notes
The Apocalypse of John
Revelation Ch. 14-15
Additional Reading:
Lowery, Robert A. Revelation’s Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb. Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company, 2006
The story of the woman, beast, dragon, and child continues... As we look at today’s section of the book of Revelation, we are continuing with the story involving the beast, the dragon, the false prophets, and the children of God we see a dramatic change in events. Though it may have looked like the beast and the dragon were winning, we are about to see something different happen. Chapter 14, The Son of Man shows up... • v1. The lamb and 144,000 are standing on Mt. Zion and they have the name of the Son and the Father written on their foreheads. • Why is it significant that there are 144,000? • Why do you think it is significant that they have God’s name written on their foreheads? • Why is Mt. Zion significant? • v2. A voice which John hears is described. Like thunder, and like harps... • What picture does this develop? • v3. These 144,000 sing a new song before the Lord, and everything that was surrounding his throne. • Here we see the “saints” joining in the song of heaven, with the elders and the four living creatures in worshiping God through song. • v4-5. Only the 144,000 can learn and sing this song. These are: • Those who have not been defiled with women • Typically taken to mean that these are virgins, but it is unlikely that they would have been. • It does not need to mean that at all. In fact, it can mean: “a man who has abstained from all uncleanness and whoredom attendant on idolatry, and so has kept his chastity” • With the great amount of temple prostitution associated with the worship of other gods (other than YHWH) it would be the same as saying that the 144,000 would be those who follow God.
The Apocalypse of John: Ch 14-15
Αποκαλυψις Ιησου Χπιστου
• They are also typified as following the Lamb wherever he goes, being purchased by God as first-fruits, having no lie in their mouths, being blameless. • As a whole, these are the Christians who are in the midst of this persecution, were sealed (in ch. 7), and have either been martyred or are still living. • v6. Another angel flying mid-heaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth • The gospel was declared by street criers, who would run around and proclaim the new victory or good thing that the Caesar had done. Here we see the same thing. • This could be in reference to the Gospel of Jesus (that we have in the gospels) • This could also be in reference to the good news associated with what God is about to do. The deliverance of his people. This makes sense since he doesn’t call it “the gospel” but rather “a gospel” • v7. The contents of the gospel message are: “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him...” • This is another indicator that this is likely a different gospel than the Gospel Proper. • v8. Another angel cries out: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” • Who is this Babylon? • Is it Rome? (Revelation 17 would make us believe that it probably is) • v9-11. A third angel came along and cried out against the beast, and those who bear his mark. • Those who get the mark of the beast have to share his fate • Torment with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and the presence of the Lord. • They will not rest day and night...eternal punishment. • v12-13. Perseverance is called for. The saints must stay strong. • Blessing is proclaimed to those who die from then on... • v14-16. Who is this person sitting on the white cloud? • This is Jesus... and an angel cries out to him that it is time to harvest the earth. • v17-20. Another angel came out of the temple of God with a sharp sickle. • This is the time of the harvest. God is punishing those wicked people with the mark of the beast. • Notice the judgment language here... • Jesus is portrayed as fulfilling the wrath of God against these wicked and rebellious people. Chapter 15, A scene in heaven... • v1. This is where they introduce the angels with the bowls of God’s wrath. • They are the ones carrying 7 plagues from God. • Once again, this could be symbolic of the plagues which brought God’s people out of Egypt and punished the Egyptians for the way they treated them, and their neglect of God. • Here could be the same Idea. God bringing his people out of an oppressive environment by the use of plagues. • v2-4. Here, it would seem that the 144,000 are re-introduced. Holding harps and singing again (it is as if they are the back up choir for God as he is bringing down punishment and judgment on those wicked people). • Here it notes that they are singing the song of Moses (Exodus 15:1ff) this is the song of deliverance. • v5-8. Seven angels come out and are given seven bowls of wrath, this is an introduction to the seven bowls of wrath that are coming.