REVELATION: 14 THE HARVEST MESSAGE

Revelation 13 closes with the entire world apparently worshipping the beast. But in Revelation 14:1–5, John depicts for us the experience of the people who will not succumb to the beast. In Revelation 13 they are described as those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life and who do not follow the beast. (See Revelation 13:8.)

Revelation 14:6–12 is a new scene that symbolically depicts three messages, represented as being given by angels that go to the whole world before and during the time of the mark of the beast. In Revelation 14:14 John says, “I looked,” and a new scene is presented, dealing with the harvest of the two classes of people developed by the message of the three angels. Then, in Revelation 15, a scene in heaven is introduced that leads to the pouring out of the seven last plagues. We can see that the setting for the message of Revelation 14 is now, and is truth for our time.

In contrast to the worshippers of the beast, John (in the first verses of chapter 14) describes a group of people who gain complete victory over the beast and his image. John is looking past the crisis time of the end and sees the victors in heaven, believers who, by faith, overcame the beast and his mark as they maintained their fidelity to God. John describes the characteristics that gave them the victor’s reward.

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.

“A Lamb stood on the mount Sion”

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. (Psalm 74:2)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. (Hebrews 12:22)

Mount Zion is a symbol of the dwelling place of God. It as well represents the new covenant experience of dwelling with God by faith. It is only those who walk with God by faith now who will dwell in heaven. (See Ephesians 2:4–6; Hebrews 12:22–24.)

“With him an hundred forty and four thousand”

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:14–15)

The 144,000 are the people of God in the last days. They have overcome the devil and the combined forces of the apostate worldwide beast system. In light of their special experience of faith and fidelity, they are given special privileges and a unique place in the kingdom of God. Therefore, the prophet sees them “with Him,” the Lamb of God.

“Having his Father’s name written in their foreheads”

And thou [Moses] shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, holiness to the Lord. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead. (Exodus 28:36–38)

And the Lord said unto him [the angel], Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. (Ezekiel 9:4)

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:2–4)

While the worshippers of the beast are marked in their hands or foreheads, God’s special people who remain faithful to Him have His name or character written into their hearts and minds. Because of that they remain true to Him, even in the midst of global apostasy. John, in vision, having seen the rise of the beast and a global system or mark enforced, sees another class—those who remain faithful to God during this time. The 144,000 are those who follow the Lamb of God rather than the lamb-like beast and the global system of the beast power. They are alive at the second coming of Jesus, to be translated, as was Elijah, without seeing death.

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.

John, in vision, hears a glorious sound of a voice like water and thunder. Then he discerns more distinctly that this is a sound of instruments and voices of praise.

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.

“And they sung as it were a new song before the throne”

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. (Psalm 96:1–3; compare with Revelation 14:6.)

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. (Psalm 96:4–5, 7, 10; compare with Revelation 14:7.)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Psalm 96:9, 13; compare with Revelation 18:1–4, 14:12.)

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. … For he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98:1–3, 9; compare with Revelation 14:6–7, 12.)

Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. (Psalm 149:1, 4–5)

And they [who are victorious over the beast] sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:3)

These songs in the book of Psalms seem to parallel the messages of Revelation 14 and the experience of God’s people who give these final messages. The new song of the 144,000 is a song of deliverance and a song of the experiences they passed through as they learned to follow “the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” Experiences endured and victories gained are a theme for many songs in the Old Testament.

Because this song is one of an experience passed through, it is the 144,000’s special song. While others can no doubt learn the words, none other than the 144,000 will have experienced it, which is why it is said, “And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” The 144,000 may fulfill the role of the priests who were specially assigned to lead out in worship in song. (See 1 Chronicles 6:31–32.)

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.

“These are they which were not defiled with women”

Thus were they [apostate Israel] defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. (Psalm 106:39)

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5)

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. (Isaiah 59:3)

Thus she [Aholah, representing Samaria] committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself. (Ezekiel 23:7)

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Hebrews 12:15)

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man. (Matthew 15:19–20)

Sin and iniquity and false worship defile, and the women or religions of falsehood will lead us into defilement as we become separated from the true God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When all nations drink of the cup of falsehood from the hand of Babylon, the great whore, the 144,000 are those who resist and are not defiled by the deception of the religions that speak “as unclean spirits like frogs,” which are “the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:13–14).

“For they are virgins”

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. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Isaiah 62:5)

Revelation 14:4 is not referring to martial status or limiting the 144,000 to men of Israelite decent. It speaks symbolically of those who have not been corrupted in compromising with the whoredoms of worldly alliances, philosophy, and religious apostasy. These have refused to drink of Babylon’s cup of abominations and errors. This group stands alone as distinct against the world and the worshippers of the beast. They are the seed of the pure woman of Revelation 12, the true remnant who keep God’s commandments. (See Revelation 12:17.)

“Follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth”

To him [the true Shepherd] the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:3–5)

And when he [Jesus] had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. (Philippians 1:29)

The 144,000 follow the Lamb at the same time that most of the world is following the beast. Learning to follow Christ in our daily lives will enable us to follow Him even in the midst of global darkness and apostasy. We should understand the experiences recorded in the beginning verses of Revelation 14 are not only for some special group in the future. No not at all, rather the character of the 144,000 is to be your experience as well. Each one of us has the privilege to “press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward” (Philippians 3:14 AMP).

“Were redeemed from among men”

And not only they [the whole creation], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

… Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13–14)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

“Being the firstfruits unto God”

Firstfruits—a beginning of sacrifice1

Israel was holiness [something set apart from ordinary purposes, dedicated] to the Lord, the firstfruits of His harvest [of which no stranger was allowed to partake]; all who ate of it [injuring Israel] offended and became guilty; evil came upon them, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:3 AMP)

And these all [the faithful], having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39–40)

The 144,000 experience redemption as the saved throughout all ages have, by the blood of Jesus Christ. They have perfected Christian character, having received the seal of God, having the Father’s name in their foreheads. This group represents the firstfruits of the harvest of the earth, when God shall redeem His people, for this group has never tasted death. Thus, the expression firstfruits refers to quality. Of all those redeemed from the earth, these are the first in quality because of the unique trials and experiences they have passed through. They have remained faithful to God in the midst of a global system of false religion, apostasy and persecution.

Revelation 14:5

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

“In their mouth was found no guile”

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. (Zephaniah 3:13)

But [we apostles] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (Psalm 32:2)

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. (1 Peter 2:21–22)

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (1 Peter 3:10)

In life and word, the 144,000 are without guile, for their hearts have been made right “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). In a world of religious deception promoted by the false religions of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet, the 144,000 maintain their fidelity to God and His truth.

To be without guile is to be free of deceit in all its forms. This includes our treatment of others, our thoughts, and what we take into our mind. We cannot be without guile in our lives, if we allow the media and standards of society to mold our thoughts and thinking.

To be an overcomer as the 144,000, will require that we “love the Lord … with all [our] heart, and with all [our] soul, and with all [our] strength, and with all [our] mind” (Mark 12:30). “Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy” (Ephesians 4:23–24 TEV).

“They are without fault before the throne of God”

Unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 24)

He [God the Father] hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. (Luke 23:4)

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. (Daniel 6:4)

God has promised to keep us and make us faultless. Christ, our example, was without fault. The prophet Daniel was found blameless even by the wicked rulers of his day. So too the 144,000 will be without fault, blameless before the Lord and before the world. They will stand complete in Christ, vindicating the Father, standing as witnesses to His truth.

This group is not superhuman. They are in actuality the weakest of the weak. In that weakness, and in the midst of the worldwide rebellion against God, they have learned the lesson that “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10.) They have laid hold of the promise: “He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8 AMP).

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.

Angel—(to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication, a pastor2

“Another angel”

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20. The angels are messengers.)

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. (Revelation 7:2)

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Revelation 8:3. Christ, the angel messenger who intercedes for us.)

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. (Revelation 10:1. Christ, the angel messenger, opens the sealed portions of the book of Daniel and declares that prophetic time is at an end.)

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. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:15, 17)

Angels in Revelation represent celestial beings that minister to humanity. At times, angel refers to Jesus, the messenger of heaven. The term angel is also used to represent God’s people, who ultimately receive and bear heaven’s message. The three angels of Revelation 14 are humans bearing God’s final message of the everlasting gospel to mankind. “Then said Jesus to them [the disciples] again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you” (John 20:21).

“The everlasting gospel”

Everlasting—perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)3

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. For this is why the good news (the Gospel) was preached [in their life time] even to the dead. (1 Peter 3:18–20; 4:6 AMP. The gospel was preached to the people dead in trespasses and sins before the flood.)

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2. The gospel was preached in the days of Paul and Moses.)

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:6, 8)

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. (Matthew 24:14. The gospel is to be proclaimed to all the world.)

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (Revelation 18:1. The whole earth will be lightened by the last gospel message.)

“Having the everlasting gospel to preach”

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14. The result of the gospel is restoration to the character of God.)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luke 4:18. The gospel is deliverance from sin’s condemnation, empowering us to live new lives as we are set at liberty.)
 
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 AMP)

To open their [the Gentiles’] eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me [Jesus]. (Acts 26:18)

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:3–5)

The gospel is the good news of salvation by grace through faith. We are to believe and entrust ourselves in full confidence to the mercy and love of God, which leads to the fruit of obedience and commitment to Him. This transformation is not of our own doing, but is the drawing of love and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Our part is only to accept the love of God that becomes the motivating power of our lives. The gospel, or good news, is the center of these last messages to planet earth. The gospel, the power of God unto salvation, is the power all will experience who gain the victory over the beast.

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.

“Fear God”

The fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and His laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun everything that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience.4

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33)

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)

And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? (Deuteronomy 10:12–13)

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:26–27)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The fear of man, manifested by obedience to his commandments and doctrines above the Word of God, is pervasive in religion of all kinds. We are more inclined to follow churches and leaders than the true Word of God. The gospel experienced makes Christ not only our Savior, but also our Lord and King. Thus we serve and obey Him alone in matters of truth and conscience. We fear or love and reverence God because our hearts have been changed by the power of the redeeming love of Christ. His gospel leads to true heart service for God.
 
Those who are accustomed to fear and reverence and obey men or their own way, will reject, ignore or change the gospel. The message of God warns mankind to stop putting men and religion in the place of God, giving obedience and respect in matters of worship and religion to mere men. “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). If we do not fear God, we will obey and follow the beast. Day by day we are either preparing to worship the beast or learning to fear and reverence God.

“Give glory to him”

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. (Psalm 115:1)

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 AMP)

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:8)

To give glory to God is to reveal heaven’s principles in our own lives as changed by the power of the everlasting gospel. In living by faith, obedient to the will and Word of God, we make heaven’s principles known, thus making God known as we live lives that bring glory and honor to Him.

In whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we glorify them. This is the purpose of our creation, for we read: “Every one that is called by My name: … I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7).

Some might think living for God’s glory rather than seeking our own way is unfair; it is like being a slave or a servant working for the benefit of another. No, my friend. To give glory to God is the result of experiencing His life-changing love as found in the gospel. It is not a matter of having to give God glory; we want to do so. The service of love, God’s love awakened in us and experienced by us, causes us to love God in return, for “we love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The call to give God glory also contains a warning, for mankind often glorifies himself, his might, power, and accomplishments. We glory in our pride and sin. Yet God’s Word declares, “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth” (James 3:14).

What is the result of living this lie in contrast to living for and by the truth of God? “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:19). The everlasting gospel is the only cure for the false glory of mankind, which can only end in death. Therefore, the call to give glory to God is the call to experience our true destiny and the only way to eternal life.

“Worship him who made heaven and earth”

Worship is defined as “the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to Him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.”5

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:6, 9)

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself. (Isaiah 44:24)

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6)

We are called to reverence and worship God, for He is the Creator. As such, He should be given supreme honor and respect. This is the direct result of knowing Christ as our Savior from sin, for He who saves is also He who creates. We can only worship God aright so far as we have experienced His redeeming love. To reject, ignore, or change the gospel is to have a warped view of God, making it impossible to truly worship Him.

The message to “worship Him who made” is a warning to the world, which has made for itself other gods before the true Creator God, “for great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens” (1 Chronicles 16:25–26).

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:1–3)

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11)

Within this call to worship God in Revelation 14:7 is a call to recognize Him as Creator. Part of that recognition is found in remembering His memorial of creation, the seventh-day Sabbath.

This memorial remains to this day as a sign of sanctification, of rest from sin, and of deliverance from the bondage of sin and slavery typified in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The Sabbath is a weekly memorial of our heartfelt dependence on God and our recognition of Him as Savior and Lord of our lives.
 
In a world of religion that obeys man more than God, and in a human race that gives more glory to itself than to God, God declares that His hour of judgment has come and that we shall be judged based upon our acceptance or rejection of the everlasting gospel. The fruit of that gospel is to worship God alone as Creator, in spirit and in truth. Part of that recognition is a call to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Why? Because we love, fear, and respect the Creator.

As we partake of the everlasting gospel, the divine Spirit will renew us. This spiritual renewal will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all of God’s requirements. This is true worship.

Redemption and creation linked

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. … For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. (Colossians 1:13–14, 16 AMP)

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. (Ezekiel 20:12)

The work of salvation is a type of creation, a re-creation and renewal of our spiritual nature. The Sabbath is to be a sign or memorial of belief in God as the true Creator and our faith in Him as the Savior and Sanctifier of our lives.

The first angels’ message calls mankind to “fear God, and give glory to Him” (Revelation 14:7) and to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. To rightly fear God and give Him glory, we must obey His law. The Bible declares, “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Without a heart change that makes us willing to obey His commandments, no worship can be pleasing to God. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

The call to mankind to worship God is based upon the fact that He is the Creator and to Him all created beings owe their existence. Throughout the Bible, when God’s claim to reverence and worship above the many gods and lords of the heathen is presented, the evidence of His creative power is cited. “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5). “To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things. … Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it … I am the Lord; and there is none else” (Isaiah 40:25–26; 45:18).

The psalmist declared, “Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. … O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 100:3; 95:6). The inhabitants of heaven declare, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things” (Revelation 4:11).

In Revelation 14, men are called upon to worship the Creator. As a result of this message there are people who, by the faith of Jesus, keep the commandments of God. (See Revelation 14:12.) One of these commandments points directly to God as the Creator. The fourth precept declares, “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:10–11). Of His holy day, the Lord says it is “a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20).

The Sabbath, as the memorial of creation and the sign of redemption and sanctification, keeps before us the true reason worship is due to God and why He alone is our righteousness: because He is the Creator and Savior, and we are His creatures, dependent upon Him for this life and for eternal life. The true basis of divine worship is found in the distinction between the Creator and His creatures. For these reasons the last judgment message to the planet before the harvest is the call to worship Him who made the earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters.

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.

“Babylon is fallen, is fallen”

Who or what is Babylon? Babylon was an ancient kingdom, one of the great empires of prophecy. The book of Genesis reveals that Nimrod became a great and mighty man, but he was rebellious against the Lord and he drew the people into cities after the flood. One of the cities he established was called Babel. After the flood, as men began to multiply in number, many still had hearts of rebellion against God. They determined to build a city and a name and a universal civilization. They began to build a tower in the vain hope that it would reach such a height that if a flood ever came again at least some could escape.

This effort cast doubt upon God’s promise to never again send a flood to destroy the earth. As God saw their spirit of rebellion and the determination to establish a kingdom of universal scope, He confused their language so they were unable to communicate with one another, effectively bringing to an end their plans. The people gathered under each language group and were scattered throughout the earth. This is why there are such similarities in the ancient cultures in regard to the worship systems they established, which were all separate from the true God.

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:8–10)

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1–9)

This confederacy was founded in rebellion. It was a kingdom established for self-exaltation, a civilization in which God was to have no rule or honor.

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. (Jeremiah 51:7–8)

As Babylon was in the past, so shall it be in the future, an influence for the corrupting of the nations through the wine of falsehood and outward splendor. Yet as Babylon fell anciently, Revelation reveals that the final global confederacy of false worship and apparent global peace and safety shall also fall. Why? The following Scriptures give us insight into the past and its parallels in the future.

Deluded by their idols

A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images and they are mad upon their idols. (Jeremiah 50:38)

Mad—to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate6

Modern Babylon is made up of religious institutions and a spirit that is carnal and not subject to God’s law. The spirit of Babylon is manifested by foolishly worshipping the idols of false religion. Babylon will boast and celebrate her victory in becoming the queen of the nations. However, just before the coming of Christ, her waters of support shall be dried up. (See Revelation 18:7; 16:12.) Though Babylon claims to lead people to God, Jesus declared, “Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).

Given to pleasure, trusting in wickedness and the multitude of sorceries and astrology

Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children. (Isaiah 47:8)

Pleasures—voluptuous7

Given to the enjoyments of luxury and pleasure; indulging to excess in sensual gratifications8

But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. (Isaiah 47:9)

They shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of the multitude of [your claims to] power given you by the assistance of evil spirits, in spite of the great abundance of your enchantments. (Isaiah 47:9 AMP)

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. (Isaiah 47:10)

In the book of Revelation, Babylon is a symbol, not of a literal kingdom of that name and in the same geographical region as ancient Babylon; rather, it is a representation of a worldwide religious system. This system will eventually incorporate the entire planet, its people, its political leaders, and global commerce. Babylon is a symbol that characterizes much of the spirit of rebellion against God found in ancient Babylon.

In Revelation 14 Babylon develops because of the rejection, distortion, and neglect of the everlasting gospel. As the truth of God is misinterpreted, people, churches, and nations become spiritually confused rather than truly fearing, loving and reverencing God. Babylon teaches the fear of man. This fear is manifested in religions, doctrines, and teachings that lead mankind to obey the commandments and doctrines of men more than God’s Word. Rather than giving glory to God, man gives glory to himself and to false views of God, thereby in essence making a god of their false ideas.

Because of the rejection of the everlasting gospel, the people of this world are bringing judgment upon themselves and separating themselves from the true God. In the midst of this global apostasy, God calls the people of this planet back to Himself, commanding the world to worship Him alone and not the false concepts of deity they cherish. It will be a global time of judgment as men are called to accountability. The decisions they make for or against God’s message of the three angels will determine their eternal destiny.

In light of the rejection of truth, Babylon stands distinct from the people of God who know and love Him, manifested by reverence and obedience and giving Him glory.

Babylon represents the people of this world and their religious systems, which stand aloof from the influence of God’s Spirit and truth, accepting instead a counterfeit. The second angel, without fear or favor, declares the fallen condition of the world and the apostate religions of men that they might repent and come back into harmony with God, being washed and cleansed by the true gospel, leading to a life of obedience and commitment.

Revelation 14:9–10

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. 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.

“If any man worship the beast”

What are the reasons people will follow the apostate religious powers of the world in direct contradiction to the warning and commands of God? The verses below reveal to us the thinking and actions that lead to this ultimately fatal step of worshipping the beast and his image.

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:8)

The works of our own hands refers to everything that is contradictory to God’s Word, from sacred statues, images, and icons to ideas and human opinions. It can be the things mankind makes, or possesses in which he puts confidence and attention in the place of loving and trusting the true God. In Isaiah’s day, just before the Babylonian captivity, the land was full of idols. And so it is today. Mankind’s idols are leading him away from the true God. This is why “all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

He answered and said unto them, well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:6–7, 9, 13)

Many of those who will worship the beast by giving deference, respect, and homage to it are believers in God, having a religious profession. Their worship is based on the commandments and doctrines of men rather than the truth of God, leading to an outward profession with the lips, but the heart and life are not under God’s guidance. Because of this, when the beast is in control, those who have accustomed themselves to a profession of godliness based on the doctrines of men will easily be swayed by a combination of circumstances prevailing in the world that give rise to the beast. These circumstances, with the apparent outward advantages to be gained, the deceptive miracles, and the threatened loss of economic privileges and life and liberty, will lead virtually all the world to follow the beast to one degree or another.

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)

The existence of God is a truth; the existence of sin and evil is also a truth, though an unpleasant one. Knowing this and many other spiritual truths, mankind turns them into a lie. Thus there are many gods and lords, and man believes he can be saved in his sin by his own works and by his own gods.

Thus mankind serves and worships “the creature” in the form of his own ideas rather than the true God. The ultimate lie that claims to be truth is the grand system of apostasy formulated by the beast of Roman Catholicism and the image of apostate Christianity, and joined at the end by the religions of the east, new age and mysticism, represented as the religions of the dragon. Most of mankind worships the many lords and gods we as created beings have conceived rather than the true God. This false worship prepares the world to eventually worship and follow the beast.

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law; And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me. (Jeremiah 16:11–12)

Israel, at the time Jeremiah wrote the above verse, was about to go into Babylonian captivity. Today the world is in a fallen condition as well, drunk on the falsehoods of spiritual Babylon. What led to Israel’s captivity and is leading the world today into a spiritual captivity that will give rise to the beast? Like Israel, mankind has forsaken God. We have walked after or served other gods. We are disobedient to the law and walk after the imagination of own hearts. Like ancient Israel, we refuse to hear God. And as Israel went into Babylonian captivity because of separation from God, so too will the world be deceived by mystery Babylon and worship the beast and his image.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. (1 Timothy 4:1)

A departure from or neglect of the true faith that is centered in the Word of God and upon Christ leaves a spiritual vacuum in the heart of man, a vacuum that must and will be filled. Mankind by nature worships—if not the true God, then a seducing spirit and the doctrines and teachings and religions that lead away from Him. The three unclean spirits coming out of the mouth of the dragon (the non-Christian religions) and out of the mouth of the beast (Catholicism) and out of the mouth of the false prophet (apostate, fallen Christianity) are the avenues through which the doctrines of devils come, which deceive the whole world, preparing the inhabitants of the world to war against God and His truth.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23)

It is said of spiritual Babylon, “By thy sorceries were all nations deceived” (Revelation 18:23). The rebellious heart of man, unwilling to give heed to the love and mercy of God as revealed in the everlasting gospel, continues in iniquity and idolatry. The ultimate reason for this continued rebellion is the rejection, neglect, or changing of the truth of God. This rebellion is the spirit of witchcraft, and Babylon will deceive the world by her spiritual sorceries.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:8–9)

To worship the beast is to follow or give deference to the papal system on issues of worship. To follow the image is to follow the papal likeness set up by apostate Christian America. The ultimate reason people follow or worship the systems of apostate religion is that they have accepted the false in place of the true. The everlasting gospel, understood and experienced, is the only means by which a man can stay clear of the wine of falsehood and not worship the beast and his image. This fidelity alone will develop a patient and consistent endurance that centers faith in Christ alone and leads us to fear God and keep His commandments. (See Revelation 14:12.)

 “Shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God”

Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. (Psalm 60:3. The wine is a symbol of suffering as people reeled under judgments.)

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. (Psalm 75:8. The wicked are to drink the wine of wrath.)

For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. (Jeremiah 25:15–16. The wine of fury is poured out because of disregard of the law of God.)

“Wrath of God”

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)
 
All the judgments upon men, before the close of the door of salvation, have been mingled with varying degrees of mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt. But in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy. The immensity of God’s long-suffering mercy will give way to justice as mercy is spurned and wrath is poured out.

When the seven last plagues are poured out, there will be no period of respite. The storm of God’s approaching wrath is gathering, and the only ones who shall escape are those who are sanctified through the truth. They shall be hid with Christ until the desolation passes. The worshippers of the beast have spurned the love of God for the commandments and doctrines of men, and God will give them up to the fate they have chosen. God’s true children during this time shall have a place of refuge.

“Without mixture”

Poured undiluted into the cup of His anger. (Revelation 14:10 AMP)

The earth was depraved and putrid in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power.) And God looked upon the world and saw how degenerate, debased, and vicious it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true direction. God said to Noah, I intend to make an end of all flesh, for through men the land is filled with violence: and behold, I will destroy them and the land. God destroyed (blotted out) every living thing that was upon the face of the earth. (Genesis 6:11–13, 7:23 AMP)

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (Matthew 24:37)

The great rebellion associated with the setting up of the beast system finds its parallel in the days just before the flood. That generation perished without mercy when they rejected the final call of repentance. So too the generation living when the mark shall be enforced will all perish without mercy if they reject the final call to repent. In essence, in the final controversy between truth and error, those who are lost, “wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me [God and His wisdom and salvation] love and court death” (Proverbs 8:36 AMP. Words in brackets added.)

“He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone”

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:12–14)

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

The expression “shall be tormented” (Revelation 14:10) carries us forward to the time when the wicked shall be judged and receive their eternal reward: shame and everlasting contempt. To the worshippers of the beast, this warning is applicable, as they have rejected the light of God’s love and truth to follow a lie.

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.

“The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. (Genesis 19:28)

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7)

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. (Psalm 37:20)

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. (Psalm 68:2)

The wicked sin more and more, therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. (Hosea 13:2–3)

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:38)

The destruction of the wicked is likened to smoke that vanishes. Thus it will be with the final annihilation of the wicked. Their lives are not prolonged throughout eternity in continual mental torment or burning. The consuming smoke rises up through the atmosphere into the infinite space above, as a perpetual desolation, but the wicked, body and soul, shall perish.

Revelation 14:12

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Here [comes in a call for] the steadfastness of the saints [the patience, the endurance of the people of God], those who [habitually] keep God’s commandments and [their] faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 AMP)

“Here is the patience of the saints”

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (Psalm 37:7–8)

We are to rest in God’s love and care and patiently wait on the Lord for His direction and providential dealings with us. We are not to become distracted by the wicked devices of men.
 
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:16–19)

Though hated by the world, friends, and family, yet maintaining patient endurance and fidelity to Christ and His truth, we can rest in the hope of eternal life.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope. (Romans 5:3–4)

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 1:3–4; 5:7)

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:10–11)

What is patience? It is the endurance of suffering. In fact, the root of the word patience means suffering. This is where we get our word patient, meaning someone in a hospital or otherwise suffering from disease or injury. In the midst of the beast system’s takeover of the planet, God’s people will undergo much tribulation and persecution. Like Noah, they will be ridiculed and mocked, and like Noah, they will be preachers of righteousness bearing a judgment message. This will be a time that tries men’s souls. Nevertheless, the admonition of God is to “fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. … Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

There is no trial or difficulty that cannot be met if we have the patient endurance that is gained by faith in Christ. This is the inspired prayer: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10–11). That is, we may be so strengthened by the glorious power by which Christ endured suffering that we may have all patience, even though the entire world is worshipping the beast.

“Here are they that keep the commandments of God”

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:2–3)

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:1)

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

In contrast to the worshippers of the beast, we find a group of people distinctly set apart and identified as those who keep the word of God’s counsel, the Bible, and the moral law. They have learned the truth of Proverbs 6:23. They have known the love of God spoken of in 1 John 5:3. They have learned to delight to do God’s will, for they can declare, “Thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8).

With hearts of love for God, the remnant have experienced by faith the new covenant, with obedience to God’s law as the outgrowth of having received of the Spirit, God having “put … [His] laws into their hearts, and in their minds” (Hebrews 10:16).

This is the remnant spoken of by John in Revelation 12:17, who bear the onslaught of Satan’s attacks. These are distinguished from Satan’s followers because “they keep the commandments of God” and bear a testimony to the word of righteousness and judgment.

By this group the final message—“The hour of His judgment has come”—is to be given to the world. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the three angels’ messages bear a living testimony to the world, in contrast to the implementation of the mark of the beast system. This message, under the power of the fourth angel of Revelation 18:1–4, constitutes the harvest message. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the coming of the Son of man. Noah bore a life-and-death message, the acceptance or rejection of which determined man’s eternal fate. Whether this message is accepted or rejected will determine the eternal destiny of all living.

“And have the faith of Jesus”

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:9)

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Romans 3:21–25, 31)

Before His departure Jesus asked, “When the Son of man cometh [the second time] shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Revelation 14:12 gives us the answer, that yes there would be a people who “have the faith of Jesus,” in contrast to the many who “depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

What is the faith of Jesus? It is not merely faith in Jesus, as some translations have put it. It is that and more. In the setting of chapter 14, it means that these last-day believers exercise the same faith as Christ did to endure rejection and persecution. The remnant like Christ will be accounted as being opposed to the established order, for the remnant will stand faithful to God against the worldwide beast system. Like Christ, whose faith they have laid hold of in abundant measure, they walk not by sight, but by faith. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7.) Additionally, their belief system is composed of the same truths that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:20), rather than accepting “for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).

Especially at this time, the remnant must “not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mathew 4:4). By faith alone, they will be victors.

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.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth”

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. (Ecclesiastes 4:1–2)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. (Isaiah 57:1–2)

In light of the tremendous pressure upon God’s faithful remnant to conform to the norms of the world, to follow the beast, and to receive his mark, the prophet declares, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth” (Revelation 14:13). They are assured of their reward, having been faithful even unto death. The living too will be blessed with a special outpouring of God’s Spirit.

At the time in earth’s history when all the messages of Revelation 14 come to a head, it will be a blessing to die in the Lord, not compromising principle or truth and “not accepting deliverance [from persecution]; that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). To live or die at this time is to live for Christ. In death or life, victory for the saints is to be empowered with the “faith of Jesus.”

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.

“Upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man”

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Daniel 7:13)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27)

John sees a depiction in symbols of the harvest of the righteous and the wicked—the two classes developed by the messages of Revelation 14. John sees Jesus in the midst of clouds. Christ on the cloud and no longer in the sanctuary as mediator and priest, represents His second coming is near at hand, for “He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). The “Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

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.

“The harvest of the earth is ripe”

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mark 4:26–29)

The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:39–43)

The harvest represents a time when all have made their choices and the eternal destiny of all is determined for life or death. Now Christ can come and reward all according to their works. The harvest of the grain and grapes represents two classes of people: the saved and the lost.

Revelation 14:16

And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

Verses fourteen to sixteen describe the reaping of the righteous ones who have received the three angels’ messages and have been sanctified by the everlasting gospel and the faith of Jesus. Since the scenes depicted here take place in heaven, this would indicate that Christ has completed His work as High Priest, for He is not in the temple.

Revelation 14:17–18

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 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.

“Angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire”

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8. The angel of the fourth plague has power over fire.)

Whoever this angel is, it appears that he comes out of the temple from the altar of incense, indicating that the prayers of intercession are no longer being offered, for the day of salvation has forever ended. This angel has power over fire just as the fourth plague angel does, again depicting the time when the door of mercy has shut. The two angels coming out of the temple to symbolically harvest the grain and the grapes shows the destiny of the lost and the saved is forever settled.

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.

“Gathered the vine of the earth”

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. (Joel 3:13)

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. (Jeremiah 51:33)

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. (Jeremiah 8:20)

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. (Lamentations 1:15)

Here we see depicted the separation of the wicked, who shall drink of the wrath of God, beginning with the plagues and culminating in the white throne judgment and eternal annihilation, as seen in Revelation 20. The two harvests in this chapter are scenes borrowed from the agricultural season of ancient Israel. The grain represents the righteous. The grapes represent the wicked, whose blood is being poured out like the juice of the grape. This depiction is a symbol taken from the concept “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11), indicating the death and destruction of the wicked.

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. (Approximately 200 miles long by 5 feet deep.)

“The winepress was trodden”

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:3–6)

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:15, 17–18, 21)

When Christ shall come, the wicked who remain upon the earth shall be slain. At the end of the one thousand years (as we will study in chapter 20), they are raised up to stand in the great white throne judgment to receive eternal punishment for their sins, which ends in the lake of fire and the second death. In light of this, the description in Revelation 14:20 would be a symbolic description of the lost who are outside New Jerusalem, and the finality of their destruction.

“Without the city”

The term “without the city” refers to the wicked who are outside the city of God, which has ascended to this earth. (See Revelation 20 and 21.) Those who are outside the city of God are cast into the lake of fire and eternally destroyed, after which God will make a “new heaven and a new earth.”

What city will you be found in? The city of God provides a place of joy, peace, and eternal life with the Creator of the universe. To be aligned with the great apostasy of Babylon is to be lost for eternity. Choose wisely this day, my friend.


Endnotes

1.  James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987).

2.  Ibid.

3.  Ibid.

4.  Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language. (San Francisco, California: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967).

5.  Ibid.

6.  James Strong, op. cit.

7.  Ibid.

8.  Noah Webster, op. cit.
 
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