Hisgalus 14

1 4 And I looked, and, hinei, the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach) having taken his stand on Mount Tziyon and with him the 144,000 having ha-Shem of him and ha-Shem of HaAv of him which had been written on their metsakhim (foreheads). [YECHEZKEL 9:4]

2 And I heard a sound out of Shomayim as a sound of mayim rabbim (many waters) and as a sound of ra’am gadol (loud thunder), and the sound which I heard was as of players of the nevel playing on their nevalim (harps).

3 And they sing, as it were, a Shir Chadash (New Song) before the Kes (Throne) and before the Arbah Chayyot (four living beings) and before the Zekenim (Elders, Ex 12:21), and no one was being able to learn the Shir (Song) except the 144,000, the ones for whom the Geulah price had been paid for their redemption [Lv 5:5-6; Ex 13:13], the ones having been redeemed (purchased) from ha’aretz (the earth).

4 These are those who with nashim (women) are not tameh (unclean, defiled), bochrim ki betullim they are, for these are the ones following the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach) wherever he goes. These chasidim had the Geulah price paid for their redemption [VAYIKRA 25:50, 51; YESHAYAH 61:2], the ones having been purchased from Bnei Adam as the bikkurim (firstfruits) to Hashem and to the SEH (Lamb, YESHAYAH 53:7). [YIRMEYAH 2:3]

5 And in the peh of them was not found MIRMAH (deceit, YESHAYAH 53:9); they are without mumim (defects). [TEHILLIM 32:2; ZEFANYAH 3:13]

6 And I saw another malach (angel) flying midair in Shomayim, having the eternal Besuras HaGeulah to proclaim to the ones sitting on ha’aretz (the earth) and to every goy (nation) and shevet (tribe) and lashon (language) and am (people),

7 Saying in a kol gadol (loud voice), "Have yirat Shomayim toward Hashem and give Him kavod (glory), because the hour of His Yom HaMishpat has come. And worship Him, HaBoreh HaShomayim v’HaAretz (the creator of Heaven and Earth) and Yam (Sea) and ma’ayanot (springs, sources) of mayim. [TEHILLIM 34:9]

8 And another malach (angel), sheyni (a second one), followed, saying, NAFLAH, NAFLAH BABEL ("Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great", YESHAYAH 21:9), who of the yayin of the ta’avah (lust) of her zenunim (fornications) has made all the Nations to drink. [YIRMEYAH 51:8]

9 And another malach (angel), shlishi (a third one), followed them saying, in a kol gadol (loud voice), “If anyone worships the Chayyah [Beast, Anti-Moshiach] and its Atzav (idol, image, PESEL, graven image, YESHAYAH 21:9) and if anyone receives a mark on his metsakh (forehead) or on the yad of him,

10 Such will drink of the yayin of the Charon Af Hashem (burning wrath of Hashem), having been mixed undiluted in the kos (cup) of his Charon Af, and such will be tormented by eish (fire) and gofrit (sulfur) before malachim hakedoshim (the holy angels) and before the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach). [YESHAYAH 51:17; 66:24; YIRMEYAH 25:15; 51:7]

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends l’Olmei Olamim, and for them there is no menuchah (place of rest) yomam valailah (day and night), none for the ones worshiping the Chayyah (Beast, Anti-Moshiach) and its Atzav (image), nor for anyone who receives the mark of its name!” [YESHAYAH 34:10]

12 Here is the savlanut (patient endurance) of the Kadoshim, the ones being shomer over the mitzvot of Hashem, who hold fast to the [Orthodox Jewish] emunah of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

13 And I heard a kol (voice) out of Shomayim saying, "Write: ‘Ashrey (Happy are) are the mesim (dead ones), the ones dying in Adoneinu, from now on.’ ‘Ken,’ says the Ruach Hakodesh, ‘so that they will rest from their ma’asim, for the ma’asim of them follow them.’"

14 And I looked, and, hinei, an anan (cloud) lavan (white), and on the anan (cloud) there was one sitting like the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14]. He has on the head of him a golden Keter (Crown) and in the yad (hand) of him a sharp MAGGAL (sickle, YOEL 4:13 [3:13]). [HOSHEA 6:11; DANIEL 7:13]

15 And another malach (angel) came out of the Beis Hamikdash, crying with a kol gadol (loud voice) to the one sitting on the anan, "Put forth your MAGGAL (sickle, YOEL 4:13 [3:13]) and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the Katzir Ha’Aretz (Harvest of the Earth) is ripe!" [YIRMEYAH 51:33]

16 And the one sitting on the anan (cloud) put forth his MAGGAL (sickle, 4:13 [YOEL 3:13]) on ha’aretz (the earth) and ha’aretz (the earth) was reaped.

17 And another malach (angel) came out of the Beis Hamikdash in Shomayim, having also with him a sharp MAGGAL (sickle, YOEL 4:13 [3:13]).

18 And another malach (angel) came out of the Mizbe’ach (altar), having shilton (authority) over the eish, and he spoke with a kol gadol (loud voice) to the one having the sharp MAGGAL, saying, "Put forth your sharp MAGGAL and gather the clusters of the gefen (vine) of ha’aretz, because the grapes of it are ripe.” [Isa 63:1-6]

19 And the malach (angel) put forth his MAGGAL to ha’aretz (the earth) and gathered the vintage of ha’aretz (the earth) and threw it into the GAT hagedolah (great winepress, YOEL 4:13 [3:13]) of the Charon Af of Hashem (burning wrath of Hashem). [YESHAYAH 63:3]

20 And the GAT hagedolah was trodden on outside the Ir (City) and dahm (blood) came out from the GAT up to the bridles of the susim (horses) for about two hundred miles. [YESHAYAH 63:3; YOEL 4:13 [3:13]; BERESHIS 49:11; DEVARIM 32:14]

Hisgalus 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Those faithful to Christ celebrate the praises of God. (1-5) Three angels; one proclaiming the everlasting gospel; another, the downfal of Babylon; and a third, the dreadful wrath of God on the worshippers of the beast. The blessedness of those who die in the Lord. (6-13) A vision of Christ with a sickle, and of a harvest ripe for cutting down. (14-16) The emblem of a vintage fully ripe, trodden in the wine-press of God's wrath. (17-20)

Verses 1-5 Mount Sion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church, and in the midst of her in all her troubles, therefore she is not consumed. His presence secures perseverance. His people appear honourably. They have the name of God written in their foreheads; they make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and this is followed by suitable actings. There were persons in the darkest times, who ventured and laid down their lives for the worship and truth of the gospel of Christ. They kept themselves clean from the wicked abominations of the followers of antichrist. Their hearts were right with God; and they were freely pardoned in Christ; he is glorified in them, and they in him. May it be our prayer, our endeavour, our ambition, to be found in this honourable company. Those who are really sanctified and justified are meant here, for no hypocrite, however plausible, can be accounted to be without fault before God.

Verses 6-13 The progress of the Reformation appears to be here set forth. The four proclamations are plain in their meaning; that all Christians may be encouraged, in the time of trial, to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. The preaching of the everlasting gospel shakes the foundations of antichrist in the world, and hastens its downfal. If any persist in being subject to the beast, and in promoting his cause, they must expect to be for ever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us. Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such as die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follow them: do not go before as their title, or purchase, but follow them as proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord: the remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services and sufferings. This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit, witnessing with their spirits, and the written word.

Verses 14-20 Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. The harvest time is when the corn is ripe; when the believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth shall be gathered into Christ's garner. And by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed, till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer. The wine-press is the wrath of God, some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked. The patience of God towards sinners, is the greatest miracle in the world; but, though lasting, it will not be everlasting; and ripeness in sin is a sure proof of judgment at hand.

Chapter Summary

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.