Four Climactic Four Climactic AnnouncementsAnnouncements

andandthe Harvest and the Vintage the Harvest and the Vintage

Revelation 14:6-20Revelation 14:6-20

The Structure of Daniel’s 70The Structure of Daniel’s 70thth WeekWeek

(aka The Day of the Lord)(aka The Day of the Lord)

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of

Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of Christ

You arehere.

Outline of RevelationOutline of Revelation Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future

Expectation (4:1 – 22:5)Expectation (4:1 – 22:5) Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll

(4:1 – 8:1)(4:1 – 8:1) The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets

(8:2 – 11:19)(8:2 – 11:19) Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls

(12:1 – 18:24)(12:1 – 18:24) Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)

The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12:1-17)The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12:1-17) The beast out of the sea and the beast out of the The beast out of the sea and the beast out of the

earth (13:1-18)earth (13:1-18) The Victorious Followers of the Lamb (14:1-5)The Victorious Followers of the Lamb (14:1-5) Four Climactic Announcements and the Harvest and Four Climactic Announcements and the Harvest and

the Vintage (14:6-20)the Vintage (14:6-20)

Overview of Revelation 14Overview of Revelation 14

The whole of chapter 14 is proleptic, i.e., the The whole of chapter 14 is proleptic, i.e., the scenes are described from the vantage point of a scenes are described from the vantage point of a future point in time.future point in time. The first 5 verses feature the Lamb and His follower’s The first 5 verses feature the Lamb and His follower’s

victory over the beast.victory over the beast. The rest of the chapter furnishes an outline of both the The rest of the chapter furnishes an outline of both the

catastrophes and the bliss that will be treated catastrophes and the bliss that will be treated chronologically and in more detail in 16:17-22:5.chronologically and in more detail in 16:17-22:5.

Thus chapter 14 provides an important word of Thus chapter 14 provides an important word of encouragement for the faithful by describing the encouragement for the faithful by describing the ultimate triumph for those who refuse the mark of the ultimate triumph for those who refuse the mark of the beast and the doom of those who do receive it.beast and the doom of those who do receive it.

The latter part of the chapter consists of a series of 4 The latter part of the chapter consists of a series of 4 announcements that provide incentives to give glory to announcements that provide incentives to give glory to God by remaining faithful to the Lamb and resisting the God by remaining faithful to the Lamb and resisting the demands of the beast.demands of the beast.

The Everlasting Gospel The Everlasting Gospel (14:6-7)(14:6-7)

The angel who makes this announcement is The angel who makes this announcement is the first of six to participate in the the first of six to participate in the announcements and events of this chapter.announcements and events of this chapter.

His location in midheaven enables him to be His location in midheaven enables him to be seen and heard by all on the earth.seen and heard by all on the earth.

His exhortation is to give glory to God and His exhortation is to give glory to God and worship Him as the Creator of the universe.worship Him as the Creator of the universe.

The true God must be recognized for who He is, The true God must be recognized for who He is, and the dragon and false Christ must not be and the dragon and false Christ must not be worshipped!worshipped!

The basis of the command is God’s impending The basis of the command is God’s impending judgment.judgment.

This is the last chance for those on the earth This is the last chance for those on the earth to declare their allegiance to the one, true to declare their allegiance to the one, true God.God.

The Fall of Babylon (14:8)The Fall of Babylon (14:8)

The second announcement proclaims the fall of The second announcement proclaims the fall of Babylon, the consequence of those who reject Babylon, the consequence of those who reject the command in the first announcement.the command in the first announcement. This announcement anticipates a further description of This announcement anticipates a further description of

Babylon’s fall in 16:17-18:24.Babylon’s fall in 16:17-18:24. Babylon here should be understood as the literal Babylon here should be understood as the literal

city on the Euphrates River, but also city on the Euphrates River, but also representing a worldwide political and religious representing a worldwide political and religious system connected with that city.system connected with that city. This city and its associated system have exercised their This city and its associated system have exercised their

power over the earth’s inhabitants and caused them to power over the earth’s inhabitants and caused them to choose a path of rebellion against God.choose a path of rebellion against God.

Babylon’s fornication here refers to all types of Babylon’s fornication here refers to all types of unfaithfulness to God.unfaithfulness to God.

Accepting Babylon’s wine of fornication also Accepting Babylon’s wine of fornication also requires that one drink the undiluted wine of requires that one drink the undiluted wine of God’s wrath (v. 10). God’s wrath (v. 10).

The Torment of the Beast The Torment of the Beast Worshipers (14:9-12)Worshipers (14:9-12)

The warning of the third announcement is this: the The warning of the third announcement is this: the suffering you suffering you avoidavoid if you worship the beast is much if you worship the beast is much less severe than the eternal punishment you will less severe than the eternal punishment you will endureendure if you do worship him. if you do worship him.

Notice the progression of the first 3 Notice the progression of the first 3 announcements:announcements: The command to worship God as CreatorThe command to worship God as Creator The fall of Babylon to motivate such worshipThe fall of Babylon to motivate such worship The eternal punishment for those who reject the truthThe eternal punishment for those who reject the truth

God’s eschatological judgment will be without God’s eschatological judgment will be without mercy!mercy! Just as Abraham saw smoke from Sodom and Gomorrah as Just as Abraham saw smoke from Sodom and Gomorrah as

a sign of God’s punishment of those cities (Gen 19:24-28), a sign of God’s punishment of those cities (Gen 19:24-28), smoke will also serve as a token of God’s future, eternal smoke will also serve as a token of God’s future, eternal punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire.punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire.

John adds a word of admonition to steadfastness, John adds a word of admonition to steadfastness, serving as a warning to the one who may be serving as a warning to the one who may be thinking of defecting to beast-worship and an thinking of defecting to beast-worship and an encouragement to the faithful to endure. encouragement to the faithful to endure.

The Blessedness of Those The Blessedness of Those Dying in the Lord (14:13)Dying in the Lord (14:13)

The fourth announcement comes by a The fourth announcement comes by a voice from heaven and deals with the voice from heaven and deals with the blessing that belongs to those who are blessing that belongs to those who are faithful unto death.faithful unto death. In this context, the promise is not a general In this context, the promise is not a general

one to all martyrs of all time, but to those one to all martyrs of all time, but to those who die at the hands of the beast.who die at the hands of the beast.

In contrast to those who will suffer In contrast to those who will suffer eternal torment, these will receive rest eternal torment, these will receive rest from their labors and reward for their from their labors and reward for their deeds. deeds.

The Harvest and the Vintage The Harvest and the Vintage (14:14-20)(14:14-20)

One more scene remains in this section furnishing One more scene remains in this section furnishing background to the seven bowls.background to the seven bowls.

The scene is in two parts, picturing the coming The scene is in two parts, picturing the coming judgment as a:judgment as a: HarvestHarvest

Harvesting is an OT figure for judgment (Joel 3:13; cf. Harvesting is an OT figure for judgment (Joel 3:13; cf. Matt 13:30, 39), especially judgment for Babylon (Jer Matt 13:30, 39), especially judgment for Babylon (Jer 51:33). 51:33).

Christ (“one like a son of man”) is the one who Christ (“one like a son of man”) is the one who performs this harvest. The crown upon His head is an performs this harvest. The crown upon His head is an emblem of His imminent conquest over His enemies. emblem of His imminent conquest over His enemies.

VintageVintage Another angel takes another sharp sickle and Another angel takes another sharp sickle and

separates the grapes from their vines, “because her separates the grapes from their vines, “because her grapes are ripe,” i.e. the time is right for judgment.grapes are ripe,” i.e. the time is right for judgment.

This judgment takes place chronologically in 19:11-This judgment takes place chronologically in 19:11-21.21.

The Harvest and the Vintage The Harvest and the Vintage (14:14-20)(14:14-20)

This vineyard has This vineyard has produced the wrong kind produced the wrong kind of fruit and must now be of fruit and must now be trodden in the “the great trodden in the “the great winepress of the wrath of winepress of the wrath of God” which is outside the God” which is outside the city (i.e. Jerusalem).city (i.e. Jerusalem).

The result of this treading The result of this treading out was blood flowing out was blood flowing from the winepress “up from the winepress “up to the bridles of the to the bridles of the horses from [a distance horses from [a distance of] a thousand six of] a thousand six hundred stadia” (about hundred stadia” (about 180 miles), which is 180 miles), which is approximately the length approximately the length of Palestine.of Palestine.

Such a depth and Such a depth and coverage of blood coverage of blood suggest a massive suggest a massive slaughter and loss of slaughter and loss of human life. human life.

Next Week:Next Week:Rejoicing OverRejoicing Over

andandPreparation forPreparation for

the Seven Last Plagues the Seven Last Plagues (Rev 15:1-8)(Rev 15:1-8)

Read Rev 12 - 15Read Rev 12 - 15