Revelation 14:6-13

John recorded things which shall occur hereafter (future to the church age) beginning with Revelation 4. John saw the breaking of the seven seals and the judgments which followed. When the seventh seal was broken (chapter 8), John witnessed seven angels with trumpets prepared to unleash additional judgments. Following the sounding of the sixth trumpet, John was told that the mystery of God which He declared through His prophets would be finished when the seventh angel began to sound his trumpet (Rev. 10:7). The seventh angel began to sound in verse 15 of chapter 11. All that follows in Revelation 12, 13 and 14 is directly linked to the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the mystery which the Lord has spoken through His prophets.

Daniel prophesied of a prince who would come and cause oblation to cease in the middle of the seven-year span which would precede the anointing of the Most High (Dan. 9:24, 27). Revelation 14 is a partial picture of things that shall transpire after this prince causes oblation to cease.

“I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven . . .” (Rev. 14:6). The angel carries an important message for all who dwell upon the earth, an inclusive message directed at every nation, every kindred, every tongue, and every people. The message is a call to act: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (v. 7). The everlasting eternity of every human on earth at this time is dependent upon obedience to this command (the church is not present [see I Thess. 4:16-17]). God reaches out extending His grace to all who shall believe. Evidence of belief is found in them who fear Him and give glory to Him. It is not too late to trust God but one must trust in Him.

This angel was followed by a second angel, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” (v. 8). If one is to give glory to God, one must do so at this time. The Babylon which is fallen is not a reference to the Babylon of Daniel 5 which fell to the Medes and Persians in a single night. This city is the unchallenged seat of world power. This great city has caused “all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Wine is produced by crushing grapes. The wrath is God’s wrath. God’s wrath is directed at spiritual fornication. Spiritual fornication is characterized by acts of unbelief. The wine which Babylon made all nations drink was produced from grapes of unbelief and blasphemy.

While all nations shall drink this wine, not every individual on Planet Earth shall drink of it. In verse 9, God sent a third angel with the message that His wrath is reserved for them who worship “the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” These shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. This beast is the beast who John saw rise up out of the sea (see Rev. 13:1). This beast will speak blasphemy against God and will make war against the saints for forty-two months (13:5) and overcome them (13:7). Those who refuse to worship the image of the beast shall be killed (13:15) but will be blessed (see 14:13).

Those who drink of the wine (receive the mark of the beast) shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. They shall look upon the holy messengers whom they would not believe and look upon the sacrifice of God that they refused to receive. Those who receive the mark of the beast shall suffer both physical and mental torment for all eternity (v. 11).

In verse 13, John heard a message from God: “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.” All who die in the Lord are martyrs. They died because they believed God and did as He had commanded. In verse 12, we see these martyrs through the eyes of God. They are the patience of the saints. A saint is one sanctified by God. One cannot sanctify himself. God counts belief for righteousness. God does not change. God counted Abraham’s belief for righteousness in Genesis and God counts belief for righteousness in Revelation.

Verse 13 is a beatitude — words of blessing from God. It is a blessing that is extended to all who read, and hear the words of Revelation and do that which is written (see Rev. 1:3). May all men read, hear, do, and be blessed.