Rev.# 49~14:9- 20 The Entire 7 Year Tribulation Series

Today we’ll continue our study here in Chapter 14

John sees visions of peoples and events that are going on in the tribulation period. 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 unto the end as Jesus sits on His Kingdom Throne and reigns with His saints.

I believe we got through verse 8, we’ll read down to there and briefly make a few comments and try and continue on.

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. *** [CP 7]

2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder:***{ is associated with the multitude before the throne of God }

and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: ***{HEAVENLY ANGELIC CHORE}

3And they sung {angelic chore} as it were a new song before the throne, {heavenly scene- vs.2} and before the four beasts, ***and the elders: [church} - and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.*** {Remember this singing is coming from heaven according to verse 2, the 144000 are on earth}

The 144000 were a special body of men taken from earth for a particular mission this is not the church.—they were on earth for the entire duration of the 7 year tribulation, they were Jewish Missionarys.

4These are they which were not defiled with women; {in the tribulation all manner of elicit sex will be going on as never before, the devil is having a hey day, but these will not be defiled by it.} for they are virgins. [This means that they never married, it was not good to take a wife because of what was ahead for these dear people}

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. {these are kingdom words. Being Jews, they are the “first-fruits” of Israel in the Tribulation. The harvest has be-gun but there is more to follow. Just as God gives the first-fruits, so He can be depended upon to give the greater harvest which will follow.}

5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

These were truthful. The tribulation period in which they live is one when deceit and falsehood reigns. The Antichrist will come in the power of Satan with “lying wonders”

6And 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,

THE MESSAGE—

7Saying 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.

“The everlasting gospel.” There is nothing in the message about grace, the blood, redemption, or forgiveness. “The gospel of the grace of God” does that, that’s the message of the Church today.

The 144000 will preach the gospel of the kingdom during the tribulation. –MATT 24:14--

The message of the everlasting gospel is essentially that which has been proclaimed since God’s earliest dealings with man, namely, God is sovereign, and true happiness comes to those who recognize His sovereign right in the earth. The Creator only, and not the creature, must be worshiped.

It is everlasting in the sense that it is ageless, not for any specific period. It is an announcement of the hour of judgment of God and the command to worship Him.

The everlasting gospel seems to be neither the gospel of grace nor the gospel of the kingdom, but rather the good news that God at last is about to deal with the world in righteousness and establish His sovereignty over the world.

This is God’s last call to a wicked and apostate world, for the hour of judgment has come. vs.7 The Creator has a claim upon His creation. Presently He at-tempts to woo men by the Holy Spirit on the grounds of Christ’s death in that He paid the sin debt for all who will receive Him.

But here He summons men by an angel to recognize and reverence Him as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

8And 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.