Revelation 14

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Its my position that these are the same one hundred and forty-four thousand that are from the twelve tribes.

14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

These are, indeed, strange people, they, every one, are virgins. We saw in Exodus that thunder was used to describe the voice of God and here we find that metaphor again and we see in verse two a common metaphor in the Old Testament used to represent a huge crowd of people, many waters. The LORD has even given unto them a new song, rendered in a language that no man can speak.

These redeemed are so serious about their faith that they have not even defiled themselves with marriage to a woman. This group of Jewish men compose a Church that is truly devoted to their service to the Lamb.

14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

It is important that an understanding of the biblical use of the term, fear, and how it is used. The, very, best example I know of is that of a young lad and his father. When I was ten, my mother remarried and my dad came into my life. I so respected and loved the Veteran of WWII that I feared disappointing him. Fearing God is much the same, I am saved and it is my position that salvation an not be lost but I would rather die than to disappoint Father God.

14:8 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.
14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

When I was lost in my sins I was out at night as often as I possibly could, I drank the wine constantly seeking after joy, peace and fulfillment but it was never really there. These Lost Men in the Tribulation period will find even less fulfillment in their momentary pursuits. They will find, what they believe to be fulfillment and in an instant there will be that great undefinable void again, no matter the morsel gained. Because they have denied Jesus and refused His salvation but have chosen the momentary pleasures of lust, they have sentenced themselves to eternal suffering in the Lake oof Fire.

14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

It is popular today to believe that Jesus ended the influence of the Bible, the Bible Jesus and all of the disciples taught from, the Old Testament, on our lives. That is not true! The Law was never meant to save men! Every Saint in Heaven was and is saved by faith in Jesus, the Messiah. I am not, as I am oft accused of, telling you that you must keep the Law.

But, at the same time Jesus in Matt. 5:18, Jesus promised us that not even the smallest stroke of the pen shall pass away before everything in the Bible is fulfilled. We are told to follow Jesus and the truth is that the example Jesus set was one of perfection and He broke not even one law. In the Law we see a beautiful word illustration of God and it is this that we are to seek to model for the World to look at.

And no, and I know it too, you cannot do this without the Holy Spirit leading you through this life.

14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (KJV)

The harvest here represents judgment and judging from the number of Angels with the cycles and the sharp, finely sharpened edges, it will be a terrible time for the remaining people on the Earth.