In this 19th study of revelation we look at need for salvation and the reality judgment and Hell in chapter 14. A recording of this will be uploaded at the Shofar Durbanville Youtube channel.
“What’s the point of all this hardship? Why push through the pain? Others have given up, and they seem to be having an easier life! What can be worth this much effort?” Whether it’s a marathon, long-term studies, a gruelling project or a start-up initiative – somewhere along the road, you will ask that question in agonizing pain. So, too, in your journey of faith.
The answer to this question is what Revelation 14 offers to struggling churches. The scenes instil courage in the hearts of believers tempted to give in or give up, but it does not shy away from the sober reality of what is at stake. The chapter is divided into three logical sections, revealing the role models, the reason and the reward for endurance.
The role models for endurance (14:1-5). Chapter 14 opens in stark contrast to Chapter 13’s end. Moving from the Beasts and those who receive the mark, John’s attention falls on the Lamb and his army of 144’000 who bear the mark of His Father on their foreheads. In our post on the 144’000 from chapter 7, we concluded that this group represents the fullness of people who remain loyal to Christ’s blood and who are saved by Christ’s blood.
From the contrasting groups, John hears contrasting sounds (14:2-3): God’s voice roars from heaven “like many waters” accompanied by “load thunders” (repeated in 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; refer 4:5), alluding to God’s justice and judgment from his Law (Exodus 19:16). This originates from his judgment on the and his worshiper (14:8ff). John also hears the harpists’ joyful, tranquil music. These come from the believers singing before the throne the song of the redeemed (compare 4:3 with 5:8-10) – a song that only those who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb can faithfully sing.
The redeemed are described as those “who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins… who follow the Lamb wherever he goes”. (14:4). This phrase is not a reference to physical celibacy but spiritual fidelity, as it contrasts God’s faithful people to those seduced into “fornication” with “Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” (14:8; 17:6). Here, drawing from the Old Testament prophets (notably Hosea), John describes idolatry as the Church’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God symbolically with a married person’s immorality and sexual unfaithfulness towards his or her spouse. Paul uses this imagery when he laments the Corinthians’ backsliding: “I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that… your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.“ (2 Corinthians 2:11). But the ones before the throne are a bride “without blemish” (4:5; compare Ephesians 5:27).
The reason for endurance (14:6-12). The next section in this chapter outlines the basic theology of judgment, revealed by three angelic messengers. Angel One proclaims… the “eternal gospel: Fear God and give him glory.” God is the creator of all the earth, that he is sovereign over all the nations, and that he will judge all people, everywhere – and that hour is soon (14:6-7). Angel Two announces the destruction of “Babylon” because she leads people everywhere into idolatry and immorality (14:8; compare Isaiah 21, Jeremiah 51). In chapters 18-19, the author returns to this theme, wherein Babylon is described as a city infested by demons and inhabited by the defiled (18:2). Angel three decrees God’s wrath on the beast and all who bears his mark: eternal judgment in “fire and sulfur” (14:9-11) – an allusion to Hell…
[Read the full commentary of Revelation in Faithful to the End]
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