Revelation 14

1 Then I looked [beheld] and saw the Lamb [the Messiah] standing [in a position of power and authority] on Mount Zion [a hill in Jerusalem], and with Him [accompanied by, in the presence of] 144,000 who had His name [a representation of His character and authority] and His Father’s name [the name of God, signifying their relationship and identity] written [inscribed, marked] on their foreheads [the front part of the face]. word study 2 And I heard [a voice] a sound from heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place] like the roar [a loud, thunderous noise] of many waters [rushing, abundant] and the loud rumbling [a deep, resonant sound] of thunder [a powerful, awe-inspiring sound]. And the sound [noise, voice] I heard [perceived, understood] was like harpists [musicians, players] strumming [playing, singing] their harps [lyres, musical instruments]. word study 3 And they sang [as it were, in a joyful melody] a new [fresh, never heard before] song before [in the presence of] the throne [the seat of God’s authority] and before [in the presence of] the four living creatures [beings with life, possibly angels] and the elders [respected leaders, spiritual guides]. And no one [none, nobody] could learn [understand, comprehend] the song except [but, only] the [a specific, chosen number] 144,000 who had been redeemed [bought, purchased] from [away from, out of] the earth [the world, the soil]. word study 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled [spiritually stained or soiled] with women [or any false idol], for they are virgins [morally and spiritually pure]. They follow [accompany, walk with] the Lamb [a symbol of innocence and purity] wherever He goes [to whatever place or situation]. They have been redeemed [purchased, bought back] from among men [humanity, the world] as firstfruits [the first and best of a harvest] to God [the one true deity] and to the Lamb [the ultimate sacrifice]. word study 5 And [also, in addition] no [absolutely none, a strong denial] lie [falsehood, deception] was found [discovered, encountered] in their mouths; they are [exist as, have the character of] blameless [without fault, morally pure]. word study 6 Then I saw [beheld, perceived] another angel [messenger, heavenly being] flying [soaring, moving through the air] overhead, with the eternal [everlasting, age-during] gospel [good news, message of salvation] to proclaim [announce, preach] to those who dwell [reside, live] on the earth [the land, the world]—to every nation [people group, Gentiles] and tribe [clan, family] and tongue [language, dialect] and people [a group of individuals, a specific nation]. word study 7 And he said in a loud [great, mighty] voice, “Fear [reverence, awe] God [the Lord, Creator] and give Him glory [honor, praise], because the hour [time, season] of His judgment [decision, verdict] has come. Worship [bow down, honor] the One who made [created, formed] the heavens [the sky, celestial realm] and the earth [the land, ground] and the sea [the ocean, large body of water] and the springs [fountains, sources] of waters [rivers, streams].” word study 8 Then a second [another, different] angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen [completely destroyed, collapsed] is Babylon [the capital of Chaldea] the great [powerful, influential], who has made all the nations [Gentiles, people of the world] drink the wine of the passion [intense desire, wrath] of her immorality [sexual sin, wickedness].” word study 9 And a third [another] angel followed them, calling out [saying, proclaiming] in a loud [great, powerful] voice, “If anyone [any person, one] worships [bows down to, gives reverence to] the beast [wild animal, symbol of evil] and its image [likeness, representation], and receives [takes, accepts] its mark [sign, charagma] on his forehead [the front of the face] or on his hand [the instrument of power], word study 10 he too will drink [the full cup of] the wine [of divine judgment] of God’s [righteous] anger, poured [without mixture, in its full strength] undiluted [pure, unadulterated] into the cup [vessel of judgment] of His [holy] wrath. And he will be tormented [suffer severely, tortured] in fire [flames of punishment] and sulfur [brimstone, burning stone] in the presence [before the face, in full view] of the holy [set apart, righteous] angels and of the Lamb [Jesus, the innocent sacrifice]. word study 11 And the smoke [rising up as a sign of judgment] of their torment [intense suffering, affliction] rises forever [for all eternity, without end] and ever [perpetually, continuously]. Day [a period of light, a 24-hour cycle] and night [a time of darkness, a period of rest] there is no rest [ceaseless labor, no pause] for those who worship [bow down to, honor] the beast [a wild animal] and its image [a likeness, a representation], or for anyone who receives [takes, accepts] the mark [a sign, a seal] of its name [character, authority].” word study 12 Here [in this place, at this time] is a call for the perseverance [patience, endurance, quietly waiting] of the saints [holy ones, set apart] who keep [observe, watch over, obey] the commandments [divine instructions, orders] of God [the one true deity] and the faith [trust, confidence] of Jesus [God is salvation]. word study 13 And I heard a voice [from the spiritual realm, a sound from above] from heaven [the dwelling place of God, the sky] telling me to write, “Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are the dead [those who have passed away, lifeless]—those who die [stop living, pass away] in the Lord [in a relationship with Jesus Christ, under His care] from this moment on [from now on, henceforth].” “Yes [verily, indeed],” says the Spirit [the divine Presence, the Holy Spirit], “they will rest [be refreshed, rejuvenated] from their labors [hard work, toil], for their deeds [works, actions] will follow them [accompany them, go with them].” word study 14 And I looked [gazed intently] and saw a white [bright, shining] cloud, and seated [sitting, enthroned] on the cloud was One [a figure, a person] like the Son of Man [having a human-like appearance], with a golden [made of precious metal, valuable] crown [a wreath, a symbol of honor] on His head [the upper part of the body, the source of thoughts] and a sharp [swift, cutting] sickle [a tool for harvesting] in His hand [the instrument of power, the means of action]. word study 15 Then [at that moment, next] another [different, distinct] angel [messenger of God] came out [emerged, went forth] of the temple [the sacred place of worship], crying out [shouting, proclaiming] in a loud [great, intense] voice [sound, noise] to the One [Him who is, the Lord] seated [sitting, enthroned] on the cloud [the heavenly throne], “Swing [thrust in, send forth] Your [belonging to You, as the Messiah] sickle [harvesting tool] and reap [gather, harvest], because [since, for the reason that] the time [hour, appointed moment] has come [arrived, is here] to harvest [gather, reap]; for [because, since] the crop [harvest, fruit] of the earth [the world, humanity] is ripe [mature, ready].” word study 16 So the One [seated in authority] seated on the cloud [a visible mass of water vapor in the sky] swung His sickle [a tool used for harvesting] over the earth [the land, the material world], and the earth [the globe, the entire creation] was harvested [reaped, gathered in] [as a farmer reaps grain]. word study 17 Then [and] another [different, distinct] angel [messenger of God] came out [emerged, departed] of the temple [sacred place of worship, inner sanctuary] in [located within, situated among] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], and he [himself, personally] too [also, in addition] had [possessed, held] a sharp [swift, cutting] sickle [harvesting tool, instrument for gathering]. word study 18 Still another [different, distinct] angel, with authority [power, freedom to act] over the fire [flames], came from the altar [a table for offering sacrifices to God] and called out in a loud voice [with a great cry, shouting] to the angel with the sharp [swift, cutting] sickle, “Swing your sharp [swift, cutting] sickle and gather the clusters [bunches] of grapes from the vine [the grapevine] of the earth [the land, the world], because its grapes are [have become] ripe [fully mature, ready].” word study 19 So the angel [a heavenly messenger] swung his sickle [a tool for harvesting] over the earth [the world, the soil] and gathered the grapes [the vintage, the harvest] of the earth, and he threw them into the great [intense, massive] winepress [a trough for treading grapes] of God’s [the supreme Creator] wrath [intense anger, righteous indignation]. word study 20 And the winepress [a trough or vat for treading grapes] was trodden [trampled, crushed] outside [beyond the walls of] the city [a town with walls, a community], and the blood [the atoning blood of Christ, life force] that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles [a device to control an animal] of the horses [large animals used for riding] for a distance of 1,600 [a thousand and six hundred, a large number] stadia [a unit of distance, about 1/8 of a Roman mile]. word study