More Servants and Angels

Revelation fourteen begins with telling us about a special group of Christians.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

This is a different group of 144,000 than the one described in chapter seven. First, since they follow the lamb wherever He goes, this shows that this scene is in heaven, not on earth. Also, these are Christians since they have the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name on their foreheads. The group from chapter seven were from the tribes of Israel. Since they are undefiled by women would make this a group of men. That they are virgins doesn’t mean that they aren’t married, the bible does not endorse celibacy, marriage is a sacred institution. Hebrews 13:4 says;

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

 These men are ones that have not been with a woman outside of marriage and have not broken their wedding contract. In an interesting note on these verses, this is the 144,000 that the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be. But when they quote this scripture, they leave out the part about being an all male group and being virgins. A lot of false religions will use part of scripture and leave out parts that don’t fit into their beliefs. You can’t pick and choose what to believe about the bible, either it’s all true or it’s worthless.

John then describes three angels bringing messages to the earth.

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev 14:6-7)

In an extraordinary move, God will actually send angels to earth to proclaim the gospel and warn people of the consequences of not following his word. This shows how much He loves us and how far He is willing to go to get us to accept him. He is working now in people’s lives to get them to accept His word and believe in Him. God does not want anybody to perish, but have everlasting life. But God gives us the free will to choose and unfortunately most will choose wrong. The next two angels give warning to all who would choose wrong.

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Rev. 14:8-11)
The second angel proclaims doom against Babylon, which will be the capitol of antichrist’s world government. The third angel warns people against choosing the mark of the beast. At this time, Satan as the antichrist will be persecuting all who don’t worship him and accept his mark. All who don’t accept his mark will not be able to buy or sell and if they are caught, they will be beheaded. Next is a promise for all those who endure this persecution.
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev. 14:12-13)
Here, God reassures his followers that their persecution for their faith will not be in vain. Their reward will be much greater than anything that Satan will do to them here on earth. God’s promises of eternal life are worth far more than anything, good or bad, that can happen to us here on earth. All we need to do to receive His promises, is to accept His forgiveness for our sins that Jesus paid the price for on the cross, and to follow His word. If you haven’t, I urge you to go to God today.