Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse
1. “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion,
and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and
the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”
How wonderful that Jesus, the Lion of Judah,
the King of Kings, is honestly portrayed as the Lamb of God. He spoke
of Himself, in truth, as “gentle and lowly in
heart,” a Person who intends to give you “rest
for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The amazing thing about this
verse is that Jesus Christ, who loves us, is only surrounded by
144,000 people, out of the billions in human history – So many have
rejected Him! Note also, however, that a “multitude”
has trusted in the Lord (Revelation 7:9).
Those around him are likely Jews who have
received Him as their Messiah, their Christ, the Anointed One of God.
Notice that His Name is discernibly written upon each one. All who
love Him are clearly marked as His, and yet, none of us are able to
see His mark. The Book of Revelation is from the perspective of God’s
throne, and He sees everything. – He knows who you are and you are
safe in Him.
Verse
2. “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters
and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was
like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.”
The “voice from
heaven” contains elements of “waters”
and “thunder” and “harpists”.
How beautiful it is to be in the presence of our Lord. How wonderful
to hear Him. “God is love” as we see
in many places and contexts, such as 1 John 4:8. To not have love is
to “become as sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). In other words, if we do not
know the Lord, we are just noise, and the world has had plenty of
noise.
John heard a composite sound, elusive in its
nature, but lovely to hear. Have you sat by a waterfall or ocean
waves and listened to “many waters”
fall? The sound of “thunder” can be
frightening, but it is also deep and beautiful. This would represent
the sound of MANY “harpists” and John
would have been stunned by the wonder of it all, just like YOU will be
stunned when you are with the Lord. All beauty is summed up in Him,
and His Spirit bids us, “Come”
(Revelation 22:17) – for all eternity.
Verse
3. “And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four
living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song
except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased
from the earth.”
This is a very specific 144,000 people,
purchased from the earth by the blood of Jesus Christ; and they stand
before the throne of the Lord. They sing a new song before Him, and
no one can comprehend that song, except them. Special circumstances
create special understanding, and the Spirit of God, along with the
situation of their lives has given them a unique way of expressing
their faith in our Lord – Forever!
In places like Psalm 139:14, we read words
such as these: “I will praise You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made…” That’s not just about David
and HIS life – It’s about you and me. Our circumstances were
carefully chosen, including who our parents were, the size and shape
of our bodies, our relative intelligence, and so on. The purpose in
all this is that we will be equipped for eternity, so that WE also
may, collectively and individually, have a special “song”
that we will sing to our Lord, who has a special call on your life and
mine.
Verse
4. “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they
have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb
wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first
fruits to God and to the Lamb.”
We hear the expression, “Guys
are guys,” indicating that men are limited by their genetic
structure and therefore cannot help themselves in relation to women or
liquor or whatever. According to this verse, the phrase “Guys
are guys” is not true of ALL men. There are some who follow
the Lord, the Lamb of God, respond to His Spirit, and if they are
called to be chaste, even to the point of never marrying, they will do
so; because they love Him more than they love life itself.
Now, it is not clear when these men lived, for
the terminology of these verses suggests they are now with the Lord
(Verse 1). They were before the throne of God (Verse 2), which likely
means they have departed this life, but it could also mean they are
continually before the throne of God in prayer. Revelation 7:4 seems
to refer to the same 144,000 men who are “of
Israel” – They are Jews. If you think you “can’t
help yourself” and must enter into sin, remember these men who
turned their backs on sin through the power of God. You can do it,
too.
Verse
5. “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”
Note that not only did these people
successfully “FOLLOW the Lamb” (Verse
4), even to the point of remaining chaste in all their ways, but they
were also HONEST – No lie was in their mouths. Apparently the 144,000
did not even “stretch” the truth. They were pure before God. They
were blameless! Lord, enable us, help us to FOLLOW the Lamb and
become blameless in Your sight.
You might be discouraged by the 144,000 and
think to yourself, “If only I could have
another chance, I could be blameless, too.” If you would like
another go at life, I have good news: “If
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians
5:17). In other words, like Jesus said, you can be “born
again” (John 3:3, 7). You can be made “blameless”
because Jesus Christ took the blame for you.
Verse 6. “And I saw
another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach
to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and
tongue and people;”
Notice that the “gospel”
(good news) of Jesus Christ is for everyone on earth, a gift for “EVERY
nation and tribe and tongue and people.” It is a fact that
languages and national identities are continually changing, and most
systems of government and speech are only around for a few hundred
years. The “English” of Chaucer’s time (1300 AD) is like a foreign
language to the “English” spoken now. Same with the Chinese languages
of 3000 BC – Those languages are gone, and yet the “gospel”
is for them, just as much as for you and me. We look at the cross as
a specific point in time; but there is no time in the presence of
God. The “gospel” is “eternal”–
It is from everlasting. His cross, His forgiveness is for ALL who
place their trust in Him.
Jesus Christ is the Son of Man, Son of God, and
He is given to everyone, not just a few. Romans 2:14-16 is clear that
the “Law” of God is written in the
hearts of all in mankind, and as you follow the context into Romans
Chapter 3, it is seen that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope
for anyone, anywhere, any time. If a person in what is now South
America, 4000 years ago, honestly reached out to God, it was the Cross
of Christ that saved them, even though they never heard of something
that was for them, 2000 years in the future. Your hope is the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Verse 7. “and he said
with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of
His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth
and sea and springs of waters.’”
The angel of Verse 7 continues his discourse in
the presence of John the Apostle, as recorded in these verses. He
gives rational advice to us all: We should “fear
God,” for, after all, He is Almighty God and we are just flawed
human beings. We are sinners, but He is pure in all His ways. It’s
time to give glory to His Name. Every once in awhile, in a museum,
there is a picture or statue that is so breathtaking that all agree it
is wonderful! So is God – Beautiful and Wonderful in all His ways!
This is especially important now, for the time of
His judgment has come! We may not see it at this moment, but it is so
close and we should realize that the “hour”
is right at our door. It’s reasonable to worship Him. We can’t even
begin to control the rotation of the earth, let alone the courses of
the stars. He made it all, including the oceans and the springs of
water we drink in order to live. We can dig and find water, but we
cannot create water anew – So far, all we have shown is that we can
pollute what was already there.
Verse 8. “And another
angel, a second one, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the
great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the
passion of her immorality.’”
Another angel, a “second”
one, now appears and speaks to John the Apostle, discussing “Babylon,”
which was not only a real city and system of government, but it is
also a “type” or “parable” in Scripture. “Babylon”
takes two basic forms in this world, both of which are humanistic in
origin – 1) Political and 2) religious, with each form presenting
ideas and systems that are divorced from the Spirit, power, and love
of God. The one called “she” in this
verse is in sharp contrast to the “woman”
of Revelation 12:1 & forward. They are systems in opposition
to one another.
“Immorality” in
this verse is a reference to unfaithfulness toward God. He is our
Maker and whether we accept Him or not, He is legitimately our God.
To place anything or anyone ahead of Him in our thoughts is idolatry,
which is similar to unfaithfulness in marriage. Note that “all
the nations” have gone down this road. You may like one nation
or type of government more than another, but ALL turn against God and
all will deny Him.
Verse 9. “Then another
angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If
anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his
forehead or on his hand,”
The “third” angel
in the context of these verses now speaks a warning to the people of
earth, and we should listen to his words: You are marked with a symbol
of ownership. This is not necessarily visible like a birthmark, nor
is it likely to be seen by anyone on earth. But your “freedom” is
illusory, for you have a mark of ownership upon your soul, identifying
you as belonging either to the enemy or to the Lord.
To reject the Lord is to choose this “beast,”
whether you are consciously aware of the enormity of your decision or
not. At the time of these verses, the “beast”
may well require an outward “mark”
that will reflect the spiritual condition of those who receive it.
These three angels express God’s concern for us, for some choices we
make are irreversibly harmful. The good news is this: Those who trust
in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, will be ABLE to reject the “mark”
of the “beast.”
Verse 10. “he also will
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength
in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of
the Lamb.”
Those who reject God, ally themselves with the
enemy, and they pay a great price for such an allegiance. Note that
God is slow to anger. He has allowed this world system (“Babylon”)
to go on for thousands of years, and the only reason is to give people
like YOU an opportunity to trust in His Son. Yes, He is slow to
anger, but He is certainly capable of that emotion, for He burns
white-hot when sin occurs, because it harms His little ones.
The “mark” of
these verses is a mark of pride, an endorsement of the godlessness of
the humanistic systems in this world. It excludes God as Savior, as
it also excludes those who will not take that mark. The implied word
in this verse, is “Woe” – To those who will choose to wear this
accursed mark. They will experience torment without end. Trust in
the Lord right NOW, and you will be spared the wrath that is to come –
You will know Him who loves you.
Verse 11. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever
and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his
image, and whoever receives the mark
of his name.”
Those who do not believe in an everlasting hell should read these verses,
especially where it says, “the smoke of their torment goes
up forever and ever.” This is a place where “they
have no rest day and night.” There is so much torment right here in this
world – Why would anyone choose to remain in a condition where they might go to
such a place? Yet many do, though certain Rescue is available for every one who
trusts in the Lord.
It is amazing that so many on earth and all those who are to be in hell, will
NOT turn to the Lord. He is merciful to all who finally become fed up with
themselves and their pride, and at last turn and trust in Him. Yet now, as it
will be in the Tribulation period that is to come, many are so obsessed with
getting what they want, that they will choose to take the “mark”
of the “beast.” They are like so many who place
short term economic security and personal autonomy ahead of everything else.
Verse 12. “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep
the commandments of God and
their faith in Jesus.”
This will be the lowest point for God’s chosen ones in the history of mankind.
It will be impossible to even buy food without publicly embracing the evil
system of this world. The job of God’s people at such a time, is “perseverance,”
to have continuing patience that the Lord will bring you through, which can be
difficult indeed when your life and the lives of your loved ones are at stake.
But we needn’t be afraid, for He is with us. We can place our faith in Him.
The “saints” (the called-out ones of God) are to
act in specific ways: They are to keep the
“commandments” of God. Specifically this will
include a moment-by-moment RESPONSIVENESS
to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, who draws us to act in love. That’s the
Lord’s command, as reflected in Mark 12:28-31, that we are to love Him and love
one another. And no matter how bad the circumstances of our lives become, we are
to continue to TRUST (have “faith”) in Him who
loves us, for He will bring us through.
Verse 13. “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying,
‘Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ‘Yes,’ says the
Spirit, ‘so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with
them.’”
Our understanding of life is often backward – For instance, we FIGHT to stay
alive, to the extent that many lie, cheat and steal in order to LIVE and not
die. And, of course, we have seen that people get angry at God and attempt to
end their own lives, not understanding the previous verse that says we are to
have “faith” in the Lord.” Your life is HIS – Not
your own. He has a time to live and a time to die, for you and me. This verse,
by the way, is important because it reveals that it is a good thing (“blessed”)
to die “in the Lord” (in circumstances of HIS
choosing), for it is clear that to do so is to “REST”
from the labor and stress of this world.
There is nothing wrong with relishing life. There is MUCH wrong with willful
suicide or murder – These (yours and mine) are God’s lives and, as stated, we
belong to Him. It is His will that we are here on this earth, for He has created
us and we are His property. Yet there is also an obsessive selfishness in
clinging to what we have, including life itself. We can TRUST in Him, and note
that our works, like our trust in Him, will follow us into eternity –
Nothing of value is lost with our Lord, and we will know His rest.
Verse 14. “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and
sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His
head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”
There are plenty of references in Scripture to the harvest, the time for reaping
that which has been sowed. These are not only references to the VICTORY in
Christ Jesus for those who have placed their trust in Him, but they also speak
of the lost who will not believe in Him. There will be a general “harvest” of
mankind at the end of this age. The “one like a son of man”
holds a sharp “sickle” – a curved knife-like
device, commonly used for harvesting grain at the time of John the Apostle.
Note the CERTAINTY of future judgment in these verses. The “one
like a son of man,” is
probably in his place right now, waiting for his part in the events that will
soon come. If you or someone you love has even the LEAST interest in
self-preservation, it’s a good idea to look to the Lord right now. It’s like a
scientific experiment in which you do your part by placing your life into the
hands of the risen Lord and then see what happens – Just give yourself to Him,
and He will do the rest.
Verse 15. “And another angel came out of the temple,
crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle
and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is
ripe.’”
Quite a few theologians have thought that the “one”
who has the “sharp sickle” in verse 14, is Jesus
Christ Himself. That idea is reflected in this verse, because the “Him”
who is sitting on the cloud is capitalized in some translations. But “another
angel” is telling this one to get to work, and that would not be the case
if the one with the “sickle” is indeed the Lord. He
is one of God’s holy angels, as indicated by the “golden
crown” of verse 14.
There will be a time when it will be impossible to NOT believe that God exists.
The judgment will come, and when it does, all will be over. In Noah’s time (just
as now) many denied that such things as God’s judgment could be possible. Romans
Chapter One teaches that underneath the lack of faith in this world, there is an
awareness that everything about the Lord is true, covered by elaborate attempts
to deny reality that He is indeed God Almighty. When no more faith may be
wrought from this earth, His judgment will come.
Verse 16. “Then He who
sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was
reaped.”
The time of “harvest” has come. The angels of
God DO care for the people of this earth, and it will be very
difficult for them to end the lives and the hope for continued life,
for millions of people. The very PURPOSE of these angelic beings is
to help you and me, but at the command which was sent from God, he who
sat on the cloud “swung His sickle over the
earth” and the “earth was reaped.”
It is important in these verses is to note the
RESPONSIVENESS of God’s angels. There was no “but why, Lord?” or
other hesitation in his response – At the command, he will swing the
sickle and the earth will be harvested. Also note that God’s
judgment, justice, and the rescue of His people will be very swift.
We must be like this angel – prayerful, but also quick to carry out
the will of God.
Verse 17. “And another
angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a
sharp sickle.”
God has more than enough resources to carry out
His will, on earth or anywhere else in the universe and beyond. Here
is yet “another angel” who seems to
duplicate the function of the first one, except that as we read into
the next verses, the result is different. The first merely “reaped”
the “grain” of this earth (Verse 16), whereas this one carries out “the
wrath of God” (Verse 19) and elicits “blood…
from the wine press” (Verse 20).
The first angel may be assigned to bring out of
the world those who love the Lord, during the difficult Tribulation
time in which they live, whereas the second angel is clearly sent in
judgment on those who reject Him. It’s not completely clear, but we
can see from these verses that there is an END to the trouble in this
world; an END to all things. It’s time to trust in the Lord, because
the alternative is to lose – everything!
Verse 18. “Then another
angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and
he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying,
‘Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the
earth, because her grapes are ripe.’”
The Book of Joel speaks about God’s judgment on
Judah, and the subsequent restoration of that country. That book also
reaches through those prophesies to the end of this age (a time like
now), using language very similar to what is found in these verses,
such as: “Put in the sickle, for the harvest
is ripe. Come, go down for the winepress is full, the vats over flow.
For their wickedness is great” (Joel 3:13). At the same time
God’s judgment is falling on this world, it is reported that the Lord
“will be a shelter for His people”
(Joel 3:16). In the worst of times, God will protect His little ones.
It is essential that we understand the times in
which we live. Many today want the restraints of God, law and culture
to be completely set aside. To the extent that people get their own
way and succeed in essentially “throwing” God out of our countries and
lives, we are hastening destruction on ourselves and our children.
When the time is literally “ripe,” Got
will give the order and this earth and its people will be destroyed.
The harvest WILL come.
Verse 19. “So the angel
swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine
of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of
God.”
God is your creator and mine, no matter what you
might think of Him. He is our provider, our sustainer and also our
judge. You could not move or think or feel, except He enables you.
Underneath it all, everyone knows that life should be better than it
is. God is utterly good and it is actually self-evident that we
should all place our trust in Him. The law of God (the law we cannot
keep), points to the way people should be. We are law-breakers whose
only hope is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who suffered the judgment
of God for our sins. He is indeed our only hope, and in Him we are
offered the grace of God.
The judgment of God is sent to this planet with a
sigh from above, for He has no pleasure in our destruction. It has
been said that “there is no wrath in God,
but the wrath of love.” And that’s the truth. He loves us so
much that He will not allow sin to go past a certain point. We are
headed for eternity, in which sin will be no more. The harvest is
coming, in which God’s wrath will bring an end to sin, and His love
will RESCUE those who trust in the Lamb of God.
Verse 20. “And the wine
press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine
press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred
miles.”
We know from Revelation 19:13 & 19, that the One
who treads the wine press is the Word of God. John 1:1 & 14,
identifies the Word of God as Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation
has two main vantage points: The throne of God in the heavenlies, and
on earth, the nation Israel. These verses are suggesting a great
future war on earth, and its real cause is God’s judgment on the sins
of mankind. We may be seeing here a glimpse of the war that will be
centered in the place called “Armageddon” in Israel, as seen in
Revelation 19:16 & context.
Humans have tended to boast so much, but here,
from God’s point of view, the whole of Godless humanity is compared to
a bunch of grapes squashed in a winepress. Instead of grape juice,
blood pours forth, in a last great battle of mankind. Humanity has
been a race of war, which is shown often in “little” ways, such as
marital strife, corporate takeovers, schoolyard bullying, and gossip.
The end of our present age will be a fitting end, for we are a violent
people.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
