I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In the previous chapter, John revealed the beast from the sea (figure of the Roman Empire) and the beast from the earth (figure of false religion) that would overcome the saints.

B.      In contrast, the three visions of chapter 14 show the victory of Christ and His saints over the beasts.

                                                             1.      The power of the beasts was temporary and unsuccessful (13:5), and chapter 14 shows the final outcome of these events.

                                                             2.      Certainly, these visions provided comfort for those early Christians who endured the persecutions of Rome, and these still assure us of Christ’s victory today.

II.      THE 144,000

A.      These 144,000 souls represented the Christians who would yet overcome through Christ (Rev. 14:1, 4-5).

                                                             1.      John saw a vision of the Lamb (Christ – 5:6-14) standing on Mount Zion.

a.       This depiction (standing atop a mountain) indicates the victory of Christ.

b.       Zion in this figure is representative of the heavenly mountain of God upon which His city was built (see Heb. 12:22).

                                                             2.      Notice the 144,000 that were with the Lamb.

a.       These are the same 144,000 from 7:1-8.

i.         In chapter 7, they were on earth when God sealed them on their foreheads (designated them) for protection from His wrath.

ii.        Here in chapter 14, they are depicted in heaven (“before the throne” in v. 3, the same as the innumerable multitude in 7:9-17).  Thus, they have perished from the earth.

iii.      Their seal is the name of the Lamb and His Father (contrast to the mark of the beast – 13:16-17).

b.       Notice the figures used to describe them in verses 4-5:

i.         They had not defiled themselves with women (innocent of spiritual adultery).

ii.        They followed the Lamb wherever He went (even places of danger).

iii.      They were purchased as “first fruits” to God (an indication of more to come).

iv.      No lie was found in their mouths, and they were blameless (compare to Christ in 1Pet. 2:21-25).

c.        In 6:11, the slain souls of the saints were told that more of their brethren would be killed, and these 144,000 represented these additional souls who endured the persecution.

B.      They sang a new song before the throne of God (14:2-3).

                                                             1.      Their sound is described as one voice that is great and musical.

                                                             2.      They new song they sang could only be sung by them (compare to the other songs sung before the throne in heaven in 4:8, 11; 5:9-10, 12-13).

III.   THE ANGELS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

A.      The first angel preached “an eternal gospel” to those who lived on the earth (14:6-7).

                                                             1.      This angel flew in mid-heaven, and his message was for all the earth (the same persons who were under the authority of the beast from the sea, i.e., the Roman Empire – 13:7).

                                                             2.      His message was for them to fear, glorify, and worship God, for His judgment had come.

B.      The second angel announced the fall of Babylon the great (14:8).

                                                             1.      This angel’s announcement is given in connection with the judgment announced by the first angel.

                                                             2.      “Babylon the great” is a figure for the city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.

a.       The literal city of Babylon was the capital of the empire responsible for destroying Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem and carrying Judah into captivity in 586 B.C.  This figure is used in Revelation to represent a similar, wicked kingdom that not only destroyed physical Jerusalem and Herod’s temple (70 A.D.), but also persecuted God’s spiritual temple, the church (1Cor. 3:16-17; Eph. 2:20-22).

b.       We first saw the figure of this “great city” in 11:8, and the figure is used repeatedly throughout the rest of the book (16:19; 17:5-6, 18; 18:10, 16, 19, 21; 19:2).  In future lessons, we will continue to see how this figure well represented Rome.

c.        In this instance, Babylon the great is charged with making “all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

C.      The third angel warned the men of the earth about the consequences of worshipping the beast (14:9-11).

                                                             1.      In chapter 13, those who worshipped the beast and received his mark received favor and those who did not were punished.  Now the positions are reversed.

                                                             2.      Notice the severity of the punishment for those who sided with the beast.

a.       They will drink the wine of the wrath of God at full strength from the cup of God’s anger.

b.       They will be tormented in fire and brimstone in the presence of the angels and the Lamb.

c.        Their punishment will be everlasting.

D.      The understanding of these things gave perseverance to the saints (14:12-13).

                                                             1.      For the Christians who were to endure the Roman persecution, it may have been tempting to compromise their faith, but their perseverance was bolstered by these visions from God.

                                                             2.      While they would suffer for a short time on earth, it was as nothing when compared to the eternal suffering that would come to those who worshipped the beast.

                                                             3.      Indeed, these visions showed that it is a blessing to die in the Lord, for every good work is well rewarded.

IV.    THE HARVEST

A.      In this two-fold harvest, the first harvest was reaped by Christ (14:14-16).

                                                             1.      Christ is depicted on a white cloud (purity) with a golden crown (royalty) and a sharp sickle.

                                                             2.      An angel from the temple (in heaven – 11:19) called upon Christ to reap the earth.

                                                             3.      This harvest represented the salvation of those who responded to the gospel of Christ.

a.       Consider how the Lord used the figure of a harvest when He taught His disciples to go and make other disciples (Matt. 9:37-38; John 4:35-38).

b.       These who are harvested by Christ would not be subjected to the harvest of judgment.

B.      The second harvest was for the grapes of the wrath of God (14:17-20).

                                                             1.      Another angel with a sharp sickle came forth from the temple.  This angel was called upon by another angel (from the altar and having power over fire – probably the same angel as in 8:3-5) to reap the clusters of the earth.

                                                             2.      The grapes that were gathered were thrown into the “great wine press of the wrath of God.”

a.       The wine press is a common figure in Scripture to designate the wrath of God (Isa. 63:1-6; Lam. 1:15; Joel 3:11-16).  We will see this figure several times in this book.

b.       The wine press was trodden “outside the city,” indicating that spiritual Jerusalem (the holy city – 11:2; Zion – 14:1; the beloved city – 20:9) was excluded from the judgment.

c.        There was such a volume of blood that it flowed up to the horses’ bridles for two hundred miles.

d.       These fearful figures represented the complete and terrifying judgment of God upon His enemies.

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      This chapter captures the overriding message of the book of Revelation – the victory of Christ and His saints and the impending end of the enemies of God and His people.

B.      Continuing this theme, the next section reveals the third set of seven figures (seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls).

*** In the next lesson, we will consider the seven bowls of judgment (15:1-16:21).***