Revelation 14 reminds me of the shame and silence of abuse. Children do not know how to respond or resist. They know pain, they know helplessness, and they know anger. Survivors understand endurance. The abuser seldom takes responsibility nor expects judgement for the damage they cause. Today’s lesson is about God’s fury toward evil. John continues his observation of the certain fall of the beast. He writes: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” I believe these are the same group mentioned in Chapter 7, the Jewish remnant that God sealed with His protection. God does not force obedience on anyone. Each of us can choose to accept or reject His love (and all that comes with it). Next, John describes a very loud sound, coming from heaven that he ultimately deciphers: “they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders.” John adds that: “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Perhaps the song is not words and music, but an unrestrained expression of thanks uttered through perfect unity with God. The song spills out of joy. John writes: “They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” Their actions were the result of their faith in the living God. Their song brings hope to others.
Next, John describes three angels. The first “had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” He says: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him.” You cannot worship a weak god that you control. The perfect righteousness of God is a terrifying thing. The second angel follows with a message: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” I believe this represents a multitude of religious systems that lead hearts away from God Almighty. The lies will be exposed to all those seeking truth. A third angel followed, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast… they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury.” Jesus Christ took the fury of God for all who believe. In the end, every person will hear the full truth, and some will remain unwilling to turn from their unbelief. Christ will unburden the survivors.
John continues: “There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast.” He adds: “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep His commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” There are times when the corrupt flourish while the honest struggle. John is warning us not to be fooled. Things are never as they appear; the false promises will always leave you empty. Finally, John describes: “One like a Son of Man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” He is Messiah. An angel reports: “Take your sickle and reap… for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” With perfect knowledge and accuracy: “the earth was harvested.” Another angel is told to “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” Those being judged were then gathered like grapes and thrown into “the great winepress of God’s wrath.” The horrific destruction of those fighting against God is pictured as being “trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press.” No one will celebrate, but the prayers of the martyred saints will be answered. God’s anger against those who abuse His kids will not be restrained. My friend, are you a survivor?