15) The blood of the grapes came out 5 feet deep and and 180-200 miles long!
What a graphic picture of what is to come on Rome!
God is no longer playing around!

The woes are now vividly apparent!


Wow…..what a way to end huh??? Next week, it continues with 7 bowls of wrath!!!!! See ya then!