CHAPTER 14

(A.D. 96)

THE LAMB

¹And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion (is the same portrayal as Rev. 5:6; Christ being referred to here as a Lamb proclaims the fact that our Redemption was accomplished at the Cross; in fact, the title Lamb as it refers to Christ is used some 28 times in the Book of Revelation, all denoting the Atoning Work of Christ on the Cross; incidentally, this is the Heavenly Mount Sion), and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Fathers Name written in their foreheads. (This is the number of Jews who came to Christ in the first half of the Great Tribulation. Some of the early Manuscripts, which are probably correct, read, Having His Name [the Name of the Lamb] and the Fathers Name upon their foreheads. Considering that this was inspired by the Holy Spirit, in this one Verse we have the Doctrine of the Trinity.)

²And I heard a voice from Heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder (proclaims the type of praise and worship being offered; it sounds like a waterfall mixed with thunder; is this typical of the modern Church? it ought to be!): and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps (portrays the musical accompaniment):

³And they sung as it were a new song before the Throne, and before the four Beasts, and the Elders (this song is for the 144,000 only; it could very well be Psalm 149; also, the new song mentioned here is not so much that the song itself is new, but that what it says can only be carried out by those represented by the 144,000, which is Redeemed Israel): and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (They were Redeemed by trusting Christ and what He did at the Cross, which is the only way anyone can be Redeemed.)

⁴These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. (It refers to the 144,000 who did not corrupt themselves with idolatry. Faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross constitutes spiritual adultery, which is idolatry. In fact, millions in the modern Church are guilty of this sin, due to not understanding the Cross.) These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. (By use of the word Lamb, they took up their Cross exactly as Jesus demands of all [Lk. 9:23-24].) These were redeemed from among men, being the Firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (By use of the word Firstfruits, this tells us that the entire nation of Israel is coming to Christ, which, in fact, will happen at the Second Coming.)

⁵And in their mouth was found no guile (no hypocrisy): for they are without fault before the Throne of God. (This pertains to Justification by Faith, which trust in Christ Alone can bring about.)

THE ANGELS

⁶And I saw another Angel fly in the midst of Heaven (this is a different Angel from the one described in Rev. 8:13), having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people (refers to the same Gospel of Grace preached by Paul and the Apostles [Heb. 13:20]; as well, the implication is that this Angel will be observed by inhabitants on Earth, who will, as well, hear him Preach; it is the first recorded instance of an Angel preaching; no doubt, Television cameras will record his appearance and his Ministry, projecting him and his Message into all the world),

⁷Saying with a loud voice (denotes significance and urgency; it is, in fact, a Command to all the nations of the world), Fear God, and give Glory to Him (is in contrast to the message being preached by the false prophet); for the hour of His Judgment is come (regards the seven Angels with the seven vials of plagues shortly to be poured out on the Earth): and worship Him Who made Heaven, and Earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Evidently the Antichrist is claiming the power of creation. The Angel counters by announcing to the entire world exactly Who the Creator actually is.)

⁸And there followed another Angel, saying (this Angel replaces the one who had been preaching the Everlasting Gospel, and makes another announcement), Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city (Babylon, as addressed here, will be rebuilt; she will fall at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation), because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (As Babylon was the site of Earths first organized rebellion against God [Gen. 11:1-9], it will, as well, be the site of the last great organized rebellion. As it began, so shall it end.)

⁹And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice (presents the last of this Heavenly trio), If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand (proclaims a warning of unprecedented proportion; this is a declaration that every single individual is responsible),

¹⁰The same shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture (there will be no Mercy in this Judgment) into the cup of His indignation (when the cup gets full, the Judgment of God will commence; this cup is not only full, but is running over with evil); and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone (refers to everyone who receives the mark of the beast, and speaks of Eternal Hell) in the Presence of the Holy Angels, and in the Presence of the Lamb (refers to the Great White Throne Judgment [20:11-15]):

¹¹And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever (refers to the fact that a conscious existence will be forever): and they have no rest day nor night (refers to an unbroken continuance of torment), who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. (All who take the mark of the beast in the coming Great Tribulation will, in essence, be blaspheming the Holy Spirit, for which there is no forgiveness [Mk. 3:29].)

¹²Here is the patience of the Saints (a Message to those on Earth who have come to Christ during the Great Tribulation; by use of the word patience, we are told that this persecution is soon to come to an end): here are they who keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus. (The only way the Commandments of God can be kept is by the Believer placing His Faith in Christ and the Cross. The Holy Spirit will then grandly help such an individual.)

¹³And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write (according to the balance of this Verse, it is the Holy Spirit Who is speaking to John), Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth (this refers to the Great Tribulation Period, when many will die for their Testimony rather than serve the Antichrist): Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours (is the exact opposite of the beast worshippers who have no rest); and their works do follow them. (The translation should read, Their works follow with them.)

ARMAGEDDON

¹⁴And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man (presents, as is obvious, the Lord Jesus Christ; white denotes purity; cloud denotes glory; Son of Man has reference to the Humanity of Christ, which always points to the Cross), having on His Head a golden crown (presents the victors crown), and in His Hand a sharp sickle (represents the reaping thats going to be done at the Battle of Armageddon, as the balance of this Chapter portrays).

¹⁵And another Angel came out of the Temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who sat on the cloud (the first Angel preached the Everlasting Gospel; the second predicted the fall of Babylon; the third proclaims a warning concerning the taking of the mark of the beast; the fourth announces the Battle of Armageddon, even though it will be some three years yet in coming), Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe (speaks of the Battle of Armageddon, which is soon to take place, and portrays the fact that the evil of the Antichrist will have reached a crescendo).

¹⁶And He Who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth (refers to Christ, Who will orchestrate this momentous event); and the earth was reaped (that which takes place on Earth, at least as it regards momentous events, are first of all orchestrated in Heaven).

¹⁷And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in Heaven (presents the fifth Angel of this Chapter), he also having a sharp sickle (portrays the fact that Angels will have a great part to play in the coming Battle of Armageddon).

¹⁸And another Angel came out from the Altar (is the pattern Altar after which the Brazen Altar on Earth was fashioned), which had power over fire (refers to the fire on the Altar); and cried with a loud cry to Him Who had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (The repetitiveness of these statements proclaims the absolute significance of what is about to happen, and that its outcome will affect the Earth greatly.)

¹⁹And the Angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth (he gathers the vine of the Earth into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon), and cast it into the great winepress of the Wrath of God (refers to the assembled nations that will gather in the Valley of Jehoshaphat).

²⁰And the winepress was trodden without the city (refers to the actual Battle itself pressing in on Jerusalem, with the intent of completely destroying the city and slaughtering the Jews), and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs (1600 furlongs is a distance of about 175 miles; the blood, no doubt, will be mixed with water, and in some places will be approximately six feet deep; it is possible that millions will be killed in this Battle).