Revelation 14 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Rev 14:1-5

1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

A. Find Out:

1. Who was standing on Mount Zion? v.1
2. What sound was heard? v.2
3. What was being sung? v.3a
4. Who could sing it? v.3b
5. Who are the 144,000? v.4
6. What are they like? v.5

B. Think:

1. Where is this happening?
2. How many facts are there about who these people are?

C. Comment:

     From the confusion and chaos of the earth we are now given a vision of heaven, “before the throne” where Jesus, the lamb of God, stands before his Father. With him are 144,000 people. Who are they?

     They may be the same as those mentioned at the beginning of chapter 7 but it isn’t necessarily so. Everything in chapter 13 was symbolic and this may be a symbolic grouping. If they are not there are some difficulties. They are a limited group, they are men and they are completely blameless! So what is it saying?

     Whatever else it might be saying, there are two things that stand out. First, in sharp contrast to the previous chapter, there is peace and beauty in the heavenly place. The upsets of earth will not disturb the order and beauty of heaven. The world may be disturbed and upset but God is not! Second, it is as if this group is held up as a standard, a standard for Christians to aim for and a standard against which the rest of the world can be measured. The group have maintained a purity of life, and truth is constantly on their lips. Whatever else may be said about them, they challenge and provoke us, for because of this lifestyle, they have an intimacy with the Lamb and sing a new and precious song together.

D. Application:

1. We are called to holiness and purity of lifestyle with truth that is both inward and outwardly expressed.
2. The pure in heart are promised intimacy with God (Matthew 5:8)

Passage: Rev 14:6-13

6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.’

8 A second angel followed and said, ‘“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,” which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.’

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.’ 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’

‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.’

A. Find Out:

1. What did the first angel bring? v.6
2. What warning did he bring and what instruction give? v.7
3. What did the second angel bring? v.8
4. What warning did the third angel bring? v.9-11
5. What exhortation is indirectly given? v.12
6. What declaration was finally given? v.13

B. Think:

1. What are these angels basically doing?
2. What is quite clear about those who go the way of the world?
3. What is also clear about the Christians?

C. Comment:

     These three angels essentially proclaim the will of God. There is no question in the heavenlies as to the will of God. If we were a bit unsure in chapter 13 as to who was right and who was wrong, that has been completely removed by these three angels!

     First comes the gospel, the good news that God loves us and has made a way through the work of His Son for us to be reconciled to Him. The offer of sonship is the first thing that comes to the earth.

    Second comes the declaration that Babylon has fallen. We will see the detail of this in subsequent chapters but for now may it be sufficient to see than the humanistic, materialistic, godless system of humanity ruling its own affairs is going to be brought down, it is the declared will of God so it will happen.

    Finally comes the clear declaration about the end of anyone who follows the beast and worships and obeys him. Whatever or whoever the best is he is anti-God and anyone who follows him is also anti-God and therefore destined for torment. What is clear again is that for Christians in this phase of history it is probably going to mean martyrdom. It is going to need all the grace of God to cope with facing death in this way.

D. Application:

1. Be clear! The way of the world is destined for destruction.
2. In these final times Christians are called to be faithful and persevere even to the point of death. Can we trust Him.

Passage: Rev 14:14-20

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, ‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.’ 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

A. Find Out:

1. Who did John next see and how was he described? v.14
2. What was he instructed to do? v.15,16
3. Who then appeared? v.17
4. What was he instructed to do? v.18
5. Where were the grapes thrown? v.19
6. With what consequence? v.20

B. Think:

1. Read Daniel 7:13,14 & Matthew 8:20 Who first harvests?
2. What is the difference between the two harvests?

C. Comment:

     In this chapter we have seen the serenity of heaven, the declaration of the will of God from heaven and now we see an overview of what is to happen to the earth: there will be two harvests.

     The first harvest is carried out by Jesus, the Son of Man seen prophetically in the Old Testament, and self-acclaimed in the New. He works in accordance with the instructions given from within the temple where the presence of God reigns, to perform His Father’s will, (see Matthew 24:36) and he takes from the earth the Christians (see Matthew 24:40,41). [NB. Some commentators maintain this first harvest is for destruction but as there is no mention of that it is suggested that such an interpretation is presumptuous. That the Lord himself is the harvester suggests he collects in His own dear ones]

     The second harvest which follows takes people for the divine anger. These are unbelievers who have been given warning after warning, chance after chance, and have yet refused to come to God. Of the outcome of this harvesting there is no question, for the picture is of an awful destruction. We must always remember that the Gospel involves both good AND bad news. It is wonderfully good news first of all for all who will receive it, but bad news for those who reject it.

D. Application:

1. Christians only depart this earth when their Lord decrees it!
2. Non-Christians should fear their eternal future, and repent.