In chapter fourteen, we are still in the period of pause between the trumpets and bowls of wrath. We are shown a panorama of the history of the battle of good and evil, the devil against God’s people. The chapter is also prophetic as Satan sets up the world for his final war to overthrow God’s throne. Satan’s plans are exposed, and we are shown a preview of his folly and destruction as God tears down Satan’s kingdom block by block.
Revelation 14
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Jesus is the Lamb, the sacrificed one. Now glorified. (Revelation 5:6) By its context, this scene takes place in heaven, not on earth. Jesus is in heaven with the Church. More evidence God lifted the Church above the flood as He did Noah.
The Lamb stands on Mount Zion, symbolic for the Son of David’s tabernacle, the Church. This shows His leadership and Lordship over us, the Church of the First Born. Standing is symbolic for unfinished work. Feet represent possession. When Jesus completed His redemptive work on earth, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19) The Lamb standing shows His Church is not yet complete. However, the time for her completion is at hand.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand redeemed from the earth.
Waters are symbolic for masses of humanity. All the voices in heaven spoke in agreement and in unison. Verse three tells us they sang praises to the Lord, playing harps. Harps are symbolic of praise.
No, we won’t be spending eternity flying all over heaven with wings and playing harps. These are specific harpists assigned the privilege of worshiping before the throne with their instruments.
The one hundred forty-four thousand sang a new song no one could learn except them. “I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.” Only the redeemed can experience this joy. Angels cannot; they don’t need redemption. Created without sin, they have no free will. Unsaved, ungodly mankind, born in sin, cannot know it. They have not accepted redemption. Only people who use their free will to choose Christ and be reborn, can experience this joy of salvation.
4 These are the ones who are not defiled by women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and the Lamb. 5 And in their mouths was no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The singers are those not defiled by women. An interesting statement; but what does this mean? Since the one hundred forty-four thousand are identified in chapter seven as the whole Church, this reference is symbolic, referring to the purity of the spotless Bride of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2 says; For I am jealous for you with Godly jealousy. I betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (Read 2 Corinthians 11:1-4) We are betrothed to Jesus Christ the Bridegroom as chaste virgins, washed by the blood of the Lamb. Our robes are not defiled through intimacy with the Whore of Babylon. (Remember, robes are symbolic for righteousness.) Refer to Revelation 17:1-2 for a definition of Babylon.
These singers are the first fruits to God and the Lamb. The phrase translated first fruits is the Greek aparche, a combination of words meaning the beginning of sacrifice.
Romans 8:29, James 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
No guile or falsehoods exist in the mouths of these singers. Guile is the Greek dolos: a trick, wile, craft, deceit, guile, subtlety, lies, falsehoods. (2 Timothy 3:1-7) Why are we without fault? We walk in the light with Jesus and are washed in the blood of the Lamb. 1 John 1:7-9
Proclamations of the Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement is come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
The everlasting gospel. In Mark 13:10 Jesus told us before the end times, “. . . The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” Here is the fulfillment of this verse. The gospel will be preached to all the earth. The ungodly, the scoffers and nonbelievers, will be without excuse when judgement falls. No one will be able to say to the Righteous Judge, “But God– not fair. I didn’t know!”
The hour of His judgement is come. You are without excuse. John has warned you.
Remember, chapters twelve through fourteen are a series of snapshots to better explain what is happening in the Church and the spirit. These events are not necessarily in chronological order. This first angel represents the testimony of the saints found in chapter eleven, verse three.
8 Then another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
Babylon will fall in chapter eighteen. She is symbolic for the humanistic and hedonistic systems of the world. Humanism is the worship of self; pride, ego, the fulfillment of fleshly lusts, greed and the desire for riches, and man over god. Babylon is a spirit existing throughout mankind’s dispensation. She showed up with Satan in the Garden of Eden.
This second angel announces the fall of the worldly systems to the iron rule of the Antichrist. Mankind will no longer worship themselves, grasp for money, popularity or sex. They will worship the beast.
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever; and they do not rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
The voice of the third angel echos the first angel, with a warning of condemnation for any who worship the beast. This is symbolic of the constant and effective preaching by the witnesses which causes them to be persecuted.
Verses ten and eleven paint a vivid picture of the punishment meted out in hell. The smoke of their torment will ascend forever. (Mark 9:42-48) Forever is a long time. They will not rest, day or night. Compare this verse to Revelation 21:23, and Matthew 22:13-14. The people of John’s time, especially Gentiles, recognized hell as a place where victims of the god Hades spent eternity toiling at hard labors in the underworld. For example, one might spend eternity rolling a huge stone up a hill but never reach the top. Or, locked in combat for eternity with an enemy soldier. The torments of Biblical Hell make the Greek underworld look like a Sunday School picnic. Matthew 11:28-29, Hebrews 3:11 (a quotation of Psalms 95:7-11)
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
In the midst of this, a gracious and loving Father offers comfort to those who are in the midst of persecution and martyrdom; those who will accept the everlasting gospel and be saved.