Revelation 14

Revelation 14:1-20 . THE LAMB SEEN ON ZION WITH THE 144,000. THEIR SONG. THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED BEFORE THE END BY ONE ANGEL: THE FALL OF BABYLON, BY ANOTHER: THE DOOM OF THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS, BY A THIRD. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE DEAD IN THE LORD. THE HARVEST. THE VINTAGE.

In contrast to the beast, false prophet, and apostate Church ( Revelation 13:1-18 ) and introductory to the announcement of judgments about to descend on them and the world ( Revelation 14:8-11 , anticipatory of Revelation 18:2-6 ), stand here the redeemed, "the divine kernel of humanity, the positive fruits of the history of the world and the Church" [AUBERLEN]. The fourteenth through sixteenth chapters describe the preparations for the Messianic judgment. As the fourteenth chapter begins with the 144,000 of Israel (compare Revelation 7:4-8 , no longer exposed to trial as then, but now triumphant), so the fifteenth chapter begins with those who have overcome from among the Gentiles (compare Revelation 15:1-5 with Revelation 7:9-17 ); the two classes of elect forming together the whole company of transfigured saints who shall reign with Christ.

1. a--A, B, C, Coptic, and ORIGEN read, "the."
Lamb . . . on . . . Sion--having left His position "in the midst of the throne," and now taking His stand on Sion.
his Father's name--A, B, and C read, "His name and His Father's name."
in--Greek, "upon." God's and Christ's name here answers to the seal "upon their foreheads" in Revelation 7:3 . As the 144,000 of Israel are "the first-fruits" ( Revelation 14:4 ), so "the harvest" ( Revelation 14:15 ) is the general assembly of Gentile saints to be translated by Christ as His first act in assuming His kingdom, prior to His judgment ( Revelation 16:17-21 , the last seven vials) on the Antichristian world, in executing which His saints shall share. As Noah and Lot were taken seasonably out of the judgment, but exposed to the trial to the last moment [DE BURGH], so those who shall reign with Christ shall first suffer with Him, being delivered out of the judgments, but not out of the trials. The Jews are meant by "the saints of the Most High": against them Antichrist makes war, changing their times and laws; for true Israelites cannot join in the idolatry of the beast, any more than true Christians. The common affliction will draw closely together, in opposing the beast's worship, the Old Testament and New Testament people of God. Thus the way is paved for Israel's conversion. This last utter scattering of the holy people's power leads them, under the Spirit, to seek Messiah, and to cry at His approach, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord."

2. from--Greek, "out of."
voice of many waters--as is the voice of Himself, such also is the voice of His people.
I heard the voice of harpers--A, B, C, and ORIGEN read, "the voice which I heard (was) as of harpers."

3. sung--Greek, "sing."
as it were--So A, C, and Vulgate read. It is "as it were" a new song; for it is, in truth, as old as God's eternal purpose. But B, Syriac, Coptic, ORIGEN, and ANDREAS omit these words.
new song--( Revelation 5:9 Revelation 5:10 ). The song is that of victory after conflict with the dragon, beast, and false prophet: never sung before, for such a conflict had never been fought before; therefore new: till now the kingdom of Christ on earth had been usurped; they sing the new song in anticipation of His blood-bought kingdom with His saints.
four beasts--rather, as Greek, "four living creatures." The harpers and singers evidently include the 144,000: so the parallel proves ( Revelation 15:2 Revelation 15:3 ), where the same act is attributed to the general company of the saints, the harvest ( Revelation 14:15 ) from all nations. Not as ALFORD, "the harpers and song are in heaven, but the 144,000 are on earth."
redeemed--literally, "purchased." Not even the angels can learn that song, for they know not experimentally what it is to have "come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb" ( Revelation 7:14 ).