The Inevitable HarvestRevelation 14:1-20

The Inevitable Harvest

Isaiah 37:31-32And the surviving remnant of the house

of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. 32For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

I. Jesus Shows Up

Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount

Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

II. Jesus’ Conquering Saints

A. They Hear a New Song

Revelation 14:2-3 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of

many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

2 Kings 6:15-17When the servant of the man of God

rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

2 Kings 6:15-1716He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who

are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

B. They were Undefiled

Revelation 14:4aIt is these who have not defiled

themselves with women, for they are virgins.

1 Corinthians 7:33-34But the married man is anxious about

worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

C. They walked with Jesus

Revelation 14:4b“…It is these who follow the Lamb

wherever he goes.

D. Firstfruits of God’s Harvest

Revelation 14:4c…These have been redeemed from

mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,

Revelation 7:9After this I looked, and behold, a great

multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

E. They are Transformed

Revelation 14:5…and in their mouth no lie was

found, for they are blameless.

Jude 24Now to him who is able to keep you

from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

III. Angelic Announcements

A. First Announcement– The Gospel

Revelation 14:6-7Then I saw another angel flying directly

overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And 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.”

Psalms 19:1-2The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to

please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 1:19-20For what can be known about God is plain

to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Hebrews 10:31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands

of the living God.

2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord,

we persuade others.

B. Second Announcement -

Judgment

Revelation 14:8Another angel, a second, followed,

saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

C. Third Announcement –

Doom

Revelation 14:9-11And another angel, a third, followed them,

saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he 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.

Revelation 14:9-1111And 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.”

God has three choices:

1. Let rebellion go on forever?

2. Force men to Obey?

3. Withdraw from those who refuse God’s Love?

D. Fourth Announcement -

Blessing

Revelation 14:12-13Here is a call for the endurance of the saints,

those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13And I heard a voice from heaven 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!”

IV. God’s TerribleSwift Sword

Revelation 14:14-20Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud,

and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud,

Revelation 14:14-20“Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour

to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:14-2018And another angel came out from the

altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”

Revelation 14:14-2019So the angel swung his sickle across the

earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Matthew 13:36-43Then he left the crowds and went into the

house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom.

Matthew 13:36-43The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Matthew 13:36-4341The Son of Man will send his angels, and

they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:36-4343Then the righteous will shine like the sun

in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.