Revelation 14 - Introduction

The prophet again breaks off to point his readers across the sombre vista opened up by this oracle of the θηρίον, not to the church as an oasis and asylum on earth but to the glad sure hope of the faithful after death. How can the θηρίον be met? Who (Revelation 13:8) can hold out against such seductions? By way of answer to such doubts and fears the prophet raises the veil of the future for a moment to reveal the heavenly (cf. Revelation 13:15; Revelation 14:3) survivors of the conflict (Revelation 14:1-5); whereupon he rapidly sketches the doom of Rome and the pagan world by way of contrast (Revelation 13:6-18). The latter passage, in its present form and site, gives a proleptic outline of catastrophes described later on (cf. Revelation 14:7 = Revelation 19:1-6; Revelation 14:8 = Revelation 18:2-3, etc.). The two supreme motives for patient loyalty on the part of the saints (Revelation 13:12) are, (a) negatively, fear of the fate reserved for the unbelieving (Revelation 14:8-11), and, (b) positively, the bliss in store for the loyal (Revelation 13:13; Revelation cf.1-5).