THE SIGN VISION AND THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS

The Sign-Vision and the Gathering of the Harvest

This is an inset. Chapter 14:1-20

"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." "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:" "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 first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." "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." "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." "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." "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 labors; and their works do follow them." "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." "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." "And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." "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."

 

Introduction:

Recapitulation: Seventh trumpet blew at 11:15. From that point to chapter 15:1, several insets are brought before the reader.

1. The dragon's awful persecution of the woman. Ch. 12
2. The organization of the Satanic Trinity. Ch. 13
3. The divine opposition to Satan. Ch. 14

Description: A series of prophetic visions and procla­mations of God's dealings with the Satanic Trinity. This is the light gleaming through the darkness.

Chronology: The time covered by Chapter 13 is the same as that in Chapter 14.

 

Content of Chapter:

• The first fruits unto God and the Lamb. 1-5
• The further fruits unto God and the Lamb. 6-13
• The final issues in the defeat of the wicked. 14-20

The First Fruits Unto God and the Lamb vs. 1-5

The Scene on Mount Sion vs. 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."

The Mount is Mount Sion. This is not the heavenly Jerusalem, but the earthly city (Heb. 12:22 cf. Zech. 14:1ff).

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,"

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee."

"The" marks this city as the well-known and specific city.

The Lamb is standing on the Mount. This is a prophetic forecast of the coming of the Lamb in Revelation 19.
cf. Zech. 14:1ff and Mt. 25:31ff.

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee."

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:"

The company with him is the 144,000. This is the same group of Chapter 7:1-8. They are sealed like that group. They are sealed in the same place. They are sealed with the Father's name, showing possession. The seal is undoubt­edly the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22). Even so, there may be something visible to the eye.

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,""And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

The time is at the coming in glory. Christ does not return to earth until Chapter 19:11-21. He then overwhelms his enemies, gathers his saints, and sits on the throne of his glory. This 144,000 will then be with him to enter into the millennial kingdom with him.