Revelation 14:1-12 Lesson 486

Revelation 14:1-12
Lesson 486

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

In chapter 13, John envisioned a satanic beast posing as the Lamb (13:11-15).
Now, John sees the true Lamb (14:1)

The Lamb, the 144,000 believers, and the three angels.

Take advantage of the advice in verse 14:7.
Babylon has fallen (14:8).

Unknown artist.

Study Tip:

Find the truth in each passage of the Bible.
Think how that truth is relevant to you. Then, decide how to apply that truth to your life.

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 14:1-12
Three angels and a blessing

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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,

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.

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.

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,

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:

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.

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

Margin notes:

"A lamb stood on the mount Sion." (14:1) - "The lamb (Jesus) stood on Mount Sion." Mount Sion comes from the Hebrew word siyon. It is one of the hills surrounding Jerusalem, sometimes called Mount Zion. In 2 Samuel 5:7, Mount Zion was nothing more than a fortified hill captured by King David from the Jebusites. David built a palace on Mount Zion, and Jerusalem ("the city of David" 1 Kings 8:1) was founded. In time, the name Zion became synonymous for Jerusalem, the Jewish people (Psalm 149:2; Isaiah 33:14), and Israel itself (Psalm 48; Romans 9:33). In this passage, Zion symbolizes the heavenly city, the place where God dwells (Hebrews 12:22).

"Hundred forty and four thousand." (14:1) - Many students of the Bible believe the 144,000 are the number of Christians who were martyred for their faith. Others believe they are the people left behind after the rapture who will turn to Christ. Some believe they are the most holy of all Christians. Still others feel this is the number of Jews who convert to Christianity (Revelation 7:4). There is even a minority opinion that claims 144,000 is the total number of saved Christians from the birth of Christ until the judgment day. One thing they all agree on is that they are faithful followers of Jesus.

"Having his Father's name written in their foreheads." (14:1) - As mentioned in Revelation 7:3.

"The voice of many waters." (14:2) - "The voice sounded like rushing water." Is this the voice of God? The Bible repeatedly compares God's voice to the sound of rushing water (Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 1:15).

"The four beasts." (14:3) - These are not the two satanic beasts from the sea and earth. We first met these four beasts in verse 4:6. They are heavenly creatures who lead others in worship and praise God in song (4:8-9). They have nothing in common with the beasts (Satan's agents) that we met in verses 13:1 and 13:11.

"These are they which were not defiled with women." (14:4) - This means they are spiritually pure, uncorrupted by idolatry.

"They are virgins." (14:4) - They rejected paganism, idols, and other false religions and stayed true to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:2).

"Firstfruits." (14:4) - The first Christians. In biblical times, the first fruits of a harvest were set aside for God (Exodus 23:19). Likewise, the Christian first fruits.

"In their mouth was found no guile." (14:5) - The 144,000 told no lies and were free of deception.

"I saw another angel." (14:6) - This is the first angel to appear in this chapter. His job? Encourage people to put their faith in God. See "Today's Question" below.

"Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (14:7) - In other words, worship the creator, God.

"There followed another angel." (14:8) - This second angel announces that Babylon has fallen.

"Babylon." (14:8) - Preterists believe Babylon is the Roman empire (1 Peter 5:13). Indeed, in biblical times, Jews called Rome Babylon. However, Futurists see Babylon as an evil government that will be ruling the world when Christ returns. Still others (Historicists) see Babylon as symbolic of all the malevolent governments that have existed in the last two thousand years. They believe there is a "Babylon" defying God in every age. There is even a minority opinion that teaches that Babylon is an apostate or perhaps the Catholic church. Still, others feel Babylon represents greedy merchants. Additional note: The fall of "Babylon" was prophesied in Isaiah 21:9, eight hundred years before Revelation was written.

"Fornication." (14:8) - The Bible often uses the word fornication as a euphemism for idolatry. Worshipping anyone or anything other than God is being unfaithful to the Creator.

"The third angel followed them." (14:9) - The third angel alerts us to the dire consequences of worshipping the beast from the sea.

"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." (14:10) - God will punish those who follow the beast.

"Poured out without mixture." (14:10) - "Poured out full strength, undiluted."

"The patience of the saints." (14:12) - "The patience of Christians." Thanks to their faith, Christians have the patience to endure life's trials and temptations.

New Living Translation

Revelation 14:1-12
The Lamb and the 144,000

1 Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 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 mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

3 This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

4 They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb.

5 They have told no lies; they are without blame.

The Three Angels

6 And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world-to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

7 "Fear God," he shouted. "Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water."

8 Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, "Babylon is fallen-that great city is fallen-because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality."

9 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, "Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand

10 must drink the wine of God's anger. It has been poured full strength into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.

11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name."

12 This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What is the meaning of verses 14:6-7?

"After life is over, the afterlife goes on."
Singer and songwriter Sturgill Simpson

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Some believe this is a final, worldwide appeal to all people to recognize the one true God. No one will have the excuse of never having heard God's truth. Others, however, see this as an announcement of judgment rather than an appeal. the people of the world have had their chance to proclaim their allegiance to God, and now God's great judgment is about to begin."

(The "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; pg. 2568)

Application thought for the day:

What does this passage teach about God's judgment?
How can you prepare yourself for judgment by applying this lesson to your life?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2024 evolke

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