REVELATION LESSON 30

    We will begin this lesson with Revelation 14:1 "And I looked, and,
lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty
[and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their
foreheads."

    The most important thing to notice about this 144,000 here, is
 that the name in their foreheads was the name of the "...Father...",
 not Jesus Christ. This just strenghthens the argument that these are
 physical Israel, not spiritual Israel. All believers bear the name of
 Christ. We are Christians. We Christians are spiritual Israel.

    Note, too, that this group (in total contrast to the mark of the
beast placed on the forehead of the lost), has the mark of the Father
on their foreheads. This Lamb of course is Jesus. Mount Sion is
symbolic of the church and also symbolizes Jerusalem, the city of God.

    Revelation 14:2 "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the
voice of harpers harping with their harps:"
    Revelation 14:3 "And they sung as it were a new song before the
throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could
learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which
were redeemed from the earth."

    This scene changes location from V-1. In V-1, we see Jesus (Lamb)
with the 144,000 physical Israel. Here, we see and hear, from heaven,
from this unbelievably large group who are around the throne.  Their
voices together were so strong that they sounded like a great thunder.

    These "...harpers with their harps..." are the Christians in
heaven.  These Christians are already singing this new redemption
song, and the 144,000 will join them as they are redeemed from the
earth.  The 144,000 will learn this song and join in thanks for their
redemption from the earth. The earthly, who have rejected the Lord,
will not be able to sing this song. It is a song of the redeemed.

    Revelation 14:4 "These are they which were not defiled with women;
for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being]
the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

    This Scripture above is not to be taken literally. This is
speaking of all believers who have not committed spiritual adultery.
Just as the Scripture does not mean women only when it says the Lord
is coming back for a chaste virgin.  Both of these are spiritual
statements.  All believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ.
These are the same people spoken of here in V-4.

    II Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present
[you as] a chaste virgin to Christ." You see here also, that the
"...chaste virgin..." just means men and women believers in the Lord
Jesus who have not wandered off and worshipped other gods.

    These "...firstfruits..." here are those who have never left their
first love. They have been true to the Lord. The redeemed. These
"...firstfruits..." are the natural vine (this 144,000), we Christians
are the grafted in vine into the tree.

    Revelation 14:5 "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they
are without fault before the throne of God."

    These did not talk out of both sides of their mouth at once.  They
spoke truth, not watered down.  They did not waver in their decision
to follow Jesus.  Their face was set toward heaven and they did not
look back.

    Revelation 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people,"
    Revelation 14:7 "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters."

    As I have said so many times before, Revelation is not written in
consecutive order. I do believe there will be a voice going throughout
the land proclaiming the second coming of Christ, just as there was a
voice (John the Baptist) proclaiming His first arrival as Christ. The
people will be warned.  They will be without excuse. God will have a
herald going forth proclaiming truth.  Everyone will have their
opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord.

    This message that is brought will be final in its nature. It will
be good news (gospel), but it will also be a last warning.  This is a
final warning to turn from the world to the Creator of it all. "The
Lord is coming", will be the cry. This message will be worldwide.
Remember an angel is a ministering spirit. These will be evangelists.
One more time I say this is the final warning that judgement is about
to fall. Jesus is Creator God.

    Revelation 14:8 "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon
is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

    This "...Babylon..." that "...is fallen..." here is not a literal
city. This is the world system that opposed the church and the
Christians. This evil world system did all in her power to stop
Christianity. This power and the one causing small and great to
receive the mark could be one and the same.  At any rate, it has
fallen here. "...Babylon..." is symbolic of the world and its evil
system.  Babylon, in the physical is Iraq.

    Note again here, that just before this world system folds, the
gospel will be preached unto all nations, as we read above and in
Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come." Here, in this, God has said, this is enough, and the World and
it's evil followers fall. This fornication is spiritual adultery, not
physical.

    Revelation 14:9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive
[his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,"
    Revelation 14:10 "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his
indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"

    We studied before about the mark of the beast. The number put in
your forehead or right hand seals the person receiving it as belonging
to the beast.  Just as God the Father's name is on the 144,000 and
Jesus Christ's name is on the Christians, these who take the mark of
the beast are sealed with the devil's number which is 666. The
antichrist system is a counterfeit of the trinity of God. It consists
of the antichrist, beast, and false prophet. All are a personification
of Satan himself.

    Drinking this wine of the wrath of God can be seen to some extent
in the disease (AIDs) which has spread through the homosexual
community, the lesbian community, as well as the drug community.  It
is the wrath of God for the same sin. The "...fire and brimstone..."
here is the very same as that which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Just as the angels saw Sodom burn, they are a witness to this as well.
The Lamb (Jesus) is the Judge who speaks judgement. It not only will
be in His presence, but He will order this punishment as well.

    Revelation 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for
ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

    This "...smoke..." that comes up rises from the bottomless pit.
You see this "...torment..." is not just for a short time and is over.
This is FOREVER just as heaven is forever for the believers. This
"...torment..." is forever.  "...ascendeth..." means continually
ascends.

    This lack of  "...rest day nor night..." is in total contrast to
the peace forever the Christians possess.  This is very explicit again
about who will spend this time in hell. Those who receive the mark of
the beast have sealed their doom.

    Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are]
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

    These have kept the faith patiently.

    Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and
their works do follow them."

    These dead in Christ rest in peace until they receive their
reward.  These are blessed in that they have run the race successfully
and are now just waiting peacefully to receive the rewards of their
labour.

    Revelation 14:14 "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon
the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a
golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle."

    This "...cloud..." is symbolic for the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.  Just as He went away on a cloud, He returned the same way.
John saw Him here in the form of man. This "...crown..." shows His
authority. The fact that it is "...golden..." has to do with
Godliness. This "...sharp sickle..." just shows that Jesus is ready to
harvest the wheat.

    Revelation 14:15 "And another angel came out of the temple, crying
with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle,
and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of
the earth is ripe."

    We see here a message from God the Father (who alone keeps the
time) sending Jesus a notice by this angel that the time is ready to
harvest.

    I have mentioned it before, but this reminds me of the Jewish
father who tells the groom the dwelling place is ready for the bride.
Jesus is the groom. He is about to separate His bride from the world.
Now is the time to separate the wheat from the tares.

    Revelation 14:16 "And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his
sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped."
    Revelation 14:17 "And another angel came out of the temple which
is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle."
    Revelation 14:18 "And another angel came out from the altar, which
 had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the
 sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the
 clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe."

    All three verses above just show that the time is right and the
Judge of all the earth is to harvest the good and the bad. In V-16 it
probably alludes to those saved. The harvesting of the grapes in V-18
probably indicate those who are lost. At any rate, those on the earth
have run out of time.

    Revelation 14:19 "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the
great winepress of the wrath of God."
    Revelation 14:20 "And the winepress was trodden without the city,
and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by
the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs."
    This just shows the terribleness of the punishment of the unsaved.
This could be by a tremendous war or just like Sodom and Gomorrah. It
was directly from God. At any rate, it is terrible.

    Extra scriptures to read and study: 2 Chronicles 21:11, Jeremiah
3:9, Numbers 18:12, Psalms 15:1-2, 1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 9:14, and
Daniel 4:30.

    Memorize 2 Corinthians 11:2, and Revelation 14:13.













































                        Revelation Questions  30

1.  What stood on Mount Sion?
2.  Who was with Him?
3.  Whose name was on their head?
4.  Who are these 144,000?
5.  Whose name do the believers bear?
6.  What two places were the mark of the beast put?
7.  What is mount Sion symbolic of?
8.  This voice heard from heaven was like what?
9.  Who were the harpers symbolic of?
10. They sang before what?
11. Why can the angels not sing this song?
12. Does V-4 literally mean they never married?  Explain.
13. Who were the firstfruits?
14. Is this chaste virgin that Jesus comes back for all female?
15. In V-6, who had the everlasting gospel?
16. Who was this gospel sent to?
17. Who did this angel say worship?
18. This message that is brought will --------- in it's nature.
19. What is Babylon symbolic of?
20. Where in Matthew are we promised that just before the end comes
    the gospel will be preached?
21. What kind of fornication is mentioned in V-8?
22. This torment in V-10 is in front of whom ?
23. Whose name were the 144,000 sealed with?
24. Who are the lost sealed by?
25. Who is the Judge of all?
26. What follows the Blessed of the Lord?
27. In V-16, what makes us realize that Jesus won?
28. Why did He have the sharp sickle ?
29. What was harvesting the grapes symbolic of?
30. What besides the sickle did the angel bring?
31. Write 2 Corinthians 11:2.
32. Write Revelation 14:13.
33. Give your opinion of Babylon the great.