Revelation 14

1 a Lamb. Rather, “the Lamb” (see v. 6).

a hundred forty and four thousand. The Church universal, viewed as definite and complete. Cp. vii. 4, referring to the sealed on earth.

having His Father’s name. The best reading is, “having His name and His Father’s name”: cp. vii. 3.

3 a new song. See note on v. 9.

4 virgins. “The words may imply either purity of soul, as seems pointed at in ver. 5, or spiritual loyalty to God as opposed to spiritual disloyalty” (Speaker’s Commentary).

6 another angel. Probably different from the “mighty angel” last seen (x. 1).

the everlasting gospel. Or, as R.V., “an eternal gospel,” or “good tidings.”

8. Babylon is fallen, etc. Cp. Isa. xxi. 9; Jer. ii. 6-8. The order in the original is emphatic: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.”

9 the third angel. Rather, “a third angel.”

10 with fire and brimstone. A figurative expression, derived from the doom of Sodom and Gomorra: see Gen. xix. 24; Psa. xi. 6; Isa. xxx. 33.

11 the smoke of their torment, etc. Cp. Gen. xix. 28; Isa. xxxiv. 10; Jude 7, and notes.

12. Here is the patience of the saints. The “patience,” or “endurance” of the saints is shown in stedfastly refusing to worship the beast; and its “reward,” in escaping the inevitable punishment: cp. note on xiii. 10.

13. Blessed are the dead, etc. Those saints who might die (by martyrdom or otherwise) before Christ’s final coming are comforted by the assurance of immediate happiness: cp. 2 Cor. v. 8: Phil. i. 23.

their works do follow them. The Greek is “follow with them,” as close companions, into God’s presence.

14 like unto the Son of man. Rather, as R.V., “like unto a son of man”; i.e., like a human being (cp. i. 13; Dan. vii. 13). The Saviour is undoubtedly meant.

15 the harvest of the earth is ripe (over-ripe). The harvest is a frequent Scripture emblem of retribution. The grain appears to represent the righteous (cp. Matt. xiii. 38, etc.), and the grapes (18, 19) the wicked (see Joel iii. 13).

16 which had power over fire. Each of the different elements is represented as being watched over and governed by an angel: cp. vii. 1, 2; xvi. 5; xix. 17.

the vine of the earth. Cp. “the vine of Sodom” (Deut. xxxii. 32).

19 the great winepress. See notes on Isa. lxiii. 1-6; Lam. i. 15.

20 without the city. As criminals were executed outside the gates of the city: see Acts vii. 58; Heb. xiii. 11-13, and note.

a thousand and six hundred furlongs. That is, about 180 English miles.