“Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.” Revelation 14:13
Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you’re here. This is our fourteenth week of studying Revelation.
I’m so glad you’re here. Yes, the second blessing is in this chapter… for their deeds do follow them, oh but wait, let’s keep reading before we delve into that one.
Before we begin, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, You are worthy to receive all our honor, praise and glory. You are worthy of all might and power and strength. Only You can lead us through this book, this chapter. So I lay all I am, have and will have down for You, Lord. Take my time and reveal the messages in this chapter that we absolutely must see. Because You Lord, are worthy of all my time. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.
Please read Revelation 14:1-5
The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion
1 Then I looked, and this is what I saw: the Lamb stood [firmly established] on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads [signifying God’s own possession]. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; and the voice that I heard [seemed like music and] was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased (ransomed, redeemed) from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled [by relations] with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased and redeemed from among men [of Israel] as the first fruits [sanctified and set apart for special service] for God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouth, for they are blameless (spotless, untainted, beyond reproach).
The voice seemed like music. Oh how I love the AMP. It’d be so easy to miss so much in my regular reading of the NIV without these little comments. How else did he say that is sounded?
like _____________________________________________ and like _____________________________________________________; and like _____________________________________________________.
Please read Revelation 14:6-7
The Angel with the Gospel
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an [a]eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God [with awe and reverence], and give Him glory [and honor and praise in worship], because the hour of His judgment has come; [with all your heart] worship Him who created the heaven and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Give Him glory, worship Him who created everything. How can you today worship Him for something He’s done? Think.
Please read Revelation 14:8-12
Doom for Proud Babylon
8 Then another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality [corrupting them with idolatry].”
Doom for Worshipers of the Beast
9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “Whoever worships the beast and his image and receives the mark [of the beast] on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he too will [have to] drink of the wine of the wrath of God, [b]mixed undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone (flaming sulfur) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (Christ). 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night—those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is [encouragement for] the steadfast endurance of the saints (God’s people), those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus.
Here is encouragement for steadfast endurance. Make it a habit to keep God’s commandments – to love one another – and hang onto your faith in Jesus. Love fulfills the law and the prophets. Love.
Please read Revelation 14:13
13 Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘[c]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”
We made it to the blessing! How are those who die at this point in the story blessed? “_____________________________________ and ______________________________________, for their deeds do follow them.”
This time we have on earth, alive, is the only time we will get to do good and be faithful and grow our faith. And we don’t know if today is the last day or not, or even if we will see the next hour. For no time is guaranteed in this life.
An aside: I lead Sunday school from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day this year at my church. We studied The Red Sea Rules and the one that keeps coming back to me is every instance of faithfulness, every choice we make to not do or rather to do what God would want us to do in every situation, brings God happiness and glory. Every single choice that boils down to love or not, choosing love makes God smile. You must believe He is very close, completely surrounding on all sides of those who profess faith in Jesus. He knows every thought in your mind and on your tongue. Every choice you make can bring Him glory or bring you consequences. ‘Your deeds do follow you.’
Please read Revelation 14:14-16
The Reapers
14 Again I looked, and this is what I saw: a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle [of swift judgment] in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who was sitting upon the cloud, “Put in Your sickle and reap [at once], for the hour to reap [in judgment] has arrived, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripened.” 16 So He who was sitting on the cloud cast His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped (judged).
Judgment is coming. Yet for those with faith? Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:1-2) There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2.) Praise His holy Name. It really is ALL about FAITH.
Please read Revelation 14:17-20
17 Then another angel came out of the temple (sanctuary) in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came from the altar, the one who has power over fire; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and reap the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe [for judgment].” 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great wine press of the wrath and indignation of God [as judgment of the rebellious world]. 20 And the grapes in the wine press were trampled and crushed outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press, reaching up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of [d]sixteen hundred stadia.
I’m leaving the footprints so you can see them for further explanation as most of us don’t know what a stadia is.
Remember the blessing, the encouragement to keep loving, the promise that our deeds will follow us. For judgement is coming. And the only thing that makes a difference is our Faith.
Footnotes
- Revelation 14:6 This term likely refers to the message of God’s impending righteous judgment and a final call to repentance and faith in the risen Lord.
- Revelation 14:10 In ancient times it was customary to mix wine with an equal or larger quantity of water to prevent intoxication at ordinary meals. Here, the mixing is ironic because the “wine of the wrath” is to be consumed at full strength.
- Revelation 14:13 This is the second of the seven promised blessings. See note 1:3.
- Revelation 14:20 About two hundred miles.
I’ll be back next week with Chapter 15 so you have time to read it all over again if you want to. I pray God’s favor and blessing over you as you attempt to live like He asks and as you study. Grow your faith, it is cumulative.
Thank You, Jesus. For the encouragement, and the endurance You give us. In Your name I pray. Amen