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                THE BOOK OF REVELATION

CHAPTER.14.

Chapter 14 of Revelation is of tremendous encouragement to
the children of God.  In this chapter we see the ultimate
triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This chapter helps us to
understand the Lord better and to see how He works on behalf
of His children.

Revelation 14 is somewhat like a table of contents for the
rest of the book of the Revelation.  In this chapter we are
given a preview of some of the things that are ahead at this
point.  Some of the subjects covered are:
1.  The Lamb (Christ) and the 144 000 on Mount Zion,
2.  The angel with the everlasting gospel,
3.  The fall of Babylon,
4.  Judgment on the beast worshippers,
5.  The blessing upon those who die in the Lord and
6.  A preview of the last battle of Armageddon.


THE 144 000 JEWS IN HEAVEN WITH THE LAMB!
Rev 14:1-5

The contrast between chapter 13 and 14 is remarkable.  From
the fleshly, debased scene of earth, we are lifted to the
lofty heights of heaven where Jesus Christ's name is honored
rather than profaned, where He is the central figure before
whom all bow, and to whom all voices are raised in adoration.

Each time we are given a new glimpse of heaven, we gain
additional knowledge of the details surrounding the throne.

This segment begins the last division of the Tribulation Week
( 14:1; 19:21).  It is a parenthetical passage, the sixth
such, and contains seven statements.  The statements come
between the seventh trumpet and the first vial.  However,
their fulfillment is not necessarily complete during this
immediate period.  The first five of these statements are
essential at this point to explain things that are going to
take place between the seventh trumpet and the end of the
Week.

A Comparision Of The 144 000 In Chapter 7 and The 144 000 In
Chapter 14.

CHAPTER 7                     CHAPTER 14

1-3  A scene on earth.        1  A scene in heaven.  The Lamb
                                 is with them on Mount Zion.

                                 "Having his name and the
                                 name  of his Father written
                                 in their foreheads" (asv).

3    Servants of our God,     3  Sing a new song before the
     sealed in their fore-       elders and the four living
     heads.                      creatures which only they
                                 knew.

4    144 000 of all the       4  They are not defiled with
     tribes of Israel.           women, for they are virgins.

                                 "They follow the Lamb where-
                                 ver he goeth."

                                 "These were redeemed from
                                 among men."

                                 "The first fruits unto God
                                 and to the Lamb."

5-8  12 000 from each tribe.  5  "In their mouth was found no
                                 guile."

                                 "They are without fault
                                 before the throne of God."

The Similarities Of The Two Groups!

Two basic reasons are usually advanced for considering the
two groups similar: 1) both groups total 144 000 and 2) both
groups have something written on their foreheads.

Chapter 14 gives us additional information regarding this
group.

1.  They are redeemed from the earth by faith in Christ,
"having his name, and the name of his Father, written on
their foreheads" (14:1), "redeemed from the earth" (14:3),
"redeemed from among men" (14:4).  Obviously these men were
first born again by receiving Jesus Christ as their personal
Saviour and Lord.

2.  They are morally pure.  "These are they who were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins" (14:4).  Much has
been said by commentators about this qualification.  But it
can be simply understood that they are not spotted or stained
by the world or the atheistic antichrist religion.

3.  They are obedient and available.  "These are they who
follow the Lamb wherever he goeth" (14:4).  It is obvious
that all of God's children, in fact, all of His servants, are
not completely yielded to His will.

4.  They tell the truth.  "And in their mouth was found no
guile" (14:5).  These men are characterized by a contrast to
Satan.  They are faithful witnesses, always telling the
truth.  Lying is a part of man's nature when he follows
Satan, `the father of lies.'  One characteristic of an
obedient Christian is that he tells the truth.

5.  They live blameless lives.  "They are without fault"
(14:5).  This does not indicate that they are perfect, for
they too had to be redeemed from among men, they were lost
sinners and had to be born again.  it does not mean sinless
perfection, that they have never sinned since their
salvation, but reaffirms what the Apostle Paul meant in 1
Thess 2:10 when he said, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how
holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among
you that believe."  These are men who, in their desire to
serve Jesus Christ and walk with Him, leaned on His power to
live holy, consecrated lives.  They are men who can say with
Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved
me and gave himself for me." Gal 2:20.

MESSENGER ANGEL:  THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
Rev 14: 6-7

The first messenger angel flies through the midst of heaven
to preach `the everlasting gospel' to them that are on the
earth.  The content of this message embraces three things:
first, they are to `fear God'; secondly, they must `give
glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come'; and
thirdly, they are to `worship Him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of the waters.'

One of God's faithful practices in all generations has been to
send adequate warning prior to judgment.  The case of Noah
was one example.  Before God sent the flood, Noah was a
preacher of righteousness for 120 years.  Before God
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent Lot who, instead of
being a faithful preacher, became corrupted by the immorality
of the city.  Thus we find in the middle of the Tribulation
Period, just before the greatest suffering inflicted upon the
human race, and in the absence or deficiency of adequate
human Gospel witnesses, God will make an omnipotent exception
to His overall plan of committing the Gospel to men by
commissioning an angel to go forth preaching the everlasting
Gospel.

This angel will warn the people to fear God instead of
antichrist, to give glory to God instead of antichrist, and
he will instruct them how to do it.  Otherwise, he would be
proclaiming a message of doom instead of good tidings.  The
word Gospel means `good tidings', and the only way we can
offer men eternal good tidings is to show them how to receive
the Lord Jesus Christ by faith.  A message concerning the
judgment of God is only a partial presentation of the Gospel
of Christ.  The complete story of the Gospel not only
clarifies that man is a sinner, but according to 1 Cor 15:3-4
also includes God's remedy for sin through Christ, who died
for our sins `according to the scriptures; and that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third day.'

The burden of the angel preaching the everlasting gospel is
that `the hour of his judgment is come' (v7).  At this point
in the Book of the Revelation the coming judgment is very,
very near.  The angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel is
urging the inhabitants of earth to get ready for the hour of
judgment that is soon to be poured out upon earth.  The
gospel of redemption is not mentioned here but it is implied
in what the angel says.  The basic burden is coming
judgement.

This message will be especially important at this time,
because it will be declared right after the rise of the
beasts - the one out of the sea and the other out of the
earth.  It will serve to cancel the misleading messages of
the `two beasts.'  Several counteractions will be used;
namely, the ministry of the two witnesses, the multitude of
saints who will be saved after the rapture and experience
great power, the Jewish people, the Holy Spirit who will
continue to work in the lives of people, the judgments of
God, and the appearance of these angels with their messages.

An angel flying through the air with a significant message
will be a phenomenal occurrence and will undoubtedly receive
much attention.  Millions of people will see and hear of this
event.  This is really the first time an angel has
proclaimed the Gospel as such, but it will not be the last.

MESSENGER ANGEL:  THE FALL OF BABYLON
Rev 14:8

The message of the five angels we are presently studying
should be considered in light of the fact that this scene
takes place in heaven, not on earth, and is an anticipatory
announcement of what will soon come to pass.  As with the
first angel's message, this event will take place in the
middle of the Tribulation Period and offers a foreglimpse of
the destruction of the ecumenical, Babylonian, harlot
religion detailed in Revelation 17.

Prophetically, the word `BABYLON' is used in three different
ways.  The word frequently refers to a literal city on the
Euphrates River.  The word is also used to refer to a
religious system such as we find in Revelation 17.  And the
word is used to refer to a political system such as is
described in Revelation 18.  Babylon was the area where evil
originated, pagan religions began there and so this city
represents the origin of all anti-God religions.

God is going to bring an end to the Satanic religions which
originated in Babylon.  Twice the angel says that Babylon
will fall.  This double emphasis perhaps refers to the fall
of both the religious system in the middle of the Tribulation
Period (Rev 17), and the political system at the end of the
Tribulation (Rev 18).  The actual city of Babylon will no
doubt be rebuilt during the Tribulation.  It will be
destroyed in a way similar to Sodom and Gomorrah - suddenly
and completely.

The prediction of the destruction of the literal city of
Babylon is found in Revelation 16:18-19.  That the city of
Babylon will be rebuilt and become the commercial centre of
the world is seen from such passages as Is 13 and 14,
together with Jer 50 and 51.

MESSENGER ANGEL:  THE DOOM OF THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS.
Rev 14:9-12.

Having shown that in the end God will bring judgment on
Babylon, the Apostle John now tells us of another incident
which proves Christ is absolutely supreme.  It is always of
encouragement to Christians to be reminded of the sovereignty
and supremacy of Christ.  But it will be especially of
encouragement to the believers living during the Tribulation
to know that judgment will be meted out against their enemy -
those who worship the beast.  To worship the beast and his
image, the people of the world have had to blaspheme God.

There will be no more pity.  They have had their chance.  God
has been long-suffering but now He holds back His wrath no
longer.  This is a preview of the judgments that are yet to
come.  Here God's wrath is characterized as `wine...poured
out without mixture.' (v10)

Those who worship the beast will be destroyed from earth when
Christ returns.  As is true of all the unsaved, their bodies
will go by the way of death, whereas their souls and spirits
will be confined to hades.  Luke 16 tells us of the torment
upon the unsaved in hades  (v19-31).  After the Millennium,
death and hades will deliver up the dead which is in them and
every unsaved person will stand before the Great White Throne
Judgment and then will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev
20:11-15).

It is said of the beast worshippers in Revelation 14 that
`the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever;
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast
and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name'
(v11).  The phrase `for ever and ever' is the strongest
expression of eternity that can be found anywhere in the
Greek language.  And the duration of torment is further
emphasized in the words `they have no rest day nor night'.
This is for eternity !

It is emphasized in verse 10 that hell is visible to the
angels and to the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not said that it
is visible to the elders who are representatives of the
Church.  It is doubtful that hell will be visible to the
saints of God.

THE BLESSED DEAD
Rev 14:13

John heard a great voice from heaven, following the messages
of the three angels, telling him to write.  The account of
which he was to write concerns the dead that die `hereafter'
i.e. during the Great Tribulation of the last three and one-
half years.  These will have been martyred because they would
not worship the beast and his image, or receive his mark.
They are also referred to in Rev 7:9-17, 13:5-7 & 15, 15:2-4,
20:4.  The message is given for encouragement during severe
trails.

These are not Church saints, for the Church was raptured
before the Tribulation began.  These are believers who have
received Christ as Saviour during the Tribulation.  To those
enduring the suffering during the Tribulation, God's word is
`patience'.  For those who die for their faith the words of
comfort, `Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord'.
Though the persecution will be intense during the
Tribulation, the time will be very short in comparison to the
glorious future of those who die in the Lord.  Frankly, it
will be more blessed to die for one's faith during the
Tribulation than to suffer its horrors.

The warning is given in Revelation 13:10: "He that leadeth
into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with
the sword must be killed with the sword.  Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints."  Those who persecute
and kill the saints during the Tribulation will themselves be
persecuted and killed.  The captivity of the unsaved will be
an eternal captivity in the lake of fire.  The saints will be
vindicated.  Those who kill them will be killed.  Knowing
they are not suffering in vain will bring patience to the
saints.

Because of the persecution the saints will suffer under the
Antichrist, they are told: "Blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord" (14:13).  No longer will they have to flee the
persecution of the Antichrist, for now `they may rest
from their labours'. (v 13).

It is also said of those who die in the Lord the `their works
do follow them' (v13).  The significance of this statement is
seen from 2 Cor 5:10: "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad."  Their works follow them in the
sense that these saints will be rewarded for their works.

ARMAGEDDON !
Rev 14:14-20

This section deals with Armageddon.  Verses 14-16 speak of
`the harvest of the earth.'  This harvest is not, however, of
the martyrs who died for the sake of Christ, but rather it
speaks of those who will die for the sake of the antichrist
at Armageddon.

The Son of Man (Christ) is seen sitting on a cloud and this
is representative of His coming to earth (1:7; 10:1-2; Matt
24:27-31; Act 1:1-11).  This passage reminds one of the
parables of the wheat, tares, and dragnet (Matt 13:24-30, 36-
43, 47-50).  This reference to a future time is comparative
to this message in Revelation.  Many have thought that this
portion of Scripture portrays the Tribulation saints, but
there are several reasons why it refers to Armageddon
instead.  First, the `Son of Man' is to reap this harvest,
which means He will execute judgment on the people
represented by this figure, but this is not the case with the
Tribulation saints.  Secondly, the sharp sickle is the same
that is mentioned in Joel 3:9-14, and it pictures the
destruction of the hosts of Armageddon.  Therefore, the scene
must involve  Armageddon rather than the righteous martyrs.
C.F. Rev 19:21, Is 11:4, Matt 13:30 & 39, Jer 51:33, Hos
6:11, 2 Thess 2:8.  Thirdly, it is also apparent from the
expression, `time is come for thee to reap', that Christ has
to this point delayed reaping, but no vengeance must be taken
on them that dwell on the earth as foretold by the prophets
in connection with Armageddon ( Is 34:8, 59:17, 61:2, 63:4,
Jer 46:9-10, 2 Thess 1:8).  Hence, we do not think of the
martyrs in connection with this vision.  As the cry of the
angel is made, Christ thrusts forth His sickle into the earth
and reaps. ( see Chapter 19).

In verses 17-20, another angel is pictured as coming out of
heaven.  This vision is of `the vine of the earth', and
carries the same theme as the above one, `the harvest of the
earth.'  They  both anticipate the future battle of
Armageddon.  The fact that angels are referred to as being
involved in this reaping indicates that they will have part
in the battle of Armageddon.  ( 2 Thess 1:7-9).

The vine of the earth will be cast down into the great
winepress of the wrath of God.  This will take place without
the city; that is, outside of Jerusalem where the battle of
Armageddon will be fought, and blood will flow out of the
winepress even unto the horse's bridles.  Reference here is
to the destruction of those nations when blood will flow (
Rev 19:11-21, Isa 34:1-8, 63:1-5, Joel 3:1-21, Ezek 38 - 39,
Zech 14:1-21, Jude 14 & 15.