1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Rev 14:14-20 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (15) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (16) And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. (18) And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Good morning! Today we will be thinking like farmers 😁! It helps to put ourselves in that mindset as we read about the Great Harvests about to come during the Tribulation. I’m praying you are ready, dear Reader. I’m praying that you have Christ living within you and that you are truly born again.
We begin today’s study with Revelation 14:14. In my Bible, this segment is entitled the Harvest of the Earth. This verse references the Son of man (Revelation 1:13 and Daniel 7:13) sitting on a cloud, having a crown of gold and a sharp sickle in his hand. We know that this is Jesus because He has a golden crown. The angels do not have crowns. Here Jesus is going to be the harvester of the earth and will harvest both believers and unbelievers.
Notice that Jesus comes:
seated on a white cloud, which indicates His purity
wearing a golden crown, which indicates His victory, and
holding a sharp sickle, which indicates His authority where He separates the sheep from the goats.
During the first part of the harvest of the earth, we see this is a harvest of separation between the saved and the unsaved. This is the in-gathering of believers (Revelation 14:15-16). During the second part of the harvest, we see the harvest of the earth’s vine (Revelation 14:18) and these are the grapes, which is the harvest of destruction – the judgment of non believers (Revelation 14:17-20). This is referred to in Matthew 13:36-43 where Jesus talks about the tares and wheat. God will use angels as part of this harvesting process. Toward the end of the Tribulation, they will separate the righteous (the wheat and the sheep) from the unrighteous(the tares and the goats). It amazes me still how God’s Word is knit together within its beautiful pages!
Friend, God has called us to be salt and light to the earth. Use your time wisely! There are people out there that claim to be Christians but are not. The Bible says you will know them by their fruit! (Matthew 7:15-20) You cannot call yourself a car just because you are standing in the garage. Nor can you call yourself a Christian just because you are standing in a church. Dear reader, PLEASE, I beg you. Don’t be satisfied with a mediocre faith. One who is born again has been given the spark of life in his spirit – a new life in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This verse does not say that a few things are become new! It says all things are become new!. Don’t fool yourself. I know for certain that I am born again and am going to Heaven because my heart literally changed in a split second! The desire to curse God and live a worldly life style immediately disappeared. Yes, the desire was the there but His Holy Spirit’s power within me helped me to defeat the my flesh and its temptations.
Can you say the same, reader? Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Rev 14:6-13 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (8) 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. (9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is 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: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
How I love coming to my desk in the mornings to spend time in the Word and with the Word! The Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself through the Scriptures and teaches me about the upcoming events. How thrilling it is to be able to share these things with you, dear Reader!
So let’s get on with our series! 😀 Today, we see three angels appearing on the scene. These angels each have a mission to complete. The first angel’s mission shows us the Lord’s great mercy! How can I say this when the worse judgment ever is coming to earth and its inhabitants? I can say this because God is giving every soul an opportunity to be saved before the rest of His judgments are dispersed! That is true mercy!! The first angel role is to (Revelation 14:6-7):
proclaim the gospel to all the earth
exhort people to fear God and to worship Him
warn of God’s judgment
declare God as Creator
The second angel (Revelation 14:8) announces the fall of Babylon the Great. This Babylon will have the same foundation as the original Babylon. Original Babylon was known for being the seat of the occult and sexual immorality. We see this behavior in today’s society and it will be all the more prevalent during the Tribulation. Notice that all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication! Noah Webster’s 1828 Diction defines fornication below. If we take his definition literally, the Tribulation Babylon will reveal people who cannot contain themselves sexually; notice it includes incest! Not only will Babylon be sexually perverted but she will forsake God and worship idols! That idol is none other than the Tribulation idol, the Antichrist!
FORNICA’TION, n. [L. fornicatio.]
The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman.
Adultery. Mat 5.
Incest. 1 Cor 5.
Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 2 Chr 21. Rev 19.
Now we take a look at the third angel (Revelation 14:9-11) and he reveals the upcoming judgment:
warns of God’s judgment coming upon the inhabitants of the earth who have worshipped the beast and his image and received the mark of the beast.
their torment is eternal (see Revelation 20:10 and Mark 9:48)
As we look into these three angels and their message, we see that the first one shows God’s grace despite the turmoil on the planet. This invitation to accept the Gospel of Christ is unique in that God will be using an angel to preach the Gospel. This has always been entrusted to people up until this point. Now that the church has been removed, the 144,000 are gone, the Two Witnesses are gone, who is left? In these verses, we see that God calls upon an angel to fly in mid air (atmosphere) proclaiming the Gospel to every nation, tongue and tribe! How will they do this? Again, the Internet may play a huge role in this. Everyone will hear the Gospel in his own language! If you recall the previous posts covering global population up to this point, four billion people have died from the judgments! The five plus billion that remain have spiritually hardened hearts and they would rather follow the Antichrist than hear about God!
This goes to show you God’s mercy, amen? Once again, everyone will have an opportunity to hear the good news and they will all be without excuse when they stand before the Lord on judgment day. God will use trials and tribulation as a “last call” to draw people to salvation. He loves us so much that as a last ditch effort, He goes after His creation to give them another opportunity to hear. 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. People, don’t you get it? God didn’t create Hell for you. He originally created it for the devil and the fallen angels. Instead, God created Eden for mankind. Eden was a perfect place providing Adam and Eve with everything they could possibly want! There was no sin – all the animals were docile and there was no death! But Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan as he tempted them and caused them to doubt God’s Word! The temptation Satan provided was but for a moment, but their choice was for eternity. They tried to cover their sin with a covering made by their own hands. But that did not work. They were kicked out of Eden for that one sin, Reader! After that point, they could not make up for that sin on their own. They could not cover it up nor could they erase it on their own. The shed blood of a spotless lamb was taught to them by God as a promise of what was to come. That is the whole purpose of Christ’s birth, death, burial and resurrection! Only His perfect shed blood could cover and erase that sin. (Titus 3:5-7)
Moving on to the second angel, he announces the fall of Babylon the Great (Revelation 14:8) which we will read about further in chapter 18. This declaration will bring an end of this system which caused all the nations to drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The word “fornication” is used twelve times in the Book of Revelation alone! As we read above, not only can this word mean sex outside of marriage, adultery and incest, but it can also mean idolatry. Idolatry is the forsaking of the One True God and worshipping idol. An idol is anything that consumes our thoughts and time instead of God. On a side note, we can spend our time doing all the right things in life, including philanthropic deeds, but if we neglect our salvation and living for the Lord, we have replaced God with an idol. We are at the point in this series where the false prophet has convinced the world to worship the Antichrist. Is it any wonder that this Babylon (a city which reflects the sins of the original Babylon) is going to fall because of God’s judgments?
The third angel (Revelation 14:9-11) warns of God’s upcoming judgments on the inhabitants of earth who have worshipped the beast and his image and have received his mark. He tells them they will be tormented for all eternity. Notice that Revelation 14:11 continues to say that this torment will give them no rest at all, day or night!
Our verses end with a blessing to those who are saved and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus! Another blessing will be given to those who die from this point on that they may rest from their work for Christ on earth and this work will not be forgotten.
Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Rev 14:1-5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (4) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (5) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
It’s a new day and we have another opportunity to learn a bit more about what is to come upon the entire earth during the Tribulation period! The last time God judged the entire earth was with the Great Flood where Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives were saved from destruction. We also know that God promised not to destroy the whole earth by giving us the rainbow as His sign of that promise. However, He may not destroy the entire earth during His judgments during the Tribulation, but He will allow much death and destruction in order to waken the spiritually sleeping hearts!
As Christians in 2022, we can clearly see the demonic forces through the changes which have occurred in just the past two years. It is our responsibility to warn those in our circle of family and friends that the time is ever so near! Once the Rapture happens, the influence of the Holy Spirit will be removed and it will open the door to Satan and his minions. Their influence will now take over and if we think times have gotten bad now, wait and see! Christian’s possess the Holy Spirit and it is His influence within us that restrains the Antichrist from making his appearance to the world.
This chapter isn’t chronological but more parenthetical so we can see what happens in Heaven during the Antichrist’s reign. It’s as though the Apostle John wants to insert some ray of hope in the midst of God’s wrath. We know that the Lord is near to His child (Matthew 28:20). But these Tribulation Saints won’t possess the Holy Spirit as we do in the current Church age. The Spirit’s role will be as it was in the Old Testament, empowering some like Moses, David and others for their task at hand.
Tribulation Saints will need all the encouragement they can get from each other as they gather together in secret to worship God. If you don’t think this is possible, this has already happened in our own country and it can easily happen again! I used to go to church with an elderly lady whose grandmother was a slave in New Market, Virginia during the Civil War. Her grandmother told her many stories of her life growing up during this terrible time. Their entire family consisted of born again believers who had a few tattered pages from the Book of Psalms. They treasured these pages and hid them under the floor boards of their one room cabin. In order to worship God as a “church,” they would gather together in the woods in the middle of the night so they wouldn’t be seen. Each family brought whatever Bible pages they had and would share the Blessed Word with the others. They would quietly sing hymns and encourage one another in the Lord. Reader, this happened in our own country just a little over 160 years ago! We don’t hear about this on the liberal news but Christian persecution exists around the world today! Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. As of 2019, the top ten countries persecuting Christians in the world are:
1. North Korea, East Asia (Communist) – Population 25.4 million (1.7% Christian) 2. Afghanistan, South Central Asia (Islamic) – Population 31.6 million (99.7% Muslim) 3. Somalia, The Horn of Africa (Islamic) – Population 11 million (99.8% Muslim) 4. Libya, North Africa (Islamic) – Population 7.2 million (97% Muslim) 5. Pakistan, South Asia (Islamic) – Population 213 million (96% Muslim) 6. Eritrea, The Horn of Africa (Christian/Islamic) – Population 5 million (36% Muslim) 7. Yemen, Western Asia (Islamic) – Population 27.6 million (99.6% Muslim) 8. Iran, Western Asia (Islamic) – 81.6 million (99.5% Muslim) 9. Nigeria, Western Africa (Mixed) – 206.2 million (46.3% Christian) 10. India, South Asia (Hindu) – 1.35 billion (79.8% Hindu, 14.23% Muslim)
It will be much worse than this during the Tribulation! It won’t just be selected countries but the entire world will be against Christianity! Jesus said:
Mar 13:9-13 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. (10) And the gospel must first be published among all nations. (11) But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (12) Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. (13) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
During the Tribulation, Christian persecution will be so great that even children will turn in their parents and vice versa! When those in your own family betray you, that’s pretty bad!
The hope of these remaining Tribulation Saints is that they remain strong, not receiving the mark of the Beast, and live to see Christ’s return to earth to conquer Satan and his followers! As we saw in chapter 13, our planet is already headed toward a one world government and a one world economy. Author Allan Bloom said:
“The essential component to establishing globalism is to eliminate any system of absolutes.”
The Closing of the American Mind
This sets the stage for globalism. Everything becomes relative; it removes absolute truth. Today, it is said that “Your truth says this but my truth says that.” There aren’t two versions of the truth, friend. There is only one truth and the other is false. Jesus said in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44) and his earthly reign is devoid of truth. He cannot speak the truth because his pride wants everything to revolve around him. He is the ultimate narcissist!
We are currently moving forward and are very close to this one world government. We hear more and more prominent leaders saying things like Nobel prize winning economist, Jan Tinbergen:
“Mankind’s problems can no longer be solved by national governments. What is needed is world government.”
As well, Hillary Clinton stated:
“My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders, some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.”
Paid speech in 2013 at Brazil-based Banco Itau
The far left wing proponents want this one world government and are pouring vast amounts of money into achieving this very goal. The stage has been set and the mindset for globalism is currently at work through liberal leadership and the world’s most wealthy people. You can’t put your head in the sand and think this could never happen today! Friend, it is already happening! As the world lies asleep spiritually, mentally and intellectually, the powers that be are diligently working.
This will all come together with the Antichrist and false prophet to promote a one world religion. But God will still get His gospel out one way or another. As we look into chapter 14, note that it is divided into three parts:
Verse 1 – And I looked – Jesus’ return with the 144,000
Verse 6 – And I saw – Three angels to proclaim the Gospel and judge the world
Verse 14 – And I looked – Three angels to harvest the world by separating believers from unbelievers
In the first five verses, John sees a Lamb (Jesus), who is the ultimate atonement for all people for all time. He’s standing on Mount Zion, which is a preview of Christ in chapter 19. John also sees the 144,000 servants of God (also see Revelation 7:3-4) who were sealed on the foreheads with the Father’s name. This brought to mind the Tefillin, which looks like a little box that orthodox Jews put on their arm and forehead. It is a reminder to the orthodox Jew to think about the Torah (first five books of Moses in the Old Testament). I love that God would mark His servants on their forehead! These 144,000 are virgins (Revelation 14:4) which I believe describes to us the purity of their faith. They followed the Lamb wherever He went and they were redeemed by Him. This is the same truth applied to us in Jude 1:24. We stand in Christ’s righteousness and our sin is not held against us. We will stand faultless before the Throne and we will sing a new song! Praise Him!! \o/ I long for the day when we no longer have to fight sin in our flesh.
Can you say the same, reader? Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
