Verse By Verse Through Revelation

Chapter Fourteen


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.”

  • “And…” that is, after the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16-18).
  • The Lamb is Jesus (John 1:29, John 1:36, and Revelation 5:12).
  • Mount Sion (Hebrews 12:22-23).
  • The figurative 144,000 were of the tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4-8). Remember, they were not the only one’s that were going to come out of the great tribulation or in the context of being sealed (Revelation 7:9-17).
  • The seal in their foreheads (Revelation 7:1-3).

Revelation 14:2-3 “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: 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.”

  • Jesus’ voice sounded to John as the sound of many waters (Revelation 1:15).
  • John has heard thunderings, loud voices, etc. (Revelation 4:5 and Revelation 10:3).
  • We previously read that the Heavenly elders had harps (Revelation 5:8) and of a new song being sung (Revelation 5:9). These harpers are different.
  • Later in John’s vision, we will see harpers and the singing of the song of Moses (Revelation 15:1-3).
  • So, think about this. The 144,000 are Jewish Christians. Later we see the song of Moses. Here we see no man except the 144,000 could learn this song. Was it in Hebrew? Was it something only Jews knew? Was it a song revealed to them by the Spirit? It is interesting for sure.

Revelation 14:4-5 “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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

  • The figurative 144,000 are male virgins. The principle which COULD BE here would be men that chose not to marry under the distress they were facing in this time of persecution (cf. I Corinthians 7:25-30).
  • The principle of not being defiled with women could, though very unlikely, refer to spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 3:6-8 and James 4:4).
  • Followers of Christ wherever He goes (John 8:12, John 12:26, John 14:1-3, I John 1:7, and I John 2:3-6).
  • Being redeemed (Psalms 111:1-10 and Colossians 1:12-14).
  • Being among the first fruits (Acts 3:25-26, Romans 1:16, and James 1:1 and James 1:18).
  • No guile in their mouths (I Peter 2:21-22).
  • Without fault [blame] (Ephesians 1:3-4).
  • Before the throne (Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 10:19-22).

Revelation 14:6-7 “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, 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.”

  • Good news is refreshing (Proverbs 25:25). The messenger that brings such and the response of true listeners is good (Isaiah 52:7-9). This can be relative general good news, not just the Gospel of Christ or related news of salvation (I Thessalonians 3:6-9).
  • First, the Gospel can (allow context to clarify) refer to any part of God’s word (Romans 10:13-17; cf. Isaiah 52:7 and Isaiah 53:1).
  • Secondly, thinking about the Gospel of Christ [the New Covenant], such had already been preached throughout the whole earth (Colossians 1:5 and Colossians 1:23). *Though all had not been revealed and written at that time.
  • Take this in application to the letter John is writing to the churches of Asia and in application to all nations in things relative to such (Revelation 10:5-11). The word "Gospel" can refer generally to a good message; good news (Strong’s # 2098). This good news everlasting. So, the message is not temporary or such as would fail (I Peter 1:21-25).
  • The good news that was to be preached was for all to fear God [the Creator], glorify Him, and worship Him; for the hour of judgment had come (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 and Revelation 15:4).
  • This judgment in John’s Revelation, not the final Judgment Day, was coming quickly (Revelation 3:11, Revelation 22:6-7, Revelation 22:12, and Revelation 22:20).

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.”

  • Another angel appears and uses the words that Isaiah used prophetically at the fall of ancient Babylon (Isaiah 21:9). This speaks figuratively to the great whore (Rome), the great city (Revelation 17:1-5).
  • So, in the context of John’s Revelation, the fall of Rome is the judgment of God that is good news (Revelation 18:4-10).
  • The great city had made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (Revelation 18:1-3).

Revelation 14:9-11 “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: 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.”

  • In contrast to those marked with our Father’s name (Revelation 14:1), there were those who had the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:11-17).
  • The wine of the wrath of God given to those who had the mark of the beast (Revelation 16:19).
  • Consider what God’s people will be told about leaving the great city (Revelation 18:1-4).
  • Understand the principle of guilt by association (II John 1:6-11). Think back to Israel’s situations with Korah (Numbers 16:1-40) and with Achan (Joshua 7:1-26).
  • Language such as we see here has been used to describe God’s judgment even under the Old Law (Deuteronomy 29:23, Isaiah 51:21-22, Psalms 11:4-6, and Jeremiah 25:15-17).
  • Those who had chosen to walk contrary to God will not just suffer fire and brimstone in this judgment, but such will be their eternal fate as well (Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 21:8).

Revelation 14:12-13 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 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.”

  • The good news continues in that the saints just had to endure until God’s wrath came (Revelation 22:12-14).
  • The death of the saints (Psalms 116:15).
  • Just have the endurance (Matthew 10:22, Hebrews 10:36, and James 1:3-4).
  • If the faithful die, our works are not forgotten by God (Hebrews 6:9-15).
  • The reward, one way or the other, is based upon one’s works (Matthew 16:27, II Timothy 4:14, and Revelation 2:23).

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.”

  • Don’t read into this the final coming of Christ. This is just like Luke 21:27 wherein the Lord was contextually talking about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the events surrounding that (Luke 21:1-32).
  • We see the same language in judgment on Egypt (Isaiah 19:1).
  • “One like unto…” This is a vision, similar to visions of Old such as what Daniel experienced (Daniel 7:13-14).
  • The son of man can be in reference to Christ (Mark 14:61-62, Luke 19:1-10, and John 3:13), but is not only in reference to Christ (Psalms 146:3, Ezekiel 2:1-3:25, Ezekiel 31:2, etc.).
  • As we have been seeing, it is judgment language (Revelation 14:9-11).

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.”

  • This angel asks for the sharp sickle (Revelation 14:14) to be used to reap (cf. Mark 4:26-29). Again, this is judgment language like as nations face of old (Joel 3:11-16).

Revelation 14:16 “And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

  • The one that sat upon the cloud was one “like unto the Son of man” (Revelation 14:14).
  • The harvest of the earth was ripe (Revelation 14:15).
  • The word translated “earth” in both Revelation 14:15-16 means: “soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application): - country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world” (Strong’s # 1093). It is also translated “ground” (Matthew 13:8), “land” (John 6:21), “land” and “country” (Hebrews 11:9), etc. It appears @252 times in the New Testament.

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

  • In addition to the angels we have been reading about even in this chapter (Revelation 14:6, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 14:9, and Revelation 14:15). We are not done with seeing “another angel” either (Revelation 14:18).
  • It is not just the one that sat on the cloud (Revelation 14:15-16) that had a 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.”

  • Remember earlier in John’s vision the souls slain for God’s word were under the altar (Revelation 6:9-10). This angel is coming from there.
  • Is this the angel that had the fire of the altar (Revelation 8:5)? Is that what “power over the fire” means?
  • Could this be the angel that later will pour out a vial upon the sun (Revelation 16:8)? We are not told one way or the other. It may be another angel altogether.
  • The vine of the earth could take many meanings. In the times of Isaiah the prophet the vineyard was the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7).
  • Sowing, reaping, etc. are prophetic figures in which a judgment of God is described (Hosea 10:9-15).

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.”

  • This too is language of judgment and wrath as spoken of old by the prophets of judgment in their days (Isaiah 63:1-6 and Lamentations 1:15).

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.”

  • The bloodshed so high it comes up to the mouths of horses. Listen, God’s wrath is violent (Isaiah 34:1-7, Ezekiel 39:17-21, Nahum 1:1-6, and Hebrews 10:26-31).


Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22


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