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4. Our friends among the Jehovahs Witnesses believe these are
the special class of the
saved who will be in heaven, while the rest of the saved, which
they believe to be the
great multitude (see Ch.7) will live on a renewed earth. The
final number of the
heavenly church will be 144,000, according to Gods decree (Let
God Be True, p.
113).However, the great multitude is in heaven in Ch.19, so the
idea is incorrect.The reason for the mistake (as with other
Dispensationalists) is they fail to distinguish
between literal and figurative language, and are inconsistent
when they try to. Are the
24 Elders literally twenty-four individuals? If so, whom? Are
they the 12 patriarchs
and 12 apostles? If so, why would Abrahams sons occupy greater
positions of honor
than their great father? If so, what about the apostle Paul?
(1Cor 15:8-10). Do theyliterally stand for special saints drawn
from the 12 tribes? If so, where are those from
Dan and Ephraim (see Ch.7)? Will there be no women in heaven?
The point is these
numbers are symbolic. They stand for literal truths, but are not
literal truthsthemselves. They are symbolic truths.
B. Voices (vv.2-3)
1. The voice of God: As in previous passages in Revelation.
2. The voices of the 144,000: I like the ESV, The voice I heard
was like the sound
of harpists playing on their harps
3. They sing in heaven a new song This represents privilege and
joy (See James
5:13). How can the saints be joyful in a time like this? By
trusting in the power andpromises of the Lord! Remember Exodus
15.
C. Description of the 144,000 (vv.4-5)1. Have not defiled
themselves with women This is Law of Moses terminology
symbolic of the sanctification of Christians (some say
purity).2. Follow the Lamb wherever See John 10:1-5, 11
3. Redeemed, firstfruits The only purchase price ultimately
available for human
salvation is that of the blood of Jesus Christ. His blood was
effective for the obedientwho lived before the cross (Gal. 4:5;
Heb. 9:15-17), and for those who have submitted
to Gods will since that historic event (1 Pet. 1:18,19; Acts
20:28)
Wayne Jackson, Christian Courier.
4. No lie, blameless Symbolizes of the truthful nature of Gods
peopleII.The Three Angels Proclamations (14:6-13)
A. Next comes three angels and their proclamations. The first
angel and his proclamation
may indicate that the gospel will continue to be spread (despite
the efforts of the dragonand the beasts). People should therefore
fear God and worship Him (not Caesar), for the
hour of God's judgment has come (6-7). The proclamation of the
second angel announces
the fall of Babylon, described later in great detail (8). The
third angel proclaims the
terrible judgment and eternal torment to befall those who
worship the
image, and receive his mark (9-11). The three proclamations are
then
explanation that the patience of the saints consists of keeping
the com
and the faith of Jesus, with a voice from heaven tellingJohn
towrite those who die in the Lord (12-13). Mark A.
Copeland,ExecutableO
B. A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (14:12-13)
III. Two Harvests (14:14-20)
A. The chapter concludes with a depiction of two harvests. The
first sho
on a white cloud reaping the harvest of the earth (14-16). The
second
reaping the grapes of the vine of the earth, which are then
thrown into
of the wrath of God, producing a river of blood almost two
hundred m
These two harvests may be different ways of describing the same
judupon those who follow the beast, or the first may depict that
Jesus wi
own while Gods wrath is being poured out on His enemies. I do
not b
represents that which will occur when Jesus comes at the end of
time certainly foreshadow that great event). Instead, like the
angelic procla
reassured the Christians of John's day that God's hour of
judgment wa
upon their enemies (e.g., the Roman Empire). Mark A.
Copeland,
ExecutableOutlines.com .
B. The blood flowed as high as a horses bridle about 184 miles.
1,600 (
is a multiple of four, which usually represents the earth and
mankind
Perhaps that is what is in view here.
