Rev. # 48~14:1-8 Tribulation In A Nut Shell Series

Today we’ll began chapter 14:, let me remind us that this chapter is not chronological in that it does not take up the next events of the Tribulation.

Also let me say that chapters 10 –14 are a parenthetical section, what that means is that these chapters don’t move forward chronologically, instead John sees visions of peoples and events that are going on in the tribulation period.

If you’ll remember chapter 13 tells us about the Beast, the False Prophet, and the mark of the Beast. And then chapter 14: just stops every thing and gives encouragement by telling of the ultimate triumph for those who refuse the beast’s mark, and tells of the doom of those who do receive it.

Chapter 14 prepares the way for the climatic events, which will follow from chapter 15 and on.—chapter 14: you could say is a mini picture of the Tribulation.

In this chapter we get a backward look to the beginning of the Tribulation and also a forward preview to its end and the glorious reign of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints.

In place of the wicked beasts of 13: the Lamb comes into view here in 14:-- In place of a multitude of people worshiping the Antichrist, there appears a vast number of redeemed ones praising and following Christ.

In chapters 14 we’ll find the word “voice”, eight times. We’ll see that the events recorded, will be God either speaking to His people or to the lost world, or His creatures speak out in praise of the Lord or in warning to the world.

We’ll notice that as the world moves into the last half of the Tribulation, beginning in 15: heaven is not silent.

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Ø Listen as I read verse 1 of Rev. 14:

1And 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.

The site of His appearing is “Mount Sion.” This is an earthly scene, a picture of Christ’s return to reign, the place from which He shall rule gloriously. This is not “the heavenly Jerusalem,” sometimes called “Mount Sion” in Hebrews.

And the scene anticipates His “coronation”, that means {the act or ceremony of crowning a “sovereign”, & that means above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme} –

And also the scene is in anticipation of the establishment of His kingdom when He returns to earth.

Why are they gathered on Mount Zion? Zion – is the ancient name for the hills that make up Jerusalem - is the place where the Messiah gathers His redeemed and reigns over the earth.

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Micah 4:1-2 1But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

These 144,000 were last seen in Revelation 7, where they were identified as 12000 thousand men taken from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, there were 12000 from each tribe which adds up to 144000.

This is a group of Jewish believers that would go all over the world during the tribulation period and they would be preaching the gospel of the kingdom, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, they have Gods seal in their foreheads, nothing can harm these Jewish evangelist in the tribulation, although some may be put in jail for a time.

Since they stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb, it shows that they emerge victorious from the great tribulation. The beast of Revelation 13 certainly has not defeated the 144,000; here they are triumphant, worshipping, and standing firm with Jesus.

In chapter 7, the 144,000 are seen at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 14, it shows them in triumph from beginning unto the end of the Great Tribulation.

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2And 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:

This “voice of many waters” is associated with the multitude before the throne of God.