Revelation Chapter 14
1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred and forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.
2 I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps.
3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth.
4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from amongst men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.
6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
7 He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"
8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality."
9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand,
10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow with them."
14 I looked, and saw a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!"
16 He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle.
18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!"
19 The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.
20 The wine press was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand and six hundred stadia.
Footnotes
- Verse 5 (blameless)
- Textus Receptus adds "before the throne of God"
- Verse 14
- Daniel 7:13
- Verse 20 (stadia)
- 1600 stadia is 296 kilometres or 184 miles
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Revelation Chapter 14 Guide
The attention of the seer was now turned again to the heavenly order. The redeemed are seen standing with the Lamb, a company of obedient souls who follow Him "whithersoever He goeth."
In distinction from the seventh angel who had sounded the trumpet John now refers to "another angel." At this point the unfallen angels are described as exercising a remarkable ministry on earth. The first of them proclaims eternal good tidings. Yet another proclaims the fall of Babylon. The Gospel calling men to submission having been sounded, and the defeat of Babylon announced "another angel, a third," goes forth with a message of warning. In this proclamation the continuity of the divine recognition of human will is evident. All are called on to choose. The beast and the prophet insist that men receive their mark, and those refusing are slain. On the other hand, God's angel messenger warns against receiving that mark.
It is in that connection that it was announced, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth." To those who through terrible suffering are faithful unto death will be granted the way of entry on the higher service.
A double view of impending judgment is given in the figures of the harvest and the vineyard. As to the harvest, it is briefly stated, "He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped." That sweep of the sickle in the right hand of the Son of man is a perfect symbol of the final and all-inclusive judgment. The figure of the vintage is an angel holding a sickle and gathering "the clusters of the vine of the earth."
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Revelation Chapter 14 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Those faithful to Christ celebrate the praises of God. -- (1-5)
- Three angels; one proclaiming the everlasting gospel; another, the downfal of Babylon; and a third, the dreadful wrath of God on the worshippers of the beast. The blessedness of those who die in the Lord. -- (6-13)
- A vision of Christ with a sickle, and of a harvest ripe for cutting down. -- (14-16)
- The emblem of a vintage fully ripe, trodden in the wine-press of God's wrath. -- (17-20)
Verses 1-5
Mount Sion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church, and in the midst of her in all her troubles, therefore she is not consumed. His presence secures perseverance. His people appear honourably. They have the name of God written in their foreheads; they make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and this is followed by suitable actings. There were persons in the darkest times, who ventured and laid down their lives for the worship and truth of the gospel of Christ. They kept themselves clean from the wicked abominations of the followers of antichrist. Their hearts were right with God; and they were freely pardoned in Christ; he is glorified in them, and they in him. May it be our prayer, our endeavour, our ambition, to be found in this honourable company. Those who are really sanctified and justified are meant here, for no hypocrite, however plausible, can be accounted to be without fault before God. (Rev 14:6-13)
Verses 6-13
The progress of the Reformation appears to be here set forth. The four proclamations are plain in their meaning; that all Christians may be encouraged, in the time of trial, to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. The preaching of the everlasting gospel shakes the foundations of antichrist in the world, and hastens its downfal. If any persist in being subject to the beast, and in promoting his cause, they must expect to be for ever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us. Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such as die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follow them: do not go before as their title, or purchase, but follow them as proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord: the remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services and sufferings. This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit, witnessing with their spirits, and the written word.
Verses 14-20
Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. The harvest time is when the corn is ripe; when the believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth shall be gathered into Christ's garner. And by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed, till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer. The wine-press is the wrath of God, some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked. The patience of God towards sinners, is the greatest miracle in the world; but, though lasting, it will not be everlasting; and ripeness in sin is a sure proof of judgment at hand.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.