The Worshippers of the Beast

["Click here for scripure"]

The Lamb on Mt. Zion

 ["Click here for Revelation 14:1-5"]

In these 7 visions we will see the worshippers of Christ, the proclamation of the Gospel, the proclamation of the fall of Satan's Kingdom, the proclamation of the fate of all who worship the Devil, the heavenly benediction, the harvest of the saved and finally, the judgment of the lost. We believe that all of this will occur during the time of Satan's Kingdom. Here John sees a "Lamb" standing on Mt. Zion. This is the first pleasing vision John has had in a long while. We see here, Christ with His Church in the midst of all its troubles. His appears as the Lamb of God to secure and govern His Church.

Notice the number of the believers, 144,000. Earlier in chapter 7, we saw a similar number which indicated 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Some do not believe that these are the same people but rather a fixed, foreknown and chosen number of people, sealed from the beginning with no one loss in spite of all the tribulations that they had endured.

Notice how they were distinguished. They had the name of God written upon their foreheads. This means as it did with the mark of the Beast, open profession and service to Jesus Christ. This 144,000 are standing with Christ on Mt. Zion while up in heaven a new song is being sung before the throne of God. It appears that only the original 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth could learn the song. This gives some credence to the belief that there are two groups of 144,000, the first group being particularly blessed thus their phrases were particular to them. These are those who came out of the Dispensation of Grace.

They are here described as "virgins", not because of their chastity, but because they had remained true to Christ and had not received the "mark of the Beast". They had followed Christ regardless of the tribulations.

Notice how they were acquired. They were "purchased" or "redeemed", being the "first fruits" of God's plan of salvation. I wonder if we realize how fortunate we are to be "like" this elite group.....

  1. Redeemed.
  2. First fruits.
  3. Chosen.
  4. Set aside.
  5. Distinguished from others.
  6. Partakers of Grace.
  7. Without guilt.
  8. Without fault.

I like what Matthew Henry has to say about this, "And how did we get that way, our human infirmities were freely pardoned by Christ."

Certainly this will be a most happy reunion, rejoicing in the Lord and glorified by His Grace and presence with us

This vision is largely accepted as a view of the triumph of the Saints after the second coming of Christ and during the time of the Dragon's Kingdom.

Angelic Admonition

["Click here for Revelation 14:6-12"]

Here an Angel is sent to preach the Gospel. John calls it the "everlasting Gospel". Notice it is fit work for an Angel containing dignity and truth, and all this treasure we have in our own hands.

Notice the effort of the Angel. The offer of the Gospel was made to every people, tongue and nation. The Gospel is the means by which people come to fear God as well as to know Him. At a time when heresies will plague the earth, the preaching of the Gospel truth will turn people away from them and false teachings.

Then a second Angel follows the first and prophesies the fall of Satan's Kingdom. This God has foreordained. The size and power of "Babylon" only makes the fall more awesome. The wickedness of Babylon, affecting the whole world, will make her fall all the more just.

Then a third Angel follows the other two. This Angel is to proclaim the fate of all who worship the Beast. Those who continue in disobedience shall experience the wrath of God. The main sin that seems to be condemned here is idolatry. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives is an idol, and shall be punished by everlasting separation from God. This will be the fate of those who bear the mark of the Beast.

The Son of Man and the Harvest

["Click here for Revelation 14:13-20"]

This vision is of great importance. Notice this about the "benediction".

  1. It came down from heaven. Thus it has great truth and authority.
  2. It is to be preserved and published in writing so that people of all generations will have access to it.
  3. It shows the "blessedness" of all Saints, in life, in death and in heaven. Who are these Saints? Those who die "in the Lord", either in the cause of Christ or in a state of union with Him.
  4. It shows what their reward will be.
    1. Blessed.
    2. Free from sin.
    3. Free from temptation.
    4. Free from sorrow.
    5. Free From persecution.
    6. Free to bring their "works" with them. Notice Their works do not get them into heaven, nor are they evidence of their worthiness. Works are not the purchase price for salvation, but they do follow the Saints into heaven as evidence of having lived and died in the Lord.
  5. It shows the happiness after death. They had lived to see the Church return to its rightful place and too see the Anti-christ punished.

Many great men of God have prayed for just such a thing. Simeon prayed to live to see the coming of the Messiah, which he did. Like the Saints here, his heart was now at peace for he has seem "God's salvation".

Here John sees the "judgment" of the saved represented as a "harvest". All through the ministry of Jesus, the harvest was synonymous with judgment. It signifies the "gathering in", in this case, the Saints. Note the "Lord of the Harvest" is the Christ. His chariot is a white cloud and on His head is a golden crown. In His hand is the "instrument" of the Harvest, a sharp sickle, which He used to "reap" the earth, the gathering in of the Saints.

Notice that another Angel gives the announcement of the time for the harvest. "Put in your sickle for the hour to reap has come." Destruction and reward are according to God's timetable. The lives of Saints are as Paul said, in the hands of God.

Here John sees the judgment of the lost represented as the harvest of the grapes. The grapes are harvested and put into a wine press. Notice the time was right, the grapes were "ripe". Again, all according to God's timetable.

The Lost are the subject of God's wrath symbolized as a wine press. Their destruction was outside the city. The lost have no part in the city of God. The destruction was great. The blood of the judgment ran up to the horses' bridles for 1,600 stadia or 180 miles. Some believe this is better-translated 1,600 nations. This symbolic figure is the length of the Holy Land or the number of nations under God's judgment, regardless, we see that judgment will come upon the lost.

This ends The Seven Visions of the Worshippers of the Lamb and the Worshippers of the Beast.


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