Revelation 14:1-20 The Three Angels Messages
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 disciple John is seeing a series of visions up in heaven and Revelation 14:1 is a continuation of these visions e.g.,
Revelation 12:1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven.
Revelation 12:3. And another sign appeared in heaven.
Revelation 12:7. And war broke out in heaven.
‘Revalation 13:1. Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea.
Revelation 13:11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.
Revelation 14:1. Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion.
So this text is part of a series of visions John sees in heaven and this vision has symbols for example a Lamb.
What is a Lamb a symbol of in Bible prophecy?
John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Revelation 5:6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.
Revelation 7:14. These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:22. But I saw no temple in it (the New Jerusalem) for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Conclusion
The Lamb in Bible prophecy is a symbol of Jesus Christ.
What is Mount Zion?
“Originally the name of the southeastern hill of the later city of Jerusalem, the hill on which was situated the old Jebusite fortress that David conquered and renamed the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:7. 1 Kings 8:1). This hill lay between the valleys of Kidron and Tyropeon, and south of the later temple hill. When David transferred the ark into his new capital, Zion became the name especially of the place where God dwelt.”[1]
Who are the 144,000 standing with Christ on Mount Zion up in heaven?
See my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 7:1-8.
What is this name of the Father written on their foreheads?
It is related to the following:
Isaiah 9:6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (This name refers to Christ).
Revelation 3:12. (The church in Philadelphia). He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God. And I will write on him my new name.
Revelation 22:3.4. (The throne of God and the Lamb). They shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.
Exodus 13:9. It shall be a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord´s law may be in your mouth. (Between your eyes is the same as the forehead. The Lord´s law is the Ten Commandments).
Deuteronomy 6:6-8. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Between the eyes is the same as the forehead. This text is referring to the Ten Commandments from the previous chapter 5: which should be bound between the eyes or the forehead).
Matthew 22:36-40. Teacher, which is the great commandment in law? Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Exodus 3:13.14. Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, what is his name?” what shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,” I Am has sent me to you.”
Amos 4:13. For behold, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth – The Lord God of hosts is his name.
Conclusion
The Father´s name is related to the following: Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the New Jerusalem, God is love, keep the ten commandments og God, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, you shall love your neighbour as yourself, I Am who I Am and the Lord God of hosts.
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 harps.
What does the voice of many waters mean?
Revelation 17:1. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.
Revelation 17:15. Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues.” (These people are related to one voice of praise and worship in the fallen church worldwide, which is the opposite to the voices of the 144,000 who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ Revelation 14:12).
Revelation 1:15. His voice as the sound of many waters. (Refers to the voice of Christ in heaven).
Revelation 7:9.10. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 19:6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunder.
Conclusion
Many waters are related to the voice of Christ up in heaven and the 144,000 up in heaven. Many voices are related to the 144,000 singing a new song and the voice of the great multitude praising God in heaven.
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.
This voice and a new song came from the 144,000 up in heaven.
Do we have an idea what this song was about?
Exodus 15:1-19. Writes about the song of Moses; the opening of the Red sea and the destruction of Pharoah´s army.
Revelation 15:2-4. Those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O king of Saints! Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are Holy. For all nations shall come and worship you. For your judgments have been manifested.”
Deuteronomy 31:32. Another song of Moses before his death. Deuteronomy 31:19. Now therefore write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:21. Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness.
Conclusion
This new song in heaven is related to the song of Moses after the opening of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh´s army. Another song of Moses and the Lamb: sung by those who have gotten the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and his number. Even more, a song of Moses before his death to be sung as a witness for God´s help in the past.
Who are the 144,000 (one hundred and forty-four thousand)? See my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 7:.
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.
What does it mean that, “these are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins?”
The rule of prophetical translation is: if the context is a physical narrative, then these words are to be translated as a physical narrative. However, if the context has symbols used, then these words should be translated symbolic.
From the reading of these verse and the other verses we can see symbols are used e.g., the Lamb, the beast in verse 3 and his image, his mark and his number. Therefore, these words women and virgins should be translated symbolically.
What does the word “women” mean symbolically in the book of Revelation?
There are two women that are emphasized in Revelation 12: and Revelation 17:
The woman in Revelation 12: represents all true Christians from the first century to the Protestant reformation and hereafter. See my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 12:.
The other woman is named in Revelation 17: and is a harlot and she represents all believers in the fallen church throughout the world. See my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 17:.
So what does this word “women” mean in Revelation 14:4?
Women is written in the plural meaning many. The word defiled means one is not contaminated with the doctrines and beliefs of these various fallen churches under the symbolic name of the harlot. It means you have given your heart to the beliefs and doctrines of the harlot which are false doctrines not written in the Bible.
When the text in Revelation 14:4 says these ones were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. This suggests that those who defile themselves with women are likened to those who have intercourse with a prostitute and those who were not defiled with women were virgins and did not have intercourse with the prostitute symbolizing the fallen worldwide church who do not keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ Revelation 14:12.
These virgins who follow the beliefs in the Bible, follow the Lamb. Who is the Lamb a symbol of in the Bible? John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Hence, these virgins: true Christians follow the Lamb who is Jesus Christ wherever he goes in heaven. These virgins include the symbolic number of 144,000. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and the Lamb.
Revelation 14:5. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
These virgins or the 144,000 were without fault before the throne of God.
How are we made complete and without fault before the throne of God?
John 3:16. Whoever believes in Christ will have eternal life.
How do we get a belief or faith in Jesus Christ?
Romans 10:17. So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. E.g., Believing in the prophecies that have been fulfilled in the bible.
Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
How do I know that I am sinner?
Romans 7:7. I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
By keeping the Ten Commandments of God we reveal that we are sinners when we fail to obey one of them.
1 John 2:4. He who says, “I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Paul says in Romans 3:31. We establish the law. What shall we do when we find out that we are sinners?
Peter said at Pentecost when the people found out that Jesus Christ died for their sins. He said to them in Acts 3:19. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
How do we repent?
Stop sinning with our willpower and ask God to forgive us our sins.
Will God forgive us our sins?
1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he his faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What happens at the day of judgment when we confess our belief in Jesus Christ?
Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
What do we experience in our hearts when we confess our sins and believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour?
Romans 5:1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What happens to our minds when we give our lives to Jesus Christ?
Romans 12:2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
What happens to our lives when we give our hearts to Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things become new.
After all these steps, do we have the assurance that we have eternal life?
1 John 5:13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Who do we come to when we fall in sin while we are believers in Christ Jesus?
1 John 2:1.2. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
When we have followed all these steps into salvation then 1 John 5:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
How are we made complete and without fault?
Hebrews 13:20.21. Now may the God of peace – – – make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!
Revelation 14:6.7. 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.”
At what time in the earth´s prophetic history did this first angel preach the everlasting gospel?
Judging by the context of these verses, the time comes between Revelation 13:11-18 referring to the beast coming out of the earth, and Revelation 14:14-20 referring to Christ´s Second Coming. The beast coming out of the earth represents Protestantism and Republicanism in the USA when they started up as a nation just after the French Revolution in 1798.
“The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message is part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that hour of judgment had come.
The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in his day. ´That day shall not come, ` he says, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. ` 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Not till after the great apostacy, and the long period of the reign of the `man of sin, ` can we look for the advent of our Lord. The `man of sin, ` which styled `the mystery of iniquity, ` `the son of perdition, ` and `that wicked, ` represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years. This period ended in 1798. The coming of Christ could not take place before that time. It is this side of that time that the message of Christ´s second coming is to be proclaimed.”[2]
“Like the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, the advent movement (the preaching of the everlasting gospel and the hour of God´s judgment is come) appeared in different countries of Christendom at the same time. In both Europe and America men of faith and prayer were led to the study of the prophecies, and tracing down the inspired record, they saw convincing evidence that the end of all things was at hand. In different lands there were isolated bodies of Christians who, solely by the study of Scriptures, arrived at the belief that the Saviour´s advent was near.”[3]
For example: William Miller (USA) in 1821 arrived at exposition of the prophecies pointing to the time of judgement. Joseph Wolf in 1821 was born I Germany and his father was a Jewish rabbi. While young he was convinced of the truth of the Christian religion. He became a missionary to the world.
“Wolf believed in the coming of the Lord to be at hand, his interpretation of the prophetic periods placing the great consummation within a very few years of the time pointed out by Miller.”[4] “The Arabs of Yemen he (Wolf) says, are in possession of a book called Seera, which gives notice of the Second Coming of Christ and His reign in glory; and they expect great events to take place in the year 1840.”[5]
“As early as 1826 the advent message began to be preached in England – – -. Mourant Brock, and English writer, states that about seven hundred ministers of the Church of England were engaged in preaching `this gospel of the kingdom`. The message pointing to 1844 at the time of the Lord´s coming was also given in Great Britain. And in 1842 Robert Winter, an Englishman by birth, who had received the advent faith in America, returned to his native country to herald the coming of the Lord.”[6]
“In South America – – -Lacunza a Spaniard and a Jesuit, found his way to all the scriptures and thus received the truth of Christ´s speedy return. Impelled to give the warning yet desiring to escape the censures of Rome, he published his views under the assumed name of `Rabbi Ben Ezra,` representing himself as a converted Jew.
In Germany the doctrine (of the Second Coming of Christ) had been taught in the eighteenth century by Bengel, minister in the Lutheran Church and a celebrated Biblical scholar and critic”[7]
“The light shone also in France and Switzerland. At Geneva where Farel and Calvin had spread the truth of the Reformation, Gaussen preached the message of the second advent.”[8]
“In Scandinavia also the advent message was proclaimed, and a widespread interest was kindled. – – – But the clergy of the State Church apposed the movement, and through their influence some who preached the message were thrown in prison. In many places where the preachers of the Lord´s soon coming were thus silenced, God was pleased to send the message, in a miraculous manner through little children.”[9]
“To William Miller and his co-labourers, it was given to preach the warning in America. This country became the centre of the great advent movement. The testimonies of the prophecies which seemed to point to the coming of Christ in the spring of 1844 took deep hold of the minds of the people. There were comparatively few ministers, however, who would accept this message; therefore, it was largely committed to humble laymen.”[10]
What does it mean in Revelation 14:7 “the hour of his judgment has come?”
A similar judgment scene is written in Daniel 7:9.10. I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came fourth from him. A thousand thousands ministered to him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was seated, and the books were opened.
When did this event take place?
“The coming of Christ here (Daniel 7;13.14) described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given to Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844.”[11]
This work is described in Revelation 20:11-15. Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face from the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead whop were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Who is to be judged from this period of 1844?
“So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period.”[12]
However, having said this, all cases for non-believers and believers to be admitted into heaven have to finalized before the second coming of Christ. Fx:
Matthew 25:31-33. Christ will divide the sheep from the goats.
Matthew 13:1-8. The parable of the Sower – Some seed fell on the pathway and the birds ate them up. Some seed fell on the stony ground and the sun dried them up when they started to grow. Some seed fell among thorns and thistles and when they tried to grow, they were choked by the thistles. Some seed fell on good ground, grew up and delivered a harvest of hundredfold.
The seed represents people but not all come to the heavenly kingdom.
Matthew 13:30. Another parable of what happens at Christ´s second coming. The parable of the wheat and tares. When they have grown up and ready for harvest, the tares representing the non-believers are bound up and burnt while the wheat representing all believers in Christ come into the heavenly kingdom.
Matthew 22:1-14. The parable of the wedding feast. All people are invited to the wedding feast, but the king only accepts those who have wedding garments on representing Christ´s righteousness. This parable is an investigative judgment is where the king looks around and analyses all who are invited to see if they are clothed with wedding garments. All peoples are invited but not all are accepted. Only those who are clothed with the garments of Christ´s righteousness were accepted.
Isaiah 61:10. (The garments of righteousness). I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
The problem with William Miller, Wolf and many who proclaimed that Christ would come around 1844 was, they did not see the fulfilment of this prophecy. Why?
Was God behind this proclamation and worldwide movement? Was God behind the errors of this prediction?
A similar event happened to the twelve disciples of Christ. After three years of personal teaching about the kingdom of God and the gospel to all nations, the disciples asked Christ after the resurrection: Acts 1:6. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him saying, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
For many years the disciples were taught in the synagogues that when Christ comes, he will come as a mighty king and a general of the Israelite army, like King David, and cast the Roman soldiers from their country. Then they will reign supreme throughout the whole of the world. The passages from the Old Testament referring to the sufferings and crucifixion of Christ: Isaiah 53: and Psalm 22: were never read or explained in the Jewish synagogues. Why? Because these teachings did not fit into their political ideology.
The same occurred with William Miller and all those who taught of second coming of Christ in 1844. They misunderstood the scriptures referring to the judgment and the heavenly sanctuary teachings from the Bible: that Christ should enter the final phase of his work from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
Miller and his associates misinterpreted Daniel 8:14. For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. Miller and his associates believed the sanctuary to be cleansed was referring to this earth and not the heavenly sanctuary.
Like the error of the disciples waiting for the establishing of the government of Israel, and the error of Miller and his associates, God allows and works with errors of man so we later can come to a better understanding of the Holy Scriptures.
Revelation 14:7. Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.
Why does the first angel´s message commands us to worship God who created the heaven and the earth?
We must remember the time setting of the first angel´s message which was given around the early 1800´s. What teaching sprang up in the universities at that time in contrast with the creation in the Bible? Charles Robert Darwin (1809-82) was an English naturalist and sailed to many parts of the world on the H.M.S. Beagle (1831-36). This started the work of observation, investigation and correlation that led to his theory of evolution by natural selection. This theory, which is not a fact, was written in his book “On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection” in 1859.[13] The book explains that humans and animals had evolved from small cells to larger bodies over time. This theory is the opposite teaching to the creation story in the book of Genesis 1: and 2:
Therefore, God foreseeing this false teaching entering the western world, commanded that we should proclaim the first angels message using science and the Bible, that he is the original creator of this world in six days.
One of the greatest pieces of evidence against the theory of evolution is that no one has found the intermediate skeleton form of life between an ape and a human being.
Furthermore, Darwin admits that his theory is not factual because looking at the development of the eye, it can only operate and exist at the same time and not evolve over many years. “In the Origin of Species, Darwin wrote that the idea of natural selection producing the eye “seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree.”[14]
A theory is an educated guess and not factual proof, until there is scientific evidence to support it.
In this case with Darwin, there is no evidence to support the theory of evolution and Darwin himself admits this when analysing the creation of the eye.
Revelation 14:7. Worship him who made heaven and earth, in six days and rested on the seventh day.
This is the part of the first angel´s message that we should proclaim along with the judgment message from God. We should worship the God created the heaven and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. The seventh day is the sabbath, which is Saturday and not Sunday as many Christian denomination keep. There is no scriptural evidence for the keeping of Sunday as a holy day in the Bible. Therefore, it is the first angel´s message to proclaim the correct day of worship which is from Friday evening at sunset to Saturday evening at sunset.
After 1844 Adventists began to understand the correct day of worship from the Bible and from Seventh day Baptists. This message became part of their proclamation in the first angel´s message. Leviticus 23:32. From even to even shall you celebrate your sabbath.
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[1] Siegfried H. Horn, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington D. C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1979), 1213.
[2] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 356.
[3] Ibid., 357.
[4] Ibid., 359.
[5] Ibid., 362.
[6] Ibid., 362.
[7] Ibid., 363.
[8] Ibid., 364.
[9] Ibid., 366.
[10] Ibid., 368.
[11] Ibid., 480.
[12] Ibid., 480.
[13] Baynard S. Cayne, Edit., The New Lexicon Webster`s Dictionary of the English Language, (New York: Lexicon Pub., Inc., 1989), 244.
[14] https://www.nyas.org/ideas-insights/blog/how-the-eye-evolved/