We are just about to enter back into the chronological narrative of the story of Revelation. The 7th trumpet found under the 7th seal of the Lamb’s scroll was sounded in chapter 11. In chapters 12-13 we saw the struggle between the angels and Lucifer - then Satan’s desire to destroy Israel, the Messiah, and us. And then we saw the manifestation of Satan’s final attempt to rule in God’s place by anointing the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
This interlude is about to end - and we’ll see the 7 bowl judgments poured out under the 7th trumpet - that’s in chapters 15 and following.
But in Chapter 14 God, I think, is trying to paint a picture for man. He’s trying to show us the stark difference between following the way of darkness and the way of Jesus - by comparing and contrasting the outcomes.
In His Word, sometimes God spoke through prophecy - pictures and symbols. Jesus often spoke in parables - stories with a strong spiritual point. But here, God just lays it out - plain and simple - choose Door #1 and here’s what you get, choose Door #2 and here is what’s behind it. What we’re going to see is that even with this clear choice - much of mankind during the Tribulation will choose to go against God - and so their judgment is justified.
In verses 1-5 we see the redeemed - specifically the 144,000 - and quite possibly - those that received Jesus as part of their ministry.
Then from verse 6 through verse 11 we hear about the proclamation of the gospel, the state of man and the destiny of man - who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 12 & 13 are an encouragement to those still left on the earth at the end of the Tribulation, and finally, verses 14-20 picture the final judgment of God against the earth - quite possibly at the Battle of Armageddon.
Verse 1
We have fast-forwarded here to the end of the Tribulation. We first saw the 144,000 in chapter 7 - from the tribes of Israel, and sent, I believe, in the world to preach. While I think that number is a real one - I think it’s also quite possible that the number here also represents those that received Jesus through their ministry. Even as we just saw in chapter 13 the seal of Satan - the mark of the Beast - here we see that these have the seal of God.
Verse 2
So this incredible, almost indescribable music starts up - John does his best to tell us that it sounds like roaring water and harps.
Verse 3
It turns out the noise was the singing of a new song only they could learn. It’s true that only they will have the experience of enduring the persecution of the Beast - not being able to buy or sell, and being hunted down like animals and destroyed. So perhaps it is of these experiences - and how God delivered them, that they sing.
Do you ever sing to the Lord a song no one else knows - made up of experiences only you and God have gone through? Just a thought.
Verses 4 - 5
There is a lot of speculation about these verses. I think that here we can look to a more spiritual than literal meaning. Were they literal virgins? In the Old Testament, unfaithfulness to God was discussed in terms of sexual unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:6, for instance). So what we’re seeing here is the description of the character of the redeemed.
Purity of faith and morals
Purity of devotion to Jesus
Purity of speech and motive
Verses 6 - 7
God never gives up until it is truly too late to save anyone. He has sent out judgments of natural disaster, of war, of demonic oppression - He has anointed super evangelists to spread the gospel throughout the world. He let man create his ultimate kingdom on earth through the Antichrist. All of these were allowed or brought about so man would repent - but he won’t.
But finally - just to make sure - God sends an angel to announce to the entire world - fear God and give Him glory. Fear that God will send to hell anyone who doesn’t belong to Him - and give Him glory - acknowledge that He is God and give your allegiance and life to Him through Jesus. The angel calls it "an eternal gospel." God is still preaching the good news up until the last minute.
Jesus said of this time: Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come . ESV
And then the end does come.
Verse 8
At first you might think - doesn’t this happen later? As we’ve seen several times in this book (an example is chapter 12 where the first part of the chapter is repeated in more detail later). And also we see this in other parts of the Bible - for instance in the creation narrative - there is a restatement of chapter 1 in chapter 2 from a different angle.
So here we are seeing the gospel proclaimed to the whole earth, then man’s ultimate system - Babylon - destroyed. We’ll see this in greater detail in chapters 17 and 18.
Babylon represents man’s rebellion against God. We first find it in Genesis 11. As soon as the flood is dried up and God tells humans to repopulate the earth - what do they do? They congregate and build a tower called Babel - "to make a name for ourselves" and to keep together. God, of course, had other plans.
Then there was a city named Babylon created - a center of idol worship, the scene of man’s first great kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon conquered Israel and carried her away in captivity. And in the last 7 years it will be an actual city but also represents a system - a system based on man-worship, immorality, debauchery, and evil - a system God will destroy. And when that happens, the final judgment against rebellious man will commence:
Verses 9 - 11
No more measured wrath - this is a prediction as to what will happen to those who reject God and cling to their god - Satan. And, by the way, you are by default aligned with Lucifer. It is only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ that you can have a restored relationship with and be aligned once again to Yahweh. This is also the first of three pictures of final judgment - the pouring of unmixed wine.
This is just about as graphic a description of hell as you will find in the Bible. It ought to fill you with fear and loathing - it ought to drive you into the hands of God. Hell wasn’t designed for you - but for Satan and those that are his. But you will go there unless you repent of the evil in you and turn to the Lord for salvation.
Verse 12 - 13
The call for perseverance of the saints during the Tribulation - "hang on - the evil ones will get their due." The promise here contrasts the end for the believer with that of the unbeliever. Believers will have "rest" - unbelievers "no rest."
Verses 14 - 16
There is some debate about who the person sitting on the cloud is - it is most probably Jesus Christ, who is awaiting word that the final judgment can occur. After the millennial kingdom of Jesus ruling on the earth, all men will be gathered up and judged - those who have received Jesus sent to heaven, those that rejected Him sent to hell. An angel brings the command from the Father in the heavenly Temple to tell the Son the time for reaping has come.
Matt 24:36-37
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows , not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
ESV
Jesus said of that time: Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’" ESV
Verses 17 - 20
This is the third and final picture of judgment - first the wine, then the wheat, now the grapes. It is an Old Testament picture of God’s wrath:
Isaiah 63:3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; ESV
Also see: Lamentations 1:15, and Joel 3:13)
So what’s with the blood picture here? 1,600 stadia is about 180 miles - the distance from north to south of Palestine. This could be a reference to the Battle of Armageddon - where the forces of man unleash themselves on each other and attempt to overthrow Jerusalem - that’s the point at which Jesus comes back to earth and destroys them.
This battle will be so terrible that Ezekiel 39 says it will take 7 years to bury the dead. The blood bath will be so great that it will splatter up to the horse’s bridles for the entire length of Israel.
How literally should be take this? I’m not sure that is the most important thing - what we need to see is judgment as the result of rejecting the eternal good news of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 15
Verse 1
The first great sign John saw was the woman - who gave birth to the Messiah. Now this second sign are the angels with the 7 last plagues of God before He returns to the earth. It appears that these last plagues are directed only at the followers of the Anti-Christ - though they affect the whole earth.
Similarly, the plagues of Egypt were more and more focused on the Egyptians, rather than the people of God.
Verse 2
This represents those on earth who did not receive the mark of the beast and were possibly martyred because of it. They stand by the sea of glass - the same one we saw in chapter 4 - but now mixed with fire, representing God’s judgment.
Verse 3 - 4
Notice they sing the song of Moses - and the Lamb. The song of Moses was sung after God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. The song of the Lamb represents Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death. Each stanza of this song comes from a phrase in the Old Testament from books like Exodus, Deuteronomy, Amos, Psalms, and Jeremiah.
Verses 5 - 8
The "Tent of Witness" is the Greek way of saying The Tabernacle - the real Tent of Meeting that Moses built a copy of in Exodus. The angels come out to give the final plagues.
Conclusions
Jesus is coming back - and we are coming with Him
At the beginning of this chapter we see the Lamb standing on Mt Zion. Among those with him are the 144,000 - but you are there too, if you are a believer in Jesus.
Jude 14 says: "Behold the Lord came with ten thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict the ungodly of all their deeds …"
Are you ready to be in that position - of running and reigning with Him? Are you living a life that will need some huge adjustments to fit your new job duties? Are you putting on the character of the Lord and sloughing off the character of the world? Think about your life in an eternal perspective.
Hell is Real, but God is Fair
Jesus talked about hell more than heaven. It is a real place - the stakes could not be higher. God has given us fair warning - you will go there if you are not washed and the only way to get washed is through the blood of the Lamb.
But - God is fair. The angel will proclaim the gospel to the whole world. God will not send anyone to hell unless they deserve - yes, even ask for it.
1 Samuel 2:30-31 ’Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. NIV
Be one who honors the Lord - has a relationship with Him - in eternity, that’s all that really matters.
Matthew 7:23 "Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ’I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ESV
Please refer to the audio version of this study for more not included in the study notes. Find it on our website: www.CalvaryChapelNewberg.org
