Read Revelation 14:6–13
Questions from the Scripture text: What did John see in Revelation 14:6? Where was he flying? What did he have to preach? To whom? With what sort of voice did he speak (Revelation 14:7)? What three commands did he give? Why? Who followed in Revelation 14:8? About whom did this angel speak? What had happened to it? What had she done? Who followed them in Revelation 14:9? About whom did this angel speak? What would the worshipers and followers of the beast drink (Revelation 14:10)? How intensely? In what way? In whose, and Whose, presence? How long will this occur (Revelation 14:11)? How constantly? What must the saints have as they wait for this (Revelation 14:12)? By the keeping of what two things may these saints be identified? What does John hear in Revelation 14:13a? What is he commanded to do? What is he commanded to write—who are blessed? Who affirms this (verse 13b)? From what does the Spirit say they rest, in death? What follow them in their death?
What must we do in light of the end that is coming? Revelation 14:6–13 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must persevere in faith and obedience in light of the coming ends of the wicked and the righteous.
The three angels of this passage set the end before us for our instruction. The first angel identifies “the hour of His judgment” (Revelation 14:7) as the context for his preaching. He preaches the everlasting gospel. Not in terms of what we are saved from (sin and guilt and punishment). Not in terms of what we are saved by (Jesus Christ, and particularly His righteousness and sacrifice, applied to us by the Holy Spirit through grace-given faith). But in terms of what we are saved unto: fearing God, giving Him glory, and worshiping Him as the Creator, the true and living God. Whatever nation, tribe, tongue, or people you are from (Revelation 14:6), the good proclamation (gospel) is that God is reconciling and restoring men unto being His worshipers. All have fallen short of this glory, but all in Christ are restored unto worship. Come to Christ, dear reader, and be restored unto this worship of God!
The second angel announces the end of that common human enterprise exemplified in Genesis 10:10, Genesis 11:1–9; and echoing through history wherever a great earthly power or endeavor has succeeded by the seductiveness of power, prosperity, and pleasure. Babylon has its beginning at Babel, but runs throughout history.
Whether earthly or religious empires, or the present worldliness that dominates the writer’s own nation, when the wine of this fornication is drunk, it is ultimately discovered to be the wine of wrath (Revelation 14:8). Here is a counterfeit cup to the cup of the new covenant in the blood of Christ. And how many drink of the sacrament of seductive power, prosperity, and pleasure! But, though “great,” she will fall (verse 8), and all who are with her will drink fully of wrath.
The third angel announces that those who receive the counterfeit sacramental mark (Revelation 14:9, Revelation 14:11b) of the counterfeit trinity (dragon, sea-beast, land-beast), will drink not the cup of the new covenant but the wine of God’s wrath in the cup of His indignation (Revelation 14:10a). They will be tormented in the presence of the Lamb (verse 10b, cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:9), without end, and without respite (Revelation 14:11). To identify oneself with the world is to be marked for everlasting destruction.
John responds to all of this by observing the necessity of the saints’ perseverance in faith and obedience (Revelation 14:12). And the Spirit speaks from heaven about the condition of deceased saints as they wait for their exalted end. As they lived in the Lord, and thus their lives were blessed, so also they die in the Lord, and their deaths are blessed (Revelation 14:13a; cf. Hebrews 4:4, Hebrews 4:10; Revelation 6:11), a resting from their labors and rewarding for their works done in Christ (Revelation 14:13b, cf. Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 6:10). Dear saint, persevere in faith and obedience. Blessed are the lives, deaths, and eternities of those who do!
In what ways are you tempted to identify yourself with the world? In what ways ought you, instead, to be identifying yourself with the Lord? How does your baptism help you in this? How does the Lord’s Supper help you in this? What do you consider to be “the happy life”? What do you consider to be a happy death?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for falling short of Your glory. We have pushed down on Your truth in unrighteousness, failing to glorify You and give You thanks. And we have identified ourselves with the world, seduced by power, pride, prosperity, and pleasure. Forgive us, and grant us perseverance in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH446 “Be Thou My Vision”
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