REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:1 The vision sequence leading to the seven last plagues (which will be described as “bowls” of God’s wrath, Revelation 16:1) opens and closes with scenes of a heavenly choir singing praise to God (Revelation 14:1; Revelation 15:2). Between these anthems, John sees th... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:3 The NEW SONG celebrates God’s triumph over sin through the Lamb (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 15:3). God’s prior victories were also celebrated in new songs (Psalms 98:1). The song belongs only to those who have experienced the Lamb’s redemption (Psalms 107:1). This... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:4 HAVE NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH WOMEN, FOR THEY ARE VIRGINS. Soldiers often avoided having sex during the wars God commanded (see Deuteronomy 23:9; 1 Samuel 21:5). The 144,000 (Revelation 14:3) represent believers of both sexes who die in faith and are gathered as... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:8 ANOTHER ANGEL announces that BABYLON is FALLEN (echoing Isaiah 21:9). Babylon was the greatest power of its day. Babylon conquered Judah. In John’s day, Rome was the nation with “dominion over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18) that oppressed Christ’s peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:9 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT GOES UP FOREVER AND EVER. Hell is eternal. The wicked do not cease to exist when they die. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:14 Two reapers appear in heaven, sharp sickles in hand. Angels emerge from the temple with God’s order to “Put in your sickle, and reap.” First “one like a son of man” gathers the grain of the earth. Then an angel gathers grapes from the earth’s vine. These will be c... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:15 The HARVEST OF THE EARTH probably is the Son of Man gathering believers (compare Matthew 13:30). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:17 The second harvest involves cutting grape clusters from the vine and crushing them in God’s winepress. This pictures the destruction of the wicked (compare Joel 3:12). TRODDEN. The Lord will trample nations that have trampled God’s holy city, just as Isaiah promis... [ Continue Reading ]