End-Time Insights

Angels announce the judicial sentence on Babylon and the inhabitants of the earth, but "rest" awaits the followers of the Lamb .  Next, “ another angel ” announces the “ fall of Babylon ,” and he is followed by “ a third angel ” who pronounces the judicial sentence on the men who gave their allegiance to the “ Beast ,” namely, torment by “ fire and brimstone .” God is about to vindicate His “ martyrs .”

Whether one follows the Lamb or the Beast, he will reap everlasting consequences as a result in the coming final harvest  - Revelation 14:6-7.  The preceding sections presented two very different groups - the “ inhabitants of the earth ” that render homage to the “ Beast ,” and the  priests of God , the “ first fruits ” of the earth purchased by the blood of the “ Lamb .” Now, an angelic herald issues the final summons to humanity to repent and pay homage to God while time remains and before the “ final hour ” begins.

The 144,000 males on Mount Zion comprise the first fruit of the final harvest, the priestly company that follows the Lamb  – Revelation 14:1-5.  Previously, John saw the 144,000 “ males ” from the tribes of Israel encamped in the wilderness. Now, they appear together on “ Mount Zion ” as a priestly company, the “ first fruits ” of the greater harvest to come. They stand with the “ Lamb ” in contrast to the “ inhabitants of the earth ” who bow and give total allegiance to the “ Beast from the Sea .”

The  Book of Revelation  uses “ war ” and related terms to illustrate Satan’s attacks against the followers of the “ Lamb .” The Book shows little to no interest in conventional or nuclear warfare between nation-states. Instead, the “ Dragon ” strives mightily to annihilate the saints before his allotted time expires. To do so, he employs deception, compromise, and on occasion, outright persecution. The target of his hostility is the Church of Jesus Christ.

All men who refuse to follow the Lamb will render homage to the Beast and take its mark  – Revelation 13:16-18.  The “ False Prophet ” uses the power of the first “ Beast ” against anyone who refuses to give full allegiance to it. Its “ mark ” is an economic tool. Commerce is the lifeblood of the  World Empire , and leveling sanctions against nations and peoples is its enforcement mechanism. Economic restrictions mean deprivation and suffering for their victims.

The “ great voice in heaven ” pronounced “ woe ” on the “ Inhabitants of the Earth and the Sea because the Devil has descended to you, having great wrath .” The “ Dragon ” then began his war against the “ Seed of the Woman ” by summoning his own “seed,” the “ Beast from the Sea ” and the “ Beast from the Earth .”

The “ Dragon ” tasked his “ Beast from the Sea ” with the destruction of the “ saints ,” and the “ Beast ” received authority over all the nations to do so. In  Revelation , humanity is divided into two groups: The “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” who “ gave allegiance to the Beast ,” and those who “ Tabernacle in the Heavens ,” namely, the “ saints .” The forces of Satan wage war on the followers of Jesus, not on nation-states or Israel in the Middle East.

The “ Dragon ” was poised to attack the “ Seed of the Woman ” as he stood on the seashore summoning his “ seed ,” the “ Beast from the Sea ” and the “ Beast from the Earth .” Having failed to destroy the Messianic “ Son ” and the “ Woman ,” he set out to annihilate her “ Seed ,” the men who had the “ Testimony of Jesus .”

In Chapter 12, John saw a new “ sign ” in the heavens, the Woman “ clothed with the sun, and the moon beneath her feet .” She was wearing a “ crown of twelve stars .” She was pregnant and about to give birth to one identified as “ son .” He appeared in fulfillment of the Messianic promise in the  Second Psalm , the King and Son of God who was destined to “ Shepherd the Nations .”