Revela&on Lesson#12 TheLambandHisCompanions (14:1;20) TheLambandHisCompanions 1
Review InLesson#11wemettwobeasts,onewhocame outoftheseawithten hornsandsevenheads;onitsheadsweretendiadems,andonitsheads blasphemousnames (13:1).Incontrasttothemany an=christs wehear Johnspeakofinhiscorrespondence,thiswastheAn=christ,thearchE deceiverandtheminionofsatan.accompanyinghimwasasecondbeast, the falseprophet who hadtwohornslikealamb sbutspokelikea dragon.itwieldedalltheauthorityofthefirstbeastinitssightandmade theearthanditsinhabitantsworshipthefirstbeast (13:12);thiswasthe falseprophet. Combined,Satan,theAn=christandtheFalseProphetcompriseda grotesqueparodyofthetrinity,father,sonandtheholyspirit. AndtheypreparedtodobaRlefortheverysoulofhumanity. TheLambandHisCompanions 2
Preview IndirectcontrasttothegrotesqueparodyoftheTrinitythat wemetinlesson#11,lesson#12introducesthelamb,three angelsandthe144,000whohave hisnameandhisfather s namewrioenontheirforeheads (14:1). ThisisGod sarmywhowillcleansetheearthandengagethe final,climac=cbarlewithsatanandhisminionsontheplains ofmegiddo:armageddon(16:16).. TheLambandHisCompanions 3
AswemetGod senemiesin Lesson#11 thedragon[satan], thean=christandthefalse Prophet soherewemeethis heroes thelamb,threeangels andthe144,000whobearthe nameofchrist. InLesson#12wecon=nue preparingforthefinalshowdown, theclimac=cbarlebetweengood andevil,satanandgod,withthe futureofhumanityhanginginthe balance. TheLambandHisCompanions 4
Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing [what seemed to be] a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth... (14: 1-3) TheLambandHisCompanions 5
Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing [what seemed to be] a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth... (14: 1-3) TheLambandHisCompanions 6
TheLamb,angels,fourlivingcreaturesand144,000 (illumina=on,addi=onalms11695,fol.112ve113r),c.1091e1109. Bri=shLibrary,London.. TheLambandHisCompanions 7
Insharpcontrasttotheagita=onand turbulenceoftheinfernaltrinitywe witnessedinthepreviouschapter,the Lambstandssereneandconfidenton MountZion,thehillonwhichJerusalem sits,surveyingthebarlefield,hisvictory assured. AswereadinPsalm2,God:...sitsintheheavens[and]laughs; thelord,helaughsthemtoscorn. Thenhewillspeakinhisanger; inhiswrathhewillstrikethemwithterror: Indeed,itisIwhoinstalledmyking uponzion,myholyhill. (2:4E6) TheLambandHisCompanions 8
The144,000aretheverysamewhom wemetinrevela=on7whentheywere sealedwithgod snameontheir foreheads,thosewhoweresetapartto God.Nowwelearnthattheyarethe Lord seliteshocktroops,the=pofthe spear,thosewhowillaccompanyhimin thefinal,climac=cbarle. These144,000contrastsharplywiththe inhabitantsoftheearth (13:14E17), thevastmotleycrewwhobearthe markofthebeastontheirforeheads. TheLambandHisCompanions 9
Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing [what seemed to be] a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth... TheLambandHisCompanions 10
No=cehowJohn svisionsharpensand intensifiesashe: hearsasoundfromheavenlikethesoundof rushingwater ; asoundlike thatofharpistsplaying ;like a newhymn thatonlythe144,000andthose whohadbeenransomed fromtheearthcould hear. Thevisionandthesongemerge,likeanold Polaroidphotodevelopingbeforeourveryeyes, accompaniedbymusiclikethatofan approachingparade. Ransomed isajgoravzw [ahegoerah Ezo],beRer translated redeemed ;thatis,thosewhohad been boughtback or purchased bytheshed bloodofchristonthecross. TheLambandHisCompanions 11
These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished. (14: 1-5) TheLambandHisCompanions 12
Notdefiledwith women?those Notme. whoarevirgins? Ha,ha,haThat leavesyouout, myfriend TheLambandHisCompanions 13
TheearlyChurchheldcelibacyinhigh regard,viewingmary,jesusandst. Paulasexemplars,butnowherein Scriptureiscelibacyamongmarried couplesrequiredforabeliever. Indeed,marriageisasacrament,and thefirstcommandmentinscriptureis befruisulandmul&ply (Genesis1: 28),andSt.Paulsays: Thehusbandshouldfulfillhisdutytowardhis wife,andlikewisethewifetowardher husband...donotdepriveeachother,except perhapsbymutualconsentfora&me,tobe freeforprayer,butthenreturntoone another... (1Corinthians3,5) TheLambandHisCompanions 14
Here,thosewhohavenotbeen defiled [moluvnw,mol;oo ;no, polluted or soiled ],those virgins [parqevnoß,par;the ; nos, onewhohasneverhadintercourse ],are bererviewedmetaphoricallyasthosewhoare faithfultothelord,thosewhohavenot whored withworldly idols. Again,weturntoSt.Paulforsupport,who encouragesthecorinthiansbysaying: IamjealousofyouwiththejealousyofGod,sinceI betrothedyoutoonehusbandtopresentyouasa chastevirgintochrist. (2Corinthians11:2) Conversely,sexualunfaithfulnessor whoring isacommonmetaphorforidolatrythroughout theprophets. TheLambandHisCompanions 15
Isee.So,the144,000 virgins arethosewho Notme. haveremainedfaithfulto thelord. Ha,ha,haIguess you reoffthe hook TheLambandHisCompanions 16
Aswe vemoveddeeperinto Revela=on,tworadicallydifferent possibili=esemergeforhumanity: 1. eithertolovegodandkeephis commandments,placingourfaithin Christ,andlivingalife worthyofthe callingwehavereceived (Ephesians4:1); or 2. toworshipthebeast,rejec=nggod s teaching,rejec=nghisson,andlivinglife apartfromgod,oneofegoismandselfe interest. It sreallythatsimple. TheLambandHisCompanions 17
Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with everlasting good news to announce to those who dwell on earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. He said in a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, for his time has come to sit in judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water. A second angel followed, saying: Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that made all the nations drink the wine of her licentious passion. (14: 6-8) TheLambandHisCompanions 18
The other angelisdis=nctfromthosewho blewtheseventrumpets.thisangelcomes withaproclama=on: feargodandgivehim glory. Thissoundsverymuchlikeafinalchance,an ul=matum.thesharpdichotomybetween lovingandservinggodorlovingandserving the beast leavesnomiddleground,noroom forcompromise,sotypicalofthejohannine worldview. Thereiss=ll=metorepentandturnbackto thelord. ThatisthemessageJohngavetofiveofthe sevenchurchesinasiaminor: Whoeverhas earsoughttohearwhatthespiritsaystothe churches (2:7,17,29;3:13,22). TheLambandHisCompanions 19
Thesecondangelcriesout: Fallen,fallenisBabylonthegreat, thatmadeallthena&onsdrink thewineofherlicen&ouspassion. (14:6E8) AstheBabylonianEmpireaRackedand destroyedthe1 st TempleandJerusalemin586 B.C.,sohastheRomanEmpireaRackedand destroyedthe2 nd TempleandJerusaleminA.D. 70. Babylon isacodewordforrome.st.peter closeshisfirstepistlebysaying: Thechosen one[suneklektovß,sun;ek;lek;tos,from church, afemininenoun]atbabylonsends yougree&ng,asdoesmark,myson (1Peter5: 13). Peteriswri=ngfromRome. 20 TheLambandHisCompanions
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, Anyone who worships the beast or its image, or accepts its mark on forehead or hand, will also drink the wine of God s fury, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath, and will be tormented in burning sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb. The smoke of the fire that torments them will rise forever and ever, and there will be no relief day or night for those who worship the beast or its image or accept the mark of its name. Here is what sustains the holy ones who keep God s commandments and their faith in Jesus. (14: 9-12) TheLambandHisCompanions 21
Thethirdangelcriesoutinaloudvoice, threateningfireandbrimstoneforthosewho acceptthemarkofthebeasteethoseincahoots withtheinfernaltrinity.thevividimagery drawsonthedestruc=onofsodomand GomorrahinGenesisandmetaphorsheaped uponthecursedinisaiah,ezekiel,danieland theprophets: Theyshallgooutandseethecorpsesofthepeople whorebelledagainstme;fortheirwormshallnot die,theirfireshallnotbeex&nguished;andthey shallbeanabhorrencetoallflesh. (Isaiah66:24) Forthemodernreaderwhohearsonlyabout God sloveandmercy,thisistroublingimagery atbest,intolerableatworst. TheLambandHisCompanions 22
Yet,Jesususestheverysameimagery, evenquo=ngisaiah66:24 BeOerforyoutoenterthekingdomofGod withoneeyethanwithtwoeyestobethrown intogehenna,where theirwormdoesnotdie, andthefireisnotquenched. (Mark9:47) AndinJesus parableoftherichman [tradi=onallynamed Dives ],and Lazarus,thepoormaninLuke16: 19E31,oneofthepleasuresofLazarus asherestsin Abraham sbosom seemstobewatchingdivesroas=ngin thefiresofhell TheLambandHisCompanions 23
TopRegister:Lazarusattherich man sdoor,beggingforscraps. MiddleRegister:Lazarus soul carriedtoparadise,wherehe restsinabraham sbosom. BoRomRegister:Dives soul carriedtohell,whereheroasts intheflames ParableofLazarusandthePoorMan, CodexAureus Epternacensis(Illumina=on,fol.78r),c.1035E1040. GermanNa=onalMuseum,Nuremberg. TheLambandHisCompanions 24
Thisconceptofrewardand punishmentanerdeathhasalongand complexhistory. Whathappenswhenwedie? EarlyintheHebrewScripturesGodtells Abraham: You...willgotoyour ancestorsinpeace;youwillbeburied ataripeoldage (Genesis15:15). Thereisnothingaboutrewardor punishmenthere;abrahamwillsimply goinpeacetohisancestors. Wherethatwillbe,orwhatitwillbe like,isneveraddressed. TheLambandHisCompanions 25
InDavid sworld,1,000yearslater (c.1010e970b.c.),therealmofthedead becomesmuchdarker.davidwrites: Donotreprovemeinyouranger,Lord, norpunishmeinyourwrath. Havepityonme,Lord,forIamweak; healme,lord,formybonesareshuddering. Mysoultooisshudderinggreatly andyou,lord,howlong...? Turnback,Lord,rescuemysoul; savemebecauseofyourmercy. Forindeaththereisnoremembranceofyou, whopraisesyouinsheol? (Psalm6:1E6) ForDavid,reproofandpunishmenthappenin thislife;anerdeath,one scorpsesimplylies forgoreninthegrave,aplaceofno remembranceorpraise. TheLambandHisCompanions 26
David ssheolisaplaceofdarknesstowhichall soulsgo,righteousandunrighteousalike. Sheol sinhabitantsare shades, en==es withoutpersonali=esorstrength,whodrin about,chirpingandgibbering,withlirle,ifany, selfawareness. InBook11ofHomer sodyssey[wrirenshortly anerthe=meofdavid],odysseusvisitsthe landofthedeadinsearchoftiresias,theblind seerfromthebes.inhomer sworld,thedead becomesen=entonlybydrinkingblood[recall Levi=cus17:11 Thelifeofthefleshisinthe blood. ]. Havingsailedpasttheouterlimits,theOcean River sbounds,odysseusentersthelandofthe deadandpreparesabloodefeasttoawakenthe shades: TheLambandHisCompanions 27
AlessandroAllori. OdysseusQues=onstheSeerTiresias, TheStoryofOdysseus(fresco),c.1580. PalazzoSalvia=,Florence. Andoncemyvows andprayershadinvokedthena&onsofthedead, Itookthevic&ms,overthetrenchIcuttheirthroats andthedarkbloodflowedin andupoutoferebustheycame, flockingtowardmenow,theghostsofthedeadandgone... bridesandunwedyouthsandoldmenwhohadsufferedmuch andgirlswiththeirtenderheartsfreshlyscarredbysorrow andgreatarmiesofbaoledead,stabbedbybronzespears, menofwars&llwrappedinbloodyarmor thousands swarmingaroundthetrenchfromeveryside unearthlycries blanchingterrorgrippedme (11:38E48) TheLambandHisCompanions 28
That snoplacei dwanttogo,forsure Eventhoughthereisnorewardor punishmentinthisconceptoftheanerlife, thebleakemp=ness,thedarkanddreary atmosphere,andthelossofmemoryand Notme. selfiden=tyisfrightening likedescending intoeternaldemen=a Thatis scary TheLambandHisCompanions 29
Bythe2 nd Templeperiod(516B.C.EA.D.70),a morediversesetofideasdevelops.the Hebrew Sheol becomesthegreek a dhß, Hades thatwefindinluke sparableof LazarusandDives,aplacewheresen=ent beingsexistineternalblissoreternalpain, baseduponhowtheyhavelivedtheirearthly lives. Andthereisnomovementfromoneplaceto theother.recallinluke sparable,abraham saystodives: Mychild,rememberthatyoureceivedwhatwasgood duringyourlife&mewhilelazaruslikewisereceivedwhat wasbad;butnowheiscomfortedhere,whereasyouare tormented.moreover,betweenusandyouagreatchasm isestablishedtopreventanyonefromcrossingwhomight wishtogofromoursidetoyoursorfromyoursideto ours. (Luke16:25E26) 30 TheLambandHisCompanions
ThisconceptofHades orwhatislatercalled Hell reachesitsfullestdevelopmentinthe 14 th centurywithdante sdivinecomedy,and his33ecantoportrayaloftheinferno,adescent bydanteandvirgilthroughtheninecirclesof Hell,eachcirclereservedforpar=cular categoriesofsinners. AlthoughthereisfireinDante shell,it s landscapeisprimarilycold,darkandwindy,a placeofbirerisola=onwherepunishment consistsbothofphysicalpain(poenasensus) andspiritualpain,aterriblesenseofeternal loss(poenadamni). 1 1 See TheShiningLandscapeofHell, Comitatus:aJournalof MedievalandRenaissanceStudies.Vol.11(1980),40E65.Thiswas Dr.Creasy sfirstpublished,peerereviewedscholarlyar=cleasa youngph.d.student TheLambandHisCompanions 31
Hellmouth, TheHoursofCatherineofCleves (illuminatedmanuscript,ms945,fols.168ve169r),c.1434e1440. MorganLibraryandMuseum,NewYork.. TheLambandHisCompanions 32
TodaytheChurch steachingoneternal punishmentfocusesprimarilyonthissenseof loss(poenadamni),ofspendingeternityapart fromgod,anditisnotsomuchapunishment fromgod,asitisgodrespec=ngourchoiceto spendeternitywithouthim: WecannotbeunitedwithGodunlesswefreely choosetolovehim.butwecannotlovegodifwe singravelyagainsthim,againstourneighboror againstourselves...todieinmortalsinwithout repen&ngandaccep&nggod smercifullovemeans remainingseparatedfromhimforeverbyourown freechoice.thisstateofdefini&veself;exclusion fromcommunionwithgodandtheblessediscalled hell. CatechismoftheCatholicChurch,3033. TheLambandHisCompanions 33
Then I looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth s harvest is fully ripe. So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. (14: 14-16) TheLambandHisCompanions 34
Thethreeangels proclama=onsinrevela=on 14havesetthestageforGod sfinaljudgment andtheendofhumanhistory. Here,Revela=onportraysthefinaljudgmentin harves=ng imagery,drawndirectlyfrom Jesus teaching.jesus disciplesaskedhim: Explaintoustheparableoftheweedsinthefield. Hesaidinreply, HewhosowsgoodseedistheSon ofman,thefieldistheworld,thegoodseedthe childrenofthekingdom.theweedsarethechildren oftheevilone,andtheenemywhosowsthemisthe devil.theharvestistheendoftheage,andthe harvestersareangels.justasweedsarecollected andburned[up]withfire,sowillitbeattheendof theage. (MaRhew13:36E40) Jesus parableisabouttobecomereality. TheLambandHisCompanions 35
Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel [came] from the altar, [who] was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth s vines, for its grapes are ripe. So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God s fury. The wine press was trodden outside the city and blood poured out of the wine press to the height of a horse s bridle for two hundred miles. (14: 17-20) TheLambandHisCompanions 36
I vegotareally badfeeling aboutthis TheLambandHisCompanions 37
Thefirstreaping thegrainharvest speaksof gatheringtherighteous;thesecondharvest theharvestofthevineyard speaksof gatheringthewicked. TheprophetJoelprovidestheantecedentfor thevineyardharvest,thegatheringofthe wicked: Letthena&onsrousethemselvesandcomeup tothevalleyofjehoshaphat; ForthereIwillsitinjudgment uponalltheneighboringna&ons. Wieldthesickle,fortheharvestisripe; comeandtread,forthewinepressisfull; Thevatsoverflow,fortheircrimesarenumerous; crowdsuponcrowdsinthevalleyofdecision; FornearisthedayoftheLord inthevalleyofdecision. (Joel4:12E14) TheLambandHisCompanions 38
AndIsaiahintensifiestheimagery WhoisthisthatcomesfromEdom, incrimsonedgarments,frombozrah? Whoisthis,gloriousinhisapparel, stridinginthegreatnessofhisstrength? ItisI,Iwhoannouncevindica&on, mightytosave. Whyisyourapparelred, andyourgarmentslikeonewhotreadsthe winepress? ThewinepressIhavetroddenalone, andfromthepeoplesnoonewaswithme. Theirbloodspurtedonmygarments, allmyapparelistained. Foradayofvindica&onwasinmyheart, myyearforredeeminghadcome. (Isaiah63:1E4) TheLambandHisCompanions 39
. YikesI m out tahere TheLambandHisCompanions 40
Ourtransla=onreadsthat thewinepresswas troddenoutsidethecityandbloodpouredout ofthewinepresstotheheightofahorse s bridlefortwohundredmiles (14:20). Weshouldmaketwonoteshere: 1. Thewinepressisoutsideofthecity.Earlier,we notedthatinrevela=onthetemplereferstothe Churchandtheoutercourtyardreferstothe worldinopposi=ontothechurch.thus,those slaininthewinepressofgod swratharethose outsidethechurch,the deceivers and an=christs intheworldwhobearthemarkof thebeast,notthoseinthechurch,whoare sealed withthebloodofthelamb. 2. The twohundredmiles isliterallystadivwn cilivwn ejxakosivwn, 1,600stadia, asymbolic numberthatrepresents40 2 ;thatis,god s judgmentiscompleteandworldwideinscope. TheLambandHisCompanions 41
Inveryvividimagery,God s harves=ng the wicked,slicingthemfromthevineand throwingthemintothewinepressofhisfury, accompaniedbysplareringbloodandchunks ofgorecertainlymakesapoint Itisdifficulttooverstatetheconsequencesof rejec=nggod sgraceandofferofredemp=on. Butweshouldrememberthatinthisscene Godjudgesthoselivingontheearth,not thosewhohavedied.thefinaljudgmentof allhumanitywillcomelater,inrevela=on20, anerthedustserlesfromthebarleof Armageddon. TheLambandHisCompanions 42
Ques=onsfordiscussionandthought 1. WhoaretheLambandthe144,000standingwithhim onmt.zion? 2. WhereisMt.Zion? 3. Whyarethe144,000called virgins? 4. Whyistheimageryof God sfury displayedinsuch graphic,violentterms? 5. The harvestoftheearth is2efold:whoisharvested inthe field ;whoisharvestedinthevineyard? TheLambandHisCompanions 43
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