Podcast Episode 26 (Condensed)
Welcome back to Wytinsea Writes! We wrapped up Revelation 13 last month. This month, we’re studying Revelation 14. If you missed last month, click here to read Revelation 13 blog or listen to the podcast episode. If this is your first time on my blog, start here with Revelation 1 blog. So, as a quick recap: John the Revelator has been caught up in the spirit. The Lord is showing him great and mighty visions of the end times.
Let’s begin with Revelation 14:1-2 NLT, “Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.”
So, John saw the Lamb (Jesus). This vision shows Jesus having returned to Jerusalem at the end of the tribulation. Not only that, but Jesus is ready to initiate His kingdom on earth. 144,000 Jewish believers survived the tribulation and triumphed over all the chaos and turmoil. This is the same 144,000 from Revelation 7:4 as well. Just like Satan will mark His supporters with the numbers 666, God will mark His with the name of the Lamb. This indicates that they belong to Christ. The 144,000 ministered faithfully during the 1st half of the tribulation.
Heaven is a place of pure worship and celebration. The many harpists playing may indicate how they are joyfully welcoming the end of the tribulation and the celebration of Jesus’s reign on earth. Verses 3-5 states, “This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. 5 They have told no lies; they are without blame.”
The four living beings have been mentioned several other times before. In Revelation 4, the four living beings surrounded God’s throne and worshipped Him. This is happening again here. The words of the song is a mystery to us, but we at least know they exalted His name and praised Him in some way. The scripture goes on to let us know that they refrained from idolatry and worshipping the evil beast. They waited for the bridegroom (Jesus) to return to His bride (the believers) and celebrate the marriage supper on earth. These believers have been redeemed and washed in the blood of the Lamb (read Matthew 25:1-13).
Revelation 14:5 lets us know that these believers stood ten toes down for Christ. When faced with both beasts, they remained honest, unmoved, and rooted in God. Verses 6-7 says, “And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
Verses 6-7 shows how merciful and longsuffering God is. He still grants one final opportunity for them to repent and turn to Him. It doesn’t say that the people surrendered and received it. But I believe that these verses show us just how wicked the human heart is when they refuse to repent. Up to this point, so much has occurred in the tribulation period. Chaos, turmoil, persecution, deception, and destruction. Yet, God is still offering one more chance for them to turn to Him. These situations and scriptures help prove that there is no excuse for humanity. Humanity doesn’t reject God because they are so confused or unaware about Him. They reject God because they love the world, evilness, and their own sinful nature. As mentioned in the scripture, the angel is urging the people to reverence the Lord. This is a war cry. This is a plea to the world.
Verse 7 states, “Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.” This verse is so symbolic in nature. The bible depicts Babylon as the location of demonic activity from the days of Noah’s flood until the fall at the end of the tribulation period (that’s not good). Babylon is notorious for wickedness, blasphemy, immoral tendencies, and idolatry. I encourage you to read Daniel 3:1-7, Jeremiah 51:7, Daniel 5, and Jeremiah 50:38 where Babylon is described and discussed.
As the chapter continues, the warning does as well. Verses 9-11 says, “Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand 10 must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
God’s wrath of wine is also mentioned in Psalm 75:8. Those who refuse to repent will find it extremely hard to drink the wine of God’s wrath. They will be destroyed with fire. So, all who reject Christ and refuse to humble themselves and repent will sent to damnation—the lake of fire. There will be no more mercy for them. There will be no more grace extended for their wickedness. They will burn forever and ever.
This sentiment is not just limited to the end times during the tribulation period. It is true today as well. When our time is up on earth, if we did not repent of our sins and turned to God before we took our last breath, we’re going to hell. If we lived a double life, walked in lukewarmness or straddled the fence, or lived in secret sin, when we’re hit with death (in which we all will be), we will not go to heaven. It doesn’t matter how much we gave tithes, offering, went to church every Sunday, cried while watching our favorite online sermons, feed the needy, or even supported our family. If we did not repent of our sins with a true heart, turn away from our sins, and accepted Jesus into our heart as Lord and Savior, we will burn with fire. And I say that in love with no intention on “scaring you into salvation”. Please know that God doesn’t get pleasure out of sending anyone to hell (Ezekiel 18:23). In Proverbs 29:1 says, “Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.” I know that may be hard to process for some. But yes, the same God who is kind, loving, and merciful, is also a consuming fire who will send stubborn, unrepented sinners to hell.
As Revelation 14 continues, it says in verses 12-13, “This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” The thing about faith is that when it is genuine, it shows up during the hard times.
1 Peter 1:7 NLT states, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” This scripture lets us know that there is a reward for the faithful few, but we must hold on and stay strong. The good news is that God is a man of His word (Numbers 23:19). He will reward those who have suffered well and persevered through.
The truth is that we will either die in Christ or in sin.
In Christ= eternity in Heaven (paradise)
In sin= damnation/Hell/lake of fire
Now, the chapter continues with describing the harvest on earth. Revelation 14:14-16 says, “Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.”
The Lord shows John this in the vision. I can’t help but think that the crown represents Christ’s return to earth to reign as King. For years, decades, and centuries, God has delayed His return and judgment upon the earth. He has (and still is currently) giving sinners ample time to turn to Him and seek forgiveness of their sins. But if we recall the days of Noah, the people did not repent (Genesis 6-8). A sickle, as described in verse 15 is a curved, sharp agricultural tool. Therefore, the “sickle” (God’s judgement) will be swung every way, striking the “harvest” (unrepented sinners). Basically, those who reject God will reap their bad harvest. God’s judgement will be vicious, swift, and just. The sickle is symbolic and repents how God is going to destroy those who refuse to repent. In this chapter, the whole earth was “harvested” or reaped. No one could run and hide. No one could escape God’s mighty and vicious judgement. The bible says in Romans 6:23 that the “wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life”.
I urge everyone reading this blog, don’t wait until God swings His sickle on the earth because I can promise you, it’s too late to turn back then. You will not have time to get it right when God’s judgment is unleashed on earth. It’s like the world is poking the bear, poking the bear, and poking the bear until it has had enough. Only thing is, God is mightier than a bear and His wrath is far greater than an angry bear. We must repent now. Not tomorrow, not next month, not when the time “seems” right, but now.
The ending of this chapter only gets more intense, but it is necessary for us to understand. Revelation 14:17-20 ends by saying, “After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.”
The ending is also very symbolic as well. Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see should listen and understand. Mature grapes = evil, unrepented sinners reaching their climax. The use of grapes depicts the results of God’s judgment on sin during the last days. So, God is granting permission to another angel to swing their sickle on the earth, with the grapes representing evil unbelievers. I encourage you to read Isaiah 63:2-4 because it is similar in how it mentions winepress, grapes, and avenging people.
Think about the process of a winepress. Red grapes are crushed and torn, releasing wine. I don’t mean to be graphic, but God uses the analogy of pressed grapes, wine, and unrepented sinners for a reason. In the last days, those who reject God will be ripped apart, creating a very high stream of blood. The city that is referenced in the ending verses of Revelation 14 is likely Jerusalem, but we have no true knowledge of that (just a thought). Regardless of whether this verse is literal or symbolic, God’s judgement will come. His wrath will hit the world. As we’ve seen in other parables of the bible, when God sends His swift judgement, it can be blood, gory, and extremely horrific. When Jesus defeat His enemies (all those who refuse to repent, partook in wickedness, and sold out to the doctrine of the devil), it will be devastating!
I am sounding the alarm! Don’t be caught in the crossfire! Don’t fall for the okey doke! Repent now! Turn to God now! There is nothing on the earth that draws you to sin that will grant you more pleasure than a life of eternity with God can do. It’s not worth it. The scamming, the lying, the fornication, the stealing, the evilness, the sorcery, the double life, the secret sin… none of it is worth your soul going to hell over. If you’re in too deep, cry out to God now. Call on Him to help you, rescue you, and change your life. Don’t sit in desolation and darkness like that. Invite God into your heart.
Key word: invite. You know why? Because God will never force His way in your life. He will never force you to love Him, spend time with Him, talk/pray to Him, or anything. God is too righteous, mighty, and wonderful to beg for a relationship with you. On the other hand, He longs to be a part of your life, but He loves you so much, he wants to be invited in. If He “makes” you repent and “make” you have a relationship with Him, it wouldn’t be genuine on your end. That’s why we have free will. But despite the free will, God’s word says in Ecclesiastes 11:9, “Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.” That means, you will be judged for the way that you lived your life.
God loves us. He wants a relationship with us. Romans 5:8 ESV reminds us, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That is how special we are to God. He sent His only son to die for our sins (John 3:16), so why wouldn’t He desire intimacy with us? When we repent and turn to God, He promises to “give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).
If you’re reading this today, I pray that fear has not gripped you. All fear is of the devil. Instead, I hope this bible study has provided clarity and unleashed a new level of knowledge unto you about the end times. I pray that it has convicted your heart, just as it has done for me. Jesus is just, loving, and kind, but He will return to earth and unleash His judgement one day. All those who rejects Him will be destroyed. Don’t wait until the angels pull the sickle out on you. Turn to God now, not later. I pray that this bible study has encouraged your faith to keep holding on, keep pressing forward, keep fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Your reward is near.
The best thing I did in 2018 was rededicate my life back to Christ. I came out of lukewarmness, straddled a fence, and deep in sin. So, I speak from experience not a place of “holier than thou”. The best thing we can do is give our life to Christ. When we repent with a true heart, all of our sins are washed away. He remembers them no more. And Romans 8:1 is a beautiful reminder that, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Hallellujah! I challenge you to turn to Christ. Your life will be spared in doing so. So, as you reflect on this bible study, remember Isaiah 41:13. It states ESV, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” God will help you from now until you take your last breath. The walk with Christ is not easy, but with God holding your hand, you will survive every form of attack, warfare, persecution, temptation, and misfortune that may come your way. Because in the end, your reward will come. I leave you with Matthew 5:12 ESV, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…”
Until next time, with Wytinsea Writes! Like, share, and comment below this blog. Share it with someone whose soul you care about. See ya next month!