Prophecy · Chapter 14 of 22

Revelation 14

The Lamb stands on Mount Sion with the redeemed hundred forty and four thousand, who sing a new song. Three angels proclaim the everlasting gospel, the fall of Babylon, and warning against the beast. A blessing is spoken over the dead who die in the Lord. Then the Son of man reaps the earth's harvest, and the winepress of God's wrath is trodden.

What happens in Revelation 14

John sees the Lamb on Mount Sion with the redeemed bearing the Father's name, singing a new song none else can learn, for they are firstfruits without guile. Then three angels fly through heaven. The first proclaims the everlasting gospel to every nation, calling all to fear God and worship the Creator, for the hour of judgment has come. The second announces that Babylon is fallen. The third warns that any who worship the beast will drink the wine of God's wrath.

This grounds the patience of the saints who keep God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. A voice pronounces the dead who die in the Lord blessed, resting from their labors. Then one like the Son of man sits on a white cloud with a golden crown and sharp sickle. At the temple's call he reaps the ripe earth. Another angel gathers the vine of the earth into the great winepress of God's wrath, trodden outside the city.

Revelation 14 in context

This chapter answers chapter 13. After the beast's terror, John sees the safety and song of the redeemed, then the certainty of judgment. The everlasting gospel goes to every people even as Babylon, the world system opposed to God, is first declared fallen.

The harvest imagery of sickle and winepress draws on Joel 3 and the prophets' pictures of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

Main themes of Revelation 14

Revelation 14 (KJV)

1And 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. 2And 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: 3And 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. 4These 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. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6And 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, 7Saying 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. 8And 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. 9And 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, 10The 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: 11And 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. 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13And 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. 14And 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. 15And 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. 16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18And 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. 19And 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. 20And 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.

Verses to carry from Revelation 14

“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,”Revelation 14:6

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

“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.”Revelation 14:13

Reflection

The redeemed sing a song only they can learn, shaped by being purchased and following the Lamb. Is your life learning that song, or an imitation the world can copy? The everlasting gospel still flies to every nation. Consider whether your fear is aimed at God the Creator or at the powers that pressure you.

A prayer from Revelation 14