Rev. David Holwick
Study Notes
February 2, 1992
Revelation 14
|
I. The Lamb on Mount Zion. 14:1-5
A. Mount Zion is "God's mountain" where Solomon's Temple stood.
1) Joel predicted those on Mt. Zion would escape the Day of the Lord.
2) Where is John's Mount Zion?
a) On earth, in Jerusalem. Ladd, many dispensationalists
b) In heaven. (comp Heb 12:22) Mounce, Holwick
B. The 144,000.
1) Who are they?
a) Specific group of super-saints.
1> They are "first-fruits" of a fuller harvest later on.
2> They are celibates to serve God in a special way.
b) Symbols of the whole Church. Holwick
1> Same as 144,000 in Rev 7:4-8.
2> In Rev 7:4-8 they were sealed against future troubles, here they have overcome them.
2) "Virgins undefiled with women."
a) Some believe marriage and sexuality are less spiritual than celibacy.
1> Jesus in Matthew 19:10-12?
2> Paul in 1 Cor 7:25-27?
b) But the NT never describes marriage as a defilement.
1> Is only illicit sex in view? (fornication, adultery)
2> Better: spiritual adultery is in view.
A> In OT, Israel is spoken of as a virgin. Jer 18:13; Amos 5:2
B> In NT, Christians are supposed to be a "pure virgin" for Christ. 2 Cor 11:2
C> In Rev 17:2, great sin is fornication with "Babylon."
II. Proclamation of the gospel. 14:6-13
A. Appeal is more to natural theology (Romans 1:19-20) than gospel of Jesus.
1) These pagans cannot contemplate deeper theology. (compare Paul before pagans at Lystra in Acts 14:15)
B. The introduction of "Babylon the Great." 14:8; cf. Dan 4:30
1) Literal Mesopotamian city?
2) Symbol of decadent Rome. 1 Peter 5:13?
C. Proclamation of judgment. 14:10
1) The Antichrist threatens economic persecution.
2) God promises eternal hell-fire. Cf. Gen 19:28; Luke 17:29
a) God's wrath is often compared to drunkenness. Job 21:20; Isa 41:17; *Jer 25:15-38
b) It is eternal. 14:11; compare 20:10 and 4:8
D. Blessed are those who die in Jesus. (seventh beatitude in Rev)
III. Harvest of the earth. 14:14-20
A. Son of man sitting on cloud.
1) Jesus, not an angel. Dan 7:13-14
B. Harvest (of the righteous?) 14:14-16
1) In Joel 3:13, both harvest and winepress refer to the wicked.
2) But usually the NT speaks of the righteous being harvested for God's kingdom.
Matt 9:37-38; Mark 4:29; Luke 10:2; John 4:35-38
3) Sometimes harvesting refers to the wicked. Matt 13:30,40-42
a) Both righteous and wicked (wheat and tares) in view?
4) Note that (gory) details are left to the imagination.
C. The winepress of the wicked. 14:17-20
1) Only wrath is in view.
2) "Blood as deep as a horse's bridle." 1600 stadia is length of Palestine. Hyperbolic.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Easy CHM and documentation editor