The Book Of Revelation

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< > Chapter Six The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3 The 144,000 Christians, the angelic messengers, the two harvests. Rev14 In Rev.14. we see events that occur on the last day of this age. In Rev.14v1-5., we see those who have the Saviour's mark, who sharply contrast with those in Rev.13, who had Antichrist’s mark. In Rev.14v6-20., three angels preach to the whole world in the hours of the great tribulation, something that has never occurred before. Two harvests follow, the gathering of the 144,000 and the harvesting of the Church for glory, and the harvesting of the wicked for destruction when Jesus returns. Who are the 144,000? This number is not symbolic, for God tells us when He means a great multitude. Rev.7v9. 20v8. This number of 144,000 is no more symbolic than the 7,000 who are slain in the earthquake of Rev.11v13. The 144,000 are obviously a select body, for only a few Christians have reached the standard of purity of these godly saints, for God says that even in the searching light and purity of Heaven, no fault can be found in them. “No guile or falsehood is in their mouths,” they say what they mean, and no idle and deceitful words pass their lips, they are conformed to the image of Christ. Rev.21v5. 3v7. They are “first fruits,” and this means first fruits in excellence rather than first fruits in time. James.1v18. Only the prime fruits and the best of the harvest was good enough to be offered to God. Since the rest of the Church is resurrected at the same time as the first fruits, it cannot mean that they are resurrected before the rest of the Christians. 1Cor.15v51-53. It can hardly refer to them being first fruits in comparison with the harvest 1,000 years later, when the rest of the dead are raised, for the whole Christian Church would be the first fruits compared with that resurrection. To take the word first fruit strictly in a time sense is quite wrong, for God is merely showing the nature of the fruit by this term. The first fruits are the best of the harvest. The 144,000 are described as being like pure men and pure virgin women. This does not mean that they remain unmarried, for the Scripture states that marriage is honourable and does not defile. 1Tim.4v1-3. 1Cor.7v38. 9v5. Heb.13v4. By the grace of God these Christians have attained a beautiful purity of soul and spirit, and they stand before God free from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 2Cor.7v1. The blood of Jesus has cleansed them from all sin, and enabled them to walk in victory over sin. Lev.21v16-24. Tit.2v14. Eph.1v4. Phil.2v14-16. Jude.v24. They walk in love to God and man and no fault is found in them. They are dove-like and lamb-like in their souls, and they will rule the world with Jesus, “and follow the Lamb wherever He goes,” Rev.17v14. Lk.19v17. 1Pet.2v21,22. These Christians share the rule of the Millennial kingdom with the Old Testament overcomers of Rev.7v1-8.. We see from Rev.19v7-9. and Eph.5v25-27., that many Christians besides these will also be given white garments for their righteous lives, and receive a “well done.” However, Rev.14v1-5., shows us that there are only a limited number of positions available for Millennial rulers. It states in Rev.14v1., that the 144,000 have the name of Christ's Father written in their foreheads; this is the promise given to the overcomer in Rev.3v12.. How wonderful to have the seal of God on you to signify that you have passed with first class honours, and that you will be forever in closest fellowship with Jesus and the Father. Only those who have passed the most difficult trials and temptations and proved their ability to love and care for people like Jesus, will rule with Him. It is a striking fact that God desires Christians to love one another with the same love that He loves the Church. Jn.17v23. 15v9. 13v34. How wonderful this day will be, when Jesus comes to reign! No adjectives are adequate to describe the glory of this occasion, the blinding glory, the tremendous thunderings of majestic harmonies, the rapturous joy of the redeemed billions of God's children, and the indescribable love, peace, harmony, and joyful expectant faith of God’s kingdom. Hallelujah! May this glorious day come soon. On this wonderful day the 144,000 have a song that only they can sing. There can be no doubt that in this song, they sing of the great grace that had redeemed them, and that it was this grace that had made them victorious, and appointed them to be rulers with Christ. With all other saints they will cast their crowns before Him through whose grace alone they had managed to win the victory. Which Mount Zion is referred to here? The Scriptures tell us that there is a heavenly Mount Zion as well as an earthly one, which is a part of the heavenly Jerusalem. Heb.12v22-25. However, Rev.14v1., could be the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies of Christ reigning from the Jerusalem which is rebuilt at the start of the Millennium. Ps.2v6. Joel.2v32. Micah.4v7. Is.24v23. Zech.14v1-21. When Jesus returns, Antichrist's armies have devastated Jerusalem and are gathered around it like a crowd of vultures around a corpse. Mt.24v27,28. Lk.17v36,37. 21v20-27. Rev.17v16-18. 18v1 to 19v21. When the feet of Jesus touch the Mount of Olives, the greatest earthquake the world has ever known will take place, the landscape of Israel and all the world is greatly altered, all the land is “turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon.” Zech.14v5,10. Rev.6v12. 11v19. 16v18-21. This earthquake splits Jerusalem into three parts, and covers some of it with the waters of the great new river of Ezek.47v1-12. We read that the end of the old city will be with a flood. Ps.48v46. Dan.9v26. Zech.14v4,5,8-10. The new city will be built upon the new mountain that is formed to the north of the present site. Ps.48v2. The vision of Rev.14v1-5. is at the start of the Millennial kingdom, and here again we see how wonderfully God has written this book and connected one vision with another. After seeing the mark and evil rule of the Beast, we see those who have the mark of God upon them, who righteously rule the world with Jesus. The loving rule of these godly and guileless souls sharply contrasts with the rule of the often two-faced, crafty and evil politicians and rulers of this present evil world. We thank God for godly exceptions like Joseph and Daniel. “Guile,” “dolos,” occurs, in Mt.26v4. Mk.7v22. 14v1. Jn.1v47. Acts.13v10. Rom.1v29. 2Cor.12v16. 1Pet.2v1,22. 3v10. Rev.14v5. The Message of the First Angel. Rev.14v6,7. The first angel proclaims “an everlasting gospel unto them that dwell on the earth,---and he said with a great voice, 'Fear God, and give Him glory; for the hour of His judgement is come: and worship Him who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It is not “to euaggelion aionion,” “the everlasting good news,” but “euaggelion aionion,” “everlasting good news,” or it can be translated, “gospel of the ages.” An angel tells the world that the kingdom of God is about to commence with its untold ages of bliss, and the angel tells the conditions of entering into the glorious kingdom, wholehearted repentance and turning to God. The angels warns of judgement on the unrepentant and blessing for the repentant. The angel's message will truly be wonderful good news for a world that has suffered destruction, death and misery through Antichrist's evil activities. God warns that He will use the very creation He has made, to judge the wicked. Lk.21v25. However, before God judges the wicked He gives space for repentance. 2Pet.3v7-9. The longsuffering of God is absolutely wonderful, He has striven with both angels and men, for untold thousands of years, but judgement is the only possible end for the wilfully impenitent, who despise “the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering.” Gen.6v3-5. Rom.2v1-11. The Message of the Second Angel. Rev.14v8. Is.21v9. Jer.50v2. 51v8. This angel announces that “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The angel tells of God's judgement upon the impure and wicked city that had defiled every nation under heaven with its Satan and Antichrist worship. There is a tremendous rise in the study of the occult, this contact with, and worship of the powers of darkness, is an abomination to God and is expressly forbidden by Him, for it defiles and perverts the soul. Lev.19v31. 20v6,27. Deut.18v19,20. 2Kings.21v6. Exod.22v18. with 1Sam.28v6,7. and 1Chron.10v13,14. Acts.16v16-18. 19v19. Is.8v19,20. 1Cor.10v20,21. 1Tim.4v1. 1Jn.4v1-5. 2Thes.2v9-12. with Rev.12v12. 13v13,14. The angel announces the fall of Jerusalem; and we have to decide which fall it is, for there are three falls of Jerusalem in the last few days of the great tribulation. The first fall occurs when Antichrist destroys a great part of Jerusalem a few days before the Lord returns. Rev.17v16. 18v1-4. Mt.24vv28. Lk.21v20-24. The second fall of Jerusalem occurs at the great earthquake, which occurs when the two witnesses are resurrected and caught up to Heaven. Rev.11v11-14. The third fall occurs when the feet of the Lord Jesus touch the Mount of Olives, and Jerusalem is devastated by the tremendous earthquake which then occurs, and the flood that follows it. The fall that the second angel announces must then be either the first or second fall we have just mentioned, because the third angel, warns everyone against continuing to follow Antichrist on pain of eternal damnation, this warning would be pointless if the Lord Jesus had returned and destroyed Antichrist and his armies, whose destruction occurs immediately before the third fall of Jerusalem. God states in Rev.14v13., that at this time Christians are still dying for their faith, this shows that Jesus has not returned and the resurrection and rapture of the Church have not yet taken place. Indeed, Rev.14v13., states that Christians will still face death for Christ's sake for a little while yet. The harvests of the earth follow the messages of these angels, it is after these angelic announcements that the Church is resurrected and raptured, and the wrath of the Lamb is poured out. Rev.14v10. Rev.16v19. 18v21. 19v2. This reference to the fall of Babylon gives us the approximate time when the angels give their messages. We know that this sacking of Jerusalem occurs about four days or so, before the end of the great tribulation, when the Two Witnesses are killed, up to this time Jerusalem has been the throne of the Beast. Rev.16v10. Thus we see that when the Two Witnesses are killed God continues to speak through angelic ministry. The Message of the Third Angel. Rev.14v9-13. This third angel tries to turn people to the way of righteousness by arming men against the fear of the Beast by warning them of the greater fear of Hell. This angel warns that if anyone worships and follows Antichrist from this time forward, they will be doomed to eternal punishment. At this stage of events, people will see the awful desolation and destruction about them, and the dreadful wickedness of Antichrist. They will also see God as He is, and His wonderful plans, through the ministry of these mighty angels, so at this time, anyone who turns their back on God will have made up their minds in full light to sin for ever, and so are unreconcilable, and when Jesus returns, they will defiantly fight Him, and blaspheme Him to His face. Rev.16v21. 19v19. Ps.2v1-5. When people see the misery that their sin has caused and say, “I love evil, and I am still going to be evil, and I hate God and righteousness,” God cannot show mercy. It would be wicked to be merciful and forgive those who are unrepentant and love evil, and have determined to sin for ever. Jn.9v41. 15v22-25. We need to realise that there is no contradiction between the hymn-writers words, “For the love of God is broader than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the eternal, is most wonderfully kind,” and the words in Rev.14v10,11., where the angel states that those who continue to follow Antichrist will be confined in Hell. The angel states that the followers of Antichrist, “shall be tried ("basanizo") with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; v11. And the smoke of their trial ("basanismos") ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.” In Rev.14v10., “he shall be tormented in fire,” is “basanisthesetai en puri;” which Young, in his "Concise Critical Comments, says literally means he shall be "tried in fire," which shows that the thought of being tested or tried can definitely apply here. “Basanisthesetai," is the third person singular future passive indicative of “basanizo,” it is used here in Rev.14v10., of the test and examination by Christ and the holy angels of the souls of the wicked in Hell. The justice of Heaven is based on love, mercy, and righteousness, it would be impossible for people in Heaven to be happy if there was anyone in Hell who was genuinely repentant and desired and loved righteousness, so everyone has to see the unrepentant love of evil in the wicked in Hell, and so know beyond any shadow of doubt that justice has been done. Rev.14v10. 20v10. Mt.8v29. Mk.5v7. Lk.8v28. The verb “basanizo,” to test or try, from "basanos," a touchstone; is used of any severe trial that produces distress, such as the physical trial and distress caused by disease, Mt.8v6. (4v24.); or trial caused by severe persecution, as is represented by the birth pangs of the woman of Rev.12v2.; or the severe spiritual trial and mental anguish and distress that Lot experienced through living in Sodom. 2Pet.2v8. It can speak of a boat being tried or tossed by the waves. Mt.14v24. Mk.6v48. It is also used of the trials and suffering inflicted on the wicked on earth through the judgements of God. Rev.9v5. 11v10. In Rev.14v11., the A.V. "the smoke of their torment," "torment," is the noun “basanismos” it only occurs in Rev.9v5. 14v11. 18v7,10,15.; most translators follow the A.V. and render it as "torment," however, Robert Young, in his "Concise Critical Comments," always renders it as "trial," which is its literal meaning. The noun “basanos,” literally, a touchstone, test, trial; it occurs three times in the New Testament, in Mt.4v24. it speaks of persons suffering trial through sickness, etc., but in Lk.16v23,28., it speaks of the severe trial of the wicked selfish man who was suffering confinement in Hades. In one of His parables our Lord spoke of a debtor in prison of whom everything possible was to be exacted, He said they were put in charge of the keeper of the prison, the jailor, the “basanistees,” it only occurs in Mt.18v34.. Jesus is the jailor, “basanistees,” of Hades and has its keys. Rev.1v18. God has His prison where He confines the wicked, the lake of fire which destroys both angelic and human bodies, and protects the rest of society from their evil ways. God warns everybody that all who follow Antichrist and Satan, will end in the lake of fire, however, He is certainly not saying that people will be gradually roasted alive for ever. The lake of fire will destroy the body in a twinkling of an eye, and physical suffering will be out of the question. Rev.20v14,15. 21v8. Nor do Christ and His holy angels descend to the cruel levels of the Roman Inquisitors, who enjoyed putting their victims through the most dreadful tortures in the name of God. The sufferings of the wicked in Hell are not physical, for the lake of fire has devoured the bodies of angels and men, it is the distress of mind that is the result of being confined in the lake of fire with no hope of coming out and putting their evil desires into practice. The pain in the soul of the wicked is one of their own choosing, it is the suffering which they inflict upon themselves through loving evil and hating righteousness, the torment of a mind that is devoid of the truth and is twisted and deranged by the evil that it loves. Even the prospect of isolation and confinement in the lake of fire will fail to bring the wicked to repentance, they are stubbornly determined to eternally love evil. Rev.21v8. As the Lamb and the holy angels test and scrutinise the souls of the wicked, they find no trace of repentance, or any grounds for their release, they are proved unreconcilable. The dreadful end of the wicked is compared with the blessedness of the dead that die in the Lord. The angel says they “rest from their labours,” “kopon,” and that “their works, “erga,” do follow them” into the heavenly kingdom. The angel says that these Christians who die for their Lord are blessed. This is the second of 7 beatitudes in the book of Revelation. Rev.1v3. 14v13. 16v15. 19v9. 10v6. 22v7,14. Jesus warns us that many Christians will die for the faith through dreadful persecution, and that we will need patient endurance to win through, when Antichrist is at the height of his power and fury. Rev.6v9-11. 13v10. Mt.10v22. 24v13,44-51. 25v35-40. “Patience,” is the noun “hupomone,” which speaks of triumphant fortitude and courageous steadfastness rather than the long patience of “makrothumia.” It is worth noting that the Greek word translated “labour,” can have the meaning of trouble, vexation, pain and suffering as well as the meaning of labour and toil. Mk.14v6. Lk.11v7. 18v5. Glory and blessing awaits those who are prepared to labour and suffer for Christ. No rest day or night. It is important to realise that “day or night” here is in the genitive case form, the same as when Paul said in 1Thes.2v9. that worked “day and night, and in 1Thes.3v10.,that he prayed “day and night.” The genitive case informs us that Paul sometimes worked both day and night, and sometimes prayed both day and night, but he did neither continuously without a break. Paul’s instruction in 1Tim.5v5. for godly widows to pray “day and night,” is also in the genitive case. In Revelation John uses the genitival “day and night,” to describe the Living Creatures praise of God in Rev.4v8.; the accusations of Satan of the children of God in Rev.12v10.; and the torment of Satan, Antichrist and the False Prophet in Rev.20v10.. Guillebaud concludes on page 24 of “Righteous Judge,” that the genitival construction of this phrase suggests there will be “no break or intermission in the sufferings of the followers of the Beast, while it continues; but in themselves they do not say that it will continue for ever.” End of quote. The genitival construction also occurs in Mk.5v5. Lk.18v7. Acts.9v24. and 2Thes.3v8.. “Day and night” continual action is expressed in Greek by the accusative case, as when in Mk.4v27., Jesus says a seed springs and grows up in both day and night.; the continuous fasting and prayers of Anna in Lk.2v37.; and of Paul’s continual tearful warnings to the Ephesians in Acts.20v31.; and of Paul’s prayers for Timothy in 2Tim.1v3.. Some of these may be a case of hyperbole, that is, an obvious exaggeration designed to produce a vivid and compelling impression, but they vividly show the almost continuous nature of prayer and concern for others by these great Christians. The impenitence of the wicked causes all the righteous, not only to realise that the wicked must go to Hell, but to rejoice that earth and Heaven will be freed from their evil influence forever. Rev.19v1-6. They realise that this is the only way which Heaven and earth can be free from sin and sorrow, and that if the wicked were set free, happiness would be impossible. God's prison, Gehenna, will ensure that God's kingdom will be free from sin and sorrow, God has chosen to put the wicked in Hell because life with the wicked would be a continual misery. If the wicked were put in a kingdom of their own it would be utterly destroyed in a very short space of time, and the suffering that they would cause to one another would be worse than the isolation of Hell. Thus we see that social life, or community life of any kind, becomes impossible to the wicked, it is only mutual love and faith that makes community life a blessing. It is a terrible fact that evil can so destroy a person’s character that even God cannot do anything to change it. The third angels warning proclamation in Rev.14v9-11., is among the most terrifying words in the Bible, no wonder that God says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil.2v12. The reaction of the wicked before the throne of God and in Hell will reveal to all the determined impenitence of the sinner and his hatred of righteousness. There will be a fearful looking for of judgement. Heb.10v26-30. The wicked will wail over their confinement in Hell, but they will gnash their teeth in bitter anger and blaspheme God to His face. Rev.19v19. 16v9,11,21. Ps.2v1-3. Mt.8v12. 13v42,50. 22v13. 24v51. 25v30. Lk.13v28. See Appendix One, "A brief study on the issues of death and judgement," for further studies on the subject of eternal punishment.. There are several other important things that we must note about Rev.14v9-11. This Scripture is not speaking of the heathen who have never had the Gospel preached to them. It is referring to people who have seen the ultimate in prophetic ministry through the Two Witnesses, and the ministry of mighty angelic beings, and have rejected the truth in spite of all of this. It is extremely unreasonable and thoughtless to say that because a person has never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel they will go to Hell forever, and will never have the opportunity of salvation, even though they are crying for mercy and repentant when they stand before God. If this were true it would be impossible for anyone in Heaven to be happy, for they would realise that there were millions in Hell who had no need to be there. The only thing that will make Hell bearable is that all God's people know that it is absolutely unavoidable and that all those who are confined in Hell are determinedly unrepentant and totally evil, malicious, pernicious and injurious in their intentions. For God to put people into Hell who are repentant, would be equally as diabolical as the murder of millions of innocent people by Hitler and Stalin. Our God of love cannot, and will not do this. See Rev.20 and Appendix. It is speaking of people who are irrevocably hardened after full light. When people wilfully continue in sin after God has confirmed His truth by mighty miracles, their hearts can become so hardened that it is impossible for them to repent. Jer.13v23. 17v1. Heb.6v4-6. 10v26-31. 3v6-19. Antichrist and his followers, like Satan and the powers of darkness, come within the category of the irrevocably hardened unrepentant unreconcilables. Someone may ask, “Why does God not immediately annihilate the wicked at death?” One answer could be that if the wicked were annihilated at death many who will be saved would say, “Let us drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” There could be many in Heaven because of the fear of Hell, who, if they had thought that only instant annihilation lay at the end of a wicked life, would not have tried to fight the fight of faith and love. Nowhere in the Bible is annihilation of the soul at death taught; the False Prophet and the Beast are still in the lake of fire 1,000 years after they are put there. Rev.19v3,20. 20v10. 21v8. The words, “for ever and ever,” literally, “unto the ages of the ages,” which speak of God’s judgement of the wicked in Rev.14v11. 19v3. 20v10., are the translation of the same Greek phrase that describes the life, glory, sovereignty, and worship God and Jesus. Rev.1v6,18. 4v9,10. 5v13. 7v12. 10v6. 11v15. Ps.45v6. with Heb.1v8. It. is used in the epistles to ascribe glory, honour, praise and dominion to God. Gal.1v5. Phil.4v20. 1Tim.1v17. 2Tim.4v8. Heb.13v21. 1Pet.4v11. 5v11. In these contexts it cannot mean anything other than unlimited duration. N.B. There cannot be much doubt that Hell endures as long as the throne of God. However, there has been considerable theological controversy between the Western Traditional view point, that God will sustain the soul of the wicked for ever in Hell, and the Conditional Immortality viewpoint that God will after a period of time allow those in Hell to cease to exist. Both viewpoints have been believed by good and godly Christians. See my study, Death And Judgement The First Reaper, Christ. Rev.14v14-16. In Rev.14v14-20., under the emblems of an harvest and a vintage, we are shown two aspects of the coming of Christ, the saints are resurrected and raptured, and the wicked are destroyed. Some have felt that the first reaper on the cloud cannot be Christ because he is told to reap by an angel coming out of the heavenly temple, they feel that Christ should not need an angel to tell Him of the Father's will. When Christ was on earth He was addressed by a voice from heaven, and He said that this was not for His sake, but for His disciples sakes. Jn.11v42. 12v27-30. Is not this command of the angels for our sake, and the sake of the angels, or even in this symbolic picture for the sake of added instruction and information? It tells us that there is the exact right moment for the harvest of the earth to be reaped, and that as soon as the right moment arrives the harvest will be reaped. God's reaping is based on perfect wisdom. There is much in this picture that confirms that Christ is the reaper. Christ is spoken of as being on a cloud and having on His head a crown of Gold, the king is coming back to claim His kingdom and reign, He is coming in the clouds of heaven as promised. Mt.24v30. 26v64. Rev.1v7. Dan.7v13,14. Acts.1v9-11. These clouds could be clouds of heavenly glory. Ex.13v21,22. 1Kings.8v10. Ezek.9v3. 10v4,18,19. 11v23. 1v4. Jesus is given the crown because of His selfless devotion to His creation. Phil.2v5-11. Rev.3v21. The phrase “a son of man” is used in Rev.1v13., to speak of the exalted Christ, and it obviously refers to Him in Rev.14v14.. Christ Jesus is the reaper in the sense that He sends forth the angels to reap the harvest. Mt.13v40,41,49,50. 24v30,31. Christ is waiting the command of the Father to reap, but when it is given, He will divide the light from the darkness, and the silver, gold and precious stones from the wood, hay and stubble. Heb.4v12,13. Rev.2v12. Mal.3v1-4. 1Cor.3v11-15. The Lord Jesus will gather His saints from the world. The Second Reaper, an Angel. Rev.14v17-20. This is dealing with the wrath of God on the wicked, and it is described as the wrath of the Lamb elsewhere. Rev.6v16,17. The angels not only gather the saints, they are also the means by which Jesus judges the wicked. Mt.13v30,39,40,41,49,50. Rev.19v11-21. The angel with the sickle is probably in charge of the angels that destroy the wicked, even as the archangel Michael will lead the angels against Satan and his angels and cast them out of the heavenlies. Rev.12v7-9. We read in Rev.14v18., that “another angel came out from the altar,” and that this angel has “power,” “exousian,” “over fire.” We know that Jesus will burn up the wicked with unquenchable fire, and will with flaming fire take vengeance ("ekdikesis") on them that do not know not God, and that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lk.3v17,18. 2Thes.1v7-9. This is the great winepress of the wrath of God. Rev.14v19. 19v15. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Those who fight Jesus when He returns need no trial, they are destroyed, the others who are wicked but do not fight Christ at His coming are executed after trial. Mt.13v41-43, 47-50. 25v31-46. The wrath of God is as real as His love, and springs from His love. The only way that God can establish a happy kingdom is by executing the wicked, if the wicked were allowed to live in God's kingdom, happiness would be impossible. Joel.3v11-17. Ps.75v8. Is.51v17-23. Jer.25v15-29. 49v12,13. John Wesley writes that when a person spoke of “the city,” Rev.14v20., the people who John wrote to would immediately understand that this was Jerusalem. This is the same city as “the city, the great one,” referred to in Rev.11v8. and 14v8.; under the evil rule of Antichrist, Jerusalem will be spiritually as unclean and evil as ancient Babylon. N.B. "Blood flowed out of the winepress, as high as the horses bridles, for 200 miles around. We read in Joel.3v12. and Rev.16v16., that the major slaughter of the armies of Antichrist will take place at Armageddon, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, but in Rev.14v20., we see that God destroys the armies of Antichrist all over Palestine. There is tremendous bloodshed on the day of the Lord, when Christ destroys the armies of Antichrist that attempt to kill Him. In Rev.14v20., we read that human blood and probably bodies is said to reach to the horses bridles for 200 miles, this is the whole length of Palestine, where most of the armies of Antichrist will be gathered when Jesus returns. Is.13v6-13. It appears from Ezek.39v1-4., that all of the armies Antichrist in Israel are destroyed by Jesus, when He returns, and this would include the bodies of the army of 200,00,000 that comes to the aid of the Antichrist from the kings of the East, and would explain the language of Rev.14v20., of a flood of blood. Rev.9v16. 16v13-16. The judgements of God greatly depopulate the world when Jesus returns, and make man rarer than the fine gold of Ophir. Is.13v9-13. 42v13-17. We read in Is.63v1-6., that when Jesus returns His garments will be stained with the blood of the evil people who have killed the children of God. This slaughter of the wicked at Christ's coming is not to be confused with the great battle which occurs a few days before, when Antichrist defeats the armies of the West in the Middle East, this occurs at about the same time that the Two Witnesses are killed. The number of dead bodies in Israel is so great that it takes seven months to bury the last of the dead after Christ’s return. Ezek.39v11-16. God could instantly remove all these bodies, if He so desired, but He allows men to bury them, in order to bring home to all the surviving inhabitants of the world, the folly and end of evil, and the righteousness, justice and power of God. This will produce a healthy fear of sin and God, and will demonstrate the truth of Is.26v9., “when Thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” The judgements of God on the wicked at our Lord's second coming will bring to pass the prophetic promises of Dan.9v24.; God has, “determined --- to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” Jesus made atonement for sin at His first coming through His sacrificial love, He will establish world-wide righteousness at His second coming through stern justice. God’s judgement on Ananias and Sapphira had a beneficial effect on the Church at Jerusalem, and made them walk in the fear of God, and even those who were outside the Church were greatly influenced by this divine judgement. Acts.5v1-13. The memory of the awesome judgements of God on the day of the Lord, and the certainty of a rod of iron falling on the head of those who try to practice evil in the Millennium, will ensure the tranquillity, peace and happiness of the Millennium. Ps.2v1-12. N.B. v12. Rev.19v15. See. Rev.2v26,27. 12v5. < >
The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin \| By His Stripes We Are Healed \| The Book Of Revelation \| The Second Coming Of Christ \| The Baptism And Gifts Of the Holy Spirit \| The Comforter Is Come

Chapter Six

The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3

The 144,000 Christians, the angelic messengers, the two harvests. Rev14

In Rev.14. we see events that occur on the last day of this age. In Rev.14v1-5., we see those who have the Saviour's mark, who sharply contrast with those in Rev.13, who had Antichrist’s mark. In Rev.14v6-20., three angels preach to the whole world in the hours of the great tribulation, something that has never occurred before. Two harvests follow, the gathering of the 144,000 and the harvesting of the Church for glory, and the harvesting of the wicked for destruction when Jesus returns.

Who are the 144,000?
This number is not symbolic, for God tells us when He means a great multitude. Rev.7v9. 20v8. This number of 144,000 is no more symbolic than the 7,000 who are slain in the earthquake of Rev.11v13. The 144,000 are obviously a select body, for only a few Christians have reached the standard of purity of these godly saints, for God says that even in the searching light and purity of Heaven, no fault can be found in them. “No guile or falsehood is in their mouths,” they say what they mean, and no idle and deceitful words pass their lips, they are conformed to the image of Christ. Rev.21v5. 3v7. They are “first fruits,” and this means first fruits in excellence rather than first fruits in time. James.1v18. Only the prime fruits and the best of the harvest was good enough to be offered to God. Since the rest of the Church is resurrected at the same time as the first fruits, it cannot mean that they are resurrected before the rest of the Christians. 1Cor.15v51-53. It can hardly refer to them being first fruits in comparison with the harvest 1,000 years later, when the rest of the dead are raised, for the whole Christian Church would be the first fruits compared with that resurrection. To take the word first fruit strictly in a time sense is quite wrong, for God is merely showing the nature of the fruit by this term. The first fruits are the best of the harvest.

The 144,000 are described as being like pure men and pure virgin women.
This does not mean that they remain unmarried, for the Scripture states that marriage is honourable and does not defile. 1Tim.4v1-3. 1Cor.7v38. 9v5. Heb.13v4. By the grace of God these Christians have attained a beautiful purity of soul and spirit, and they stand before God free from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 2Cor.7v1. The blood of Jesus has cleansed them from all sin, and enabled them to walk in victory over sin. Lev.21v16-24. Tit.2v14. Eph.1v4. Phil.2v14-16. Jude.v24. They walk in love to God and man and no fault is found in them. They are dove-like and lamb-like in their souls, and they will rule the world with Jesus, “and follow the Lamb wherever He goes,” Rev.17v14. Lk.19v17. 1Pet.2v21,22. These Christians share the rule of the Millennial kingdom with the Old Testament overcomers of Rev.7v1-8.. We see from Rev.19v7-9. and Eph.5v25-27., that many Christians besides these will also be given white garments for their righteous lives, and receive a “well done.” However, Rev.14v1-5., shows us that there are only a limited number of positions available for Millennial rulers.

It states in Rev.14v1., that the 144,000 have the name of Christ's Father written in their foreheads; this is the promise given to the overcomer in Rev.3v12.. How wonderful to have the seal of God on you to signify that you have passed with first class honours, and that you will be forever in closest fellowship with Jesus and the Father. Only those who have passed the most difficult trials and temptations and proved their ability to love and care for people like Jesus, will rule with Him. It is a striking fact that God desires Christians to love one another with the same love that He loves the Church. Jn.17v23. 15v9. 13v34.

How wonderful this day will be, when Jesus comes to reign!
No adjectives are adequate to describe the glory of this occasion, the blinding glory, the tremendous thunderings of majestic harmonies, the rapturous joy of the redeemed billions of God's children, and the indescribable love, peace, harmony, and joyful expectant faith of God’s kingdom. Hallelujah! May this glorious day come soon. On this wonderful day the 144,000 have a song that only they can sing. There can be no doubt that in this song, they sing of the great grace that had redeemed them, and that it was this grace that had made them victorious, and appointed them to be rulers with Christ. With all other saints they will cast their crowns before Him through whose grace alone they had managed to win the victory.

Which Mount Zion is referred to here?
The Scriptures tell us that there is a heavenly Mount Zion as well as an earthly one, which is a part of the heavenly Jerusalem. Heb.12v22-25. However, Rev.14v1., could be the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies of Christ reigning from the Jerusalem which is rebuilt at the start of the Millennium. Ps.2v6. Joel.2v32. Micah.4v7. Is.24v23. Zech.14v1-21. When Jesus returns, Antichrist's armies have devastated Jerusalem and are gathered around it like a crowd of vultures around a corpse. Mt.24v27,28. Lk.17v36,37. 21v20-27. Rev.17v16-18. 18v1 to 19v21. When the feet of Jesus touch the Mount of Olives, the greatest earthquake the world has ever known will take place, the landscape of Israel and all the world is greatly altered, all the land is “turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon.” Zech.14v5,10. Rev.6v12. 11v19. 16v18-21. This earthquake splits Jerusalem into three parts, and covers some of it with the waters of the great new river of Ezek.47v1-12. We read that the end of the old city will be with a flood. Ps.48v46. Dan.9v26. Zech.14v4,5,8-10. The new city will be built upon the new mountain that is formed to the north of the present site. Ps.48v2. The vision of Rev.14v1-5. is at the start of the Millennial kingdom, and here again we see how wonderfully God has written this book and connected one vision with another. After seeing the mark and evil rule of the Beast, we see those who have the mark of God upon them, who righteously rule the world with Jesus. The loving rule of these godly and guileless souls sharply contrasts with the rule of the often two-faced, crafty and evil politicians and rulers of this present evil world. We thank God for godly exceptions like Joseph and Daniel. “Guile,” “dolos,” occurs, in Mt.26v4. Mk.7v22. 14v1. Jn.1v47. Acts.13v10. Rom.1v29. 2Cor.12v16. 1Pet.2v1,22. 3v10. Rev.14v5.

The Message of the First Angel. Rev.14v6,7.
The first angel proclaims “an everlasting gospel unto them that dwell on the earth,---and he said with a great voice, 'Fear God, and give Him glory; for the hour of His judgement is come: and worship Him who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It is not “to euaggelion aionion,” “the everlasting good news,” but “euaggelion aionion,” “everlasting good news,” or it can be translated, “gospel of the ages.” An angel tells the world that the kingdom of God is about to commence with its untold ages of bliss, and the angel tells the conditions of entering into the glorious kingdom, wholehearted repentance and turning to God. The angels warns of judgement on the unrepentant and blessing for the repentant. The angel's message will truly be wonderful good news for a world that has suffered destruction, death and misery through Antichrist's evil activities. God warns that He will use the very creation He has made, to judge the wicked. Lk.21v25. However, before God judges the wicked He gives space for repentance. 2Pet.3v7-9. The longsuffering of God is absolutely wonderful, He has striven with both angels and men, for untold thousands of years, but judgement is the only possible end for the wilfully impenitent, who despise “the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering.” Gen.6v3-5. Rom.2v1-11.

The Message of the Second Angel. Rev.14v8. Is.21v9. Jer.50v2. 51v8.
This angel announces that “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The angel tells of God's judgement upon the impure and wicked city that had defiled every nation under heaven with its Satan and Antichrist worship. There is a tremendous rise in the study of the occult, this contact with, and worship of the powers of darkness, is an abomination to God and is expressly forbidden by Him, for it defiles and perverts the soul. Lev.19v31. 20v6,27. Deut.18v19,20. 2Kings.21v6. Exod.22v18. with 1Sam.28v6,7. and 1Chron.10v13,14. Acts.16v16-18. 19v19. Is.8v19,20. 1Cor.10v20,21. 1Tim.4v1. 1Jn.4v1-5. 2Thes.2v9-12. with Rev.12v12. 13v13,14.

The angel announces the fall of Jerusalem; and we have to decide which fall it is, for there are three falls of Jerusalem in the last few days of the great tribulation. The first fall occurs when Antichrist destroys a great part of Jerusalem a few days before the Lord returns. Rev.17v16. 18v1-4. Mt.24vv28. Lk.21v20-24. The second fall of Jerusalem occurs at the great earthquake, which occurs when the two witnesses are resurrected and caught up to Heaven. Rev.11v11-14. The third fall occurs when the feet of the Lord Jesus touch the Mount of Olives, and Jerusalem is devastated by the tremendous earthquake which then occurs, and the flood that follows it. The fall that the second angel announces must then be either the first or second fall we have just mentioned, because the third angel, warns everyone against continuing to follow Antichrist on pain of eternal damnation, this warning would be pointless if the Lord Jesus had returned and destroyed Antichrist and his armies, whose destruction occurs immediately before the third fall of Jerusalem.

God states in Rev.14v13., that at this time Christians are still dying for their faith, this shows that Jesus has not returned and the resurrection and rapture of the Church have not yet taken place. Indeed, Rev.14v13., states that Christians will still face death for Christ's sake for a little while yet. The harvests of the earth follow the messages of these angels, it is after these angelic announcements that the Church is resurrected and raptured, and the wrath of the Lamb is poured out. Rev.14v10. Rev.16v19. 18v21. 19v2. This reference to the fall of Babylon gives us the approximate time when the angels give their messages. We know that this sacking of Jerusalem occurs about four days or so, before the end of the great tribulation, when the Two Witnesses are killed, up to this time Jerusalem has been the throne of the Beast. Rev.16v10. Thus we see that when the Two Witnesses are killed God continues to speak through angelic ministry.

The Message of the Third Angel. Rev.14v9-13.
This third angel tries to turn people to the way of righteousness by arming men against the fear of the Beast by warning them of the greater fear of Hell. This angel warns that if anyone worships and follows Antichrist from this time forward, they will be doomed to eternal punishment. At this stage of events, people will see the awful desolation and destruction about them, and the dreadful wickedness of Antichrist. They will also see God as He is, and His wonderful plans, through the ministry of these mighty angels, so at this time, anyone who turns their back on God will have made up their minds in full light to sin for ever, and so are unreconcilable, and when Jesus returns, they will defiantly fight Him, and blaspheme Him to His face. Rev.16v21. 19v19. Ps.2v1-5. When people see the misery that their sin has caused and say, “I love evil, and I am still going to be evil, and I hate God and righteousness,” God cannot show mercy. It would be wicked to be merciful and forgive those who are unrepentant and love evil, and have determined to sin for ever. Jn.9v41. 15v22-25.

We need to realise that there is no contradiction between the hymn-writers words, “For the love of God is broader than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the eternal, is most wonderfully kind,” and the words in Rev.14v10,11., where the angel states that those who continue to follow Antichrist will be confined in Hell. The angel states that the followers of Antichrist, “shall be tried ("basanizo") with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; v11. And the smoke of their trial ("basanismos") ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.” In Rev.14v10., “he shall be tormented in fire,” is “basanisthesetai en puri;” which Young, in his "Concise Critical Comments, says literally means he shall be "tried in fire," which shows that the thought of being tested or tried can definitely apply here.

“Basanisthesetai," is the third person singular future passive indicative of “basanizo,” it is used here in Rev.14v10., of the test and examination by Christ and the holy angels of the souls of the wicked in Hell. The justice of Heaven is based on love, mercy, and righteousness, it would be impossible for people in Heaven to be happy if there was anyone in Hell who was genuinely repentant and desired and loved righteousness, so everyone has to see the unrepentant love of evil in the wicked in Hell, and so know beyond any shadow of doubt that justice has been done. Rev.14v10. 20v10. Mt.8v29. Mk.5v7. Lk.8v28.

The verb “basanizo,” to test or try, from "basanos," a touchstone; is used of any severe trial that produces distress, such as the physical trial and distress caused by disease, Mt.8v6. (4v24.); or trial caused by severe persecution, as is represented by the birth pangs of the woman of Rev.12v2.; or the severe spiritual trial and mental anguish and distress that Lot experienced through living in Sodom. 2Pet.2v8. It can speak of a boat being tried or tossed by the waves. Mt.14v24. Mk.6v48. It is also used of the trials and suffering inflicted on the wicked on earth through the judgements of God. Rev.9v5. 11v10.

In Rev.14v11., the A.V. "the smoke of their torment," "torment," is the noun “basanismos” it only occurs in Rev.9v5. 14v11. 18v7,10,15.; most translators follow the A.V. and render it as "torment," however, Robert Young, in his "Concise Critical Comments," always renders it as "trial," which is its literal meaning.

The noun “basanos,” literally, a touchstone, test, trial; it occurs three times in the New Testament, in Mt.4v24. it speaks of persons suffering trial through sickness, etc., but in Lk.16v23,28., it speaks of the severe trial of the wicked selfish man who was suffering confinement in Hades. In one of His parables our Lord spoke of a debtor in prison of whom everything possible was to be exacted, He said they were put in charge of the keeper of the prison, the jailor, the “basanistees,” it only occurs in Mt.18v34.. Jesus is the jailor, “basanistees,” of Hades and has its keys. Rev.1v18. God has His prison where He confines the wicked, the lake of fire which destroys both angelic and human bodies, and protects the rest of society from their evil ways.

God warns everybody that all who follow Antichrist and Satan, will end in the lake of fire, however, He is certainly not saying that people will be gradually roasted alive for ever. The lake of fire will destroy the body in a twinkling of an eye, and physical suffering will be out of the question. Rev.20v14,15. 21v8. Nor do Christ and His holy angels descend to the cruel levels of the Roman Inquisitors, who enjoyed putting their victims through the most dreadful tortures in the name of God. The sufferings of the wicked in Hell are not physical, for the lake of fire has devoured the bodies of angels and men, it is the distress of mind that is the result of being confined in the lake of fire with no hope of coming out and putting their evil desires into practice. The pain in the soul of the wicked is one of their own choosing, it is the suffering which they inflict upon themselves through loving evil and hating righteousness, the torment of a mind that is devoid of the truth and is twisted and deranged by the evil that it loves. Even the prospect of isolation and confinement in the lake of fire will fail to bring the wicked to repentance, they are stubbornly determined to eternally love evil. Rev.21v8. As the Lamb and the holy angels test and scrutinise the souls of the wicked, they find no trace of repentance, or any grounds for their release, they are proved unreconcilable.

The dreadful end of the wicked is compared with the blessedness of the dead that die in the Lord. The angel says they “rest from their labours,” “kopon,” and that “their works, “erga,” do follow them” into the heavenly kingdom. The angel says that these Christians who die for their Lord are blessed. This is the second of 7 beatitudes in the book of Revelation. Rev.1v3. 14v13. 16v15. 19v9. 10v6. 22v7,14. Jesus warns us that many Christians will die for the faith through dreadful persecution, and that we will need patient endurance to win through, when Antichrist is at the height of his power and fury. Rev.6v9-11. 13v10. Mt.10v22. 24v13,44-51. 25v35-40. “Patience,” is the noun “hupomone,” which speaks of triumphant fortitude and courageous steadfastness rather than the long patience of “makrothumia.” It is worth noting that the Greek word translated “labour,” can have the meaning of trouble, vexation, pain and suffering as well as the meaning of labour and toil. Mk.14v6. Lk.11v7. 18v5. Glory and blessing awaits those who are prepared to labour and suffer for Christ.

No rest day or night.
It is important to realise that “day or night” here is in the genitive case form, the same as when Paul said in 1Thes.2v9. that worked “day and night, and in 1Thes.3v10.,that he prayed “day and night.” The genitive case informs us that Paul sometimes worked both day and night, and sometimes prayed both day and night, but he did neither continuously without a break. Paul’s instruction in 1Tim.5v5. for godly widows to pray “day and night,” is also in the genitive case. In Revelation John uses the genitival “day and night,” to describe the Living Creatures praise of God in Rev.4v8.; the accusations of Satan of the children of God in Rev.12v10.; and the torment of Satan, Antichrist and the False Prophet in Rev.20v10.. Guillebaud concludes on page 24 of “Righteous Judge,” that the genitival construction of this phrase suggests there will be “no break or intermission in the sufferings of the followers of the Beast, while it continues; but in themselves they do not say that it will continue for ever.” End of quote. The genitival construction also occurs in Mk.5v5. Lk.18v7. Acts.9v24. and 2Thes.3v8..

“Day and night” continual action is expressed in Greek by the accusative case, as when in Mk.4v27., Jesus says a seed springs and grows up in both day and night.; the continuous fasting and prayers of Anna in Lk.2v37.; and of Paul’s continual tearful warnings to the Ephesians in Acts.20v31.; and of Paul’s prayers for Timothy in 2Tim.1v3.. Some of these may be a case of hyperbole, that is, an obvious exaggeration designed to produce a vivid and compelling impression, but they vividly show the almost continuous nature of prayer and concern for others by these great Christians.

The impenitence of the wicked causes all the righteous, not only to realise that the wicked must go to Hell, but to rejoice that earth and Heaven will be freed from their evil influence forever. Rev.19v1-6. They realise that this is the only way which Heaven and earth can be free from sin and sorrow, and that if the wicked were set free, happiness would be impossible. God's prison, Gehenna, will ensure that God's kingdom will be free from sin and sorrow, God has chosen to put the wicked in Hell because life with the wicked would be a continual misery. If the wicked were put in a kingdom of their own it would be utterly destroyed in a very short space of time, and the suffering that they would cause to one another would be worse than the isolation of Hell. Thus we see that social life, or community life of any kind, becomes impossible to the wicked, it is only mutual love and faith that makes community life a blessing.

It is a terrible fact that evil can so destroy a person’s character that even God cannot do anything to change it. The third angels warning proclamation in Rev.14v9-11., is among the most terrifying words in the Bible, no wonder that God says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil.2v12. The reaction of the wicked before the throne of God and in Hell will reveal to all the determined impenitence of the sinner and his hatred of righteousness. There will be a fearful looking for of judgement. Heb.10v26-30. The wicked will wail over their confinement in Hell, but they will gnash their teeth in bitter anger and blaspheme God to His face. Rev.19v19. 16v9,11,21. Ps.2v1-3. Mt.8v12. 13v42,50. 22v13. 24v51. 25v30. Lk.13v28.

See Appendix One, "A brief study on the issues of death and judgement," for further studies on the subject of eternal punishment..

There are several other important things that we must note about Rev.14v9-11.
This Scripture is not speaking of the heathen who have never had the Gospel preached to them.
It is referring to people who have seen the ultimate in prophetic ministry through the Two Witnesses, and the ministry of mighty angelic beings, and have rejected the truth in spite of all of this. It is extremely unreasonable and thoughtless to say that because a person has never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel they will go to Hell forever, and will never have the opportunity of salvation, even though they are crying for mercy and repentant when they stand before God. If this were true it would be impossible for anyone in Heaven to be happy, for they would realise that there were millions in Hell who had no need to be there. The only thing that will make Hell bearable is that all God's people know that it is absolutely unavoidable and that all those who are confined in Hell are determinedly unrepentant and totally evil, malicious, pernicious and injurious in their intentions. For God to put people into Hell who are repentant, would be equally as diabolical as the murder of millions of innocent people by Hitler and Stalin. Our God of love cannot, and will not do this. See Rev.20 and Appendix.

It is speaking of people who are irrevocably hardened after full light.
When people wilfully continue in sin after God has confirmed His truth by mighty miracles, their hearts can become so hardened that it is impossible for them to repent. Jer.13v23. 17v1. Heb.6v4-6. 10v26-31. 3v6-19. Antichrist and his followers, like Satan and the powers of darkness, come within the category of the irrevocably hardened unrepentant unreconcilables.

Someone may ask, “Why does God not immediately annihilate the wicked at death?”
One answer could be that if the wicked were annihilated at death many who will be saved would say, “Let us drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” There could be many in Heaven because of the fear of Hell, who, if they had thought that only instant annihilation lay at the end of a wicked life, would not have tried to fight the fight of faith and love. Nowhere in the Bible is annihilation of the soul at death taught; the False Prophet and the Beast are still in the lake of fire 1,000 years after they are put there. Rev.19v3,20. 20v10. 21v8. The words, “for ever and ever,” literally, “unto the ages of the ages,” which speak of God’s judgement of the wicked in Rev.14v11. 19v3. 20v10., are the translation of the same Greek phrase that describes the life, glory, sovereignty, and worship God and Jesus. Rev.1v6,18. 4v9,10. 5v13. 7v12. 10v6. 11v15. Ps.45v6. with Heb.1v8. It. is used in the epistles to ascribe glory, honour, praise and dominion to God. Gal.1v5. Phil.4v20. 1Tim.1v17. 2Tim.4v8. Heb.13v21. 1Pet.4v11. 5v11. In these contexts it cannot mean anything other than unlimited duration.

N.B. There cannot be much doubt that Hell endures as long as the throne of God. However, there has been considerable theological controversy between the Western Traditional view point, that God will sustain the soul of the wicked for ever in Hell, and the Conditional Immortality viewpoint that God will after a period of time allow those in Hell to cease to exist. Both viewpoints have been believed by good and godly Christians.

See my study, Death And Judgement

The First Reaper, Christ. Rev.14v14-16.
In Rev.14v14-20., under the emblems of an harvest and a vintage, we are shown two aspects of the coming of Christ, the saints are resurrected and raptured, and the wicked are destroyed. Some have felt that the first reaper on the cloud cannot be Christ because he is told to reap by an angel coming out of the heavenly temple, they feel that Christ should not need an angel to tell Him of the Father's will. When Christ was on earth He was addressed by a voice from heaven, and He said that this was not for His sake, but for His disciples sakes. Jn.11v42. 12v27-30. Is not this command of the angels for our sake, and the sake of the angels, or even in this symbolic picture for the sake of added instruction and information? It tells us that there is the exact right moment for the harvest of the earth to be reaped, and that as soon as the right moment arrives the harvest will be reaped. God's reaping is based on perfect wisdom.

There is much in this picture that confirms that Christ is the reaper. Christ is spoken of as being on a cloud and having on His head a crown of Gold, the king is coming back to claim His kingdom and reign, He is coming in the clouds of heaven as promised. Mt.24v30. 26v64. Rev.1v7. Dan.7v13,14. Acts.1v9-11. These clouds could be clouds of heavenly glory. Ex.13v21,22. 1Kings.8v10. Ezek.9v3. 10v4,18,19. 11v23. 1v4. Jesus is given the crown because of His selfless devotion to His creation. Phil.2v5-11. Rev.3v21. The phrase “a son of man” is used in Rev.1v13., to speak of the exalted Christ, and it obviously refers to Him in Rev.14v14..

Christ Jesus is the reaper in the sense that He sends forth the angels to reap the harvest. Mt.13v40,41,49,50. 24v30,31. Christ is waiting the command of the Father to reap, but when it is given, He will divide the light from the darkness, and the silver, gold and precious stones from the wood, hay and stubble. Heb.4v12,13. Rev.2v12. Mal.3v1-4. 1Cor.3v11-15. The Lord Jesus will gather His saints from the world.

The Second Reaper, an Angel. Rev.14v17-20.
This is dealing with the wrath of God on the wicked, and it is described as the wrath of the Lamb elsewhere. Rev.6v16,17. The angels not only gather the saints, they are also the means by which Jesus judges the wicked. Mt.13v30,39,40,41,49,50. Rev.19v11-21. The angel with the sickle is probably in charge of the angels that destroy the wicked, even as the archangel Michael will lead the angels against Satan and his angels and cast them out of the heavenlies. Rev.12v7-9.

We read in Rev.14v18., that “another angel came out from the altar,” and that this angel has “power,” “exousian,” “over fire.” We know that Jesus will burn up the wicked with unquenchable fire, and will with flaming fire take vengeance ("ekdikesis") on them that do not know not God, and that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lk.3v17,18. 2Thes.1v7-9. This is the great winepress of the wrath of God. Rev.14v19. 19v15. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Those who fight Jesus when He returns need no trial, they are destroyed, the others who are wicked but do not fight Christ at His coming are executed after trial. Mt.13v41-43, 47-50. 25v31-46. The wrath of God is as real as His love, and springs from His love. The only way that God can establish a happy kingdom is by executing the wicked, if the wicked were allowed to live in God's kingdom, happiness would be impossible. Joel.3v11-17. Ps.75v8. Is.51v17-23. Jer.25v15-29. 49v12,13.

John Wesley writes that when a person spoke of “the city,” Rev.14v20., the people who John wrote to would immediately understand that this was Jerusalem. This is the same city as “the city, the great one,” referred to in Rev.11v8. and 14v8.; under the evil rule of Antichrist, Jerusalem will be spiritually as unclean and evil as ancient Babylon.

N.B. "Blood flowed out of the winepress, as high as the horses bridles, for 200 miles around.
We read in Joel.3v12. and Rev.16v16., that the major slaughter of the armies of Antichrist will take place at Armageddon, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, but in Rev.14v20., we see that God destroys the armies of Antichrist all over Palestine. There is tremendous bloodshed on the day of the Lord, when Christ destroys the armies of Antichrist that attempt to kill Him. In Rev.14v20., we read that human blood and probably bodies is said to reach to the horses bridles for 200 miles, this is the whole length of Palestine, where most of the armies of Antichrist will be gathered when Jesus returns. Is.13v6-13. It appears from Ezek.39v1-4., that all of the armies Antichrist in Israel are destroyed by Jesus, when He returns, and this would include the bodies of the army of 200,00,000 that comes to the aid of the Antichrist from the kings of the East, and would explain the language of Rev.14v20., of a flood of blood. Rev.9v16. 16v13-16. The judgements of God greatly depopulate the world when Jesus returns, and make man rarer than the fine gold of Ophir. Is.13v9-13. 42v13-17. We read in Is.63v1-6., that when Jesus returns His garments will be stained with the blood of the evil people who have killed the children of God.

This slaughter of the wicked at Christ's coming is not to be confused with the great battle which occurs a few days before, when Antichrist defeats the armies of the West in the Middle East, this occurs at about the same time that the Two Witnesses are killed. The number of dead bodies in Israel is so great that it takes seven months to bury the last of the dead after Christ’s return. Ezek.39v11-16. God could instantly remove all these bodies, if He so desired, but He allows men to bury them, in order to bring home to all the surviving inhabitants of the world, the folly and end of evil, and the righteousness, justice and power of God. This will produce a healthy fear of sin and God, and will demonstrate the truth of Is.26v9., “when Thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”

The judgements of God on the wicked at our Lord's second coming will bring to pass the prophetic promises of Dan.9v24.; God has, “determined --- to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” Jesus made atonement for sin at His first coming through His sacrificial love, He will establish world-wide righteousness at His second coming through stern justice. God’s judgement on Ananias and Sapphira had a beneficial effect on the Church at Jerusalem, and made them walk in the fear of God, and even those who were outside the Church were greatly influenced by this divine judgement. Acts.5v1-13. The memory of the awesome judgements of God on the day of the Lord, and the certainty of a rod of iron falling on the head of those who try to practice evil in the Millennium, will ensure the tranquillity, peace and happiness of the Millennium. Ps.2v1-12. N.B. v12. Rev.19v15. See. Rev.2v26,27. 12v5.

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