Body

Revelation

Lesson 8

Revelation chapter 14

Comments, Questions and Discussions

COMMENTS

14:1 one hundred forty four thousand --

These have already been defined as the redeemed of Israel. Rev. 7:4,

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

Now we see them with the Lamb, Jesus, on Mount Zion. Zion, here used and an important consideration in Old Testament Prophecies, does not refer to an earthly mount. These have not been redeemed to reign with Christ on earth, they are with Jesus On Mount Zion singing a song that only they can sing. Only those special ones who looked down through the ages in anticipation of the Messiah, or, in the first century those who believed the promises and obeyed the gospel could understand the anticipation and finally the coming of the Messiah. It wasn't a lifetime for many of them to wait, it was a lifetime, knowing that they must look forward to the promises and then after that life a waiting period, awaiting the resurrection and final restoration to God. For those, who believed during the first century, knowing the promises and that the time was near, their joy must have been tremendous. Only these could sing that song. All those Jews who forsook the promises, who went their own way, all those who were self-righteous, the idol worshippers, the profane ones, those who killed the prophets, yes all of them would have longed to have sung the song, but when they lived, they did not believe the promises but rather lived to their own lusts and desires.

14:4 - first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

and

We might ask the time frame of these events. The judgment has not yet come and that moment in time when all will be changed has not yet come. These 144000, I believe must be the same 144000 mentioned in Chapter 7. In that chapter they were sealed, now we find that they are redeemed, but they are redeemed from among men, not from sin, they, as in all the descriptions, we have seen thus far, are the exceptions. In chapter 7 the 144000 were yet being sealed, therefore, we must include the time of the preaching of the gospel as the period when they were being sealed.. If the judgment had not yet come and that moment of verse 13 which was to begin "from now on" had not arrived, then they had not yet been perfected, Hebrews 11:40, but are waiting. I believe this is why they were following the Lamb. Jesus was He for whom they had waited, now they are waiting with him. All have now been sealed and the time is growing short till their perfection.

Some have suggested that these are the dead who were raised to reign with Christ as recorded in Revelation 20, the martyrs. This is supported by Chapter 6 and those who waited under the altar. Verse 11 of chapter 6, says of those who waited:

Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

It is also supported in chapter 7, verse 3, when the 4 angels who could harm the earth, were told:

"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

Putting it all together -- In chapter 6, the martyers were to wait until their number was complete. In chapter 7 the 144000 were to be sealed and the 4 angels were to wait before bringing harm to the earth. In chapter 14, we find 144000 redeemed from men before the moment of perfection had come.

For me, I'll reserve this thought, until later and not make a commitment to this understanding at this time.

the virgins

I believe this term refers to their innocence as in not having participated in the worship of idols and not having lived by some self righteous standard. Although they were now cleansed by the blood of the lamb, I do not believe the context allows this cleansing by Jesus, to be the source of their being virgins. This passages refers to specific action, not being defiled with women, which cleanness was required when God came down to give the Law of Moses. Ex. 19:15

And he (Moses) said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."

Certainly the covenant with Christ, is worth receiving in purity and truth.

they follow the lamb where ever he goes.

It was Jesus the lamb who was sacrificed. These people likewise were willing to die. For many, maybe all, the promises of Christ and their testimony/warning to Israel to be faithful resulted in their death

14:5 In their mouth was found no deceit, -

Once again their innocence is emphasized. It was in this honesty and love for doing right that they looked for the Messiah. They believed God and were not afraid when they were tortured, ridiculed, or persecuted in some other way. Their manner of life reflected who they were, there was no hypocrisy about them.

14:6 The everlasting gospel -

A very clear statement about the gospel. It all didn't end with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Where is my hope, it's all about the everlasting gospel. Jesus has come, sins are forgiven, we are reconciled. Who will listen? Who will teach? What will we proclaim, to a lost world. There is forgiveness, Jesus has returned apart from sin unto salvation, Hebrews 9:28. More on this a few verses forward.

14:7 The hour of his judgment has come -

Matthew 24:36 - that day and hour no one knows. John sees a scene in which that hour comes. He still didn't know when it would come, but he could anticipate it coming quickly. Is was depicted for John and suprise, surprise, it's talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. The judgment involved the destruction of Babylon, Jerusalem, who had caused all the nations to drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication. There was a second danger however.

14:9-10 "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God"

The Christians could not be part of the Jewish system or their sins and they could not join with the Romans either. Rome was not the winning side, neither were the Jews. Christians were the winners. Judgment had come; all things were completed and God's people are the shining lights of this world.

14:12 Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

This could only apply to Jews who look for the Messiah to come and later those who accepted Him as Christ (Messiah) when he did come. The Jews were the keepers of the commandments of God. Those who followed the commandments from the heart and looked forward to lasting forgivness had faith that the Messiah would come. They looked for the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, that in him all nations would be blessed. They dilligently kept the commandments looking for that blessing. During the first century, many Jews were keeping the commandments of God and believing in Jesus. It was a transition period. Acts 21:18-20 says:

On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

This no doubt includes those waiting under the altar to be avenged in chapter 6. We are told in verse 11:

Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

14:13 `Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.

Here we have it. The passage which puts it all together. Parallel these three.

I Thess. 4:16-17

And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain

And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

I Cor. 15:51-55

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed

Rev. 14:13

`Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on

Yes, write it down John. It is important, it can't be left out. The everlasting gospel and now we know we are blessed even unto this age. That is the goal, that is our hope, to die in the Lord and receive rest. From what shall we rest? We will rest from the battle against sin. If we fight the battle and endure the casualties. There will be some of our loved one who fall and never come back. If we bear the burden of a battle being lost on the earth but won in our hearts, we will need rest.

14:14-20 - The Harvest -

Jesus is clearly identified; the time has come. It is the end of the age. Remember Jesus explanation about the harvest. Matthew 13:37-43

"37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

We must note also that Jesus spoke to the Jews. This is about one like the "son of man sitting on a cloud." Remember Matthew 24:30-31

""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Of what else but the destruction of Jerusalem could he be speaking?

14:20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city

The blood flowed almost 2 miles at the height of horses' bridles. This disaster was tremendous. What destruction, other than Jerusalem, any where near this time frame could compare with this picture.

Questions and Discussions

1. Who made up the 144000 and in what numbers?

2. What was written on their foreheads. Why do you suppose this was written here?

3. What was the character of the 144000?

4. What significance does "worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water"(verse 7) have?

5. Who is Babylon and how did she make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication? Explain the express "wine of the wrath" in verses 8 & 10.

6. Describe the punishment for those who worshipped the beast and receive the mark of his name.

7. Describe the patience of the saints?

8. From what will we rest?

9. What was the significance of the sickle that was thrust on the earth in verse 16?