Revelation 14:1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb
John always writes of Jesus as the «Lamb.» His Lord is to him in his sacrificial character always «the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world» by the shedding of his blood. «I looked, and, lo, a Lamb»
Revelation 14:1. Stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. The Revised Version has it, «having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.» Now they are known to be the Lord's; on earth that fact was questioned, but his name is written on their foreheads now. Sometimes they themselves had to question it, but now it is apparent to all, the distinguishing mark is stamped upon their brow:
«having his Father's name written in their foreheads.»
Revelation 14:2. And 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:
It was very loud, but very sweet. It is not easy in earthly music to blend the two: but in heaven, all the energies of living men shall be thrown into the song; and yet it shall be sweet as the touch of a minstrel when he lays his fingers gently among the strings of the harp.
Revelation 14:3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne,
They could not sing any old song there. The songs of earth, sweet as some of them are, are not good enough to be sung in heaven. With a new experience, new delights, and a clearer vision of their Lord, they must have a new song.
Revelation 14:3. And before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Heaven is not the place to learn that song; it must be learned on the earth You must learn here the notes of free grace and dying love; and when you have mastered their melody, you will be able to offer to the Lord the tribute of a grateful heart, even in heaven, and blend it with the harmonies eternal. Suppose, for a moment, that you could go there, and that you were unprepared to sing the new song, you would have to say, «I cannot join in the chorus, for I do not know the tune.» You must learn the song now, the new song of praise unto our God, or you cannot be admitted there. I should not expect, if I went down to the Handel Festival, for the conductor to permit me to take a place in the choir. He would ask me «Can you sing? Have you ever rehearsed the matchless music of Handel?» and when I answered «No,» he would tell me to stand aside; so you must learn the music of Calvary, you must learn the music of the name of Jesus, or you cannot sing in heaven. No man could learn the song but the redeemed from the earth; not redeemed, you see, by a general redemption, of which some so loudly talk; but redeemed from among men by a special redemption, which took them out from the rest of mankind, by a price paid for them, so that they were bought as others were not bought, by the precious blood of Jesus, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.
Revelation 14:4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.
They were pure and chaste in the sight of God.
Revelation 14:4. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
His choice attendants, his body-guard.
Revelation 14:4-5. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile:
«No lie.» They were truthful, they were truth-speakers.
Revelation 14:5. For they are without fault
Or, blemish.
Revelation 14:5. Before the throne of God.
Like him with whom they associated, the Lamb of God, they were without blemish and without spot.
Revelation 14:6. And I saw
What wonderful sights John saw! I do not wonder that, he saw them; he had leaned his bead on Christ's bosom, and that qualified him to see what you and I cannot see. Near communion to Christ is the best qualification for a vision of mystery. Get thee into the very heart of Christ, and thou shalt see wonderful things: «I saw»
Revelation 14:6-7. Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach, unto 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;
Is this the gospel? It is one version, evidently, of the everlasting gospel. «The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.» Truly, to worship him as he reveals himself, is true godliness; and in it lies all the gospel: «Having the everlasting gospel to preach unto 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.»
Revelation 14:7-8. For the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
This will not happen till the gospel is fully preached. Superstition does not come down unless true religion is set up. One angel proclaims the everlasting gospel; the next declares that the great system of error is fallen: «Babylon is fallen.»
Revelation 14:8. That great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
You know that gigantic system of error which professes to come from God, and to be the only true church; but it must fall.
Revelation 14:9-10. And 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:
They sometimes say that we talk very terribly about the world to come. Do we say more than the Scripture says? Do we use more terrific emblems than the Holy Ghost uses when he speaks after this fashion? This is a generation that is not to be pleased, neither do we seek to please it. God's wrath is terrible, and our language cannot be too strong to express the overwhelming power of it.
Revelation 14:11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Keep you true to Christ; wear his name in your forehead. Follow no system of error; do not be deluded either by Ritualism or Rationalism, by superstition or by unbelief. Keep close to the Word of God, and ask to be taught of the Spirit of God.
Revelation 14:12-13. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the. Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Accursed were they who carried the mark of the beast, and went after falsehood; but blessed are they who follow Christ, even though they die. Dying in the Lord, their works survive them, and they themselves live for ever with him.
Revelation 14:14. And I looked, and behold a while cloud,
One of these days, every eye will look and see what is here described. A little time may elapse, but it will soon be past. How quickly years fly away! Think where you will be in the day when you, too, will say, «I looked, and behold a white cloud.»
Revelation 14:14-16. And upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
This is the gathering in of the godly, who are Christ's wheat. He himself reaps them; no angel, mark you, but himself, with his own sharp sickle and with his own dear hand. These are his sheaves, he sowed for wheat; he himself was that wheat which fell into the ground and died, and brought forth much fruit. So he, into his own bosom, gathers his own sheaves with his own hand. «May I be among them!» Make that your prayer tonight. May I be one golden ear in Christ's great harvest!»
Revelation 14:17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Not this time the King, but an angel; not the Son of man that sat on the cloud, but an angel, the servant of God, deputed to execute vengeance.
Revelation 14:18-19. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with, a lend cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in, his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth,
This is the gathering together of the ungodly, those wicked clusters that ripen in sin, and that become red with iniquity. Christ does not gather them, you see. That is left to an angel to do; he thrust in his Sickle, and gathered the grapes of the earth.
Revelation 14:19. And cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Can you see the clusters flung into the winepress? Will you be there? God grant that neither you nor I may, in that terrible day, be among the clusters of the wicked!
Revelation 14:20. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
So terrible will be even the preliminary destruction of the ungodly. Though they grow in clusters, yet shall they perish. «Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.» «He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith» unto each one of us. Amen.