Revelation 14:1-12
The Lamb on Mt. Zion
In our last lesson, we studied the beast out of the earth.
(Rev 13:11 NKJV) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
“coming up out of the earth”
I know of only one other prophetic passage that uses the expression “out of the earth”
(Dan 7:17 NKJV) 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
In this passage in Daniel, there seems to be no special significance to “out of the earth” other than just the fact that they are humans. They are of this earth! They are neither heavenly, nor evil spirits necessarily. They may be evil, but not from the spiritual realm.
Our lesson tonight begins with a Lamb, but He is the real Lamb: The Lamb of God!
(Rev 14:1 NKJV) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
A Lamb – Obviously a reference to Christ.
“standing on Mount Zion”
What or where is Mount Zion?
So Zion is either a part of Jerusalem,
or used as another name for Jerusalem.
(Zec 9:9 NKJV) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
(Mat 21:5 NKJV) "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
This was literally fulfilled as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Again, Zion and Jerusalem are used interchangeably
(2 Sam 5:6-7 NKJV) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; . . . {7} Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
(Joel 3:16-17 NKJV) The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. {17} "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again."
Rev 14:1b: “ . . . and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.”
We’ve already studied about the 144,000
(Rev 7:3-4 NKJV) saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." {4} And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
Notice that the 144,000 are of all the tribes
of the children of Israel.
(Rev 14:2 KJV) 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:
The voice of many waters:
(Rev 1:13&15 NKJV) and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man. . . {15} and His voice as the sound of many waters;
The voice of a great thunder:
(Rev 6:1 NKJV) Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."
The Voice of Harpists
(Rev 5:8 NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Summary of verse 2:
(Rev 14:2 KJV) 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:
sound of many waters; One like the Son of Man
voice like thunder, the four living creatures
the voice of harpers the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders the twenty-four elders
In other words:
Those in the throne room are speaking and witnessing what is going on in Zion.
What is going on in Zion?
(Rev 11:15) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
The Seventh Angel: The Grand Climax!
God and Christ take over!
(Rev 14:3 NKJV) They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
The new song is sung only by those in heaven, and the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.
(Psa 40:3) He has put a new song in my mouth; Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
(Rev 14:4 NKJV) These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
“for they are virgins.”
This appears to be a reference to spiritual purity: ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
There are two more statements that speak of their moral purity.
(Rev 14:5 NKJV) And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
What follows is evidently the last effort to save anyone else before the Final Judgment.
(Rev 14:6 NKJV) Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people;
This is all I know about this flying angel. We don’t know exactly how he goes about his work, but it appears to be the last call before judgment!
(Rev 14:7 NKJV) saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
Saying with a loud voice, -- evidently forceful and effective in being heard!
(Rev 14:8 NKJV) And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
What is Babylon?
I only know of two reasonable possibilities:
§ Literal Babylon
§ Spiritual Babylon: Rome
§ Wine: She is intoxicated with it. She acts without sense, reason, or any human kindness.
§ Wrath: Persecution of God’s people.
§ Fornication – Spiritual unfaithfulness.
§ In general, I believe the description fits Rome.
Further Warning of
Taking the Mark of the Beast
We looked at these verses in our last lesson:
(Rev 14:9-10 NKJV) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev. 14:10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
There is a Terrible Price to Pay to Reject God!
(Rev 14:11) "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
A Final Word of Encouragement
for God’s People.
(Rev 14:12) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
This verse reminds me of one we studied earlier.
(Rev 13:10 NKJV) He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
What Does All this Mean?
It means that the saints are going to need faith and patience to get through the tough times, if they are caught up in all of this:
If they have not been counted worthy to escape the horrors of the Anti-Christ.
What did we learn?
We learned that Christ is coming back to Zion.
He will take over the kingdoms of men
Those who are right with Him will reign with Him.
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