Revelation Chapter Fourteen
(Chapter 14 from Dr. Hyle's excellent book, Let's Study The Revelation)
Verse 1:
"A LAMB " should be "the Lamb. "You will remember that the 144,000 were spoken of in chapter seven. They are twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel who are going to preach the Gospel of Jesus during the tribulation. Here we find them mentioned again. This chapter shows them at the end of the tribulation as they are rewarded for their works.
Even though the world is to be at its worst period in history, there will still be 144,000 who are true to the Lord. Always there is a remnant for Jesus. Even in these dark hours, there are some who love the Lord and His work and preach the truth. Let us thank God for those who stand for the truth and hold them high in prayer.
Notice that they wear the name of God on their heads. The translation should be, "HIS NAME AND HIS FATHER’S. " In other words, they will wear Jesus’ name and the Father’s name on their foreheads. They are not ashamed. God help us to wear His name so men might know that we are His. These will have a new name. When a woman marries, she adopts the name of her husband. So it is with us. When we see Jesus we will wear His name.
Verse 2:
Notice that John said that he heard the voice of harpers; Heaven’s harps will play for these who have been faithful.Verse 3:
These 144,000 will sing a new song together. What a choir that will be! They will not be able to sing the old songs because they all pertained to events that will already have happened at that time. For example, they cannot sing, "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, " because the roll will have already been called when this happens.Verses 4-5:
Several things that should be noted about these are:They are chaste. The word "VIRGIN " means "chaste " or "pure. " They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. This is exactly what every Christian should do. Many say that they take Jesus with them wherever they go. You cannot do this unless you follow Him wherever He goes. Our job is to follow Jesus and not to take Him anywhere. The most wonderful place in the world is to be in the center of the will of God. Their mouths were pure. How wonderful to see a person who sins not with him mouth. They are without fault before God. This means blameless. God saw them as blameless in His sight.
Verse 6:
Some say that this is one of several different gospels. I believe that there is only one Gospel and that the only one is salvation by grace through faith.Verse 7:
Notice the words, "LOUD VOICE, " repeated over and over again, denoting the urgency of the occasion.Notice the words, "THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME. " God’s judgment has come before, and yet this is the greatest hour of judgment when God’s wrath is completely poured out upon the earth. What we are about to see is God’s wrath without any mercy.
Verse 8:
This verse no doubt points to chapters 17 and 18 when political and ecclesiastical Babylon shall be destroyed. Notice, "FALLEN, " mentioned twice, means that both Babylons shall fall.Verse 9-11:
Now comes the punishment upon the unbelievers who have worshiped the Beast. Notice the different statements about the punishment.It is without mixture. This means it is unmixed. It is pure wrath not mixed with mercy, love or grace. It is God’s power given completely in anger.
"THE CUP OF HIS INDIGNATION " means the cup of His anger. God has been holding His anger in check, but at this final day God will be an angry God with no mercy upon the unbeliever.
They will be tormented with fire and brimstone (sulphur). There is no fire as painful, nauseating, and hot as burning sulphur or brimstone.
Notice in whose presence the punishment will be-in the presence of the holy angels and the Son of God. What humiliation!
The punishment of the unbeliever will last forever. Hell is eternal fire punishing Christ-rejecters forever and ever. Verse 11.
The unbelievers will have no rest again. This means no relief from suffering. There will be no anesthetic to deaden the pain.
Verse 12-13:
You will notice in verse 13 that at this time in the latter days of the tribulation period even the Christians will be better off if they die. The reasons are:
- They can rest from their labors (This is in direct contrast to verse 11 prohibiting rest).
- Their works do follow them.
T hey shall be rewarded for their labors for God.
"THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON"
The following verses deal with the coming Battle of Armageddon. This battle gets its name from Revelation 16:16. A study of this is in order because of the widespread ignorance about the battle. Some thought World War I might be Armageddon; still others thought World War II might be it; others were concerned about the Korean War. Let us note several things concerning this battle:
It is a literal battle. It is not a battle between nations. It cannot be fought as long as we Christians are here. It will happen after the rapture. It is between Jesus and the Antichrist and his forces. It closes the seven years of tribulation. It ushers in the millennium.
Verse 13:
The word "CLOUD " means "a special, prepared cloud. " Acts 1:11 says Jesus will come again as He went away. He went away in the clouds. He will come again in the clouds.The Son of Man spoken of in this verse is undoubtedly Jesus.
You will notice that He has a golden crown upon His head.
He left this world with a crown of thorns as the suffering Saviour...He will return with a golden crown as the conquering King!
Verse 15:
The word "THRUST " means "to throw. "Notice that this sickle is to be thrust in the earth in order to reap the harvest. The only harvest one can reap is the product of that which has been sown. Galatians 6:7 certainly proves this; hence, the earth will reap what she has sown. For two thousand years she has sown sin and rebellion against God; therefore, she will reap the wrath of God.
"RIPE " means "rotten. " That will be the condition of the world. Once again we find that this world is not going to get better; rather, at the time of reaping it will be rotten.
Verse 16:
This is a climactic verse. It is the thrusting in of God’s sickle of judgment. The word "ON " means "against. " God’s judgment is going to be against this earth.Verses 17-18:
Here we find another sickle and another thrusting. This one is not the harvest of the earth, but the harvest of the vine of the earth. Just as Christ is the True Vine, the Antichrist is the vine of the earth. Just as we Christians are on the True Vine, even so, unbelievers will be on the false vine (Antichrist). In verse 18 it says that her grapes are fully rotten.Verse 19:
The grapes on the vine will be cast into the great winepress. A winepress is a big trough or vat for the treading and smashing of grapes in order for the juice to be made into wine. The wicked shall be put in God’s winepress and trampled upon.Verse 20:
When the wicked have been trampled upon in God’s winepress, this verse says the blood will come out and form a river two hundred miles long, that will come up to the horses’ bridles. Men scoff at such a prophesy. Let us be reminded that when Titus destroyed Jerusalem, Josephus tells us that the blood ran along the streets and into the houses, even putting out some of the fires!When Cylla destroyed Athens, the blood was in the streets and yards and ran through the gates like a river. Let us thank God that through the shedding of the blood of His Son, we will avoid this terrible shedding of man’s blood.
INTRODUCTION: In order that we might understand better the preparation for the Battle of Armageddon, we need to understand the par Russia is going to play in the end-time. To understand this, turn to Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Some say this has already been fulfilled; however, since chapter 37 deals with the final millennium, chapters 38 and 39 must take place between two preceding events. The only period between these two events is the seven years tribulation. That these chapters could be fulfilled soon is proved by the recent recognition of Israel as a State and their acceptance into the United Nations. Let us look at these two chapters:
EZEKIEL 38:1-2:
"GOG " means the "chief prince of Rosh. " The word "Rosh " is the root word for Russia.
"MAGOG " means the "land of the prince " (the word "Gog " meaning "prince, " and the word "Ma " meaning "land "). Historians say that this land is located around the Black Sea. All of us know that this is the location of Russia.
The words "MESHECH " and "TUBAL " represent tribes which settled in the vicinity of Magog. They settled in the places now known as the Russian cities of Moscow and Tobolsk.
EZEKIEL 38:9:
This verse teaches that when Russia does attack Palestine she will come (1) Like a storm (Russia is now planning a standing army of sixty million men), and (2) Like a cloud. Perhaps this refers to Russia’s tremendous emphasis on paratroopers. On September 16, 1935, the Russian papers told of a Russian paratrooper experiment that "obscured the sky like a cloud. " Little did they know that they were quoting Scripture.
EZEKIEL 38:11:
Contrary to the past, the new villages in Palestine are all unwalled as the Scripture predicts.
EZEKIEL 38:12-13:
These verses show why Russia will come into Palestine-to get riches. There is more wealth in the bottom of the Dead Sea than in all of the United States of America. There are chemicals worth one and one fourth trillion dollars in the Dead Sea. Russia wants that wealth.
EZEKIEL 38:15:
You will notice that one of the main arms of Russia’s army will be a cavalry. Many people say this proves the fallacy of this Scripture. Notice two things:
- Russia has been buying up the world’s horses for years, and now owns almost three-fourths of all the horses in the world.
- For years Russia has been breeding a new super-horse.
EZEKIEL 38: 5, 6:
Notice the allies who will come with Russia:
- PERSIA-In 1936 Russia and Persia signed a treaty strengthening their friendship. Persia is now called Iran, and is now antagonistic toward the British and the Americans. Several years ago Iran asked the American troops to leave the country. The reason that Russia will ally with Iran is that one-fourth of the world’s oil is in this little country.
- ETHIOPIA-Some say this is ancient Ethiopia and perhaps this is true. However, it is interesting to notice that the little country of Ethiopia is extremely friendly with Russia and has been since the Italian-Ethiopian War in the late 1930’s.
- LIBYA-This is located in the general vicinity of Egypt that has been a hotbed of international strife for the last decade.
- GOMER-Gomer was the originator of a tribe named after Japheth’s son, which migrated into what became Eastern Germany and Poland. Russia has both today. So you can see the division of Germany was not news to God.
- TOGARMAH-This was a tribe which settled in Armenia. Armenia is now Turkey. Russia has always wanted Turkey and will have her some day.
From Turkey to Haifa to Megiddo (the valley of the Battle of Armageddon) is a straight run.
EZEKIEL 38:18:
As Russia comes on Palestine the fury of God will be aroused.
EZEKIEL 38:19:
He will send an earthquake.
EZEKIEL 38:23:
He will defeat Russia.
EZEKIEL 39:2:
Five-sixths of Russia will be destroyed.
EZEKIEL 39:12:
It will take seven months for Israel to bury all the Russians.
CONCLUSION: Jesus wins the victory at Armageddon. The nations of this earth are overturned. The Battle of Armageddon is over, and the Millennium is begun. Praise God, He will be the Victor.
DANIEL 2 - THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES
INTRODUCTION: In order to understand the true significance of the Battle of Armageddon we must understand the second chapter of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the world empire of Babylon. He is the chief character of this chapter.
Verse 29:
Nebuchadnezzar was lying upon his bed thinking about what would come to pass after his death. He was interested in the future! Would to God that all Christians were interested in the future. If one is willing to pay the price in Bible study, he will find that the course of events is outlined completely in the Word of God. It is a sin for a Christian not to know prophecy.Verses 31-35:
While laying on his bed Nebuchadnezzar saw an image described in these verses. Daniel revealed to him the image, and in verse 36 prepares to give the interpretation of the image. The image had a head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay.Verses 37-38:
In these verses we find that Babylon, the world empire, was the head of gold. In following verses we will find that this image represents the entire Gentile dominion over the world. All of the Gentile kingdoms that will ever rule the world are mentioned in this image.Verse 39:
This verse teaches that another world kingdom will conquer Babylon. This kingdom is mentioned in Daniel 5:31 as the Median Kingdom, which united with Persia and ruled the world. Still another kingdom is mentioned in this verse that would conquer the Median-Persian Kingdom and rule the world. This was fulfilled when Alexander the Great conquered the world for Greece.Verse 40:
Another kingdom was to conquer Greece. History tells us that Rome conquered Greece and was the next world empire. You will recall when Jesus was born-all the world was taxed by the Roman Empire.Another interesting fact is that we are down to the legs of the image, denoting the split in the Roman Empire that took place four or five hundred years after the birth of Christ.
Verse 41:
This is the only part of the image that has not yet been fulfilled. No kingdom has conquered the world since Rome. This chapter and other chapters of the Bible (Daniel 7) teach that these toes represent ten kingdoms that will form a revised Roman Empire. This has not happened yet, but is in the making. It will be simply a United States of Europe and will be headed, according to Daniel 7, by the Antichrist himself. When this federation is complete, and the religious federation previously studied about in Revelation 13 is complete, the stage will be set for the Battle of Armageddon.Verses 44-45:
The vision showed a stone smiting the image and becoming a great mountain, filling the whole earth. Verse 44 shows that this stone is the kingdom that will break down the kingdoms of this world and will cover the whole earth. This is the millennium.This kingdom shall never be destroyed. It is set up by the God of Heaven. It will consume all other kingdoms. It shall stand forever. It will not be a man-made kingdom. It is cut out "without hands. "
The King will be Jesus, the Stone rejected by the builders, the Rock of Ages.
CONCLUSION: Per chance there be some who would doubt the authenticity of this interpretation, God has an answer for this verse 45b- "The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."
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