02.45. LECTURE No. 45 -- Rev_14:8-20
LECTURE No. 45 -- Revelation 14:8-20 The Attitude of Many People Concerning the Truth Contained in the Book of Revelation - People Everywhere Including Jews, Gentiles and Christians Need the Truth Contained in the Book of Revelation - The Fourteenth Chapter a Synopsis of Coming Events - The 0ne Hundred and Forty-four Thousand to Be the First Fruits Unto God and the Lamb During the Early Days of the Millennial Period or Kingdom Age - The Fall of Babylon - The Fourfold Meaning of the Word Babylon - A Literal City - Political Babylon - Religious Babylon a Commercial Babylon - The Fall of Babylon Divinely Announced by an Angel - The Doom of the Beast Worshippers Also Announced by an Angel As a Message of Divine Warning - The Wrath of God to Be Poured Out Without Mercy - Terrible Punishment Ahead for Some People - The Patience of the Saints - The Blessed Dead - The Reaper with the Sharp Sickle - The Coming Harvest of Iniquity
The Attitude of Some Christians
EVERYWHERE I go I meet with people who seem to feel that there is no need for preachers of today to study and teach the Book of Revelation. The attitude of the average Christian seems to be that the Book of Revelation is something entirely unnecessary, and they look upon it as if it were a sort of an appendix to the main Bible itself, which can be left unread or passed over at will by the reader.
Frankly, my friends, this is all a mistake. The Book of Revelation, instead of being something superfluous to the other portions of the Bible, is in fact one of the major Books of the Bible and a very important part of it. It is, therefore, not a Book to be left unread or to be passed over or left out, either as a matter of teaching or of personal Bible study.
People Need to Hear
We have no excuse to offer, therefore, for teaching from this Book, and our reason for doing so is because we know that Christian people everywhere need to understand the great truths contained in this Book in order to prepare them for impending events.
We know also that the wicked unrepentant masses of humanity need to hear the teachings of this Book in order that they may be warned in advance of their certain doom if they fail to repent and turn to God by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
People Need Spiritual Light
Another reason for teaching this Book is because we know that the people everywhere need light, even light from God, because of the spiritual darkness which is settling down upon the world during these closing days of this present dispensation.
Darkness which is the result of ignorance is bad enough; but darkness which is the result of rejected light is worse still, because it strikes the soul with spiritual blindness causing men to lose their way even while light and truth may be shining all about them.
This is the kind of darkness that is coming upon the world today, and only such light and truth as that which is given in the Book of Revelation can save men from such darkness as this.
Another Reason
Another reason for teaching the Book of Revelation is because Christians everywhere today need strength as never before.
This is an age of international conflict and spiritual warfare and often times even Christians grow weary and faint in their minds, and there is great danger that unless they receive spiritual food to nourish their souls they will be overcome by the enemy, ere the battle is finished and the victory won.
Nothing can possibly give strength to a Christian’s heart like an understanding of the great truths contained in this Book.
People Need Divine Guidance
Still another reason for teaching the truth in this Book is because all true Christians stand in need of divine guidance. This has been true in every age, but it is especially true now, because of the religious confusion which exists everywhere. The truth of this Book is, therefore, like a beacon light and as a guiding star to all true saints of God.
People Must Have Hope
There is still another reason for seeking the truth of this Book and that is because men need something to give them hope in an hour of despair.
Unless we understand the Word of God and especially the truths of this Book, the outlook for the world would be utterly hopeless. But when we understand the great truths of this Book of Revelation, we are able to see beyond the coming storm and beyond the judgments of God, which must surely come to pass, to the new day of blessing and reward which lies beyond.
May God grant unto each and every one of us, therefore, an open mind and receptive heart and the presence and help of the Holy Spirit to illumine the Word of God as we advance in our study of His Word.
Revelation 14:1-20 a Synopsis of Coming Events
We have already stated that Revelation 14:1-20, which we are now studying, is a parenthetical passage, which serves as a sort of synopsis of those events, which are yet to come in the on-going drama of events, contained in the Book of Revelation.
Review In our last lesson based upon Revelation 14:1-7, we studied concerning the 144,000 redeemed ones who are to stand upon Mt. Zion in Jerusalem with Christ, as the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb, of the millennial period. Their presence on Mt. Zion with Christ as the Lamb will be an occasion for great joy both in heaven and upon the earth. Those in heaven and those upon earth will sing, as it were, a new song and will shout for joy, because of the purposes of God, which they know will soon be fulfilled.
In our last lesson we also learned that when the Antichrist and the false prophet shall have forbidden the preaching of the Gospel upon earth and shall have done their utmost to kill and to destroy the witnesses of God, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, God will send an angel, who will 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.”
The angel will do this while men upon the earth are busily engaged in worshipping the image of the beast, which the false prophet will set up in Jerusalem. The everlasting Gospel, therefore, will be preached by the angel as a warning to those upon the earth, who will be worshipping the Antichrist, urging them to forsake doing this and to worship the true God.
Lesson Text
We are now ready to advance in our study by reading what is written in Revelation 14:8-20, where it says,
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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. 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 he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
“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. And the angel thrust in his sickle unto the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
“And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out the winepress, even unto the horses bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” A Prophetic Announcement The message of the second angel, recorded in Revelation 14:8 just read is of striking interest and importance! In view of what is written later on in the Revelation. What we have here is a prophetic announcement of things which are to follow.
Please note the message of the second angel is that “Babylon is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
What the Word Babylon Means
These words were spoken by the angel in anticipation of those things which will surely come to pass. Few people realize the importance of what is stated here because they fail to understand all that the word “Babylon” really means.
The word “Babylon” comes from the word “Babel,” which, as we know, stands for “Confusion,” for it was at the Tower of Babel, that men rebelled against God under the leadership of Nimrod, and God found it necessary to interfere with their plans and purposes by confusing their tongues, which compelled them to scatter themselves abroad in keeping with God’s original plans and purpose for them.
The word “Babylon” therefore stands for rebellion and confusion.
There was also a literal city of Babylon, which in the beginning was the metropolis of the Babylonian Empire and which was built upon both sides of the Euphrates River. We are told this city was also sometimes called Babel.
In Revelation 17:1-18 mention is made of “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
So, we see that when the angel said, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,” the statement is very important because there is not only a literal but spiritual application of these words.
It is expected that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt, in which case these words could apply to the future as well as to the past.
But since we shall be studying about Babylon later on in the Revelation, we shall accept the words of the second angel merely as a prophetic announcement of things to come and we shall pass on to a study of those things, which shall come to pass upon those who worship the image of the beast. A Divine Warning The doom of those who worship the beast or Antichrist and who receive his mark in their forehead or in their hand is of such importance that God will send a third angel to warn the people against the worship of the beast and against taking his mark.
I received a letter some time ago asking whether or not men will be deceived into taking the mark of the beast and whether or not I thought the mark could be in use before people come to know what it is.
This passage seems to answer the question.
Although it does not state what the mark is to be, it is plainly evident that God intends to warn the people not to take it. If God sends them warning and they insist upon taking the mark of the beast any way, then God will be justified in judging them according to their own choice in the matter. And that is exactly what He will do. The Wrath of God To all those who will worship the Beast and receive his mark in spite of the warning from God the angel says,
“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.” An Angelic Messenger Necessary
Upon reading such a passage as this, I can realize why God will send an angel to preach such truth as this to the people. Even now, if any servant of God should preach the sort of doctrine concerning justice and judgment which this passage contains, men would reject his message and would despise and persecute the messenger.
When Stephen told the absolute truth to the rulers of Israel they took him out and stoned him to death. Today men will scarcely believe the truth, and in some instances will not allow it to be preached. This will especially be true during the tribulation period. Therefore, when the witness and testimony of God-called and God-sent men shall have been largely put to silence through the persecution of the Antichrist and the false prophet, God will send this third angel to preach this short but tremendous sermon on the theme of certain doom for those who willingly receive the mark of the beast. Upon those who are willfully disobedient in doing this thing God will pour out His wrath upon them without mixture.
Terrible Punishment Ahead for Some People
Today God is pouring out His wrath upon the wicked of the earth, but even so, His wrath and His judgments are in moderation, because they are mixed with the spirit of grace. As we know, grace means unmerited favor, unbought love, and undeserved mercy; (but) “of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace,” as stated in Hebrews 10:29.
In Hebrews 10:31, it says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” All those who receive the mark of the beast are going to find this out to their own hurt, when it is too late; for it says, they,
“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.”
I know some people will be disinclined to believe what is stated here, and they will do their best to explain away the meaning of these words, or will change the meaning to suit themselves. As for myself, I am willing to let the Word of God stand as it is without making any effort to change the meaning of it. Surely these words can mean nothing less than terrible, unrelenting enduring punishment upon those who receive the mark of the beast. All who hear these words will do well to take warning from them, for remember that nothing is impossible with God. The Faith and Patience of the Saints In Revelation 14:12 of our lesson text, it says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
The saints referred to in this passage could not in any wise be the church saints of the present period of grace because we have already shown that before these things come to pass, the church will have been completed and caught away to be with Christ. The passage therefore, could refer to none other than the saints of the tribulation period, who at that time will keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.
The passage seems to indicate that they will need to exercise patience until the judgments of God have been executed upon the beast, and upon the false prophet, and upon those who will worship the beast and who will have received his mark. Do not think for one moment that it will be an easy thing for anyone to stand alone in those days and refuse to take the mark of the beast, because it will be the order of the day! It will take a great deal of patience and faith for a man to stand true to God in those days and wait for the execution and fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes against the wicked. The Blessed Dead In Revelation 14:13 of our lesson text, John said,
“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.”
Upon this point Clarence Larkin in his book on the Revelation says,
“This is blessedly true of all saints but refers here to those who die after the False Prophet has issued the command that all who will not worship the “Image of the Beast” shall be killed, as stated in Revelation 13:15. This is settled by the word “Henceforth.” This warning is given for the benefit of those who in that day shall be tempted to compromise with evil in order to preserve their lives. Better to live and reign with Christ a thousand years, than with Antichrist 3 ½ years.
“This special class of dead who “Die in the Lord” will be blessed because they will be delivered from the trials and sufferings of the Great Tribulation, and will receive the “Martyr’s Crown” as indicated in Revelation 2:10, and they shall rest from their labors of stemming the tide of iniquity of those days, and their works follow with them. During the great tribulation they that are loyal to God have no prospect before them but martyrdom, hence the need at this time of a special message of blessing to those who are faithful unto death. What a contrast between the “Blessed Dead,” and those who have the “Mark of the Beast.” The former will rest from their labors, while the latter shall not rest day or night.” The Reaper with the Sharp Sickle In Revelation 14:14-20 of this remarkable chapter, we have a very interesting announcement and a prophetic foreview of the coming of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth, which by that time will be fully ripened.
In Revelation 14:14, John said, “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.”
There can be no question, therefore, as to whom the reaper of this passage is to be.
The fact that He is spoken of here as the Son of man and that He is represented as having a golden crown upon His head and that He is seated upon the white cloud identifies Him immediately as the Christ of God. The sharp sickle is an instrument of reaping and indicates the purpose for which He will come.
In Revelation 14:15, it says, “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 Coming Harvest The idea of a coming harvest is not new, but is clearly taught in the scriptures. Even John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as one “Whose fan is in His hand,” and that He would thoroughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner, and that He would burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Again in Mark 4:26-29, Jesus Himself 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.” A Harvest of Evil
Now, it stands to reason that if the good seed which has been sown is to bring forth a harvest of good, that the evil seed which has been sown will bring forth a harvest of evil. We know this is true for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.
This statement applies not only to the individual but also to nations and to the whole world as well.
We may expect, therefore, that when the earth’s harvest of iniquity is ripe, Jesus will come and thrust in his sickle to reap. It would seem sometimes as if the earth’s crop of iniquity is well nigh ripe unto the harvest already.
In Revelation 14:16, it says, “And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” An Interesting Comment Concerning this statement in his lectures on the Apocalypse, Seiss says,
“Tremendous words! What an experience for the race of man is bound up in their awful brevity! What plagues descend with that sharp sickle! What a crash comes with its alighting upon a world now dead ripe for final judgment! What powers and systems fall before it! What sores and agonies it brings to them that bear the mark of the beast and worship his image! What new blazes of consuming heat it gives to the sun! What torment it inflicts upon the throne of the Beast, and darkness and anguish upon his kingdom! What cries, and thunders, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and hailstorms, and trembling of nations, and anxieties of men, it arouses into activity! How does every upas growth give way before the sharp edge of that terrible sickle! Just how much of this great Harvest pertains to the reaping, as distinguished from the vintage, we are not fully informed; but it cuts from their foundations all the main sinews of the Antichrist. It includes all the disasters that come from the pouring out of the great bowls of wrath. It brings down great Babylon with a crash that fills the world with lamentations and horror! It strips the great adulteress of all her pride and queenliness, and fills her with torment, and sorrow, and burning. It sinks all the riches and glories of a godless world into one common ruin, never to be brought up again!” The Clusters of the Vine The last few verses of this chapter have to do with what is spoken of as the vintage, for the angel said, “Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.”
This statement seems to refer more especially to God’s dealings with Israel, for throughout the Scriptures Israel is referred to as a vine which the Lord hath planted.
In Isaiah 5:7 God said, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”
We know that Israel, as the vineyard of the Lord, hath brought forth wild grapes, hence the necessity for reaping the clusters of the vine, which by this time will have become fully ripe.
Therefore, in Revelation 14:19-20 of lesson text it says, “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. 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.”
~ end of lecture 45 ~