Chapter 14 is a continuation of the vision which started in chapter 12, although the scene itself shifts from earth to heaven here. Once again we are seeing heaven, with the Lamb and the 144,000. These 144,000 represent all of God’s people who have been delivered from the persecution of the beasts, and they are at rest from their earthly struggles. They sing heavenly songs that we cannot understand in our Fallen state. We must wait until we join them in heaven and our sins are finally fully purified from us to join with them in this worship.
A couple odd things are mentioned about this 144,000. It says that these 144,000 have not, “defiled themselves with women.” The Bible never refers to sex as defilement within its proper context of marriage. In fact, the Bible’s message is that husbands and wives should have sex, and that this is one of God’s good gifts to us. Therefore, there is a figurative meaning here. The Old Testament often compares idolatry to adultery. My understanding of what this means is that they have remained pure and have refused the mark of the beast, and perhaps they were killed because of it.
This understanding would also tie in with the comment about them being virgins, for while Paul does make comments about it better to remain single for the sake of serving Christ, he also, along with the rest of the Bible honors marriage and the gift God gives to husband and wife.
Three angels then speak, proclaiming messages of salvation and warning. The first angel calls us to worship God as our judge and maker. These are normally works of God that we attribute to the Father, and it is important to remember that while we usually focus on salvation as our reason for worship that Jesus saved us to bring us to the Father (1 Peter 3:18). The second angel declares the fall of Babylon. Babylon was one of God’s people’s ancient enemies. Here Babylon represents all of God’s enemies and it says it has fallen. Just as people celebrated the defeat of the Axis powers at the end of the World War II, these are words that cause God’s people to celebrate. Our enemies have been defeated! The third angel issues a warning against receiving the mark of the beast, which is odd because we’ve just heard that our enemies have been destroyed. What’s this about?
This sequence of events describes what we the “Now-Not-Yet” aspect of our faith. We have salvation now; fully, completely, and surely. But our experience of it is “not yet.” We are declared holy (Now). But we still sin (Not Yet). It is the tension we live in as we wait to receive the fulfillment of the promise God has made to us in Christ. So we can rightly say, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” They have now received what we not yet received – the full perfection of Christ. But someday we will, and therefore the need for endurance in keeping God’s commandments and clinging to faith in Jesus.
This vision ends with the Harvest. While this vision/sign does not break apart into seven clearly delineated parts like the other visions, it details the same things and ends the same way – with the last day. Jesus, the Lord of Harvest, reaps his crop from the earth. This first reaping acknowledges that Jesus takes his own. The other reaping that takes place here acknowledges that when Jesus reaps the saints from the earth, those who do not believe in him will be reaped for judgment and wrath. While this is sad and frightening, it underscores that our endurance and suffering in this world is to rescue those who are headed toward wrath – we are God’s witnesses to bring salvation to those who are deceived by the dragon and his beasts. We are the ones who belong to the Lamb who saves all who believe in him, so we share his message of hope and forgiveness.
Father in Heaven, thank you for saving me. I lose track of the spiritual struggle around me. Make me keenly aware of the role I play to help people to know, love and follow Jesus so they can be saved. Give me your Spirit that I may endure, obeying Your commandments and holding on to faith in Jesus. In His name I pray; Amen.
A couple odd things are mentioned about this 144,000. It says that these 144,000 have not, “defiled themselves with women.” The Bible never refers to sex as defilement within its proper context of marriage. In fact, the Bible’s message is that husbands and wives should have sex, and that this is one of God’s good gifts to us. Therefore, there is a figurative meaning here. The Old Testament often compares idolatry to adultery. My understanding of what this means is that they have remained pure and have refused the mark of the beast, and perhaps they were killed because of it.
This understanding would also tie in with the comment about them being virgins, for while Paul does make comments about it better to remain single for the sake of serving Christ, he also, along with the rest of the Bible honors marriage and the gift God gives to husband and wife.
Three angels then speak, proclaiming messages of salvation and warning. The first angel calls us to worship God as our judge and maker. These are normally works of God that we attribute to the Father, and it is important to remember that while we usually focus on salvation as our reason for worship that Jesus saved us to bring us to the Father (1 Peter 3:18). The second angel declares the fall of Babylon. Babylon was one of God’s people’s ancient enemies. Here Babylon represents all of God’s enemies and it says it has fallen. Just as people celebrated the defeat of the Axis powers at the end of the World War II, these are words that cause God’s people to celebrate. Our enemies have been defeated! The third angel issues a warning against receiving the mark of the beast, which is odd because we’ve just heard that our enemies have been destroyed. What’s this about?
This sequence of events describes what we the “Now-Not-Yet” aspect of our faith. We have salvation now; fully, completely, and surely. But our experience of it is “not yet.” We are declared holy (Now). But we still sin (Not Yet). It is the tension we live in as we wait to receive the fulfillment of the promise God has made to us in Christ. So we can rightly say, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” They have now received what we not yet received – the full perfection of Christ. But someday we will, and therefore the need for endurance in keeping God’s commandments and clinging to faith in Jesus.
This vision ends with the Harvest. While this vision/sign does not break apart into seven clearly delineated parts like the other visions, it details the same things and ends the same way – with the last day. Jesus, the Lord of Harvest, reaps his crop from the earth. This first reaping acknowledges that Jesus takes his own. The other reaping that takes place here acknowledges that when Jesus reaps the saints from the earth, those who do not believe in him will be reaped for judgment and wrath. While this is sad and frightening, it underscores that our endurance and suffering in this world is to rescue those who are headed toward wrath – we are God’s witnesses to bring salvation to those who are deceived by the dragon and his beasts. We are the ones who belong to the Lamb who saves all who believe in him, so we share his message of hope and forgiveness.
Father in Heaven, thank you for saving me. I lose track of the spiritual struggle around me. Make me keenly aware of the role I play to help people to know, love and follow Jesus so they can be saved. Give me your Spirit that I may endure, obeying Your commandments and holding on to faith in Jesus. In His name I pray; Amen.
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