He is going to empower that man, the antichrist, to bring peace and prosperity to the earth, and Satan is going to build up all the hope that man has ever had and then destroy.
Man is going to place all his hope in this one world ruler, and the antichrist is going to fulfill man's hope and longing.
• He is going to give the world peace, world-wide peace.
• He is going to move the world toward economic prosperity, toward jobs and a livelihood for everyone.
• He is going to propose programs for the hungry, homeless, and diseased, and for the other problems of the world--propose programs that will work to some degree.
• He is going to have some solutions for the problems of drugs, alcoholism, and the other devastating ills of society.
But then the terrifying horror will happen: he will turn against millions upon earth, against all those who have strong religious faith: the Jews, Christians, Moslems, Hindus, and all the others. He will launch the worst holocaust the world has ever witnessed. He will slaughter any who do not give their first loyalty and allegiance to him and its leader, the antichrist himself.
This is what the book of Revelation has just shown us, the terrifying picture of the antichrist and his chief executive officer, the false prophet. These two beasts will bring such horror to the people of the end time the world will experience suffering like never before.
Now let us look at John the apostle, the one to whom Jesus Christ was giving this vision, needed relief from such horrors. The human mind and heart can take only so many tragedies before it needs an infusion of hope.
This is what chapter fourteen of Revelation is: it is a picture of victory. The victory of the Lamb of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, is assured.
In rapid ?re, we have seen tradegdy after tradegy but in Revelation 14 God is going to show us the glorious triumph that lies ahead for those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ and endure to the end.
Now let us look at Revelation chapter 14. Let me explain, what the Lord shows John…
• Verses 1-5 seem to take place in heaven
• Verses 6-20 seem to take place on earth
Now let us look at verses 1-5 read about…
I.THE LAMB
Revelation 14:1-5 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. 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: 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. 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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
• Revelation 12 looks to the past – the woman giving birth to the Christ-child and Satan being cast out of heaven.
• Revelation 13 looks to the present – Satan's formation of a godless trinity to attack the woman and her seed, the church, through a beast of persecution and a beast of deception.
• Revelation 14 looks to the future – John tells us what happens to the woman and her offspring and the dragon and his offspring.
Revelation 14 actually contains two visions of the future.
(1) The first is a vision of salvation.
(2) The vision of judgment.
I want to ask and answer four questions: who, where, what, and why.
(1) Who
Who is John talking about? Listen to what he says in verse 1:
(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Who? First of all the Lamb. John is not introducing anyone new to us. The Lamb we have already seen.
In Revelation 5, John hears someone talking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David; then John sees the Lamb Who was slain. John hears, John sees, but they are one and the same: the Lion has become a Lamb.
He is the only One Who is worthy to take the scroll of destiny, to open its seals, and to put God's plan into motion.
(2) Who do we see?
Second, we see the "144,000 who had his name and his father's name written on their foreheads" (Rev 14:1). The 144,000 are not new to us either. We have already seen them as well: in Revelation 7, the 144,000 are the ones marked with God's seal on their foreheads.
John now reveals to us that the actual seal is the name of the Lamb and His Father. (Rev 14:1). The seal is a sign that they belong to God and are protected by Him from the wrath to come.
John wants us to contrast this with what happened to the deluded followers of the dragon and the beasts. They, too, receive a mark.
• Just as the mark of God is a sign that you belong to God, so the mark of the beast is a sign that you belong to the beast. However, there is a big difference between the two marks.
• Those who are marked with the name of God are provided security and protection from God's coming wrath. On the other hand, those who are marked with the name of the beast, receive no security and no protection from the wrath to come.
Now, who are the 144,000?
Do you remember that in Revelation 7, John again hears something and sees something?
John hears and John sees, but they are one and the same. John hears someone numbering off 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Then John sees a crowd beyond number from every tribe and language and people and nation. But what John hears and what John sees are the same thing.
Meaning what?
Meaning that the 144,000 are all the people of God, of all times and all places, a crowd beyond number that has been saved by the blood of the Lamb.
I want you to notice that the Lamb is "standing."
Don't forget, the Lamb has been slain; but now He is standing.
Don't forget, the dragon turned his rage on the church through the two beasts. The dragon tried to turn the church away from the worship of Christ through persecution and deception. But they are also standing. In other words, Satan did not succeed.
Do you hear what I am saying? I am saying that the Lamb and the 144,000 are victorious. Satan tried to make them go down in defeat but they are standing.
We have looked at the “Who” but now let us look at…
(3) Where
The first question: who? The victorious Lamb and the 144,000. The second question: Where?
We are told the Lamb was standing on "Mount Zion" (Rev 14:1). Is this to be taken literally? Is John telling us that Jesus and the 144,000 are standing on the physical location of the earthly Jerusalem?
Anytime the Bible can be taken literally…IT SHOULD BE TAKEN LITERALLY!!!
Don't forget, it is the victorious Lamb and the victorious 144,000 standing on Mount Zion. The battle has been won, the war is over, the end has come. Therefore, Mount Zion can only be the New Jerusalem.
We have looked at the “Who” and the “Where” now let us look at…
(3) What
The third question: What?
What are they doing? They are singing.
Rev 14:2-3, And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
Notice, and they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
• However, as we will find out in the coming weeks, this is not the only thing they are doing.
What we hear is a victory celebration. The dragon and the beasts have tried their best. They have tried:
• To stop and destroy the Lamb.
• They have tried to destroy the church.
But they have utterly and totally failed. They have gone down in defeat. The defeat of the enemy results in songs of celebration.
John hears the 144,000 singing a "new song." How come the old songs won't do?
Among God's people, a new song is sung each time God acts in history to save His people. So, then, new victories, new triumphs, and new conquests all mean new songs. This is a new song because the Lamb has triumphed in a new way over a very old enemy.
John then tells us something strange about the new song: "No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth" (Rev 14:3).
Why can only the redeemed learn the lyrics to this song? Is the song a secret?
For example, the angels in heaven can not sing AMAZING GRACE because they have not been saved by the grace of God.
John uses three comparisons to describe the new song.
(1) First, it is "like the roar of rushing waters" (Rev 14:2).
(2) Second, it is "like a loud peal of thunder" (Rev 14:2). Loud. Great volume. Frightening.
(3) Third, it is "like that of harpists playing their harps".
In Bible times the harp it was the primary instrument used in singing psalms. It is associated with joy, gladness, and celebration.
What does this all tell us? The singing in heaven is powerful, loud, and joyful.
Why? First, because of the numbers involved – the 144,000 meaning all of God's people of all times and all places. Anytime a big choir is singing, the result can only be powerful, loud, and joyful.
John hears a victory song. John sees the Lamb and the 144,000 standing. They both point to the same thing – victory, triumph, conquest.
We have looked at:
I. Who
II. Where
III. What
But now let us look at…
IV Why
Of all the people on earth, why are they the ones who celebrate the victory of the Lamb?
Because they are overcomers.
What is an overcomer?
John uses a series of images in verses 4 and 5 to answer this question:
In Rev. 14:4-5 These are those…
1) Who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. The soldiers of Israel on the eve of battle against pagan enemies they were forbidden to have sex. (Deut 23:9-11; cf 1 Sam 21:5).
2) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
3) They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. The first fruits are the best!!!
4) No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
II. THE THREE ANGELS
Revelation 14:6-13 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, 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. 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. 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, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture 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: 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. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 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.
Let me remind you of the context. Revelation 12 and 13 makes clear to us that the church is the target of the dragon, who is also known as the serpent, the devil, or Satan.
So, Satan turns his hatred upon the church through
• The persecution of the beast out of the sea,
• Through the deception of the beast out of the earth.
Remember how Revelation 12 and 13 end? Every person has either the mark of the beast or the mark of God.
Let's start with the first trio of angels, each of whom proclaims judgment upon those who have the mark of the beast.
I The First Angel
Listen to what Scripture says to us about the first angel and his proclamation of judgment:
(Rev 14:6-7) Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. (7) He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
Who is he?
He is "another angel." This assumes other angels.
What other angels?
All the other angels we have seen earlier – (1) The seven angels blowing the seven trumpets,
(2)The angel who served the altar and mixed the prayers of the saints with the smoke of incense,
(3) The mighty angel holding the little scroll, and on and on.
But the first angel in Rev. 14 where is he?
He is in "midair." Directly overhead. Everyone can see him and hear him.
Notice his job?
To "proclaim." To proclaim to whom? "To those who live on the earth ..."
Earth dwellers are those people who live only for this earth and the things of this earth. He proclaims to earth dwellers of "every nation, tribe, language and people."
What does he proclaim?
He proclaims the "eternal gospel." Eternal because it is planned from eternity to eternity.
What is the content of the eternal gospel?
Fear God – fear God rather than fear the beast. Worship Him – instead of worship the beast and the dragon.
How does he proclaim?
In a "loud voice." Why? Because it is urgent. Every unbeliever needs to hear what is being said. And every unbeliever needs to act on this immediately, before it is too late.
Why the urgency?
Verse 7 tells us: "because the hour of his judgment has come." It is now or never. God's last judgment day is already in motion, it has already begun, it is already inaugurated.
II The Second Angel
In Rev 14:8 a second angel followed and said, "Fallen!
He is not speaking of a literal Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates river. Rather, he is talking of Babylon as a symbol of human society organized in opposition to God. This Babylon, this worldly Babylon, this Babylon that opposes God, is going to be destroyed.
What does the second angel says about Babylon? "Fallen!
Fallen is Babylon the Great ..."
Do you hear the tense of the verb?
The second angel doesn't use the future tense. He doesn't say "Babylon will fall." Rather, he speaks of it as though it has already happened.
As far as the angel is concerned, the pagan culture of the earth dwellers has been overthrown.
Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."
This is a quote from Isaiah 21:9. Isaiah speaks a prophecy against Babylon – the city and empire that conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and took the people into captivity. He announces that the Babylon which conquered Judah will itself be conquered and destroyed.
III The Third Angel
A The first angel announces that God's judgment has already begun. The second angel announces that God's judgment is a sure thing, it is inescapable. What does the third angel announce?
In Rev 14:9-11 the third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, (10) he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. (11) And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."
Do you notice the change in the pronoun compared to the first two announcements?
1) The first angel made his announcement to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
2) The second angel made his announcement to Babylon.
3) But the third angel makes his announcement to individuals – to "anyone."
Also, notice…
1) The first angel announces that God's judgment has already begun.
2) The second angel announces that God's judgment is a sure thing, it is inescapable.
3) The third angel announces that followers of the beast will endure eternal wrath.
We have looked at:
We have looked at:
I. THE LAMB (Verses1-5)
II. THE ANGELS (Verses 6-13)
III. But now let us look at…
III. THE HARVEST
Revelation 14:14-20 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. 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. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 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. 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. 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.
• The book of Revelation tells us, over and over again, about the salvation of the saints.
• It also tells us, over and over again, about the judgment of unrepentant sinners.
Revelation 14 answers two questions.
(1)First, what happens to those people who wear the mark of God?
We learned, when we looked at verses 1-5, that they are overcomers who stand with the Lamb, on Mount Zion, singing songs of victory.
(2)Second, what happens to those who wear the mark of the beast? We are told that judgment falls on them. John tells us about this judgment through 3 angels.
• The first angel announces that God's judgment has already begun.
• The second angel announces that God's judgment is a sure thing, it is inescapable.
• The third angel announces that followers of the beast will endure eternal wrath.
Notice, each announcement is worse than the one before; things are escalating.
NOW WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE SECOND SET OF THREE ANGELS.
Unlike the first trio of angels, these angels do not merely announce judgment; rather, they execute judgment.
But before we look at the second trio of angels, John directs our attention to someone far greater:
• Than any angel,
• Far greater than any of the six angels,
• Far greater than the dragon or his beasts,
• Far greater than the 24 elders,
• Far greater than the 4 living creatures.
Listen to what John says about this person: In Rev 14:14, I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
I want you to see all the features that mark this person as being far greater than any of the angels that come before or after Him.
The first thing we notice is His title: "son of man." The "son of man"is a familiar figure to listeners of the book of Revelation.
This is a favorite expression that the Lord like to use to describe Himself.
Look at Dan 7:13-14… In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. (14) He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Now, why does John use Daniel's "son of man" as a title for Jesus? Because – and the answer may surprise you – the "son of man" was Jesus' favorite title for Himself.
Illus: The title is found 82 times in the Gospels. Jesus is the only One Who used it, and He always used it to talk about Himself.
You will find that in, (Mt 8:20) Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
(Mt 9:6) But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ."
(Mt 12:40) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(Mt 17:22) When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."
There are other features, too, that mark Jesus as being far greater than any of the angels.
I want you to notice where the "son of man" appears in Revelation 14. He appears between the 3 angels who announce judgment and the 3 angels who execute judgment. It is clear that Jesus is the center, the focal point. All 6 angels point to Christ. They surround Christ like cabinet members bracket President Trump.
What else?
He is seated on a white cloud.
• How did Jesus ascend into heaven? On a cloud (Acts 1:9).
• How is Jesus going to return? On a cloud (Acts 1:11).
Do you hear what John is saying to us this evening? John is saying Jesus is coming back.
Notice what else sets Him above the angels? He has a "crown of gold on his head" (Rev 14:14).
Jesus is coming. He is coming to harvest the earth. He is coming as Judge.
John pictures the judging for us with two harvest themes.
• In verses 15-16, judgment is pictured as a grain harvest.
• In verses 17-20, judgment is pictured as a grape harvest.
Both the grain harvest and the grape harvest are common Old Testament themes of judgment.
(1) The Grain Harvest and the Grape Harvest
Listen to what he says: Rev 14:15, “Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
This is now the fourth angel that we meet.
First, the angel stresses the sovereignty of God: "the time to reap has come."
When do farmers reap?
Second, many people are bothered that an angel commands Jesus to reap.
How can a mere angel command the "son of man" to harvest the earth?
But let me ask, where does the angel come from?
He comes from out of the temple. Who lives in the temple? Isn't that the dwelling place of God? So, an angel comes out of God's dwelling place and commands Jesus to begin reaping.
Notice what happens in response to what the angel says in Rev 14:16) So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Second, John presents the coming judgment to us as a grape harvest. Listen to what he says:
Look at Rev 14:17-18, Another angel [this is angel #5] came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. (18) Still another angel [this is angel #6], who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."
The sixth angel, as a messenger from God, tells the fifth angel what to do. We have met the sixth angel before. He is the angel who had charge of the fire on heaven's altar. We met this angel in Revelation 8. This is the angel who mixes the smoke of incense with the prayers of God's saints. Remember what the saints are praying for? They are praying, crying, shouting for justice.
We hear their prayer in Rev 6:10, They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
Picture the whole scene. The saints are crying for justice under heaven's altar. The angel in charge of the altar and its fire answers by putting the 7 trumpet judgments into motion. But this was only the initial answer.
Now, in Revelation 14, we have the final answer in Rev 14:18-20, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." (19) The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. (20) They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
Let me explain the image John has in mind. In the Ancient World, people picked grapes and dumped them into a vat. The servant girls would kick off their sandals, pull up their skirts, step into the vat, and begin to trample on the grapes. The grape juice would escape through holes at the bottom and would be channeled into big containers. John uses this as a picture of judgment. Instead of grapes, it is unbelievers. Instead of servant girls, it is Jesus. Instead of a vat, it is the winepress of God's wrath. Instead of juice, it is blood. What a gruesome picture of judgment.
Does anyone escape? Is there a single unbeliever who manages to get away? They can call for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them, but it will do them no good for the great day of God's wrath has come and none can stand before it (Rev 6:16-17).
Conclusion
Judgment is coming, congregation. That is today's message. Do you have problems with this? Don't talk to me. Talk to Jesus – because He is the Judge.
In Revelation 14 we have looked at:
I. THE LAMB
II. THE ANGELS
III. THE HARVEST
