Revelation 14:8-18

8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "1Fallen, fallen is 2Babylon the great, she who has 3made all the nations drink of the 4wine of the passion of her immorality."

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone 5worships the beast and his 6image, and receives a 7mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he also will drink of the 8wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength 9in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with 10fire and brimstone in the presence of the 11holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 "And the 12smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; 13they have no rest day and night, those who 14worship the beast and his 15image, and whoever * receives the 16mark of his name."
12 Here is 17the perseverance of the saints who 18keep the commandments of God and 19their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, '20Blessed are the dead who 21die in the Lord from now on!' " "Yes," 22says the Spirit, "so that they may 23rest from their labors, for their 24deeds follow with them."

The Reapers

14 Then I looked, and behold, a 25white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one 26like a son of man, having a golden 27crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
15 And another angel 28came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "29Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the 30harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel 31came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.
18 Then another angel, 32the one who has power over fire, came out from 33the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "34Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, 35because her grapes are ripe."

Revelation 14:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVALATION 14

This chapter contains three visions; one of the Lamb on Mount Zion, another of the three angels preaching against Babylon, and the third of the harvest and vintage. The vision of the Lamb is in Re 14:1, which is no other than Christ, described by his similitude, as a Lamb; by the place where he was, Mount Zion; by his position there, standing, and by the company that were with him, whose number were 144,000, and their character, his Father's name written on their foreheads; at the same time a voice was heard from heaven, comparable to the sound of many waters, of thunders, and of harps: and a song sung which none learn but the above number with the Lamb, Re 14:2,3, who are described by their purity, chastity, and strict adherence to Christ; by their redemption through him; by their being the firstfruits of God and of the Lamb, and by their integrity and unblemished character, Re 14:4,5; next follows the account of the three angels; the first comes with the everlasting Gospel, to preach it to all men, loudly calling upon all to fear and worship God, and give glory to him, since he is the Creator of all, and the hour of his judgment is come, Re 14:6,7; the second proclaims the fall of Babylon, with the reason of it, Re 14:8; and the third denounces the wrath of God upon the worshippers of the beast in the most public manner, and that for ever, Re 14:9-11; and this vision is closed with some expressions, showing that, till this was done, the patience of the saints would be tried, and the true worshippers of the Lamb be discovered, and comforting them with an assurance of that rest that remains after death for the faithful followers of Christ, Re 14:12,13; after this is the vision of the harvest and vintage of the earth. The reaper is described by his form, like the son of man; by his seat, a white cloud; by a golden crown on his head, and by a sharp sickle in his hand, Re 14:14; who is called upon by an angel out of the temple to make use of his sickle, and reap, because the time of reaping was come, the harvest being ripe, Re 14:15, upon which he thrusts in his sickle, and reaps the earth, Re 14:16; after this, another angel appears out of the temple, with a sharp sickle, to whom another angel from the altar, that had power over fire, calls to make use of his sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine, since the grapes were fully ripe, Re 14:17,18; upon which he thrusts in his sickle, and gathers them, and casts them into the winepress of divine wrath, which being trodden, blood comes out of it to the horses' bridles for the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs, Re 14:19,20.

Cross References 35

  • 1. Isaiah 21:9; Jeremiah 51:8; Revelation 18:2
  • 2. Daniel 4:30; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:10
  • 3. Jeremiah 51:7
  • 4. Revelation 17:2, 4; Revelation 18:3
  • 5. Revelation 13:12; Revelation 14:11
  • 6. Revelation 13:14; Revelation 14:11
  • 7. Revelation 13:16
  • 8. Isaiah 51:17; Jer 25:15f, 27; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 19:15
  • 9. Psalms 75:8; Revelation 18:6
  • 10. Genesis 19:24; Ezekiel 38:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10, 14; Revelation 21:8
  • 11. Mark 8:38
  • 12. Isaiah 34:8-10; Revelation 18:9, 18; Revelation 19:3
  • 13. Revelation 4:8
  • 14. Revelation 13:12; Revelation 14:9
  • 15. Revelation 13:12; Revelation 14:9
  • 16. Revelation 13:17
  • 17. Revelation 13:10
  • 18. Revelation 12:17
  • 19. Revelation 2:13
  • 20. Revelation 20:6
  • 21. 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:16
  • 22. Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:17
  • 23. Hebrews 4:9f; Revelation 6:11
  • 24. 1 Timothy 5:25
  • 25. Matthew 17:5
  • 26. Daniel 7:13; Revelation 1:13
  • 27. Psalms 21:3; Revelation 6:2
  • 28. Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:17; Revelation 15:6; Revelation 16:17
  • 29. Joel 3:13; Mark 4:29; Revelation 14:18
  • 30. Jeremiah 51:33; Matthew 13:39-41
  • 31. Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15; Revelation 15:6; Revelation 16:17
  • 32. Revelation 16:8
  • 33. Revelation 6:9; Revelation 8:3
  • 34. Joel 3:13; Mark 4:29; Revelation 14:15
  • 35. Joel 3:13

Footnotes 16

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