| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 14 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
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During Chapter 11, 12 and 13, we have seen the awful conditions upon the earth during the last 3
1/2 years of the Tribulation period. The two witnesses are murdered but then raised, those turning
to G-d out of Israel and the nations are hunted; and the Antichrist and his henchman the false
prophet, are marking the masses and their number.
Verse 1
Then I looked, and behold, a[a] Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand, having[b] His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
John sees Jesus on Mount Zion and with him the 144,--- portrayed in 7:1-8. At the end of their lives
the 144,--- which were sealed by G-d are found to be with Christ. Whether they were killed or lived
during the Tribulation time in the end they are found to be with Christ. Verse 1-5 (G-d's promises)
Verse 2-3
And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud
thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 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.
Here we see that the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth and admitted to special heavenly
privileges. It is G-d's sovereign will that these are able to learn the new song which proceeds from
the heavenly harpers.
Verse 4
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[c] from among men, being first fruits to
God and to the Lamb.
We live in a day of rising immorality. The last days will be Sodom and Gomorrah days. Despite
such evil days and temptations, the 144,000, by G-d's grace have not made themselves impure.
They have not joined the world in committing adultery and other defiling iniquities. They are
depicted as virgins and with fault as people who have kept themselves spiritually pure during the
tribulation period.
Verse 5
And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
In a day of enlarged cursing and blaspheming these 144,000 have kept their tongues pure. Now
glorified, safe in Christ, they are faultless and before His throne.
Verse 6-7
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— 7 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.”
John sees an angel proclaiming an everlasting gospel, a call to fear and worship G-d because He is
about to show fully His grace to believers and His perfect righteousness toward the unsaved.
Verse 8-11 (G-d's judgements)
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.” 9 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, 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. 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.”
Verse 8- A second angel announces the fall of the city of Babylon, the leading city in Antichrist's
political and commercial empire. The fall of this city will be described in detail in chapter 18. Verse
9-11 The third angel proclaims the doom of those who worship the Antichrist and receives the mark
they will be lost forever. The seal makes certain the eternal doom of the lost who take the mark.
Verse 12 & 13 (G-d's promise)
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors,
and their works follow them.”
A Christian needs the gift of patience from the Lord. He or she needs patience so as not to fall into
obedience of the wicked, to save the body. Mt. 10:28 Christ said and fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell. Mt. 5:11-12 says Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, rejoice,
and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you. Verse 13, This verse states the fact that those who die in the Lord are
blessed. Death is usually viewed as the opposite of a blessing. It is the only view of someone who
has not come to the cross for forgiveness, life and enlightenment. Death for the believer is the
gateway to being forever with Jesus. This is joy and life, not sadness.
Verse 14-20 (G-d's judgements)
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on
His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the
temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for
the time has come for You[i] to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the
cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of
the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from
the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes
are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth,
and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled
outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand
six hundred furlongs.
In verses 14-20 we have the vision of Armageddon. The imagery is that of the ancient Palestinian
farmer who first gathers together his ripe grapes into the winepress and then smashes them with his
bear feet in order to release their red juice. The wicked armies of the end time are depicted as ripe
grapes. The winepress of G-d, the peace where G-d will smash the armies is the great
Armageddon pass. This is the 10 by 40 mile northwest to southeast gateway to Jerusalem through
the mountains. The red juice of the grape represents visually the blood of the wicked which will
here be shed.
Verse 14 we see Christ coming as the judge. The crown shows Him coming now not as the lamb
but as the King. The sickle indicating that G-d's judgement will be swift and terrifying. Today many
leading churchmen are leading their congregations toward a socialized gospel. A news magazine
reported "Among Protestants, radical theologies are causing many to wonder whether religion any
longer has a worthwhile mission of its own to the world at large." Soon those who turn their back on
G-d will suddenly feel His full wrath.
Verse 15-16 The angel in loyal excitement implores Jesus to destroy the wicked. "The earth was
reaped." Here Christ the L-rd of All will gather the armies of Antichrist to Armageddon. His cutting
the grapes down with the sickle portrays His mobilizing the wicked armies for battle. His throwing
them into the winepress pictures his gathering them into Armageddon in Palestine. Then, His
crushing the grapes depicts Christ's destroying the armies of the Antichrist in a great slaughter from
above.
Verse 17-18 Here the angel comes from the Heavenly Brazen alter, the place where sacrifice for sin
is signified. Christ has paid for sin once and for all, but yet the imagery of this ancient alter speaks
to us of G-d's holiness and justice. Sin must be paid for thus the angel coming from this site crys
out desiring to see the rebellious sinners pay the just penalty for their sins. That the grapes are
fully ripe indicate that Antichrist's government and his world has fully manifested their utter
corruption, they have become ripe for destruction.
Verse 19-20 Blood unto the horses bridles. This could be literal as the blood of the wicked will flow
into a stream which will become 6 ft deep or it could symbolize the terrible blood shed that will
occur over a distance of approximately 180-200 miles. When the world is fully ripe for judgement,
Christ will come! This chapter promises us the ultimate result of sin is unending separation from G-
d. Because humans are created in G-d's image with an inborn thirst for fellowship with him,
separation from G-d will be the ultimate torment and misery. Sin always brings misery, but in this
life we can choose to repent and restore our relationship with G-d. In eternity there will no longer be
opportunity for repentance. If in this life we choose to be independent of G-d, in the next life we will
be separated from Him forever. Nobody is forced to choose eternal separation from G-d, and
nobody suffers this fate by accident. Jesus invites all of us to open the door of our hearts to Him. If
we do this, we will enjoy everlasting fellowship with Him.
1/2 years of the Tribulation period. The two witnesses are murdered but then raised, those turning
to G-d out of Israel and the nations are hunted; and the Antichrist and his henchman the false
prophet, are marking the masses and their number.
Verse 1
Then I looked, and behold, a[a] Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand, having[b] His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
John sees Jesus on Mount Zion and with him the 144,--- portrayed in 7:1-8. At the end of their lives
the 144,--- which were sealed by G-d are found to be with Christ. Whether they were killed or lived
during the Tribulation time in the end they are found to be with Christ. Verse 1-5 (G-d's promises)
Verse 2-3
And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud
thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 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.
Here we see that the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth and admitted to special heavenly
privileges. It is G-d's sovereign will that these are able to learn the new song which proceeds from
the heavenly harpers.
Verse 4
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[c] from among men, being first fruits to
God and to the Lamb.
We live in a day of rising immorality. The last days will be Sodom and Gomorrah days. Despite
such evil days and temptations, the 144,000, by G-d's grace have not made themselves impure.
They have not joined the world in committing adultery and other defiling iniquities. They are
depicted as virgins and with fault as people who have kept themselves spiritually pure during the
tribulation period.
Verse 5
And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
In a day of enlarged cursing and blaspheming these 144,000 have kept their tongues pure. Now
glorified, safe in Christ, they are faultless and before His throne.
Verse 6-7
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— 7 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.”
John sees an angel proclaiming an everlasting gospel, a call to fear and worship G-d because He is
about to show fully His grace to believers and His perfect righteousness toward the unsaved.
Verse 8-11 (G-d's judgements)
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.” 9 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, 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. 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.”
Verse 8- A second angel announces the fall of the city of Babylon, the leading city in Antichrist's
political and commercial empire. The fall of this city will be described in detail in chapter 18. Verse
9-11 The third angel proclaims the doom of those who worship the Antichrist and receives the mark
they will be lost forever. The seal makes certain the eternal doom of the lost who take the mark.
Verse 12 & 13 (G-d's promise)
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors,
and their works follow them.”
A Christian needs the gift of patience from the Lord. He or she needs patience so as not to fall into
obedience of the wicked, to save the body. Mt. 10:28 Christ said and fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell. Mt. 5:11-12 says Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, rejoice,
and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you. Verse 13, This verse states the fact that those who die in the Lord are
blessed. Death is usually viewed as the opposite of a blessing. It is the only view of someone who
has not come to the cross for forgiveness, life and enlightenment. Death for the believer is the
gateway to being forever with Jesus. This is joy and life, not sadness.
Verse 14-20 (G-d's judgements)
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on
His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the
temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for
the time has come for You[i] to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the
cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of
the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from
the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes
are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth,
and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled
outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand
six hundred furlongs.
In verses 14-20 we have the vision of Armageddon. The imagery is that of the ancient Palestinian
farmer who first gathers together his ripe grapes into the winepress and then smashes them with his
bear feet in order to release their red juice. The wicked armies of the end time are depicted as ripe
grapes. The winepress of G-d, the peace where G-d will smash the armies is the great
Armageddon pass. This is the 10 by 40 mile northwest to southeast gateway to Jerusalem through
the mountains. The red juice of the grape represents visually the blood of the wicked which will
here be shed.
Verse 14 we see Christ coming as the judge. The crown shows Him coming now not as the lamb
but as the King. The sickle indicating that G-d's judgement will be swift and terrifying. Today many
leading churchmen are leading their congregations toward a socialized gospel. A news magazine
reported "Among Protestants, radical theologies are causing many to wonder whether religion any
longer has a worthwhile mission of its own to the world at large." Soon those who turn their back on
G-d will suddenly feel His full wrath.
Verse 15-16 The angel in loyal excitement implores Jesus to destroy the wicked. "The earth was
reaped." Here Christ the L-rd of All will gather the armies of Antichrist to Armageddon. His cutting
the grapes down with the sickle portrays His mobilizing the wicked armies for battle. His throwing
them into the winepress pictures his gathering them into Armageddon in Palestine. Then, His
crushing the grapes depicts Christ's destroying the armies of the Antichrist in a great slaughter from
above.
Verse 17-18 Here the angel comes from the Heavenly Brazen alter, the place where sacrifice for sin
is signified. Christ has paid for sin once and for all, but yet the imagery of this ancient alter speaks
to us of G-d's holiness and justice. Sin must be paid for thus the angel coming from this site crys
out desiring to see the rebellious sinners pay the just penalty for their sins. That the grapes are
fully ripe indicate that Antichrist's government and his world has fully manifested their utter
corruption, they have become ripe for destruction.
Verse 19-20 Blood unto the horses bridles. This could be literal as the blood of the wicked will flow
into a stream which will become 6 ft deep or it could symbolize the terrible blood shed that will
occur over a distance of approximately 180-200 miles. When the world is fully ripe for judgement,
Christ will come! This chapter promises us the ultimate result of sin is unending separation from G-
d. Because humans are created in G-d's image with an inborn thirst for fellowship with him,
separation from G-d will be the ultimate torment and misery. Sin always brings misery, but in this
life we can choose to repent and restore our relationship with G-d. In eternity there will no longer be
opportunity for repentance. If in this life we choose to be independent of G-d, in the next life we will
be separated from Him forever. Nobody is forced to choose eternal separation from G-d, and
nobody suffers this fate by accident. Jesus invites all of us to open the door of our hearts to Him. If
we do this, we will enjoy everlasting fellowship with Him.
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