John looks to see the Lamb on Mount Zion and with Him are the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. John hears a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of thunder. The voice was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. They were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. This was a song only the 144,000 could learn. They had not defiled themselves with women because they were virgins. They are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes because they have been redeemed from mankind as the first fruits for God and the Lamb. There was no lie found in their mouths because they were blameless.
John then sees an angel flying overhead with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. He said in 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."
As we can see, God is still so merciful that He still wants to message of the gospel to continue so people can still be saved. The 144,000 won't be alone in preaching this message. God will even have His angel proclaiming the Word as well! Many during the Tribulation will be saved. Others still will harden their hearts and go their own way. And even more shocking, many will STILL be undecided. But what can be said is that not a single soul on earth at that time can claim they didn't know about Jesus.
The message of Jesus has been preached for over 2,000 years. The Gospel will still be preached after the Rapture by the 144,000, those who received Christ, and the angels.
A second angel follows and says, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." This angel tells us of the fate that awaits Babylon.
A third angel follows them and says in a loud voice, "if anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also 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. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day or night, these worshippers of the beast and its image and whoever receive the mark of its name."
Whoa! We just found the catch. Yes, taking the mark means you can buy food, clothes, keep a roof over your head, provide for your family and loved ones. And offer some sort of protection. But the cost is your eternal soul. As stated previously, taking the mark tells the world and God that your loyalty lies with the Antichrist. But once you take that mark, you no longer have any more chances to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is one of those "do not pass go, do not collect $200" things. Even if down the road you change your mind, it will be too late.
You're bound for hell and there will be nothing you or anybody can do to change it. Even God won't be able to do anything about it because making the decision to take that mark is the ultimate rejection of Him and that's that. So, if you're left behind and you have a choice on taking the mark or not, DO NOT TAKE IT! It is better to die for Jesus and be with Him in heaven forever than to live a few years with a mark that will take you to hell forever. Even those who receive Christ and then take the mark aren't immune. Their salvation will mean nothing once that mark goes on their forehead or right hand.
John looks to see a white cloud and seated on the cloud is one like a son of man wearing a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Then an angel came out of the temple and says to the One on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So, he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth and the earth was harvested. Another angel came out of the temple also holding a sharp sickle. Still another angel in charge of the fire on the altar called to him, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the earth's vine because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. 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. (180 miles)
A sickle is used for harvesting grain, crops and cutting forage for feeding animals. In this case, we are looking at the judgment that will occur for those who will be part of Armageddon. The grapes represent the enemies of God who will be taken out at Christ's Second Coming. The battle will be one sided with Jesus winning of course. The carnage and result will be so gruesome that the blood will reach the horse’s bridle; which is to its mouth, and 180 miles long; the driving distance between Hampton, Virginia and Washington, DC. If you put together all the blood and gore we've seen on TV and in all the movies, it doesn't come close to what it's going to look like when this event occurs. It's going to be horrific.
