The Revelation of Jesus Christ #18. The Harvest of Grace and the Harvest of Wrath (14:1-20)
Eschatology Trilogy Daniel 5 Pillars of Matthew Revelation Visible Kingdom Spiritual Kingdom Full Kingdom It has fallen It will be restored Messiah comes in 69*7 A gap of desolation The last 1*7 Messiah came Spiritual kingdom now The Beatitudes Rejection; 7 stages; Transition in the 1*7 Christ in Glory Church in 7 stages Rapture Tribulation = 1*7 Full kingdom Arrives Key: Dan 9:24-27 70 Weeks of Daniel Key: Matt 24-25 Olivet Discourse Key: Rev 22 Millennial Kingdom
Structure of Revelation Book Epistle Prophecy Rev 1:19 Preface (1:1-3) Salutation (1:4-8) Vision (1:9-20) What You Saw 7 Churches (2-3) Things that Are Rapture (4-5) Thing to Come Tribulation (6-18) 2nd Coming (19) Millennium (20) Eternity (21-22:5) Testimony (21:6-20) Benediction (21:21) From Christ For Churches Glory & Terror Watch the Show
The Flow of the Narrative Chapters Content Flow Direction Chap 6 6 Seals Forward Flow 1 Chap 7 144,000, Fruit of Work Pause, Flashback, Foreseeing Chaps 8-9 7th Seal, 6 Trumpets Forward Flow 2 10:1--11 :14 7 Thunders, 2 Witnesses Pause, Flashback, Foreseeing 11:15-19 7th Trumpet Forward Flow 3a Chaps 12-13 Dragan vs Israel; 2 Beasts Flashback & Foreseeing Chaps 14 144,000, Reaping Pause & Foreseeing Chaps 15-16 7 Bowls Forward Flow 3b Chaps 17-18 2 Babylons Flashback
3 Scenes in Rev 14 Before the Bowl Judgments (Rev 15-16), God Revealed 3 Proleptic Scenes in the Vision to John. (1) The Harvest of Grace (vv.1-5): The 144,000 Anointed Hebrew Evangelists for Christ during the Tribulation Victoriously Reunites with Christ on Mt Zion. (2) The Ending of Works (vv.6-13): The Servants of God Can Rest as God Finishes His Salvific Program and Judges All Who Have the Sign of the Beast. (3) The Harvest of Wrath (vv.14-20): Winepress Pours Out Blood When God Pours Out His Anger for Sin.
Victorious Reunion 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. (Rev. 14:1 NAU) The Lamb: Jesus Christ, Meek and Sacrificial before now Noble and Powerful. In Contrast to the Dragon, and the 2 Beasts (Antichrist and the False Prophet).
Literal or Figurative Mt Zion: (1) Literal Interpretation: a Mountainous Hill in Jerusalem [either Mt Olivet, or the Temple Mount; Not Likely the Modern Mt Zion ]: The 144,000 Are Kept Alive; They Hear the Singing from Heaven. (2) Figurative Interpretation: The Heavenly Mt Zion (Heb 12:22), the Jerusalem that Is Above (Gal 4:26): The 144,000 Are Martyrs; They Join the Singing in Heaven.
Proleptic Vision The Lamb Standing on Mt Zion: Jesus Glorious Descent on Mt Olivet as Prophesied. 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11 NAU)
Sign of the Lamb Having the Name of their Father Written on their Foreheads: Having the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, which Declares the Ownership by their Lord and Father, as what Happened to the NT Saints at the Moment of Regeneration: having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph. 1:13-14 NAU)
Orchestra in Heaven 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. (Rev. 14:2 NAU) The Voice Like Many Waters: Mighty and Soothing and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. (Ezek. 43:2) His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. (Rev. 1:15)
Choir in Heaven 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. (Rev. 14:3 NAU) Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it. You islands, and those who dwell on them. (Isa. 42:10 NAU)
Unique Audience No one could learn the song except the 144,000: The Choir from Heaven (with the Glorified Church) Sings a New Song, on the Earth Only the 144,000 Could Learn. Perhaps It Is Uniquely about Their Life Experience of God s Special Grace: How to Preach the Gospel under the Reign of the Antichrist and Be Preserved Alive. Who had been purchased from the earth: Purchased by the Blood of Jesus, Dedicated as Bond-servants. Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God (Rom. 1:1 NAU)
Celibate Missionaries 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. (Rev. 14:4a): Not Downgrading Women or Marriage. 1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. (1 Cor. 7:1-2 NAU) The Corinthians Wrote about the Issue of Celibacy. Paul Answered that It Is Good If One Has the Calling: Missionaries in Extreme Situations Better Remain Single.
Extreme Dedication These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 14:4b) Follow the Lamb wherever He goes: Bond-Servants Replaced their Own Will by their Master s Will. The 144,000 Hebrew Evangelists Are the First Fruits among All Tribulation Saints (Palestinians, Jews, or Gentiles).
Exemplary Quality 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless. (Rev. 14:5) The Ideal Life of All Believers of Jesus Includes Being Honest and Truthful, and Morally Blameless. OT Saints Struggled to Reach the Standard through the External Law. NT Saints Could Potentially Reach the Standard by the Power of the Holy Spirit (Indwelling and Filling). The 144,000 among the Tribulations Saints Have both the Spirit, and the Urgency with Shortness of Testing Time.
Eternal Gospel 6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." (Rev. 14:6-7 NAU) The Eternal Gospel Is Not about Redemption of Sinners, but the Judgment of Evil and the Coming of the Full Kingdom of God (Millennium and Eternal State Future).
False Religion Judged 8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." (Rev. 14:8 NAU) Babylon the Great: The Woman Who Sits on the Beast (with 7 Heads and 10 Horns) (Rev 17): Satanic False Religions (Nimrodism) which Uses Satanic State Powers. False Religions Have All Shapes and Forms. The Most Seductive Are the Monotheistic Ones: Judaism, Islam, and Apostate Christianity. Luciferianism Hides in Pain Sight.
Followers of the Beast Judged 9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." (Rev. 14:9-11 NAU)
No Compromise Those who worship the beast and his image: Believers of the Satanic Antichrist, Worshippers of the Abomination of Desolation in the 3rd Temple. Whoever receives the mark of his name: People Who Compromise for Life by Receiving the Mark of the Beast Related to 666 (the Sum of the Number of the Antichrist s Personal Name). In the Age of Grace, a 2-Millenia-Long 7-Period Church Age, Compromised Believers Still Might Be Saved. In the Short 7-year Tribulation: No Compromise Is Allowed.
Perseverance of Saints 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." (Rev. 14:12-13 NAU) Be Faithful to the Name of Jesus under All Situations, and Serve with All Might until the End of Life. It Is the Ideal for NT Saints, but the Necessary for Tribulation Saints.
The Son of Man as Reaper 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. (Rev. 14:14) The Son of Man = Jesus Christ The Man = Adam, Who Lost His Crown to Satan; The Son of Man Will Take Back the Crown. Sharp sickle: The Power to Judge Evil.
The Son of Man as Ruler 13 "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13-14) The Son of Man Is Not a Lowly Title under the Son of God. It Is the Right to Rule over the World Forever.
The 3 Sub-Reapers 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Rev. 14:15-16) Angel 1 (Message Carrier Like Gabriel) Gave Petition. The Son of Man Throw the Sickle, and Reaped the Grains (Barley and Wheat in the Spring; Spring Feasts Related to Christ s 1st Advent and Redemption).
Spring Feasts & the 1st Advent Feast Date Meaning Fulfillment (Choosing Lamb) Nisan (I) 10 Lamb of God Mar 29, 33 Passover Eve Nisan (I) 14/15 Last Supper Apr 2, 33 Passover Day Nisan (I) 15 Crucifixion Apr 3, 33 Unleavened Bread Nisan (I) 15-21 Removal of Sin Apr 3-9, 33 First Fruits Sun, Nisan (I) 17 Resurrection Apr 5, 33 Weeks/Pentecost Sun, Sivan (III) 6 Holy Spirit May 24, 33
The 3 Sub-Reapers 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. (Rev. 14:17) Angel 2 Has the Same Tool (Power/Authority) of Judgment as the Son of Man. He Is Like Michael, the Armed Angelic Prince of Israel. Israel Apostatized since Rejecting Jesus. But God Saved the Remnant during the Tribulation. It Is Time to Judge any Remaining Apostates.
The 3 Sub-Reapers 18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." (Rev. 14:18) Angel 3 Is over the Fire (Holiness and the Throne of God, as Lucifer Did before His Fall). He Calls for Reaping the Grapes (in the Fall; Fall Feasts Related to Christ s 2nd Coming and Judgment).
Fall Feasts and the 2nd Advent Feast Date Meaning Fulfillment Trumpet Tishri (VII) 1 Rapture x Day of Atonement Tishri (VII) 10 2nd Coming (Glorious Descent) 7 Year Later Tabernacle Tishri (VII) 15-21 Millennial Kingdom Solemn Assembly Tishri (VII) 22 Great White Throne Judgment 1000 Years
The Harvest of Wrath 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. (Rev. 14:19-20 NAU) The Angel (Messenger) = the Son of Man on the Throne = Jesus Christ. Great Winepress= the Pouring Out of the Wrath of God over the Sin of Humanity Stored up for 6000 Years.
Wide Coverage 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. (Rev. 14:1920 NAU) The Blood Covering 1600 Stadia = Square of 186 Miles (about the Size of Palestine): The Battle of Armageddon (the 3rd World War). Be a Part of the Harvest of Grace during the Church Age (before the Rapture) before the Namesake during the Tribulation. Do Not Be a Part of the Harvest of Wrath!