Revelation 14 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

The Messages of the Three Angels

6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion¹ of her sexual immorality.”

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.²

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The Harvest of the Earth

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.³

Footnotes

[1] 14:8 Or wrath
[2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus
[3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

Commentary

v1-3: The Lamb on the earth, Zech 14.4. In contrast to the second beast (13.11), this is the Lamb (NIV margin). He has taken away our sins (John 1.29), and now reigns supreme.

The servants of God have the Father's name written on their foreheads, in contrast to the number of man, 13.16-18. Here is an assurance of their belonging to God. Here is also a clear distinction with those who do not know God.

v4-5: The 144,000, who are redeemed from the earth, and faithful to the Lamb, enduring the persecution of the dragon and the beast. Here are the first fruits, and others must follow.

v6-7: The everlasting gospel, Matt 24.14; Mark 13.10. "Fear God and give Him glory … worship Him," for "the hour of judgment has come." It seems that those who hear the message reject it; all bear personal responsibility, for all hear.

v8: Babylon, the centre of the power of the antichrist, is destroyed. Although Babylon is called "the great," it is not the greatest, for God's power is greater. She deceived the nations, enjoying widespread influence in the world.

v9-10: The third angel brings judgment upon those who worship the beast and receive his mark, as in 13.15-17. Either people have the mark of the Father, or the mark of the beast; there is no third option, no fence-sitting. The wrath of God is "full strength," or 'without mixture,' thus there is no mercy, for they have rejected the God of mercy. See also Ps 75.8, and compare Num 5.15.

v11: There is torment forever, there is no rest, for those who received the mark of the beast. The torment from God is without intermission, like a never-ending "stream of burning sulphur" (Is 30.33). The torment is "for ever and ever," marking an emphasis, which we must not ignore. See 9.6 for a foretaste, on earth, of this awful experience.

Whilst we may balk at such torment, a man's unbelief is rejection of Jesus Christ; and a man's sins are offences against Almighty God. The seriousness of these things reflects the greatness of the God who is offended and rejected.

v12: There remain the saints of God, who must stand firm and be faithful.

v13: See also 12.17; 13.7; followers of Jesus Christ are killed. But they have their hope in Christ, they are "blessed" and they enjoy "rest."

v14-16: The harvest of salvation, directed by the Son of Man. He is Lord of the harvest, Matt 9.37-38, and here He demonstrates His authority.

v17-20: The harvest of judgment, by the angel; a distressing and disturbing image. For the Christian in the age of grace, this must motivate us to godly living, and more effective witness and evangelism.