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Revelation: The Lamb of God and the Harvest
What does it mean to have a name written on one’s forehead?
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Revelation 14:1 Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
King James
Revelation 14:1 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.
How would you describe a voice like John heard, other than rushing waters, loud thunder, and the sound of many harps?
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Revelation 14:2 A voice from above spoke like the sound of mighty rushing waters, loud thunder, and a multitude playing their harps.
King James
Revelation 14:2 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:
What kind of song could only the 144,000 sing?
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Revelation 14:3–5 The 144,000 sang a new song before the throne, the four creatures, and the twenty-four elders, which only the redeemed from the earth had the ability to sing. They were the undefiled virgins who followed the Lamb wherever he went, being the most precious to God and the Lamb. Their expressions of praise were without pretense, absolutely pure and blameless before God’s throne.
King James
Revelation 14:3–5 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. 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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
What would make a person an “undefiled virgin”?
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Romans 3:22–23 True righteousness comes in response to the message of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, which changes the inward desires of those who truly believe, not just the external actions. This transformation is possible for all people, no matter who they are, because everyone has sinned, falling short of God’s standard of purity.
Ephesians 5:26–27 As Christ made his family special, bathing us with kind, supportive words, so he would have a glorious community without wrinkles or blemishes.
Revelation 14:4 They were the undefiled virgins who followed the Lamb wherever he went, being the most precious to God and the Lamb.
King James
Romans 3:22–23 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ephesians 5:26–27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Revelation 14:4 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.
Who on Earth heard the messenger’s voice and praised God?
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Revelation 14:6–7 Another messenger flew overhead, having the eternal good news to preach to everyone on Earth—every nation, race, and culture, saying with a mighty voice, “Give God reverence and praise, for the time of his judgment has come. Bow before the One who made Heaven and Earth, land and sea, and springs of living water.”
King James
Revelation 14:6–7 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, 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.
What brought the fall of Babylon?
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Revelation 14:8 Another messenger followed, saying, “Babylon has fallen. That great city has fallen because she made the nations drink the wine of her erotic passions and immorality.
King James
Revelation 14:8 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.
Why is God’s passion so strong against those who don’t worship him? Why is that not narrow-minded and selfish?
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Revelation 14:9–11 A third messenger came next, saying with a loud voice, “Those who worship the image, having the beast’s mark on the forehead or hand, will drink the wine of God’s passion. In the presence of the Lamb and his holy messengers, his cup of anger will be poured out, fire and burning sulfur falling upon them. The smoke of their torment will rise forever. Day and night, those who worship the beast and his image and have his mark will never rest.
King James
Revelation 14:9–11 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, 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: 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.
Why does eternal suffering exist for those who turn away from God?
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Revelation 14:11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever. Day and night, those who worship the beast and his image and have his mark will never rest.
King James
Revelation 14:11 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.
Why does eternal blessing exist for those who surrender to God’s will?
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Revelation 14:12–13 Here stands the evidence: the patient endurance of God’s people following the direction of the Holy Spirit, never wavering in their trust in Jesus.” A voice from above said to me: “Write this: All those who have died trusting in the Lord will be blessed forever.” The Holy Spirit said, “Yes, they will rest from their labor. The reward for their effort will follow them.”
King James
Revelation 14:12–13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 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.
Who was the person who was “like the Son of Man”? Why not someone else?
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Revelation 14:14 A white cloud appeared, and someone like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a gold crown on his head, a sharp sickle in his hand.
King James
Revelation 14:14 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.
If wickedness filled the earth, how could there be a harvest?
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Matthew 13:29–30 “No. While you are pulling the weeds you might uproot some of the wheat. Let them both grow until harvest time. Then I will tell the reapers to bundle the weeds, burn them, and bring the wheat into my barn.”
Revelation 14:15–16 Another messenger came from the sanctuary and shouted with a mighty voice to the One sitting on the cloud. “Swing your sickle and reap, because the grain is ripe and now is the time for the harvest on Earth.” The One on the cloud extended his sickle upon the land and reaped the harvest.
King James
Matthew 13:29–30 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Revelation 14:15–16 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.
How does the harvest of grapes differ from the harvest of grain?
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Revelation 14:17–20 Another messenger came from the sanctuary of God’s presence above, also holding a sharp sickle. A messenger with authority over the fire came from the altar and shouted, “Use your sharp sickle to gather the fully ripe clusters of grapes from Earth.” The messenger wielded his sickle upon the land, gathering the fruit from the vines into the great winepress of God’s passion. Outside the city, as the winepress mashed the grapes, the blood flowed out to the height of the bridle on a horse and a distance of two hundred miles.
King James
Revelation 14:17–20 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 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. 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. 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.