Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: Triumph of God’s people
Theme:
Text: Revelation 14
John Calvin said," I would rather be on the side that seems to be losing today but will win finally than to be on the side that seems to be winning today but is going to lose eternally."
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Last Wednesday we discussed those who took the mark of the beast. We saw the power and the ability of the antichrist. But now we will see God's chosen. It is summed up in the number 144,000.
The amazing miracle is that these Jews were sealed in Revelation 7 between the sixth and seventh seal. Before 1/3 of the tress of the earth are burned up, 1/3 of the sea is turned to blood, 1/3 of all ships are destroyed, 1/3 of the fresh water will be polluted, and 1/3 of the light of the sun and moon is diminished.
The shows the preserving hand of God. Here he stands with these. They are sealed by a true seal. The seal of God.
Mt. Zion is a hill fortified by David from the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5:6-7,1Chronicles 11:4-8). He built a fortress and then a city around it. This is now called Jerusalem
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
many waters-volume of the sound great thunder-loudness harpers harping-sweetness
Great rejoicing over the protecting hand of God.
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
A spiritual song for the redeemed and only those who know of it and experienced it can understand
I don’t believe that these 144,000 are super human people. I believe they will endure persecution but not death. God will protect them. Whether or not it is physical persecution who knows.
Let me tell you something only you know the songs of your life. As you see some songs minister to people differently because you know what you have been through, you know how God has protected and delivered.
Redeemed from the earth” bought by the blood of Christ
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
What do you think about the phrase "were not defiled with woman"?
1) separated from the world and the apostate church ("not defiled with women")
2) follower of Christ ("follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth") it is more than just a literal following but it is an imitation
3) give of themselves to God and Christ-in constant fellowship ("whithersoever he goeth") abiding in his presence
4) they are the first chosen of the coming age ("the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb") examples of the right relationship with God
4) Don't speak lies (in their mouth was found no guile), faithful and true
5) morally blameless ("they are without fault before the throne of God")-in a world that is full of falsehood and deception perpetrated by Satan and the Antichrist, these will keep themselves unblemished by avoiding all lying
6) also sexually pure and clean. In a perverse world of this day and age it seems to be so hard. For some adultery is justified and it will only get worse but these are pure.
7) kept them pure, “not defiled with women” may not even be married
8) bought with a price, the blood of Christ
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Angel preaches, Is this a literal angel? some say yes some say no.
The angel preaches what? the gospel which is the good news. There is not one who is left all but all is included. nation, kindred, tongue, people
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9 AV)
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Some say this seems to contradict the first. The good news to some cannot be judgment. But can it? It is good news for the followers of Christ, it is good news that one can be redeemed. But if there was no judgment. If there was no wrath or punishment then what could one be saved from.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom-Proverbs, fear of God brings reverence and respect
Angel 2
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Some would say that this Babylon is the anti-Christian system in different ages through the Church history. Maybe the Roman empire or the papal system this can be true from a local perspective but the whole picture speaks of the future.
wine is intoxicating, the antichrist made them drunk and delusioned. Understanding that all who follow after the Antichrist will do it out of their free wheel.
This is the foretelling of the future of the world system and what is going to happen.
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:18-23 AV)
How can a nation that once held the Christian values go against this and be a part of this ungodly system?
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (Revelation 17:1 AV)
In the book of Acts the disciples were accused of being drunk on the day of Pentecost. Well they were but on the wine of the Holy Ghost. Here the wine is maddening and forced. God’s wine is not forced but what a benefit.
Angel 3
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Angels
1st preach the gospel
2nd announce destruction of Babylon
3rd warning against taking the mark
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture (undiluted) into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. (Psalms 75:8 AV)
Soon it will come. Finally the followers of the anti-Christ will reap what they sow. The judgement will come. Hell is a reality and ever so worse than we can imagine.
11 And 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.
Plight of them who did not worship the beast is found in
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15 AV)
An eternal existence is true for everyone. Our soul will last forever. The question is where?
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13
God will stand by his promises to let the world be the world and prove to all that his way is the true and righteous way.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Why would it be a blessing to die? 1) to die for a cause 2) to escape anymore torture.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 AV)
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 AV)
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
golden crown-the authority and royal prerogative to judge
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 AV)
He is coming soon. To separate the wheat’s and the tares. I have seen him do it even in our walk. Let us not be the tares but the wheat.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:39-42 AV)
Angel 4
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
here we see the temple in heaven which would tell us that the age is related to Israel and not the church
The word sickle occurs 12 times in scripture and it is used seven times in this section
By this time the world will be so evil. The church will be gone. Many of the saints will be martyred, and the Jews killed so no one can say that Jesus did not give enough time before his Judgement. He will judge some would wish it was quicker.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:40-42 AV)
Angel 5
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Here we see another angel with a sickle. Let us to what to do.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
What was in the altar? ΒΆ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:9-10 AV)
The prayers of the saints.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Great battle the battle of Armageddon Zech. 14:1-4; Rev 16:16; 19:17-19
Some say this is far fetched to be taken as literal. But when have we seen a battle with over 200 million people? When have we seen a battle fought against the almighty himself? Who will escape? You cannot run nor hide. There will be bodies and war equipment, horses everywhere this is not unimaginable.
The thing is God gives them so many chances to receive him. So many chances even by an angel. Lets see His fulfilled word in Jesus and prophecies. His ministers, Christians, miracles, healing, life changes, moving of the Holy Spirit, tongues, angels, what else do people need? Even after the millenium when Christ is reigning there will be a dissension. This is amazing.
What will it take for you to, listen, receive, repent? Christian or non-Christian. Don’t laugh at these. Sometimes it takes us many times to finally listen to God’s rebukes.
