REVELATION - CHAPTER 14 - First Fruits, Harvest, Vintage and the Glory Cloud
REVELATION – CHAPTER 14
FIRST FRUITS, HARVEST, VINTAGE and the Glory Cloud
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
September 18, 2012, the Year of Our Lord
Rev. 14:1: “I looked and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him a 144,000 having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
This is the heavenly Zion of Hebrews 12:22: “You have come unto mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Zion in a general sense represents the whole church. The church is the New Jerusalem, and a city which is set upon a hill. That hill is Zion. In a more specific sense, Zion represents the highest order in the Church, those overcomers who attain to the high calling of God and who sit with Christ in the throne, sharing His government.
The 144,000 are metaphorical of “The Elect”. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God and stands at the head of his faithful. We recall that it is only the Lamb of God who has the authority to open the Little Book. The Faithful have been sealed with the Father’s name written in their foreheads.
14:2-3: “I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. They sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts, and the elders; and no man could learn that song but the 144,000, which were redeemed from the earth.”
Oh what a glorious song, the song of the Redeemed. Jesus and his fair army appear before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. The sound which John hears is the new song of redemption, accompanied by the music of heaven. Here we have 144,000 saints worshiping the Lord with 144,000 harps.
The fact that His 144,000 companions have his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads suggests their identity with the 144,000 servants of God who are sealed on their foreheads in 7:3.
The identity of the 144,000 is controversial and as Matthew Henry writes, we are only left to doubtful conjecture as to the interpretation.
2 Tim. 2: 19: “The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal; The Lord knows them that are His. Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
I am sticking with Matthew Henry on this that these are Christ’s people. Not one of them was lost in all the tribulations through when they had gone. They are described by their chastity and purity. They have not defiled themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery.
Paul says, “For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2)”…But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ “(Vs. 3).
Rev. 14: 4-5: “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
The term “virgins” has usually been interpreted here of celibacy, as though these men had, in Christ’s words made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 19:12). There is here no suggestion either of human impotence on the one side or of successful monkish achievement on the other. F. F. Bruce writes, “More probably the reference is to people who have been in the language of the Pastoral Letters, the ‘husband of one wife”. Again I will exercise the conclusion of Matthew Henry, “we are only left to doubtful conjecture as to the interpretation.” There are many who are so brave as to give their interpretation. In this case, I am not one of those.
The fact that they follow the Lamb wherever he goes links them also with the white-robed multitude of 7:9 and 7:17.
The first fruits are the earnest of the much greater harvest to come. Paul spoke of his first converts in Asia and Achaia as the “first fruits” of these provinces. John sees by vision these 144,000 as the first fruits of redeemed humanity, presented as a living sacrifice to God and to Christ. No lie was found in their mouths. The same testimony was borne of Christ.
1 Pet. 2:21-22: “Hereunto were you called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps; Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”
They were blameless before the throne of God!!! What a testimony!!!! These are the white robes of 7:9 and 7:13. Their hearts were right with God, and they were freely pardoned in Christ’s precious Blood.
We have been through the opening of the seven seals. The seventh seal released the seven trumpet angels. Now we have six more angels. They are identified as “another angel”. These are Holy messenger angels of God.
Rev. 14:6-7: “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, the fountains of water.”
Through the internet, the gospel message is now covering the whole earth. It is my faith statement that this angel has been released. The angel’s message is, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, the fountains of water.” It is by the preaching of the gospel that men are turned from idols to serve the living God. God is here identified as God of Creation and Judge. Salt water and fresh water are here distinguished; the Creator has power over both, as the second and third trumpet judgments showed 8:8; 10.
Rev. 14:8: “There followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
This proclamation echoes O.T. passages:
Isa. 21:9: ‘Behold here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. He answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he has broken to the ground.”
Rev. 17: 1-6: “(Vs.5) “Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. The angel said to me, wherefore did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.”
Rev. 14: 9-11: “The third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; The smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosever receives the mark of his name.”
This angel is preaching fire and brimstone. The message is doom of apostates with a loud warning of the divine judgment which will fall on anyone who worships the beast and his image, or receives the mark of the beast. The warning may be intended for all mankind, but it is especially directed at apostate Christians.
Heb. 6: 4-6:”It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.”
To be judged in His presence is less intolerable than to be banished from His presence un-judged. Yet would their anguish not be rendered the more acute by the very presence of the one whom they have denied by their apostasy? The language of the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever is drawn from the description of the overthrow of the cities of the plain under the rain of brimstone and fire.
Jude 7: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner; giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
On the other hand, those who maintain their confession steadfastly and resist the blandishments and intimidation of the antichristian power, even at the cost of life are pronounced blessed in their death by a further voice from heaven because they die in the Lord.
Rev. 14:12-13: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from hereafter; yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”
John is commanded to write down this beatitude for the encouragement of those who from now on suffer as martyrs of Christ. The heavenly voice is confirmed by the Spirit; for apostates and faithful confessors alike it is true that their deeds will follow them; but whereas this means tribulation for the former, it means rest after suffering for the blessed. The labor from which they rest represents the troubles they endured. This is the reward of the patience of the saints. Their works follow them; as their evidence of having lived and died in the Lord.
Rev. 14: 14-17: “I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like to the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in Your sickle and reap; for the time has come for you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”
At the grain harvest, the grain is gathered into barns, although the tares and chaff are burned. But this vintage-scene symbolizes unmitigated judgment. Jesus Christ who is the Son of Man and the Lord of the Harvest. He and he alone has all authority in heaven and earth. HE COMES WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN TO RECEIVE FROM THE Ancient of Days universal and everlasting dominion; It is He to whom the Father has also given authority to judge, because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:27). The harvest is the end of the age. The harvesters are angels sent by the Son of man to weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Here Jesus is Himself the reaper. The fifth angel in Verse 17 also had a sharp sickle.
Those who by faith would not receive the Mark of the Beast or worship his image will not be in this great winepress of God’s wrath.
“TO HIM THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD”
Luke 21:26-27: “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall they see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
The Cloud is a type of the Presence and Glory of God; the Lord Jesus; and the Holy Ghost. Also the saints in heaven are described as a great Cloud of witnesses.
The bible speaks of only One Cloud until Jesus’ Ascension. Christ’s Second Coming is spoken of as a plurality of Clouds (many) clouds, a great company of clouds). I have seen this by vision. Each son becomes a cloud, a manifestation of God’s Glory. The Cloud is also a fire, making each son a flame. The many clouds speaks of God’s presence in His people and the sons of God in Glory. God has a people who will reign as Kings upon the earth and rain (as they empty his Life) upon the earth!
In Chapter Exodus 13: 20-22, we see the nation of Israel being delivered by the Cloud and the Fire:
“The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.”
The Cloud directed the movement of the camp. It was a revelation of a personal God who spoke. It was a protection and covering from the enemy. It was a shelter and refuge (shade) by day. It was light and warmth by night. It was a provider of fellowship and communion.
The Cloud was the visible representation of God.
God was in the Cloud.
God spoke from the Cloud.
The cloud covered the O.T. tabernacle and the Cloud overshadowed Mary (Lk. 1:34-35). Jesus was the beginning of the true tabernacle and was conceived in the same GLORY CLOUD.
Jesus is the Word and the Light. To follow Jesus is to follow a moving light. The Cloud of Glory was on the Mount of Transfiguration. This parallels Mt. Sinai. In both accounts, there is a Mount, a Cloud, and a Voice that speaks in and from the Cloud. Jesus ascended in the same Glory Cloud.
God appeared to Moses in a Thick Cloud (Exod. 24)
Moses was called by God into the Mount of God (verse 15) “Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. The glory of the Lord abode upon Mt. Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and got him up into the mount, and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
In the prayer tent of Moses, he sought the face of Jehovah for the direction of a nation. Because of idolatry, Moses separated his prayer life. “THAT CLOUDY PILLAR DESCENDED (33:9) and talked with Moses
Revelation 10:1: “I saw another angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
Revelation 11:12: They (the two witnesses) heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here, and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”
The sixth angel in verse 18 has power over the fire. Fire is another judgment-symbol (Mt. 3:11). The use of the vintage as a judgment-symbol probably goes back to Joel 3:13. It also recalls Isa. 63: 1-6, where the Lord as conqueror over Edom has his garments all stained with the lifeblood of his enemies whom he has trampled underfoot as grapes are trodden in the wine press.
So here the vintage of the earth is trodden so unrelentingly in the great winepress of God’s wrath. That blood flows bridle-high for a distance of 1600 stadia or furlongs is a measurement of 200 miles. If we consider the symbolic completeness of 1600, the square is 40.
That the vintage was trodden outside the city indicates those who are not within the gates of the Holy New Jerusalem. The beloved community is portrayed as both bride and city. The beloved city is marked out as the true Israel or people of God. That this judgment takes place outside the city indicates the Lord’s great love to squeeze out the last of the redeemable in the earth. This gathering is not part of the New Jerusalem, i.e. The Bride of Christ, because they have received the mark of the Beast and worshipped his image. Jesus was crucified outside the camp, to pay the price for the harvest of those who are outside the city.
Hebrews 13:11-13: “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Jesus that He might sanctify the people with His own blood suffered out side the gate. Let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”
In chapter 15, we have the good news that there will be saints who have gotten the victory over the beast.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.; I entered into the labors of F. F. Bruce International Bible Commentary and Matthew Henry’s Commentary.