Rev 14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 14:1-5: 14:1-5 The true Lamb and his followers starkly contrast with the evil trinity. 14:1 standing: See 5:6 ; study note on 12:18. • 144,000: God’s righteous remnant (see study note on 7:4-8). • The brand on their foreheads (contrast 13:16-17 ) is the name of both the Lamb and his Father , reflecting the union of Jesus and the Father (see John 5:20-23 ; 14:5-10 ; 17:22 ).

Summary for Rev 14:1-5: 14:1-5 ^a The true Lamb and his followers starkly contrast with the evil trinity. 14:1 ^b standing: See 5:6 ^c; study note on 12:18.

• 144,000: God’s righteous remnant (see study note on 7:4-8).

• The brand on their foreheads (contrast 13:16-17 ^d) is the name of both the Lamb and his Father, reflecting the union of Jesus and the Father (see John 5:20-23 ^e; 14:5-10 ^f; 17:22 ^g).
Summary for Rev 14:2-3: 14:2-3 ^h This great choir sang a . . . new song that only those who had been redeemed from the earth could learn. These people had died and were already with the Lord, which might explain why John did not include the content of their refrain for readers still in the battle of life (cp. 2 Cor 12:4 ⁱ).
Summary for Rev 14:4-5: 14:4-5 ^j These warriors were ritually pure (unpolluted) and morally without blame.

• They have kept themselves as pure as virgins: Referring to men as virgins is a metaphor for the faithfulness of God’s people. The image might refer to the church as the virgin bride of Christ (see 2 Cor 11:2 ^k; Eph 5:25-27 ^l); it also suggests that the church constitutes soldiers in a holy war that are required to keep themselves chaste (see Deut 23:9-10 ^m; 1 Sam 21:5 ⁿ).

• These faithful people are a special offering (literally firstfruits; see Exod 13:14-16 ^o; 23:19 ^p; Lev 23:9-14 ^q; Num 3:40-51 ^r; 18:15-20 ^s; Luke 2:22-24 ^t) who have been purchased for God.

• They have told no lies: John teaches that liars will never enter heaven (Rev 21:8 ^u, 27 ^v; 22:15 ^w; see also John 8:44 ^x). The followers of Jesus speak and live the truth (see also John 8:32 ^y; 14:6 ^z).
Summary for Rev 14:6-13: 14:6-13 ^aa Three angels are flying through the sky with messages from God.
Summary for Rev 14:6-7: 14:6-7 ^ab The first angel proclaims the eternal Good News, which includes the message that God will sit as judge—the end is near, so this message provides a last-chance summons to repentance.
14:8 ^ac Babylon is probably a cryptic designation for Rome (see 16:19 ^ad; 17:5-9 ^ae); it represents earthly power and corruption. The coming of God as judge (14:7 ^af) includes the end of earthly powers.
Summary for Rev 14:9-11: 14:9-11 ^ag The third angel announces God’s judgment (14:7 ^ah) on the counterfeit worship of the beast and his statue (see 13:12-18 ^ai; 19:20 ^aj; 20:4 ^ak). God’s response to the rebellion against his reign is anger or wrath, pictured as a cup of bitter wine (see ch 16 ^al; 19:15 ^am).

• fire and burning sulfur ... smoke: This description of judgment (see also 19:20 ^an; 20:10 ^ao, 14-15 ^ap) echoes God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:16–19:28 ^aq).

• Those condemned to a fiery end will suffer in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb (cp. Luke 16:22-24 ^ar).
14:12 ^as The threat of persecution and death was very real to the Christians first reading this letter, so John calls God’s people to obedience and faithfulness (see 2:10 ^at; 3:10 ^au; 12:17 ^av; 13:10 ^aw).
14:13 ^ax A dramatic voice from heaven once again instructs John to write (see 1:11 ^ay, 19 ^az; 21:5 ^ba; cp. 10:4 ^bb).

• Blessed are those who die in the Lord: God desires that those who endure persecution be with him and enjoy his blessings and rest.

• The mention of hard work and good deeds in connection with eternal reward foreshadows the assigning of rewards based on works (20:12 ^bc).
Summary for Rev 14:14-20: 14:14-20 ^bd Two brief scenes portray God’s judgment. 14:14 ^be the Son of Man: Or like a son of man; see study note on 1:13.

• A gold crown is a symbol of status or power, clearly distinguishing Jesus from the angels (see 4:4 ^bf; 6:2 ^bg; 9:7 ^bh; 12:3 ^bi; 13:1 ^bj).

• The sharp sickle is symbolic of God’s harvest of judgment (see 14:17-18 ^bk; see also Jer 51:33 ^bl; Hos 6:11 ^bm; Mic 4:12-13 ^bn).
Summary for Rev 14:15-18: 14:15-18 ^bo The Temple and the altar represent God’s presence (see 9:13 ^bp; 11:19 ^bq; 16:7 ^br).
Summary for Rev 14:18-20: 14:18-20 ^bs The ripe ... grapes (see Amos 8:2 ^bt) that are trampled in the winepress emphasize God’s power to judge (see Rev 19:15 ^bu; Joel 3:13 ^bv).

• Winepresses were built outside cities and towns; here, the city is Jerusalem. The bloody river of death stretched about 180 miles. God’s enemies stand no chance when the Son of Man comes in judgment. The carnage here is closely linked with the final battle in Rev 19:17-21 ^bw; God is just and fair in giving people exactly what they deserve (see 16:5-7 ^bx).