Heavy Judgment

Rev. 14

John's vision now has an intense audio element. He sees the Lamb on Mt. Zion with the 144,000, and at the same time, he hears a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters, like sound of loud thunder, and yet, like the sound of many harps. Into this mix was a new song being sung around the throne, a song which no one could learn except the 144,000. Who are these 144,000? Jewish believers who are virgins[ spiritual and sexual purity], who follow the Lamb wherever He goes, who never lie, who are blameless, and who had been redeemed from the earth as firstfruits for God and the Lamb. They had endured and had not taken the mark of the beast. Instead they had the mark of the Lamb who was their seal of protection. Jesus was their life. There was nothing to live for except for Him. Choices were black and white. Jesus or the Beast.

Another angel came flying overhead with an eternal gospel to proclaim to the earth.  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." A second angel came, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." Babylon as a prostitute was seducing people with the promise of material prosperity and pleasure. Such emptiness! But yet so many bought into it! Then the third angel came saying, "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." Time is up! Mercy is replaced with judgment. 

Once again the call for the endurance of the saints, for those who keep the commandments and their faith in Jesus.They must stand. Then another voice was heard 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!" It is a blessing to die, and for the dead, because the time endurance will be over. They may rest. 

John then saw a white cloud with Jesus [ one who looked like the Son of Man] seated on it. On His head was a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. The reaper has come, the hour is now, and the harvest is fully ripe.  So Jesus swung His sickle across the earth, and the reaping was done! In one fell swoop! As I research I saw there was dissension over this reaping. Was it believers, or was it judgment on nonbelievers?

The two more angels appeared, one with its own sickle and one coming out of the altar who had authority over fire. The angel with the sickle was told to gather the clusters from the vine of the earth for these grapes were ripe. So he did, and these grapes were thrown in to the winepress of the wrath of God and trampled just as the nations had trampled Jerusalem. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia. Unbelievable judgment!

Father,

So many pictures that are hard to understand. Open my eyes so see Your plan clearly.Give me the strength and endurance to stand with the saints around me. In Your power and mercy, grant me to walk worthy of the call to which I have been called. 

In Jesus name,

Amen