Reading: Revelation 14:1-20

I recently got in to reading a novelist named Jack Carr. He’s a former US Navy SEAL and his books are fantastic. They’re written about a former US Navy SEAL; so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for everyone (based on the subject matter and language) but one of the things that he does is put a glossary of terms at the back of the book. This was super helpful for me since I never served in the military and don’t know military acronyms.

So. I thought it might be helpful for us, as we look at Revelation chapter 14, to provide a glossary of terms:

Lamb

First of all, anytime you read about the Lamb in the book it is always referring to Jesus. You’ll do well to notice it’s capitalized in most instances, so it’s a proper noun. Meant for a proper king. We don’t have time to get into all the intricacies of why Jesus is called a lamb, but the short version is: under the old covenant law God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb for the forgiveness of sins. Under the new covenant of grace, Jesus was our sacrificial lamb. So we don’t have to do anything to be forgiven, except believe in Him.

144,000

The next term that will be helpful to know is the number 144,000. Revelation chapter 7 helps us realize that this is not a literal number. The text says John heard the number, then he turned and saw a great multitude. So he didn’t see 144,000…rather it’s symbolic of the 12 tribes, and 12 apostles. That is; the old and new multiplied together, then multiplied by 1,000. Why? 1,000? Because in the 1st century, there wasn’t really anything bigger than that. What could possibly be multiplied by 1,000? So. 144,000 represents all of Jesus’ followers.

Babylon

Next is the word Babylon. If you know your Old Testament, you know Babylon is Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. However, it was rumored to have been founded thousands of years before him. Also, it’s helpful to know that in Scripture Babylon is almost always used as a metaphor for the epitome of evil. The name Babylon, means “gate of the gods,” and represents any attempt by humans to reach God through their own means. In our context, we know that Babylon also represents Rome. Matter of fact, in a letter Peter wrote, he uses the sentence “those in Babylon give you a greeting.” And we know he was talking about Rome, but it was very dangerous to talk negatively about Rome so they’re using code. All his readers would’ve recognized that.

First Harvest

The first harvest is in reference to God’s salvation. We know it’s talking about Jesus because it refers to the Son of Man—a name Jesus calls himself over 80 times in Scripture. Additionally, in Matthew 25, you’ll hear Jesus talk about separating the sheep from the goats with His shepherd’s staff. In Revelation 14 he’s using a sickle. The picture is a harvest.

Second Harvest

The second harvest, however, is a reaping of God’s judgment. Now. People always want to know how could a good God judge anyone? Right? They’ll say, “What about those who’ve never heard? What about the Native American’s on the plains? What about the tribes in the Amazon? What about the handicap child? Is God judging all of them?” Generally—at least in my experience—they’re raising those questions because they want to justify themselves. They want to be able to say, “I won’t believe in a God like that…” And what they’re really doing is just putting their morality above God’s. Or. They’re trying to be God. See also Romans chapter 1.

But. Here’s the big idea of the text: John is saying, Rome is about to fall, verse 8, so why would you bow the knee to them? Worship Him who made the heaven and the earth. Not some image. Not some man. And when you do worship God, you’re guaranteed eternity with Him in heaven!

Plus, did you notice the dichotomy between heaven and hell? In heaven you get rest, verse 13—and in the place of torment, hell, there is no rest, verse 11.

That said. Lets talk about ‘judgement’. Here’s how I like to say it: Judgement is a result of wrath. Wrath is a result of Love.

So. The lie is: God’s love and God’s wrath are pitted against each other. No they’re not! For the One who created it all, for no other reason than He is love, they’re one in the same. It’s why as a parent you can experience wrath when someone hurts your child (the wrath stems from the love).

It’s at this point people say, “If He loves us so much how could He send anyone to eternal torment?” And the truth is, He doesn’t. We do that. I mean. If you don’t want God now, why would you suddenly want Him then? But. Moreover. How good is God that we are without excuse? Again. Romans 1. That’s the big idea in Revelation 14 as well.

Which. Think of your own life. I’m sure that over and over you can go, “Wow. God did this and God did that, and he kept me from harm here; and now I know that this painful thing was used by God…” And all of this is God wooing you back in to His presence. God is patient not desiring that any should perish.

Lastly. In Luke 12:47-48 Jesus essentially says, “Everyone will be judged according to what they know.” So our job isn’t just to increase in knowledge, it’s to put in to practice what we know. And the only thing we ‘know’ from Revelation 14 is that if you’ll be obedient to God, your outcome is guaranteed by Him.

With Gratitude,

pLJ