During the breaking of the 6th seal, God commands a group of 144,000 to be sealed. This group is composed of 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel. Chapter 14 tells us more about this group. It opens with this sealed group standing with Christ on Mount Sion. It is unclear from the first verse if this is the Mount of Sion on present day earth or if it is Mount Sion represented in heaven. Christ has been breaking the seals from heaven and for this reason, I believe He is still in heaven with the 144K who have been sealed and raised up to join Him.
Thinking about this group being sealed and raised up to join Christ in heaven could be one of the supernatural events witnessed on earth that brings some to know the Gospel of Christ. This rising up may also resemble a time discussed later in the study when two who are speaking for God at the great wall in Jerusalem are called back to heaven by God, after prophesying for 42 months. We need to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to experience God’s supernatural ways right in front of us on earth and in the skies.
Back to the 144,000 who have the Lamb’s ”Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1 KJV
4These 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. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Some believe this group is made up of the young children who were ordered killed by Herod in an attempt to murder Christ as a small child. This group would represent the first people sacrificed for Christ’s sake, eternally becoming the first fruits. They would be boys who would have been too young to be “defiled with women”, virgins. Their youth would also make them innocent, without “guile” in their mouths or on their hearts. They would be so young they would have lived very short lives without fault.
Other historical estimates of the population at this time in this region indicate the number massacred would have been much smaller than 144,000. Regardless, this group includes the “first fruits” who are now with Christ!
Moving forward, another group of three angels introduced. The first preaching the Gospel of Christ to all the earth, “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” and warning those who dwell on earth to “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” – Revelation 14:6-7 KJV
The second angel carries the message of the fall of Babylon, referring to her as “that great city”. Nations who aligned and “fornicated” with the “great city” will also share in the wrath poured out on her. – Revelation 14:8 KJV
The third angel of this group warns of the punishment for taking the mark on the forehead or hand of the beast, who for a time will be allowed to rule on earth. There will be punishment for those who receive the mark.
10The 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: 11And 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. – Revelation 14:10-11 KJV
Again the saints are given the direction to be patient.
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. – Revelation 14:12 KJV
We know the saints will be warred against for 42 months. So, there will be some who see this great destruction. They will hear the gospel carried to all nations by the first angel of this group. They will hear the fall of Babylon decreed by the second and they will hear the angel warning not to receive the mark of the beast on their hand or forehead. Experiencing these events with verse 12 reminds us to continue to have patience and keep to the commands of God, just as scripture tells us.
Those of us who are still on earth will need to be wholly trusting in the Lord for food, clothing, shelter and most importantly protection as the physical and spiritual battles on earth play out. The worldly systems will be controlled by the antichrist for a period of 42 months, ultimately to be destroyed as events progress.
Special blessing will go to those surviving on earth from this point forward.
13And 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 . – Revelation 14:13 KJV
This verse again calls out the great blessing that will come to those who survive on earth for some portion of this final period of great war against the saints. They will receive rest and “their words do follow them.”
After the angelic warning not to take the mark, scripture moves on to Christ in a white cloud with a golden crown and a sharp sickle.
14And 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. 15And 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. 16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18And 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. 19And 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. 20And 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. – Revelation 14:14-20 KJV
The harvest of the earth is ripe. These verses describe the single event of reaping by Christ on a white cloud with His angels. Christ thrusts in His sickle first to reap His children who still remain on the earth. These are the saints who were sealed when they accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and who have survived through the mark of the beast and destruction of earth. The angels then gather the vines “grapes” who have sown evil and are fully ripe, throwing them “into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”
Appendix A (additions)
Revelation 14 – Order of Events Overlapping Heaven and Earth to Remember
- 144,000 described and standing with Jesus Christ
- Angel 1 carries the gospel “to every nation”
- Angel 2 carries the message of the fall of Babylon
- Angel 3 warns against worshipping the beast and receiving the mark of the beast
- Patience of the saints, keeping God’s commandments and our faith of Jesus is called for.
- Son of Man, Jesus Christ, on a white cloud with a golden crown, a sharp sickle and His angels reap the harvest of the earth.