Revelation 14;12

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

·        You have before seen their patience exercised, now you see it rewarded. (MH)

·        We can only imagine what courage and comfort this passage will give embattled, persecuted saints during the Great Tribulation. Clearly, God wants to encourage His people to be steadfast in times of trial, focused on what blessed rest and reward awaits them in eternity. (DG)

Psalm 78:7  That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments

Psalm 89:5  And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD: Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.

Revelation 14:11

“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

·        Those who worship the Antichrist and receive his mark will endure this wrath and indignation for eternity in hell.  (DG)

·        If the only consequences for sin are in this life, or if the only penalty for sin is temporary, then clever sinners have won out over God. Walvoord says of the phrase forever and ever: “Literally ‘into the ages of ages,’ the strongest expression of eternity of which the Greek is capable.”  (DG)

Isaiah 34:10  It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall ascend forever.  From generation to generation it shall lie waste; no one shall pass through it forever and ever.

Isaiah 66:24  And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me.  For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched.  They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.

Revelation 14:9-10

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.  He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

·        Those who refuse to come out of Babylon must receive of her plagues (MH)

·        This reminds us that there is a connection between worshipping the beast and his image and receiving his mark on his forehead or on his hand. No one will “casually” or “accidentally” take the mark. The connection between worshipping the beast and taking the mark will be clear enough. (DG)

Genesis 19:24  Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.

Isaiah 51:17  Awake, awake!  Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, and drained it out.

Revelation 14:8

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

·        The wickedness of Babylon will make her fall just (MH)

·        “Prophetically, ‘Babylon’ sometimes refers to a literal city, sometimes to a religious system, sometimes to a political system, all stemming from the evil character of historic Babylon.” (Walvoord)

Isaiah 21:9  And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!”  Then he answered and said, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen!  And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.”

Jeremiah 51:7  Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunk.  The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged.

Reveltion 14:6-7

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

·        The gospel is an everlasting gospel.  It is a work fit for an angel to preach this everlasting gospel (MH)

·        The everlasting gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to Him. (MH)

Exodus 20:11  For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Psalm 33:6  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Revelation 14:5

And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

·        Their hearts were right with God, and they were freely pardoned in Christ (MH)

·        Greek, "blameless": in respect to the sincerity of their fidelity to Him. Not absolutely, and in themselves blameless; but regarded as such on the ground of His righteousness in whom alone they trusted, and whom they faithfully served by His Spirit in them. (JFB)

Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Zephaniah 3:13  The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

Revelation 14:4

These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.  These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.  These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

·        They are described by their chastity and purity.  They had not defiled themselves wither with corporal or spiritual adultery. (MH)

·        They are described by their loyalty and steadfast adherence to Christ (MH)

Song 1:3

Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment oured forth; therefore the virgins love you.

Ezekiel 48:14 and they shall not sell or exchange any of it; they may not alienate this firstfruits of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.

Revelation 14:3

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

·        In Revelation 14:1, the 144,000 have their feet firmly planted on an earthly Mount Zion. Yet their praise takes them right to the presence of God, right before the throne. In our praise and worship, we really can transport ourselves and be heard in heavenly places. (DG)

·        “Heaven is not the place to learn that song; it must be learned on the earth You must learn here the notes of free grace and dying love; and when you have mastered their melody, you will be able to offer to the Lord the tribute of a grateful heart, even in heaven, and blend it with the harmonies eternal.” (Spurgeon)

Exodus 15:1  Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:  “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously!  The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

Psalm 71:23  My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.

Revelation 14:2

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.  And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

·        This is the voice of God (Revelation 1:15 and 4:5). Perhaps God spoke here to proclaim His approval of these 144,000 faithful servants in the spirit of Matthew 25:21: Well done, good and faithful servant.   (DG)

·        We remember that the elders of Revelation 5:8 have harps. Perhaps this is where their music is heard, to accompany the worshipful singing of the 144,000 as they sing a new song, unique to them.  (DG)

Ezekiel 1;24  When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.

Psalm 144:9  I will sing a new son to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You.

Revelation 14:1

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

·        The Lord Jesus Christ at the head of His faithful (MH)

·        A counterfeit lamb is mentioned as rising out of the earth in the last chapter, which was really a dragon; here Christ appears as the true paschal Lamb. (MH)

Psalm 2:6  Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.

Isaiah 59:20  The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the LORD.

Revelation 13;18

Here is wisdom.  Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:  his number is 666.

·        His number shows sufficiently all the wisdom and accuracy of men (MH)

·        Only this we know, God has written Mene Tekel upon all his enemies; he has numbered their days, and they shall be finished, but his own kingdom shall endure forever. (MH)

1 Kings 10:14  The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold

Psalm 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Revelation 13:16-17

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

·        They make an open profession of their subjection (MH)

·        Satan is not a creative being, all he can do imitate God. We are not surprised to find that this too is a Satanic parody of something God will do; it imitates God’s mark upon his people (Revelation 7:3-4). (DG)

Daniel 7:23  “Thus he said:  ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces”

Revelation 13:15

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

·        The beast rising from the earth will use a deceptive, animated image as the focus point of the worship of the beast. (DG)

·        It may seem strange to us to have the whole world give this kind of worship to the image of a man, but the personality cults of totalitarian governments in the twentieth century are a good example of this kind of worship. (DG)

Deuteronomy 4:16    lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure; the likeness of male or female

Daniel 3:18  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

Revelation 13:14

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

·        Lying wonders, pretended miracles, by which they should be deceived (MH)

·        God sometimes permits his enemies to do things that seem very wonderful, and by which unwary persons may be deluded (MH)

Jeremiah 37:9  Thus says the LORD:  Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will srely depart from us” for they will not depart.

Daniel 3:15  Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good!  But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?

Revelation 13:13

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

·        The beast rising from the sea has the “signs and wonders” to back up his false teaching.  (DG)

·        It is important that John highlights this miracle. In the eyes of the deceived world, it answers the miracle of the two witnesses, who minister during this period and are persecuted by the Antichrist and his false prophet (Revelation 11:5). To the deceived world, this also puts this false prophet in the class of Elijah (1 Kings 18). We can imagine the false prophet as saying, “Let the true God answer with fire” and then performing his deceptive wonder.  (DG)

Deuteronomy 13:1-3  ….you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

2 Kings 1:10  So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”…..

Revelation 13:12

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

·        The power which he exercises to draw men off from worshipping the true God to worship those who by nature are no gods. (MH)

·        The beast rising from the earth is essentially a satanic prophet, who leads the world to worship the beast and the dragon.  (DG)

Daniel 7:5  And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear.  It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  And they said thus to it:  ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

Leviticus 19:4  Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods; I am the LORD your God.

Revelation 13:11

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

·        The form and shape of the second beast (MH)

·        Despite his lamb-like appearance, the message of the second beast is the same as the message of the first beast. (DG)

Daniel 7:5  And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear.  It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  And they said thus to it:  ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

Ezekiel 29:3  Speak and say ‘ Thus says the Lord GOD:  “Behold, I am against you, o Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’

Revelation 13:10

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

·        Those who have killed with the sword shall themselves fall by the sword (MH

·        Those who led the people of God into captivity shall themselves be made captives (MH)

Genesis 9:6  Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

Isaiah 33:1  Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; and you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you!  When you cease plundering, you will be plundered; when you make an end of dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you.

Revelation 13:9

If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

·        It is a proverbial expression, implying that the highest attention should be given to what was spoken  (Barnes)

·        Anything serious, and of great importance, was delivered; and which required attention, and was not easily understood:  (Gills)

Jeremiah 25:4  And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.

Isaiah 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this?  Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

Revelation 13:8

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

·        He can war only with those whose names are not written in the Book of Life (MH)

·        This final world dictator will demand and receive worship from the whole earth. But those who worship him pay the price.  (DG)

Exodus 32:32  Yet now, if You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.

Daniel 12:1  At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.  And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.

Revelation 13:7

It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.  And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

·        Here, the main instrument of that persecution is revealed: the government of the beast will persecute and kill all those who do not bow in worship to the beast.  (DG)

·        Overcome does not mean that the beast can overcome the faith of the saints, but that he can destroy their physical lives, and by all appearances defeat the cause of God’s people on this earth.  (DG)

 

Daniel 5:19  And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him.  Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.

Daniel 7:21  I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them.

Revelation 13:6

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

·        As much as anything, this beast is a man who speaks against God and everything God stands for (His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven).  (DG)

Daniel 7:25  He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.  Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

Psalm 5:9  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue.

Revelation 13:5

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

·        The malice of the devil shows itself against heaven and the blessed inhabitants of heaven; all he can do is blaspheme them (MH)

·        The limitation of the devil’s power and success (MH)

Daniel 8:24  His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

Ezekiel 35:12  Then you shall know that I am the LORD.  I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are desolate; they are given to us to consume.’

Revelation 13:4

So they worship the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

·        They paid honor and subjection to the devil and his instruments, and thought there was no power able to withstand them (MH)

·        As people worship this beast and bow down before his government, it may be that they do not know they are bowing down to Satan himself; but it is worship of Satan none the less. They clearly worship both the beast and the dragon, but their worship of the dragon may be unknowing.  (DG)

Daniel 7:25  He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.  Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

Psalm 81:9  There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god.

Revelation 13:3

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.  And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

·        This is a head wound, a mortal wound, not a superficial injury.  (DG)

·        The recovery of the beast increases his fame and authority (all the world marveled and followed the beast). Twice later (Revelation 13:12 and 13:14) this recovery is mentioned in connection to the world’s worship and devotion to the beast.   (DG)

·        The honor and worship paid to this infernal monster (MH)

Daniel 5:19  And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him.  Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.

Ecclesiastes 5:8  If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

Revelation 13:2

Now the beast which I saw as like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.  The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

·        This likeness to Satan is just one of the things that identifies this beast with the one popularly known as the Antichrist.  (DG)

·        We can begin by understanding what the title Antichrist means. The prefix anti can mean “the opposite of” or “instead of.” The Antichrist is the “opposite Jesus”; he is the “instead of” Jesus.  (DG)

Daniel 7:5  And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear.  It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  And they said thus to it:  “Arise, devour much flesh!”

Psalm 5:4  For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You.

Revelation 13:1

Then I stood on the sand of the sea.  And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

·        In Revelation 12, John’s vision mainly had in heaven in view. Now the scene of his vision shifts to the earth, and in his vision he stood on the sand of the sea.  (DG)

·        From the place identified with evil and chaos and resisting God, a beast comes forth. The ancient Greek word translated beast here has the idea of a wild, dangerous animal. Because John calls him a beast and not a dragon (as in Revelation 12:3), this creature represents someone distinct from Satan who was represented by the dragon (Revelation 12:9).  (DG)

Isaiah 10:22  For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea…..

Daniel 7:8  I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots.  And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

·        The devil’s malice against the woman pushes him on to make war (MH)

·        This either begins or continues the fierce persecution of all those who would not submit to and worship this great Satanic dictator. The martyrs of this period were shown in Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 7:9-17.  (DG)

Genesis 3;15  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Psalm 119:88  Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Revelation 12:16

But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

·        The help provided in this dangerous juncture (MH)

·        As it says in Isaiah 59:19, When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.   (DG)

Numbers 16:32  and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Proverbs 15:28  The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

Revelation 12:15

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.

·        The fury poured out against Israel after the abomination of desolation (marking the half-way point of 70^th week of Daniel) was spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-22, and spoken of in distinctly Jewish terms (housetop . . . pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath).  (DG)

·        This passage in Revelation describes the fury that Jesus told them to flee.  (DG)

Isaiah 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

Psalm 29:10  The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever.