In the previous chapter, Revelation 13 described the ‘Beast’ aspect of the Nations ruling Israel in the past and future –
“The Beast was permitted to wage war against the Holy People (Israel) and to conquer them”. Rev. 13:7
It also showed how Israel rises out of the land in the End Times as ANOTHER Beast of the Earth – part of the ‘Kingdoms of Men’ with the ‘Mark of the Beast’ – still without the ‘Mark of the Lamb’.
But in contrast, Revelation 14 describes those who belong to the ‘Kingdom of God’ who have ‘The Mark of the Lamb’ –
V 1 – Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had His name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads…
V4 – They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Until Israel ‘look on the one they pierced’ and repent, they are without the ‘Mark of the Lamb’ – just another ‘Kingdom of Men’ causing all to worship the ‘Beast’ – all to trust in their own military might, their self made prosperity etc, rather than recognising the true King of Israel – Christ the Messiah.
The seeming prosperity of modern Israel is superficial – the witness of the ‘Beast of the Earth’, The Lawless One. Israel are not ‘Blessed in the Land’, nor do they ‘Dwell securely’, until they turn to Jesus (See They Shall Dwell in Security by Derek Warr)
In verse 15, the time to judge the earth has arrived – described as a harvest (following the symbols of the Jewish festivals).
V 15 “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe.”
V19 The angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
This is the battle of the Ages – Armageddon, described in greater detail in the next chapter.
It’s likely that the reference to blood flowing as high as horses bridles comes from the Book of Enoch which also describes horses in blood on the Day of Great Judgement –
Woe to those who commit iniquity, and help wrong, and kill their neighbours, until the Day of the Great Judgment; for he will throw down your glory. …v3 And the sinner will not withhold his hand from his honoured brother from dawn until the Sun sets they will kill one another. And the horse will walk up to its chest in the blood of sinners and the chariot will sink up to its height. And in those days the Angels will come down into the hidden places, and gather together in one place all those who have helped sin, and the Most High will rise on that day to execute the Great Judgment. Enoch 98:3 (See Book of Enoch is it Scripture?)
Chapter 15 commences with another sign in heaven: 7 angels with the 7 final plagues. These complete the ‘Wrath of God’ –
“Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.” Rev. 15:1
The Saints sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb – a reminder that Revelation is another Passover story preceded by the witness of God’s judgements. As with the plagues on Egypt, the plagues on Israel are an appeal to see the judgments, fear God’s wrath, leave the Kingdoms of Men, and get the Mark of the Lamb –
“Lord, who won’t fear and praise your name? For you alone are holy, and all the nations will come and worship you because your judgments have been revealed.” Rev. 15:4
Egypt had 10 plagues as a warning – leave Egypt – have the mark of the lamb and be bound to the God of the Israelites.
10 is a symbol of Gentiles.
Revelation has 7 plagues – they are on Israel as a warning – leave Israel which has become another ‘Kingdom of Men’ – get the mark of the Lamb and be part of ‘New Jerusalem’.
7 is a symbol of ‘The Land of 7 nations originally given to Israel. (See Land of 7 & 10)
The Passover story hasn’t changed. Just the names. Instead of Egypt, Revelation warns us to leave Babylon (See Jerusalem Becomes Babylon). God wants us to flee the things of this life – Get the Mark of the Lamb (Jesus) and go to the ‘Promised Land’ – His coming Kingdom –
“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.” Rev. 14:8
To be continued…
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