Revelation 14:1-13 ESV Scripture

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, Scripture

3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.  Scripture

4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Scripture

6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.  Scripture

7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Scripture

8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” Scripture

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,  Scripture

10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  Scripture

11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Scripture

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Scripture

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Scripture

Lamb’s Army

The Jews have been rejecting Christ for a long time. It was true in the early church and it is still true today. But God is not frustrated by their rejection; he chose Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles

Rom 11:25-26, Lest you (Gentiles) be wise in your own sight … brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved.

V1, Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 

They have the perfect 777 The beast has an imperfect 666. “Three” = perfection: Trinity; 3 holies, 3 different judgments, 3 woes. “Seven” = completion: 7 days of creation, 7 lamps, 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls.

Rev 3:12, The one who conquers … I will write on him the name of my God, and my own new name.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,

3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 

4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. They are all single men.

4, It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They are loyal to Christ;

4, These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb,  They are the first fruits purchased by the blood of the Lamb; that means many more Jews will be redeemed

5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. They are transformed believers; they speak and act with integrity in the world full of deceptions. They have excellent character; they are sincere in the world with double standard.

When we are transformed, loyal & obedient to Christ. When we have integrity and above reproach. When we share the gospel some will become followers of Christ.

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 

7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” Babylon is a code word for Rome (1Pet 5:13) - materialistic godless secular culture.

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 

10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 

Jer 25:15, Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

The cup is the wrath of God (Is 51:17; Jer 25:15). Thank God, Jesus drank the cup for us. The wrath of God will come upon those who worship the beast. They will be tormented in hell with fire and sulfur.

11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” The torment in hell is eternal.

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” There are 7 “blessed” in Revelation.

1:3, blessed are the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, blessed are those who hear, and keep the word of this prophecy.

14:13, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 16:15, blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed.

19:9, blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 20:6, blessed is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

22:7, blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 22:14, blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

13 “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on 13 “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Because they can rest in Christ now. Because they will be raised to reign with Christ (20:6). Because they won’t be tormented in hell forever (14:11).

1 Pet 2:12, Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable. Having a right manner of life is just as important as having the right message in our lives.

Application: Do you keep yourself pure in your relationships with others? Or do you have inappropriate behavior and speech? Do you obey the scripture? Or do you pick and choose what to obey?

Do you speak the truth? Or do you speak half truth and deceptions? Do you live a blameless life in private and public? Or do people think of you as someone with double standard?