Revelation (Written)

Tuesday, 13 April 2021

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Revelation 14:15

John just beheld One like the Son of Man on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and having a sharp sickle in His hand. John next says, “And another angel came out of the temple.”

The previous person was Christ Jesus in His role as the Victor (symbolized by the crown of victory) of the human race and the One to execute judgment on all men who fail to measure up to God’s standard of perfection. He fulfills the role as the Son of Man who has authority to judge men impartially because He has shared in their manhood. This next “angel” is most probably another aspect of Christ. Coming out of the temple signifies Christ in His roles as High Priest and Mediator.

In coming out of the temple, John says He is, “crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud.” The imagery is for our benefit to see the various roles of Christ. In Matthew 24, Jesus said that no man knows the day and hour of the events to come, “not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Jesus, as fully God, shares in the knowledge of the Godhead. The divine Christ, the God/Man, is being revealed in these various roles and how His actions are conducted in the stream of time.

In other words, seeing one angel – who is Jesus, calling forth to the Son of Man on the cloud – is an unveiling of the various roles of Christ to us. These are not separate entities in reality. They are a vision given to John to show us all that Christ does. This has already been seen in the various roles of Christ being displayed in this manner, such as in Revelation 5. With this understood, the call is made to Him who sat on the cloud, saying, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

This is the harvest of the earth of those who are accepted by Christ the High Priest. First, the symbolism is found in Mark 4 –

“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’” Mark 4:26-29

This is the good grain of the tribulation period. The one hundred and forty-four thousand were firstfruits. This is now the harvest. It is those who did not take the mark of the beast and who put their trust in Christ. As it said in 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on,” and “their works will follow them.”

In this harvest, there will be good and bad. There will certainly be some who do not take the mark of the beast for whatever reason, but they have not come to Christ. Those are referred to in another parable –

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus gave various other parables that follow this same general theme. In the time of the coming kingdom, the harvest will take place. There will be good grain and there will be tares and chaff. Christ will sort it all out. The next verse will finish the thought of this harvest, and then after this harvest will come another type of harvest in the verses ahead, the grape harvest.

Life application: At harvest time, there are piles and piles of sheaves. The amount of seed seems impossible to ever count, so who would even try? And if some of the seed gets lost, who would even care – there is so much! The answer is that God knows every good seed of all humanity since the first man. He knows every bit of chaff as well. Nothing escapes His attention.

But more, of the good seed, none shall be lost, not even one. The harvest of mankind is so carefully and meticulously attended to by God, that no error will ever be made. All that are saved by Christ Jesus will be a part of His eternal reign. We should have no fear or worry. What God does is perfect, and what God has done in Christ cannot fail. We are saved with a sure and everlasting salvation because of the work of another. It comes through faith in JESUS!

Heavenly Father, there is an end to all things, including Your patience at the world’s sin and rejection of You. Your word is written and therefore these things will come to pass. Give us willing hearts to stand up and proclaim the truth of Your message now. Help us to be responsible in getting this word out. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Monday, 12 April 2021

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. Revelation 14:14

The previous verses spoke of the patience of the saints and faith in Jesus. This will mean dying in the Lord, but good will ultimately result for them as their works follow them. With that recorded, John’s attention is next directed to another aspect of what is coming during the tribulation period. He says, “Then I looked.”

This is another aspect of the ongoing vision being presented. It is a finishing aspect of this particular presentation, and it will continue until the end of the chapter. It is a time of wrath being poured upon the world. The saints who rejected the mark have been noted. Those who are not saints will now be dealt with by God. As John next says, “and behold, a white cloud.”

White is reflective of heaven’s purity. The cloud is reflective of the coming forth of, presence of, or departure of divine glory. That is seen throughout Scripture, from Exodus to Revelation. When a divine manifestation of the Lord is given, a cloud is often noted. In this white cloud, John next says, “and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man.”

This is the fulfillment of what was referred to in Revelation 1:7 –

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

And that is the fulfillment of the promise from Jesus in the gospels, such as –

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”  Matthew 24:29-31

And those words of Jesus are given based on the words of the vision given to Daniel –

“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:13

Various other references complete the picture, but these three show the progression of thought enough to show that Christ Jesus is the anticipation and fulfillment of the passages.

In these words, Revelation 14 corresponds to the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The fourteenth letter, nun, pictures seed, and it signifies “water,” “seed,” “continue,” “heir,” and “son.” In verse 14 of this chapter is found the Son of Man prophesied of in Daniel 7:13. Of this Son of Man (Jesus) coming on the cloud, John next says, “having on His head a golden crown.”

The crown described here is the Greek word stephanos. It can imply kingly authority such as when the crown of thorns was twisted together and placed on Christ’s head. There they acknowledged that stephanos as a kingly symbol –

“When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” Matthew 27:29

Above all, the meaning of the stephanos, or crown, is that of glory, honor, and victory. Being gold signifies both royalty (in a human sense) and divinity (in a heavenly sense). Such symbolism goes back to the construction of the tabernacle where gold used in its construction bore these attributes.

This is Jesus, the Lord God Almighty, descending to accomplish a final task in the redemptive narrative before the coming of His millennial reign. As John says, “and in His hand a sharp sickle. The sickle is a symbol of judgment, as in cutting down one’s enemies. The symbolism of this sickle in the hands of the Lord goes back to Joel 3 –

“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
¹³ Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow—
For their wickedness is great.
¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
¹⁵ The sun and moon will grow dark,
And the stars will diminish their brightness.
¹⁶ The Lord also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:12-16

Of this, Albert Barnes rightly notes, “The image of a harvest is often employed in the New Testament to describe moral subjects, Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 13:30, Matthew 13:39; Mark 4:29; Luke 10:2; John 4:35. Here the reference is to the consummation of all things, when the great harvest of the world will be reaped…”

Life application: In Matthew 26, Jesus again refers to the symbolism of the Son of Man spoken of by Daniel. There it says –

“And the high priest arose and said to Him, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’
⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?’” Matthew 26:62-66

Knowing exactly what Jesus was referring to, the High Priest of Israel violated his own law by tearing his robe, thus failing to uphold the requirements of the office he held (Leviticus 21:10). At the same time, he stated that what Jesus said was blasphemy because His words could only mean that He was claiming to be God.

But Jesus is God. Israel rejected Him, and the message of the coming of the Lord to save His people has gone out among the world. Eventually, that dispensation will end with the rapture of the church. Already, the world is ripe for the harvest of the wrath of God. When the church is taken out, things will devolve even more. At that time, Jesus is coming to execute the wrath of God in full measure.

He is the One appointed to judge the world in righteousness. He is great, He is God, He is JESUS!

Lord Jesus, how much better to bow the knee to You now and find grace and mercy in receiving what You have done for us. In Your word, we see that a time is coming when the world will be judged in righteousness, and it will be consumed in the fury of Your wrath. Give us a willing heart to share Your word now so that many may hear and be saved. Amen.

Sunday, 11 April 2021

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Revelation 14:13

The previous verse brought to our ears the words, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” This was stated at a time when destruction has been mentioned (Babylon is fallen), and when a warning concerning taking the mark of the beast has been made. In calling for patience, it is an obvious indication that hard times lay ahead. With that implicitly understood, John tells what next comes, saying, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me.”

The Greek is more exacting – “Then I heard a voice from out of the heaven.” It isn’t just a voice of another angel in the midst of heaven like the three that preceded this. Rather, it is a voice separate from and above them. And the words of the voice are, “Write.”

In other words, make sure this is quoted directly and recorded in the book. And the message – “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

There is a particular note of comfort to those who will have to face what the previous angels warned about. The times ahead will be of deprivation, alienation, and looming disaster for any who will not comply with taking the mark of the beast. But it is either take it and live, or refuse it and face death.

Because of the stark contrast, those who must choose are told they will be blessed, but this only applies to those “who die in the Lord.” There may be people all over the world who refuse the mark who are not in the Lord. They may have whatever personal reason to refuse the mark. But for those “in the Lord,” death will not be the end of the story for them. That is seen in the next words, “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors.”

Death for these will actually be a relief. The results of not taking the mark are actually considered labor. It is the labors of staying alive that will be miserable. To die during this time will become a welcome relief, and it is to be considered a time of rest. It is reminiscent of what Paul says concerning believers who die in the Lord –

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14

The labor of life ends for the believer, and a state of rest is the result. This is the same comforting thought for those who die in the Lord during the tribulation period. In this event, John writes the final words of the verse, noting that their labors will not be forgotten, saying, “and their works follow them.”

The martyrdom they will face will be remembered, and they will receive their just reward for having been faithful to the death. That reward is found in Revelation 20 –

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

This, then, is what it means that their labors will follow them. They will be raised to eternal life, and they will also literally reign with Christ for a thousand years. In other words, the system that took their lives will be replaced with a new government, one in which their lives are to be restored. Further, they will be active participants in that new system.

Life application: The word blessed is the same one that is used in the beatitudes in Matthew 5 and at other key times in the New Testament. It is reflective of great joy that doesn’t depend on any external circumstances of our own making. Rather, it comes from the peace and wholeness of the Lord; true contentment. Those who die in the Lord during the tribulation will receive this.

Scholars who teach that the church has replaced Israel see this blessing as one extended to anyone who dies in the Lord from the time of John writing Revelation. In other words, all believers of the church age. Although it is true that church-age believers are so blessed, this is an incorrect analysis.

First, what about those who died between the Resurrection of Christ and the receiving of Revelation? Secondly, the context is very clear that these events are occurring during the Tribulation period; a time directed specifically to the nation of Israel and those who accept Christ from both Israel and the gentile world during this period.

There will be no rest for them in their time of trial, but they will receive a great and blessed reward for their patience, endurance, and faithfulness.

Endurance through the Tribulation will bring a great reward because of the very nature of the suffering, deprivation, and even death that they are willing to endure for the name of Jesus. For those willing to put aside the temporary and look to the eternal, they will be resurrected at the end of the tribulation to eternal life, never to face death again.

It is always a good idea to have something prepared for those who have not yet received Christ in case the rapture occurs before they do. A note of explanation of what lies ahead and the warning of what should and should not be done should be made.

The main thing is to tell them not to take the mark of the beast, but to trust wholly on the provision of God in Christ. He will restore life to them, and more, if they are willing to give up the temporary relief of taking the mark. We can know this is true because He has given the world that restoration already. He has sent JESUS.

Lord, it is wonderful to know that You have secured all the redeemed from all ages and have given them the rest which was available at the beginning when Adam dwelt with You in Eden. Though man lost the right to that rest, it is restored by simple faith in You and Your great work on our behalf. Thank You for restoring that which was lost! Hallelujah and Amen.

Saturday, 10 April 2021

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12

The three angels have called out their messages. With that complete, John next writes, “Here is the patience of the saints.” Those who are alive during the tribulation period will have to endure life in a world completely at odds with them. They will be shunned, persecuted, and even put to death. These things are coming upon the whole world, and the saints will need to be patient through these times of woe.

This period is described in Daniel 12 in relation to the saints of Israel –

“At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

And again, in Daniel 12:10, it says, “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” Those who “understand” are the same group being referred to by John here in Revelation. Again, he says, “here are those who keep the commandments of God.”

Some manuscripts do not have the words “here are those.” Instead, it simply says –

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” NASB 1995

Either way, the focus of the patience is on those “who keep the commandments of God.” The commandments of God, as has already been noted in the Revelation commentary, are not referring to the Mosaic law. Rather, it refers to faith in Christ Jesus. The theme is referred to several times in John’s epistles. The law of Moses is set aside through the work of Christ. Adherence to God’s provision, as found in the giving of His Son, is alone what is pleasing to God. That is then restated for emphasis with the words, “and the faith of Jesus.”

This is a faith where Jesus is the object of it. He is the Prize. He is the Goal. He is the One to whom the people are to anticipate and hope for, even when it means rejecting the mark of the beast and facing certain death. This is patience of the saints.

Life application: The three messages of the three angels are summarized as –

1) The everlasting gospel.
2) Babylon is fallen.
3) Anyone who worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark, will receive eternal torment.

It might seem backwards to put the falling of Babylon before the worship of the beast, but it is done this way to show that what is coming to Babylon is assured. Its judgment is coming, and it will be final. Those who have joined Babylon through false worship and in the taking of the mark will receive the same sentence, and it will be carried out with the same finality.

Placing direction about the mark last is intended to keep it fresh on the minds of those who hear the word. As people, the consequences of our decisions affect our lives, and some of them will affect our eternal destiny as well. Therefore, the word has been given through John in the pages of Revelation, not only for the tribulation world, but for all people during the church age.

During John’s time, the Roman Empire exacted a high toll on Christians through martyrdom. During the Inquisition and much of the church age, the church itself has murdered the faithful – executing those who stood on God’s word and not on church traditions. Today, Christians around the world are being martyred by adherents to various false religions with numbers of dead in the millions. They are also being martyred by communist and dictatorial leaders.

For much of the world, the choice of following Jesus Christ means facing a life-or-death choice, but what Revelation is telling us is that such a mortal choice is insignificant in comparison to the eternal choice of rejecting the gospel. Truly, “here is the patience of the saints.”

Let us be faithful to the call and faithful to the proclamation. Let us hold fast to our faith in JESUS.

Lord Jesus, no amount of security in this life is worth the loss of eternal life in Your presence. Please help those who are facing the great and terrible decision of life or death for the sake of the gospel to be strong in their convictions and to be obedient to Your message. And should they face death because of the choice, may their reward be great when they come before You. Amen.

Friday, 9 April 2021

And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11

This verse provides the results of those who will be tormented with fire and brimstone that were mentioned in the previous verse. Not only will they be tormented, but it now says, “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.”

As noted in the previous verse, the symbolism here goes back to the Genesis account of Sodom and Gomorrah. But more, the words follow directly after Isaiah 34 –

“For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance,
The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
⁹ Its streams shall be turned into pitch,
And its dust into brimstone;
Its land shall become burning pitch.
¹⁰ It shall not be quenched night or day;
Its smoke shall ascend forever.
From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
No one shall pass through it forever and ever.” Isaiah 34:8-10

So far, the words could be referring to torture followed by the extinguishment of the person, but the smoke of their burning continues on. However, such a thought is negated by the next words, which say, “and they have no rest day or night.”

In other words, this is not speaking of simply being burnt up, but of a constant burning. It reveals that the punishment of those who reject God does not eventually end in annihilation, but it is eternal in nature. The term “day or night” is an idiom signifying something that is unceasing in nature. This is seen again in Isaiah 66 –

“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” Isaiah 66:24

Jesus uses the same terminology from Isaiah 66 in Mark 9. Revelation 20 will, again, show the eternal nature of punishment for those who are not saved through the work of Jesus Christ. This includes those “who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

As hard as it may be for us to grasp the meaning of, and reason for, eternal punishment, it is a truth that is clearly laid out in Scripture. In the end, a finite offense against the infinite God will result in eternal punishment.

It is not uncommon for teachers of the word to claim that taking the mark can be forgiven, but this is not in accord with Scripture. Those who worship the beast and his image will not be spared. Those who receive the mark of his name will bear their guilt. This verse clearly reveals this.

Life application: The subject of hell is frightening and terrible stuff. This verse is rather clear – anyone who receives the mark of the beast and whoever worships the beast will be tormented forever and ever.

There are other views about the eternal nature of the torment that is coming. One view is that it brings about an immediate destruction (annihilationism). However, this fails to line up with verses, such as those cited above, which clearly state torment is eternal. It also fails to measure up to Jesus’ own words about the subject. Annihilationism is false.

A second view says that the punishment will result in the purification of the lost – burning away their sins – and so they will be saved after this torture (purification by fire). This negates the very reason for the cross. If there were another way to be purified, then Christ died in vain. Purification by fire is false.

There is one penalty for those who die apart from Christ. The sight of God at the final judgment is an eternal judgment because the memory of seeing God’s glory apart from the covering of Jesus Christ will destroy them infinitely. Such is the holiness of God. But Jesus speaks of greater punishment for some than others –

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. ⁴⁸ But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:47, 48.

Those who willingly receive the mark of the beast are really in for it. They will worship that which is less than God voluntarily, and they will receive the just punishment for their actions. For any who read this before that time comes, it is hoped that you will demonstrate wisdom and call out to God for salvation now. Call out to Him through JESUS.

O God, we know perfectly well what we deserve. We have lied, stolen, cheated, and been perverse in our hearts and in our words. We have thought wicked things, and we have been at strife with our fellow man. Our punishment is deserved… and yet You sent Jesus to the cross to pay our infinitely large debt. Thank You for restoration and reconciliation because of His shed blood. Amen.