These three chapters—12, 13, 14, form a distinct part of the Revelation. And chapter 14, is divided into seven, parts:
First, the purpose of God—the Lamb on Mount Sion. (Vers. 1-5.)
Second, the everlasting gospel. (Vers. 6, 7.)
Third, the fall of Babylon. (Ver. 8.)
Fourth, the doom of those who receive the mark of the beast. (Vers. 9-12.)
Fifth, the blessedness of those who die in the Lord. (Ver. 13.)
Sixth, the harvest of the earth. (Vers. 14-16.)
Seventh, the vintage of the earth. (Vers. 17 to end.)
We have thus, in the first place, the final results of all these judgments and dealings of God with the earth—Mount Sion in the renewed, millennial earth. The promises in all the prophets as to Sion shall then be fulfilled. “Sing, O daughter of Sion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart... Fear not,.. the Lord thy God is in the midst of thee.. He will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them which are sorrowful.” (Zeph. 3:14-1814Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 18I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. (Zephaniah 3:14‑18).) This is very largely the theme of the Psalms and Isaiah.
The purpose of God must stand as to those who suffer for Christ. The suffering remnant of Israel will have a very special place in association with the once suffering Lamb. They stand WITH Him on Mount Sion. They are the elect remnant. And being a thousand-fold the multiple of twelve—this would imply perfection of administration. Let us bear in mind, Mount Sion in the prophets is on earth: the city of the great King, the center of grace and kingly rule—but on earth. So hen (vers. 1-3) they are not in heaven with the church or the crowned elders of chapter 4. But let us examine each particular.
They have “his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.” Though on Mount Sion, yet this is a most precious privilege—a mark of association with Himself. It may be asked, But is there not at least one text that speaks of Mount Sion as the heavenly Jerusalem? (Heb. 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22).) A careful examination and correct translation will show this is not the case. “But ye have come to Mount Sion; AND to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem,” &c. Thus there are two separate things named: Mount Sion, or mount of grace, in contrast to Mount Sinai, the mount of law and terrors; then the heavenly city, Jerusalem, before us, in contrast with the city of Canaan.
Then, on this Mount Sion, John says, “I heard a voice from heaven,” or “out of heaven.” Now, if it had been a Mount Sion in heaven, he would not have heard it from heaven. There was an. immense sound of joy in heaven when the Lamb and the 144,000 stood with Him on Mount Sion, “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as harp singers harping with their harps; and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders.” This is heard on Mount Sion from heaven, and they who sing it are in heaven, but are not the elders or the redeemed, glorified church; but before them, that is, before the elders. And further, the 144,000 neither sing the song in heaven nor compose part of the elders in heaven; but they only can learn the song on earth, on Mount Sion, that they hear from heaven. They are in the earthly glory of the Lamb. The church is the heavenly first-fruits, and they are the earthly first-fruits. “Which were redeemed from the earth.” They have not been defiled with all the seducing corruptions of those last terrible days. They have followed the Lamb and shared in His sorrows. “These were bought from among men.” They do not seem to have died, but are the “first-fruits unto God and the Lamb,” &c. It is truly blessed to contemplate them, the first-fruits of the new millennial earth. What immense comfort this scripture will give to them passing through the tribulation! Thus we have the sure purpose of God as to the suffering remnant of Israel, as they pass through their last fearful tribulation. Do not confound them with the redeemed church which has been in heaven since chapters 4, 5.
Second part, verses 6, 7. Having revealed to us the final blessing of the elect remnant, we now learn how this will be accomplished: and also the then testimony of God to the whole world. As now the glad tidings of the grace of God are preached to every creature; and as many as are ordained to eternal life, believe and become the recipients of heavenly glory; even so, then, the everlasting gospel will be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. And, though the great mass reject it and are given up to strong delusions, yet there will be those who believe God, and who, like Abraham of old, will be reckoned righteous, and will enjoy the earthly, as we the heavenly, glory. Oh, the riches of His grace! Every lost soul in the lake of fire, and every saved soul on earth, or in heaven, will own throughout the eternal ages the righteousness of God. One is saved, the other forever lost; but both according to the righteousness of God. Oh, reader, soon you will have—yea, even now you know, if a believer, that the righteousness of God is your eternal salvation. But, oh, what will it be, if an unbeliever, to know that the righteousness of God is your eternal damnation? To have willfully rejected the forgiveness of sins through the grace of God, at such a cost as the death of the Son of God, in righteousness the wrath of God MUST abide forever on you If you have accepted the salvation of God accomplished at such a cost, God declares that salvation in perfect righteousness to be eternal. Thus the righteousness of God is most terrible, or most blessed.
It is time, however, to notice the character of the everlasting gospel that will then be proclaimed so widely. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:44And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4)) This angel-announced gospel is also the gospel of the kingdom, or reign and authority of God. It is not the gospel of grace now used in building the church—the gospel of this marvelous parenthesis of the riches of His grace, proclaimed by apostles and evangelists. But an angel proclaims to all nations, with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is tome: and worship him that made heaven,” &c. During this day of the gospel of the grace of God “his judgment” has not yet come. This gospel will not only be preached to every tribe and tongue and people who have not heard the present gospel and rejected it; but it is everlasting. Every word is suited, and will be the glad tidings of millennial days; yea, throughout eternity when God shall be all. These two verses show how the righteousness of God will shine out in all its brightness, even as this poor world sinks in the gloom of the worship of Satan. Even then man will be left without an excuse.
Third part, verse 8. It might now be asked, ‘In those days of the preaching of the everlasting gospel, what has become of apostate Christendom?’ This verse is the solemn answer; oh, thou boasting Christendom, hear it! “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Yes, her fatal alliance with the states, or nations, is denounced as wrath of her fornication; she pretends to be the bride, or church of Christ, and is really the harlot of the nations. But this part is so solemn and so important that God has given us two chapters further on, as to her fall and judgment. (Chaps. 27, 28.)
Fourth part, verses 9, 10. It may now be, asked, What will be the doom of those who, worship the beast and his image? Read verses; 10, 11 for the answer to that question. On such the wrath of God will be 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. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.” It may be said, these are only figures. If they are only figures, what then must be the indescribable—torments thus set forth in the most terrible figures that can be found? Ah, rejecters of the Lamb, you will never forget Him whom you have thus despised! Oh remember, your torments will be forever and ever! You may deny this now, but what will your present denial avail you then? Think of those words: “And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image.” Oh awake! behold the Bridegroom! Tomorrow you may be shut out, and left beneath the Satanic influence of that terrible empire.
Verse 12. Here is additional evidence that—there will be a suffering remnant of saints on earth even then, who, in patience, keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It is strange that any should find a difficulty here. Were there not suffering saints before the day of Pentecost when the church began? Why, then, may there not be again after the church is caught up to be with the Lord, during the dark hour of this world’s trial?
Fifth part, verse 13. What will become of those who die, who are put to cruel deaths by the raging beast, and the man of sin, or whom he causeth to be put to death? Very precious the answer: “Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Yes; truly blessed are those who will at such a time own Jesus Lord. They may be put to death by this infidel, Satanic empire; but they will rise and be the complement of the first resurrection, and reign with Christ. (Chap. 20:4.)