Revelation 14
OGCRevelation 14:1-5
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 40
Text Revelation 14:1-5
1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth. 4 These are they that were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:1-5
Where was the Lamb standing according to Revelation 14:1? Where is Mt. Zion?
Where have we read of the one hundred forty four thousand before in The Revelation?
What was the new song of Rev 14:3, and who alone could learn the song?
Discuss the real value of a vital, spiritual song service during worship hour in light of the fact that it is through song that redeemed shout the praises of God.
Does Revelation 14:4 teach that a celibate life is a higher form of spiritual life than the marriage state (as according to Roman Catholic teaching)?
What spiritual or moral significance can the designation virgin have in Revelation 14:4?
Does Revelation 14:4 - These were purchased from (apo away from, or out of) among men stand in opposition to resurgent universalism (i.e., that everyone is going to be saved)? Does this phrase show that some men are not redeemed and why they are not?
What is the moral character of those purchased according to Revelation 14:5?
The Vision of The 144,000 on Mount Zion
Chapter Revelation 14:1-5 (Cf. Revelation 7:1-8)
John has now discussed the dragon, the beast of the sea, and the beast of the land or the false prophet. This diabolical trinity (John mentions it again in Revelation 16:3) is placed in the most radical tension with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The final sign in this series of scenes from the divine drama of redemption is the re-entry of the 144,000 (note that this would have been a large number to the 1st century church) discussed in chapter Revelation 7:4 f. They are with the Lamb, with His seal (His name) on their foreheads. They are standing victoriously on Mt. Zion, the city of the great king. The king and His redeemed stand in an absolute contradiction to the beast and his fellow purveyors of darkness.
John now gives us a poetic description of the voice which he heard. The voice John heard was to give a preview of hope! How could the first century Christians continue to hope for ultimate and final victory - when the dragon and his cohorts had overcome the saints? The voice was sweet and harmonious like harpers harping.
This majestic cast of the purchased ones were neither in despair nor despondent over the apparent victory of satandom. Quite the contrary, they sing a new song. Only when one’s heart is filled with the joys of salvation can one know the thrill of true spiritual singing. They were singing this song of praise in the very throne room of the universe. What is essential to one’s life, before one can sing like this? John states that no man could (edunatô - no man is able or can learn it) learn the song except the 144,000, the ones having been purchased from (apo - away from) the earth. Who are those having been purchased ones (çgorasmenoi - passive - past - participle)? John identifies them as those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins or celibates. There is certainly no condemnation of marriage in this verse (read Matthew 19:12, 1 Corinthians 7:1-8, Hebrews 13:4). The image of the virgin (parthenoi) is a symbol of purity. The Bible uses adultery (see book of Hosea) as a symbol of a lack of purity. Chastity is a mark of every true follower of Christ!
This great throng was the first fruit to God and to the Lamb. The firstfruit (aparchç) is a consecrated offering in both O.T. usage, and here. This is precisely what Paul asserts in The Epistle to The Romans, Romans 12:1. The Hebrew Epistle makes a like claim in Hebrews 13:4-5. Their spiritual purity was made manifest by the fact that in their mouth was not found a lie (pseudos - anything false); they are unblemished. (See John 8:44 - the father of lies. Lying became one of the chief temptations of Christians during periods of persecution. See Josephus, the Fathers, especially Cyprian and the problem of the lapsed).
Many strive in vain to identify this throne (especially The Jehovah’s Witnesses).In Revelation 7:1-8 it is made plain that if taken literally, these are all physical Jews from tribes of Israel. Nothing is stated there that this group is solely composed of men. But in chp. 14 the group is specifically identified as males who are undefiled with women. There is nothing but difficulties in the path of anyone who claims that he can identify with certainty this group - other than the fact that they are the redeemed. Roman Catholic theologians cannot make out their case for celibacy from this passage either, contrary to their claims. Study the biblical teaching about marriage and divorce, and note the biblical use of the symbol of adultery for impurity.
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 14:14-20.
Revelation 14:1-20
**Tomlinson’s Comments
CHAPTER XIV PARENTHETICAL VISION OF THE TIME** OF THE END
Text (Revelation 14:1-20)
1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth. 4 These arc they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish. 6 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. 8 And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice. If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, 10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them. 14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw, one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The Vision of the Harvest
In the thirteenth chapter we studied about the two beasts, namely political and papal Rome. These two agencies were given power for a period of 1260 years to wage war upon the Church of Christ. The weapons used were both temporal and spiritual. The arm of the state and the false, deceitful and miraculous powers of the apostate church worked together as one. It was a dark picture, well designed to plant fear and despair in the hearts of true Christians. Therefore, a parenthesis of encouragement is inserted at this point to strengthen the saints. A like parenthesis of consolation was inserted between the sixth and seventh seals and the sixth and seventh trumpets. This present parenthesis, the third one, resembles the first parenthesis in character, but harmonizes and coincides with the second in point of time.
So here we witness the history of the two beasts being interrupted at the end of the thirteenth chapter, to be resumed and completed in future visions incorporated in the 15th, 16th, 17th 18th and 19th Chapter s. By this definite harmony with the parenthesis between the sixth and seventh trumpets, we are able to get a bench mark reading of our location in respect of time. Taking a perspective view of the whole chapter, it portrays to us a culmination of all things ending with the judgment. The chapter stands related to the days between the sixth and seventh trumpet in the same manner as the sealing of the 144,000 in the seventh chapter is related to the encouragement of the saints before the seventh seal. Briefly, this chapter, first, gives encouragement to the saints, reveals a glorious revival of gospel preaching, announces the fall of Babylon, gives a warning against worshipping the beast, then hurdles time and presents the coming of the Son of Man, sitting upon the clouds of heaven and finally describes two reapings in the harvest of the earth, one of the elect and the other of the wicked. Shall we now proceed to a more detailed study of this Chapter:
Revelation 14:1-5 And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having His fathers name written in their foreheads.
And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
What a vivid contrast is this scene to the one of the terrible beasts of the last chapter! Mount Sion is a symbol of the church. Paul said:
We are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the first born. (Hebrews 12:22-23)
And Peter declares Christ to be the chief corner stone in Sion:
Wherefore also it is contained in the Scriptures, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:6)
So Sion is a symbol of the true church. And these, whom John saw, had His Fathers name upon their foreheads, in contrast to those of the thirteenth chapter, who had the mark of the beast on their foreheads. This vision, vouchsafed to John, lifts the veil so that the redeemed may see what they could not see with physical eyes. John heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters. This voice though tremendous, nevertheless, melodiously blends with the singing of the 144,000 redeemed saints. And all sung to the accompaniment of instrumental musicharpers harping with their harps. This scene reminds us of the great Oratorio of Redemption, sung by the solo voices, the four living creatures the four and twenty elders, the myriads of angels and the redeemed of every kindred, and tongue and people and nation, which is described in the fifth chapter of Revelation. The 144,000 doubtless is symbolical and not intended to represent an exact number. They are the first fruits to God and the Lamb. As, in the Old Testament economy, the first fruits devoted to God were representative of the whole harvest to follow, so these seem to stand forth as symbolical of the whole harvest of souls to follow. A description of these who were redeemed from among men, follows: First, they are described as those which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. All obedient believers are classed as virgins and are presented to the Lamb of God as such. Said Paul: For I am jealous over you with godly jealously: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Second, they follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are sheep that hear and heed the Shepherd’s voice. Christ, in the days of His flesh, said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, -and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Third, they are described as the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.
They were, as James said of those God had begotten with the word of truth: Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
In the dispensation of the Mosaic law, the firstfruits were that which was set apart as God’s portion of the productivity of the earth. So in the dispensation of the gospel these 144,000 are God’s portion from the hosts of men. And are representative of the whole harvest. Fourth, they are described as those in whose mouths was found no guile, for they are without fault before God. In contrast to the beast whose mouth spoke great things and was full of blasphemies, the mouths of the saints were without guile, for they spoke the truth. And being baptized in Christ, wherein they came under the blood of Christ, they were made faultless. They had put on the righteousness of Christ as Paul declared, But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
And in his righteousness, we are to be presented faultless before the presence of God.
And now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)
The next scene logically follows, for as the first fruits were rendered faultless before God by the truth of God’s word, all the remaining harvest of souls must also hear the one, simple, and only gospel of Christ. Hence, there follows a scene in which the fervent, missionary church proclaims the glorious and everlasting gospel of Christ.
Revelation 14:6-7 And I saw another angel in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
There is a startling similarity between the angelology of the three interludes, or parentheses.
In the first parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seals an angel with a loud voice speaks: And I saw another angel having the seal of God, and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels. (Revelation 7:2)
Again in the second parenthesis, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, we read: And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud. (Revelation 10:1)
In the first, second, and third parenthesis these angels are different from the other angels mentioned in their respective settings. Here in this chapter six other angels are mentioned. Four messages and two commands concerning the harvest are given by these six angels.
The First Angel and His Message. This angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven. He has the everlasting gospel. It is the same gospel that Paul preached and of which the apostle said, But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:18)
So this is an eternal or unchangeable gospel which was to be preached unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people. Christ said, The field is the world. So this angel flying speaks celerity, and since an angel excels in strength, this symbolism portrays a season of vigorous and rapid evangelism of all the world. This angel flies rapidly across the heavens with the Blessed Message, the old Jerusalem gospel-the gospel of Pentecost, Caesarea Philippi and other New Testament places. Here the revived church, full of zeal, with a sublime missionary spirit goes everywhere preaching the word. That definitely identifies the point of time of this vision. After the Little book was given, world-wide evangelism began. That this movement will be world-wide is made clear in that the angel addresses all races. The message is a call to fear God (rather than papal power). And to give God glory and worship Him, because the hour of his judgment is come. This brings us to the message of the second angel.
*The Second Angel and His Message.
Revelation 14:8* And there followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The message of this angel is closely linked with the first angel and his message. In the closing statement of the first angel’s message the hour of God’s judgment was announced, and in this second angel’s message the proclamation is made Babylon is fallen, is fallen. Doubtless Babylon is used here, because the Babylon of antiquity with all its vileness, as well as grandeur, was a type of the great Babylon of the Apocalypse. John could not have referred to the ancient city of Babylon of the Old Testament, for it fell centuries before John wrote. It has never been rebuilt, even to this day. John then refers to some great city or power, unseen while John lived on Patmos, but would be revealed in due process of time. Perhaps a careful consideration of that ancient Babylona type of this future Babylonwill help us in the latter’s identity. First: Before the erection of ancient Babylon all men were of one language and one family. On this site occurred the confusion of tongues and the dividing of the nations. The name Babylon, itself, means, confusion, derived from babel. We still speak of a polyglot of noises as a babel of confusion. Second: This old Babylon lead the old Israel of God into captivity and destroyed their temple in Jerusalem. Third: It was the first great universal empire, as described in Daniel. As this was a type, the New Testament Babylon must correspond. Before the beasts, political and Papal Rome, jointly ruled on the seven-Palatine Hills, the church spoke the same language, taking the Bible, or the Little Book for all authority. They spoke where the Bible spoke and were silent where it was silent. There was unity of belief and practice. But with the coming of the apostate church to power, human decrees, dogmas, papal pronouncements and findings of church councils were substituted for the one Biblical language, and confusion resulted. Satan was back of the rearing of the first tower of Babel, as, likewise, he was the one who spoke through political and papal Rome, as a spiritual tower of Babel was raised.
The new Babylon lead the world into spiritual captivity. In the preceding chapter, Revelation 14:10, we have a parallel prophesy of the fall of this spiritual Babylon: He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.
As the Babylon on the Euphrates was a powerful and universal Empire, so did the spiritual and political Babylon on the Tiber, hold universal sway over, both the bodies and souls of men. The ancient, literal Babylon was the subject of prophesy concerning drunkenness, to be followed by a prediction of her downfall. Babylon hath been made a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: The nations have drunken of her wine; wherefore the nations are mad. (Jeremiah 51:7)
The comes the prophesy of her downfall: Babylon is suddenly fallen, and destroyed. (Jeremiah 51:8)
Just so antitypical, or spiritual Babylon is to come to a sudden end. The literal Babylon of the Old Testament made the nations drunk in a physical way; the spiritual Babylon makes the nations drunk of the wine of spiritual fornication, or unchasteness toward Christ. As a man drunken with spirits, has an addled, or confused brain, mentally, so a man drunk with evil spirits, also has a spiritually addled mind, confused by false doctrine and practice. The announcement is made by anticipation as on the eve of the accomplishment. Just as Joseph said to Pharaoh: And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established, and God will shortly bring to it pass, (Genesis 41:32) so the pronouncement of Babylon’s doom is doubled, Babylon is fallen, is fallen. In another vision of the same event the repetition of the announcement is also given double: (Revelation 18:2): And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great, is fallen, is fallen.
What assurance is given the saints that this unholy institution, hoary with age will surely fall! This truly is the patience (or reward) of the saints. The Third Angel and His Message.
Just as the second angel’s message (that of the destruction of Babylon) was linked with the message of the first angel (that the hour of judgment is come), so the message of this third angel is linked with that of the second one. This third angel declares that those who drink of the wine of the wrath of Babylon’s fornication shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God. We read:
Revelation 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
The first thing to which we would call attention is the associating of Babylon with the beast and the image of the beast, and, the receiving the mark of the beast in the forehead and upon the hand and having the mark of his name. This proves beyond the least shadow of a doubt that Babylon and the beast and its image are one and the same institutions. Therefore, a declaration that Babylon is fallen, is fallen is an assurance to the true Church of Christ that both political and papal Rome, with its imagethe Roman Catholic Church, will fall. And when it comes it will be very sudden. When the fullness of God’s wrath has come, that apostate church will fall with a suddenness that will shock the whole world. The awful punishment which will befall those who worship the beast and his image, and have his mark in the forehead, or in his hand, will be two-fold: First; They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God and it will be without mixturenot diluted, or mixed with mercy, hope or love. The cup of God’s indignation not only will be full, but full of unadulterated divine wrath. Second: They are to be tormented forever and ever. There are many today who laugh at and jeer at the idea of an everlasting hell of punishment for the wicked. Many verbal thrusts are made at the preachers of fire and brimstone. But none other than a great and mighty angel from heaven proclaimed this fact, and with a loud voice. Whose word shall we believe and accept before it is eternally too lateGod’s angel, or man’s wishful thinking and human opinion?
Revelation 14:12-13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God.
This is the reward of the saints, that they shall be spared such a fate. And who are the saints? Those that keep the commandments of God. The devotees of papal pronouncements and denomination mimickings, will find their worship vain. This makes no difference whether a papal power commands other than the scriptural requirements, or whether it be a denominational bishop or preacher who teaches the doctrines of men, namely doctrines without divine authority. Did not Christ say: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men? (Matthew 15:9)
In God’s sight there is no difference between a Roman priest sprinkling a person on the forehead, and a protestant preacher doing the same act. Both are teaching doctrines of men and putting the same into obedient practice.
Again there comes ringing the challenge of Christ: And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46) Revelation 14:13, And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors: and their works do follow them.
When a matter of great and outstanding importance is to be considered we meet with the word write. With the exception of John being forbidden to write what the voices of the seven thunders uttered, we do not run across this word since the time John was told to write the messages to the seven churches. The same is true of the mention of the Spirit speaking. Not since the admonitions of the Spirit to the seven churches, Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, does the Spirit speak until this present verse under consideration and he does not speak again until Revelation 22:17. Here then is the comfort of the saints and the Spirit confirms it.
So John is commanded to write. because a matter of great importance is the subject matter. Since this time roughly corresponds to the period of the Reformation and, subsequent Restoration, the saints would be those who had heard and believed the Little Book, and having obeyed the commands of entrance, and faithful continuance in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, were in the Lord.
There is an infinite difference between those who die in the Lord and those who die in their sins. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Again: The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
But to die out of Christ, with the Little Book printed and published throughout the worldand not to have obeyed its commands, to get into and remain in Christwill be eternally tragic. Of such Jesus said, Ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:21)
Henceforth is a precious word. Having scripturally become a Christian, death offers blessedness. For me to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
Those from henceforth do rest from their labors. The realm of departed spirits is not some sort of purgatory where labors on both sides of the veil must be entered into in order to complete salvation, but the Spirit, after a long silencesince the first chapter, speaks up to say, that they may rest from their labors.
How timely this message after the long Thyatira period of Catholicism! In this period arose, and flowered to fullness, the diabolical dogma that the departed must reside in Purgatory and are only released through much labor and purchasing of many masses to secure rest for them. If such a dogma is true, how would one on this side of the veil know when sufficient masses had been said to complete the transaction? No, the Scripture declares plainly that they are already at rest.
The words, Their works do follow them, promises a reward awaiting the saints there for their works done here. Paul said: For as much as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
The character the true saint acquired, the influence for truth exerted, the results of transformed souls attainedall follow him into the presence of Christ.
The Vision of the Harvest
Proclamation has now gone forth that the hour of judgment has come, that Babylon has fallen, that the damnation of beast-marked worshippers is at hand, that the dead in Christ rest in their labors. We now are given a vision of the reaping of the harvest. First, the righteous are reaped, followed by the reaping of the grapes of wrath.
Revelation 14:14-16 And I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
A work of separation takes place between the sixth and seventh trumpet. (Revelation 11:1-2). Here, in Revelation 14:14-16 the separation of the good and bad again appears prominently.
The Son of man, as seen in this vision, has a golden crown on his head, showing that he comes back as a King.
John said, I saw, and behold a white cloud. The cloud is a signal of the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He ascended, A cloud received him out of their sight; and at the same time two men stood by the apostles and said, This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:10-11)
The cloud took him up and the cloud will bring Him back. Luke said, They shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and with great glory. (Luke 21:27)
Let the Master, himself, clarify this dual harvest. In Matthew 13:24-30, he speaks a parable concerning the sowing of the good seed of the Kingdom and the harvest thereof:
Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. Then he proceeds to show what this Kingdom is to be like, down to the time of the harvest. It was to be a mixture of tares and wheat together. He, seed of the woman, Himself, the Christ sows good seedthe children of the Kingdom; the tares are sowed by the devil and are the children of the wicked one. When his disciples asked for the interpretation, He thus explained the good and bad seed and then proceeds to explain how the wheat and the tares will be separated at the time of the harvest. The description coincides in the finest way and parallels the order of gathering the harvest as portrayed in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Hear him: The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man, (same title as found in Revelation 14:14) shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:39-42).
In (Mark 4:26-29) he said:
And he said, so is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how, for the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle because the harvest is come.
So we see the evil has its harvest as well as the good. The setting of Christ on the cloud was to inaugurate the harvest and to this end, this gold-crowned King holds in his hand a sharp sickle.
Seeing Him with this harvest-sickle in his hand caused another angel to cry with a loud voice: Thrust in thy sickle, and reap for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. This is another angel, other than to those mentioned in Revelation 14:6; Revelation 14:8-9. Even the angel seems to cry out for speedy vengeance.
And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. What awesome words! What an experience in the wind up human affairs, and with what brevity! Nothing but inspiration could have confined itself to such narrow limits of recording an event, a mere human being would have required volumes to relate. But this is only one phase of the reaping. After the grain harvest comes the grape harvest. So we read: Revelation 14:17, And another angel (this is the fifth thus far mentioned) came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also had a sharp sickle.
Whereas the angel in Revelation 14:15, (the fourth angel mentioned in this chapter) came from the templenot the temple which is in heaven, but evidently the spiritual temple as made up of those who keep his commandments, this angel in the 17th verse came out of the temple which is in heaven. This angel comes from the holy place not made with hands. It is in this heavenly temple that Christ is now appearing in the presence of God for us as our great High Priest. And it is from that temple He is to come when He returns the second time.
Revelation 14:17 Again we come to a parallel. Just as when Christ was seen coming on a cloud with a sickle in His hand (Revelation 14:14), and the fourth angel in (Revelation 14:15) cried with a loud voice, Thrust in thy sickle, so here, as the fifth angel in Revelation 14:17, came out of the temple which is in heaven, having a sharp sickle in his hand, another angel, the sixth introduced in this chapter, came out from the altar and also cried with a loud voice saying, Thrust in thy sickle. Shall we read the account:
Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in they sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
This last angel, one who has power over fire, comes forth from the altar where the fire was kept burning, or the altar of burnt offering. Fire is an emblem of judgment and punishment.
John, the Immerser, referred to this scene when he said, I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11). The fire here refers to the final judgment, and John continues to so apply it: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
This angel of the altar-fires is so outraged by the awful vintage of the wickedness of the earth that he cries with a loud voice for the angel to thrust in his sickle.
Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Here we observe that the vine of the earth is set over against the vine of heaven. The true vine is Christ and Christians are the branches, as Christ himself declared: I am the true vine, (John 15:1) Ye are the branches. (John 15:5)
The grapes of the vine of the earth are the fully matured children of the wicked one, They are fully ripe. Into this mass of vines of the earth the sickle was thrust. The vine of the earth is cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God. The judgment is final and complete.
Revelation 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horses bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The winepress is said to be trodden without the city. First, this would mean that it was without the church, for in the apocalypse, the city, unless a wicked city is under consideration, refers to that institution. And, second, it would mean the Holy City of the future. There will be nothing unclean or defiling in that city. Speaking of that future city, John said, For without are dogs etc. (Revelation 22:15)
And who will do this treading of the wine press without the city? None other than an outraged Christ himself. In a definite prophesy of the Christ, Isaiah said:
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me; for I will tread them in my anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:3-4).
And what a horrible flow of blood follows! From the trodden vintage there flows a stream of such magnitude that it rose to the horses bridles to the distance of 1600 stadia, or furlongs. What an appalling result! Since this is a symbol in a book which is, of all the books of the Bible, preeminently symbolic, this doubtless symbolizes the terrible final destruction of the hosts of wickedness. A symbol of a river of human blood, one hundred and sixty miles in length, to the depths of the horses mouths, tells the tragic story.
The very mention of horses bridles here causes our minds to leap forward to the nineteenth chapter where Christ is pictured mounted upon a white horse, followed by the armies of heaven, also mounted on horses. (Revelation 19:11-16)
The whole seems to be symbolic of the awful carnage in the punishment of the wicked in that day. The figures 40 times 40 equals 1600, or 4 times 4 multiplied by 10 times 10 is a symbol of the completeness of the final judgment. Four seems to be the apocalyptic symbol of the earth as there are said to be four corners, four winds, or four directions and four quarters of the earth. The earth 4 times 4 times 100 implies the completeness of the Divine Judgment.
Revelation 14:6-7
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 41
Text Revelation 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:6-7
What was the message of the flying angel - Revelation 14:6?
What significance does this vs. have for the missionary enterprise?
What does the word fear mean in Revelation 14:7?
What characteristics of God are discussed in Revelation 14:7?
Three Angelic Proclamations, and a Voice from Heaven
Chapter Revelation 14:6-13
The preview of hope is now made available to mankind. John saw another angel flying in mid-heaven (see Revelation 8:13) having an eternal Gospel to preach over (epi - over, the extent of) the ones sitting on the earth. Every one could now have an opportunity to hear the glorious gospel of Christ. There will be no national, color, social, or intellectual lines drawn as this angel proclaims the good tidings of forgiveness through Christ.
Now the call is issued on behalf of the sovereign ruler of the universe for man to fear (phobçthçte - 1st. aor. middle voice - imp. plural - the middle voice means that they are to make themselves fear God) God and give him glory; because the hour of his judgment came (elthen - 2nd aor. ind. God’s judgment came in a sudden, single act!) The great voice requires three things of all who would escape God’s judgment - (1) Fear God; (2) Give him glory; (3) Worship the creator of the universe.
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 14:14-20.
Revelation 14:8
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 42
Text Revelation 14:8
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:8
What was the message of this second angel - Revelation 14:8?
Compare his message with that of the flying angel in Revelation 14:6.
Immediately following the first angel, a second angel followed saying fallen - (epesen - 2nd aor. ind. literally fell because of the immediate and singular act of collapse.) fallen is Babylon the great. The great rebellious, powerful, anti-Roman Christian empire is finished as sovereign over the minds and bodies of men. Right in the midst of her apparent victory over Christ’s Church, John is led to announce that from the vantage point of the throne room of heaven - Babylon’s fall was final, sudden and complete in God’s plan of the victory of righteousness over unrighteousness. Mighty Rome might dominate the earth for a little while, but God’s judgment will come; and she will not be able to stand against the wrath of the Lamb. Oh! What a message of hope to those 1st century Christians who were withstanding daily persecution for the glory of their Lord. We must never forget that there are people in our own day who pay dearly for their public acknowledgement of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 14:14-20.
Revelation 14:9-12
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 43
Text Revelation 14:9-12
9 And another angel, a third followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, 10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:9-12
What was the message of the third angel - Revelation 14:9?
Does Revelation 14:10 show that there are some who will not be redeemed, and that the Bible does teach that there is a hell?
Does the punishment mentioned in Revelation 14:10 imply merely a purgatorial cleansing or probation?
How long are those individuals outside of Christ punished according to Revelation 14:11?
Does Revelation 14:11 assert that those being punished are conscious of their punishment?
What does John mean in Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints.
The third messenger of the Lord comes on the stage of the universe to warn the one who worships the beast and the image of it. The angel of God warns the idolators - just as the second beast threatened all who would not worship the image of the beast as related in chp. Revelation 13:15.
Those who had the identifying marks as followers of the dragon and his henchmen would receive the condemnation of the creator of heaven and earth.
The person who worships the beast shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God having been mixed undiluted (akratou - no water will be mixed with the wine of God’s wrath. It will be full strength!); and will be tormented by fire and sulphur before holy angels, and before the Lamb. John is declaring that as a matter of fact, the wrath of God will actually bring torment upon all who do not know Jesus Christ as savior.
The tormented idolators are described in this verse. Their torment is unto ages of ages; and they have not rest day and night.. John claims that their punishment is permanent; and that the tormented ones are conscious of their suffering. (See Special Study after this chp. on - Yes, There Is a Hell!)
John is asserting the same basic challenge here as in Revelation 13:10 (see that verse).
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 14:14-20.
Revelation 14:13
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 44
Text Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:13
Why are the dead in Christ called blessed in Revelation 14:13?
Does this vs. show a personality trait of the Holy Spirit? If so, what?
Are Christian works important (or necessary) for our salvation? (Study Romans, Galatians and James on Faith and works.)
John’s serious contemplation is broken by the command write (grapson - 1st. aor. imp. active). He was commanded by the heavenly voice to write - Blessed are the dead the ones dying in the Lord from now (ap arti is a difficult phrase - but it can hardly mean that the ones who die in the Lord from now on which would imply that those who died before were not blessed. This cannot be the meaning.) The Spirit says - in order that (hina - purpose clause) they shall rest from (ek - out of or away from) their weariness (or sorrow). The Greek word koptô means to strike or beat the beast in grief. When it is used in the sense of labor it always entails drudgery, and weariness of the soul (or sorrow). The Spirit promised rest from weariness for their works (erga - physical labor) follows with them. God promises to bless those who die in Christ with victory; give meaning to their suffering, and assures them that their work for Christ’s kingdom is not in vain.
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 14:14-20.
Revelation 14:14-20
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 45
Text Revelation 14:14-20
14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the alter, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Initial Questions Revelation 14:14-20
What is the imagery of Rev 14:14?
Will any escape the heavenly harvest according to Revelation 14:15?
Who is the one that sat on the cloud - Revelation 14:16?
What national song finds some of its imagery in Revelation 14:17-20?
How far is a thousand six hundred furlongs - Revelation 14:20?
Vision of the Harvest and Vintage of the Earth
Chapter Revelation 14:14-20
The remaining section of this chapter is concerned primarily with the judgment of God. John saw a white cloud and one like a son of man was sitting majestically with a crown of sovereign authority on his head, and a sharp sickle for reaping in his hand. The symbols are vitally related. The kingly crown authorizes him to cast the sickle of judgment upon the whole earth.
Though the phrase son of man is without question a messianic title, we must note the Greek word homoian which means like, which makes the phrase a simile - one sitting like a (no article here) son of man. The Jehovah’s Witnesses completely distort this phrase into the claim that Jesus is nothing but a created angel. This claim is repudiated by the entire scope of the biblical doctrine of Christ.
That the one sitting on a white cloud was an angel is implied by the term (allos) another angel. This new angelic character was continually crying out (krazôn - present participle) to the one sitting on the cloud, send (pempson - 1st aor. act. imp. mood - thrust or cast - immediately in a single act. There is to be no extended process of judgment; it will be swift, severe, certain). Why did the angel cry with such diligence in order to bring judgment upon the earth? The answer is forth coming - because the hour came to reap; because (hoti - is causal same as above) the harvest of the earth was dried (exeranthç - 1st aor. passive voice - ind. mood; the word means over ripe - thus dried up, and the aor. passive means that some one (God) prepared the earth in a single, momentary act for judgment).
The one like a son of man responded to the dry and thrust (ebalen - 2nd aor. ind. active voice - cast with a single throw) his sickle over the extent (epi - on, or extent of the earth); and the earth was reaped (etheristhç - 1st aor. passive voice - ind. case). The harvest of the world is now gathered. The harvest of the souls of men shall either be gathered through evangelism to Christ, or through judgment to condemnation. The harvest of men is eloquently depicted by Christ in John 4:35… Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. Now, we have the two possible harvests, the harvest of judgment, or the harvest of evangelism-’. Which shall it be?
Still another angel went forth out of the sanctuary in heaven. The physical temple at Jerusalem had long been destroyed (in the destruction of Jerusalem 70 A.D.). This angel also had a sharp sickle for reaping. This is the same place (the sanctuary) from which the prayers of the saints went forth (study chps. 6 & 8.) The imagery of judgment continues also in this verse. Another angel,. the one having authority over the fire cried out to the one having the sharp sickle. He was commanded to gather the clusters of over ripe grapes.
The clusters of over ripe grapes were gathered and cast (ebalen - 2nd aor. ind. - active voice - same form and meaning as in Revelation 14:16) into the winepress of God’s great anger. The imagery of the wine press is a very dramatic way of showing that none shall escape the wrath of God. Some men deny that God’s wrath (orge) will condemn those who are out of Christ. We are now witnessing a resurgence of universalism in the so-called Christian world, but this section of scripture, along with many others, repudiate the claims of universalism. (See the Special Study on The Gospel, Guilt, and Resurgent Universalism.)
The judgment which was inflicted upon the earth was so terrible that blood (haima - blood - note the change in imagery from the fruit of the grapes to blood) went out of the winepress as far as the bridles of the horses, from 1500 hundred furlong. A furlong (stadiôn) is a little over 606 feet, therefore, the blood was running over four feet deep over the total geographical extent of Palestine. In fact, 1600 hundred furlong (approximately 200 miles) would have run over the boundries of the Palestine of the N.T. period.
The two preceding images of judgment have been extracted from Joe 3:13 and Isaiah 63:1-6. The imagery of Palestine is here used for the whole earth, just as earthly Jerusalem is taken as the whole earth in Revelation 11:8.
Much of the imagery of one of our national songs - The Battle Hymn of the Republic is taken from the Joel, Isaiah, and Revelation 14:14-20.
This chapter was inserted between two great series of God’s judgment to insure the suffering Christians of ultimate victory over sin, hell, and the grave, even if physical death was inflicted upon them as the results of persecution. Note how chapter 7 was also an insertion between the events of opening of the 6th and 7th seals.
Discussion Questions
Chapter 14
Compare the teaching of chp. 13 with chp. 14 - regarding the persons involved, the marks, the significance of the marks.
Compare and discuss chps. 7 and 14 with respect to the 144,000 saints.
Discuss some spiritual requirements of worshipful singing in view of Rev 14:3.
Discuss the Roman Catholic claim that a celibate life is a higher form of spiritual life than a married one in light of Rev 14:4.
What three things were required of mankind according to Revelation 14:7?
What was the message of the third angel - Revelation 14:9?
What implications are there in John’s use of the imagery of undiluted wine for God’s wrath in Revelation 14:10?
Are the tormented ones conscious of their punishment according to Revelation 14:11?
What assurance does God give the persecuted Christians in Revelation 14:13?
Discuss God’s judgment according to Revelation 14:15
Compare the harvest imagery of Rev 14:16 with Jesus-’ use of the imagery in John 4:35.
What does Revelation 14:19 have to tell us regarding universalism (i.e., that everyone will ultimately be saved?)
Read Joe 3:13 and Isaiah 63:1-6 and discuss the judgment imagery of this section of scripture.
Special Study
Yes, There Is a Hell!
Many people in the contemporary religious world deny the existence of hell. The denial stems from many supposed reasons. Some contend that the doctrine of hell is barbaric superstition; others hold that the doctrine is in diametric opposition to the love of God. Still others hold that the Bible does not teach the doctrine of hell. Naturalistic Jews, religious liberals, most contemporary theologians and many cultic groups, i.e., Jehovah’s Witnesses all share the common attribute of denying the ultimate reality of hell or a future irrevocable punishment of all who are out of Christ.
From a logical perspective it is impossible to affirm and deny the existence of hell at the same time. Either hell exists or it does not! It is either a biblical doctrine or it is not! Those who are enamoured with the discipline of comparative religion take refuge in the so-called assured results of this field of research. It would not be difficult to show that many claim that the Jewish background of the doctrine of eternal punishment was found in the Persian concepts of Zoroasterianism. Since the biblical doctrine and the teaching found in this non-Christian, eastern religion are radically dissimilar we must demand that the unique elements be accounted for by other than the comparative method. During the New Testament period, both the Rabbinic schools of Hillel and Shammai held the teaching of the existence of hell or eternal punishment. Our Lord clearly taught this doctrine in His preaching ministry. The doctrine is also present in the early Patristic literature. It is not surprising in view of the opinion of the Fathers concerning the doctrine of hellthat we would find the same thing asserted in the great creeds, and that is exactly what we find. This is all well and good, but we find many things, both in the Fathers and the Creeds which are not only not found in the Bible, but which contradict teaching of the Word of God. If this be true, then we cannot be satisfied merely to know that the doctrine of hell is solidly intrenched in historical theology, but we must examine the source of the fountain of lifethe scriptures themselves. The scriptures stand in complete opposition to the universalism of the Alexandrian theologiansClement and Origen. Their claims sound strangely contemporary. They asserted that God’s judgmental punishment was merely remedial, and not for final and irrevocable condemnation. The Medieval Roman Catholic Church maintained that the doctrine of hell was biblically grounded. The great Reformation denominations also adopted the scriptural teaching about hell. From the 17th century down to the present situation there have been those who have maintained various doctrines of Universalism (everybody is going to be saved). Restorationism (ultimately this is universalism too). Everyone is going to be restored to God because of Christ’s atonement, regardless of their personal attitude toward Him. Annihilationism (maintained today by the contemporary arians, The Jehovah’s Witnesses. When one dies that is the end of everything! Only the redeemed of God will be resurrected to life. There will be no unbeliever, dammed, or otherwise, because the bodies of the unfaithful will merely return to the chemistry of the earththat is their punishment according to this view.
If Jesus is not God incarnate, then He cannot be our saviour. If Jesus is God, then He could not possibly be wrong about what He taught! Jesus taught the doctrine of hell, therefore He could not have been mistaken about the nature and existence of hell, and at the same time been God in human flesh. Though it by no means exhausts the biblical teaching about hell, we shall limit these brief pages to the teaching of our Lord. The following verses by no means exhausts what Christ declared about judgment; but these will be sufficient for any reader to determine for himself whether or not Christ believed and taught the doctrine of hell.
(1)
20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in the day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons and by thy name do many mighty works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Though this does not specifically assert anything about the nature and existence of hell, it does reveal the severity of God’s judgment.
(2)
28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Gehenna) This passage makes clear that man is a composite of soul and body; and that there is a hell over which God is sovereign.
(3)
And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? Thou shalt go down unto Hades (Greek word is hades - this word is never translated) for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.
Jesus warns this evil and unrepentant city that Judgment will come, then it will be too late.
(4)
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. (See also Matthew 13:47-50).
Why would Jesus use this horrible imagery, if there is no hell?
(5)
Then shall he answer them, saying, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least ye did it not unto me. And these shall do away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. Few people would deny that Christ promised everlasting life to those who follow Him. In general, they do not deny that He offers eternal life to believers. (Note that in this verse the eternal (aiônion) life which Christ promises). What if it is true that the punishment promised to those who reject Christ is just the same span of time as is the eternal life of the righteous? (I am not here implying that eternity is nothing more than endless time. See an excellent, brief discussion of the contemporary theological debate concerning the nature of time and the relationship of Hebrew and Greek thought forms in Dr. James Barr’s Biblical Words for Time, Alec. R. Allenson, Inc., Naperville, Illinois, 1962. He is of Princeton Theological Seminary).
(6)
43 And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. 45 And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell. 47 And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; 48 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Even though this is figurative language, it by no means follows that it is not true. Much poetry (even the Hebrew Poetry, The Psalms) is garbed in figurative language, but nevertheless expresses truthjust as a true indicative declaration expresses truth.
(7)
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hades (this is the transcription of the Greek wordit is not a translation) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us. This teaching of Christ is clear. It will not do to claim that this is a parable and therefore figurative, because it would be no problem to show that as a matter of factfigurative language does convey truth, both in and out of the scripture. A semantical analysis of the nature and function of our ordinary language will prove this. The form of this teaching is figurative, but its content is clearly believed to be factual by our Lord.
(8)
Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. Here, Christ asserts that both the righteous and the unrighteous shall be resurrectedthe one for eternal life, and the other for eternal condemnation. This information merely co-oberates John’s assertion in The Revelation.
Does this evidence from the teachings of Jesus sound as though he believed that hell (future punishment of unforgiven sin) is to remedial, restorative, and thus temporal? Yes, there is a biblical doctrine of Hell!
Note: Dr. Edward A. McDowell’s The Meaning and Message of The Book of Revelation, Broadman-’ s Press, Nashville, contains some excellent materials on chp. 14, p. 147. He analyizes the chp. into Seven Assurances and Warnings:
Redeemed of Earth are in close communion with God and the Savior, chp. Revelation 14:1-5
The Gospel is Universal, chp. Revelation 14:6-7
Evil cannot prevail, Revelation 15:8
The Wicked will be punished, Revelation 14:9-12
The Reward of the redeemed is sure, Revelation 14:13
Christ is the sole Lord of the harvest, Revelation 14:14-16
The Wrath of God will come upon all who refuse Christ’s saving work, Revelation 14:17-20