REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:1 The vision sequence leading to
the seven last plagues (which will be described as “bowls” of
God’s wrath, Revelation 16:1) opens and closes with scenes of a
heavenly choir singing praise to God (Revelation 14:1; Revelation
15:2). Between these anthems, John sees th... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:3 The NEW SONG celebrates God’s
triumph over sin through the Lamb (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 15:3).
God’s prior victories were also celebrated in new songs (Psalms
98:1). The song belongs only to those who have experienced the
Lamb’s redemption (Psalms 107:1). This... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:4 HAVE NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH
WOMEN, FOR THEY ARE VIRGINS. Soldiers often avoided having sex during
the wars God commanded (see Deuteronomy 23:9; 1 Samuel 21:5). The
144,000 (Revelation 14:3) represent believers of both sexes who die in
faith and are gathered as... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:8 ANOTHER ANGEL announces that
BABYLON is FALLEN (echoing Isaiah 21:9). Babylon was the greatest
power of its day. Babylon conquered Judah. In John’s day, Rome was
the nation with “dominion over the kings of the earth” (Revelation
17:18) that oppressed Christ’s peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:9 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT GOES
UP FOREVER AND EVER. Hell is eternal. The wicked do not cease to exist
when they die.
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REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:14 Two reapers appear in heaven,
sharp sickles in hand. Angels emerge from the temple with God’s
order to “Put in your sickle, and reap.” First “one like a son
of man” gathers the grain of the earth. Then an angel gathers grapes
from the earth’s vine. These will be c... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:15 The HARVEST OF THE EARTH
probably is the Son of Man gathering believers (compare Matthew
13:30).
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(var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 14:17 The second harvest involves
cutting grape clusters from the vine and crushing them in God’s
winepress. This pictures the destruction of the wicked (compare Joel
3:12). TRODDEN. The Lord will trample nations that have trampled
God’s holy city, just as Isaiah promis... [ Continue Reading ]