EIGHT CHAPTERS
EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES, PEOPLE,
AND EVENTS OF THE GREAT
TRIBULATION TO THE
RETURN OF KING JESUS TO
RULE THIS EARTH:
PART III – THREE
EARTHLY SCENES SHOW YAHWEH JESUS AS THE
FAITHFUL ONE, THE
GRACIOUS ONE, AND THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE
Revelation 14:1-20
As taught by Dave
Lindstrom
BACKGROUND: The Apostle John divides
this section up into three scenes with the words “and I saw” (kai
eidon – Greek) used in verses 1, 6, and 14. After discussing Satan
(Rev. 12), the Antichrist, his rise to power and his persecution of
Christ’s saints (Rev. 13), John now turns to Yahweh’s assured
victory over all opposing forces of evil in this chapter.
I. Scene One – Yahweh Jesus (the
Lamb) will be victorious over evil and will faithfully bring His
saints through the difficulties of this world and into the promised
inheritance (Rev. 14:1-5).
A. Mount Zion can be found in the Old
Testament as being Israel, Jerusalem, or the Temple Mount. It is
the prophesied area on this earth where Yahweh Father sets up
Yahweh Jesus to rule and reign (Psalm 2:6, 48:1-14; Isa. 24:23; Joel
2:32; Obad. 17, 21; Mic. 4:1, 7; Zach. 14:10). It also can refer
to a heavenly mountain or city where Yahweh, the angels, and the
heavenly saints live right now (Hebrews 12:22) (verse 1a).
B. The 144,000 Jewish believers from
Rev. 7:2-8 which were sealed before the Day of Yahweh are shown on
Mt. Zion with Yahweh Jesus the Lamb (verse 1b).
1. The seal which they receive back
in Revelation 7:2-8 is revealed now as the Lamb’s name and
Father’s name written on their foreheads.
2. In contrast to this Yahweh seal on
the 144,000 is the previously mentioned Antichrist (Beast) mark
given to Satan and Antichrist worshippers during this time frame
in Revelation 13:16-18.
C. The scene pictures the 144,000
Jewish believers successfully making it through to the other side
of this horrendous, traumatic time of Satan’s anger and Yahweh’s
wrath with their testimony intact and morally blameless (verses 2-5).
2. These 144,000 male Jewish
believers will voluntarily abstain from sex and marriage because
of their commitment to Yahweh Jesus during this time. Even though
the marriage bed is undefiled according to Hebrews 13:4, there
are times when some believers are led to voluntarily not partake in
it for the Kingdom of God’s sake (Matt. 19:12; I Cor. 7:1, 32).
They were a firstfruit offering (aparche – Greek) for God and
the Lamb.
3. The 144,000 Jewish believers will
not be deceived by Satan’s and the Antichrist’s lies during
this time because they walk so close to the Lamb in true
discipleship (2 Thes. 2:7-12; Rev. 13:7-18).
THOUGHT: How is our
discipleship with Yahweh Jesus right now? Are we following Him and
offering ourselves to Him alone?
II. Scene Two – Yahweh’s grace is
seen during the Great Tribulation because He sends three angelic
messengers to bring the Gospel and warn the world of impending
judgment (Rev. 14:6-13).
A. The first angel of this scene is
flying in mid-heaven (evidently visible and able to be heard by
those on earth) giving out the Gospel (good news) to everyone on
the earth. He was “another angel” to differentiate from either
the mid-heaven voice of Rev. 8:13 or the last angel John talked
about which was Michael in Rev. 12:7. His message involved fearing
(reverencing) God, giving Him glory (involving respect and
repentance Rev. 11:13), and worship (belief and praise). This could
be Matthew’s whole world gospel found in Matt. 24:14 (verses 6, 7).
B. The second angel of the scene
prophesies the destruction of the Satanically influenced world
system (Babylon the Great) and specifically the Antichrist’s
capital city. This will be discussed in detail in Rev. 17:1 –
19:21 (verse 8).
C. The third angel of the scene warns
the people on the earth not to take the mark of the beast
(Antichrist) because all who do will face judgment and eternal
separation from Yahweh in hell (verses 9-11) (Rev. 20:11-15).
D. The saints in the midst of the
Great Tribulation are encouraged to endure and be faithful in order
to receive their full reward even if it involves death (vs 12, 13).
III. Scene Three – Yahweh Jesus is
the prophesied King and judge who will fulfill His word concerning
the harvest of this earth (Rev. 14:14-20).
A. Yahweh Jesus is both the coming
King and the coming Judge of this earth. He is identified as the
“Son of Man” coming on the “clouds of heaven” as King in
Daniel 7:13, 14. He is also identified as the coming judge in
Daniel 7:26, Joel 3:1-16, Matt. 13:30, and John
5:27-29. John identifies Jesus scripturally without naming Him as
the “golden crowned” King and the “sickle handed” Judge
(verse 14).
B. Earthly judgment throughout the
book of Revelation has come from the throne and temple of Yahweh in
heaven. The angel at the appropriate time gives the word from the
Father for Jesus to reap the “fully ripe” crop and He does His
part of the reaping in one swipe. This is the judgment symbolizing
the wheat harvest. Up until this time, Jesus has been letting
believers and unbelievers live together (Matt. 13:24-30). After
the Great Tribulation, Jesus will start the separation process
with the bowl judgments (Rev. 15:1 – 16:20) and the sharp sword
from His mouth (Rev. 19:15) (verses 15, 16).
C. After Jesus starts the judgment,
the angels take over (Matt. 13:30). They do the judgments
symbolizing the grape harvest. To harvest grapes, they need to be
trampled in a wine press (trough) to get the juice to flow out.
The end time judgment of this world is going to produce a massive
crop because so many people will still refuse to believe (vs
17-20) (Joel 3:1-16; Rev. 16:16, 19:17).
