We come now to the Apostle John’s vision of the victory of the 144,000 Jewish believers who survived the awesome Tribulation Period. Revelation 7:3-8 introduces this group to us.
The Vision of the 144,000 as Victorious
Revelation 14:1-7
The 144,000 witnesses have survived the Great Tribulation Period because they were sealed, and they served as witnesses during the dark, dismal last half of the Tribulation Period. In verses 1-2, the 144,000 are standing on Mount Zion (earthly Jerusalem) with the Lamb. The whole vision of the Apostle John was a forecast of the triumph of the 144,000 as they await the return of Jesus Christ (the Lamb) from heaven to earth (v. 1). The great noise in heaven is a picture of the celebration of victory (v. 2). In verse 3, there is great rejoicing as the heavenly chorus sings, along with the 144,000 earthly chorus. These 144,000 have been redeemed from the earth (purchased) to enter the Millennium on earth. They are not taken to heaven; however, they will live on earth!
According to verses 5-6, the 144,000 lived morally pure lives because they kept themselves separate from the sins of the Great Tribulation Period. Also, the 144,000 separated themselves from the worship of the Beast (Anti-Christ) and his image. This awesome group of 144,000 remained without blemish even during the decadent Great Tribulation. In a vision, John sees an angel flying in mid-heaven who announces the eternal gospel to the earth. The message of this eternal gospel is “Fear God” (vv. 6-7). This gospel will be good news to the saved, but horrific news to the unsaved! This news is God’s final call before His awesome return to judge the world!
An Announcement of Babylon’s Fall
Revelation 14:8-20
A second angel in verse 8 announces Babylon’s dramatic fall. In verse 8, we see the fulfillment of Babylon’s fall as prophesied in Isaiah chapters 13 and 14. It pronounces judgment on those who receive the mark of the beast (vv. 9-11). The ones who receive the mark of the beast and his image will be perpetually tormented in the lake of fire with Satan and his imps, along with all unsaved people (Revelation 19:20-21; 20:10, 14-15). A third angel in verses 9-12 continued the announcement of judgment for those who receive the mark of the beast and worship the Anti-Christ (beast). Those who worshipped the beast will be tormented eternally without receiving any rest, for verse 11 states: “And the smoke of their torment ascended 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.”
Knowing that God will punish unbelievers will enable the believers to endure with patience (v. 12). Believers who die during the Tribulation Period will be released from trouble and will be delivered into God’s presence (v. 13). This statement in verse 13: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” should never be applied to believers during the Age of Grace. This verse concerns those believers who will die during the Tribulation Period, and God will bless them for their faithfulness. This verse is a confident assurance that believers who endure the Tribulation Period will be rewarded for their faithfulness. These believers’ works in standing for the truth during such a severe time of tests in the Tribulation Period will be rewarded!
In verses 14-16, the Apostle John sees the Son of man seated on a white cloud and wearing a crown of gold and holding a sharp sickle. With the sickle in His hand, Christ will judge the earth because the earth is ripe for judgment. Further judgment is depicted as the harvest of the grapes will result only in judgment. The winepress of God’s wrath will be so horrific that blood will flow out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1600 furlongs, or 175 miles. We have the dramatic picture of the bloodshed that will take place during this awful period of the tribulation. Perhaps the prominence of bloodshed pictures the war of Armageddon (vv. 17-20).
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
