Babylon the Great has Fallen

 

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

Chapter 14, verses 1-5 brings out a positive aspect of the heavenly worship! The change takes place with the great fiery red dragon standing on the seaside, yet the Lamb of God standing firmly on Mount Zion.

It shifts from martyrdom to Mount Zion, from the imperfection of 666 to the perfection of 144,000 (the totality of God’s people), and from the mark of the beast to the name of the Father on his people’s head.

John hears the voice of many waters singing a new song that talks about the victory of the Lamb. 144,000 (12x12x10x10,10) are the faithful saints, the Bride of the victorious Christ who has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

The faithful saints follow the Lamb wherever He goes. It requires heroic effort to carry out Christ’s commission to face oppression and even death if required. Too many shrink back when the work is difficult or the future looks bleak. We are to join those who take their stand with Christ and against evil.

The faithful saints can sing new songs, for they have received the salvation of Christ (The Israelites sang their new song when they came out of Israel and crossed the Red Sea).

Then an angel announces that God’s judgement is about to begin. Another angel shouts, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immortality.”

“Babylon is fallen” points to the Roman Empire, its economy, social culture and the distorted values behind it shall be overthrown. Those who worship the beast and his mark shall face the punishment of the living God and they will suffer forever.

By extension, Babylon is all of God’s enemies of all times who are evil with dominion of might, power and wealth. People who share the victory of the great city by drinking the adulterous wine of Babylon, shall be astonished to discover it to be the wine that brings about the pain and the wrath of the final judgment of God in the lake of fire and sulfur.

Those who worship the beast, accept his mark, and operate according to his world economic system will ultimately face God’s judgment. Our world values money, power, and pleasure over God’s leadership. To get what the world values, many people deny God and violate Christian principles. Thus, they must drink of the wine of God’s anger.

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying God’s commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. Blessed are those who die in the Lord for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them.

The ultimate result of sin is unending separation form God. Because human beings are created in God’s image with an inborn thirst for fellowship with him, separation from God will be the ultimate torment and misery.

Sin always brings misery, but in this life, we can choose to repent and restore our relationship with God. In eternity there will no longer be opportunity for repentance. In this life we choose to be independent of God, in the next life we will be separated from him forever.

Nobody is forced to choose eternal separation from God, and nobody suffers this fate by accident. Jesus invites everyone to open the door of one’s heart to him. If we do this, we will enjoy everlasting fellowship with hm.

This news about God’s ultimate triumph should encourage God’s people to remain faithful through every trial and persecution. They can do this, God promise, by trusting in Jesus and obeying the commands found in his Word. The secret to enduring, therefore, is trust and obedience.

Trust God to give you patience to endure even the small trials you face daily; obey him even when obedience is unattractive or dangerous.

While it is true that money, fame, and belongings can’t be taken with us from this life, God’s people can produce fruit that survives even death. God will remember our love, kindness, faithfulness and all the good works done in the present life.

And those who accept Christ though our witness will join us in the new heaven and new earth. Be sure that your values are in line with God’s values, and decide today to product fruit that lasts forever.

Then another angel shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” So, the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.

“Christ reaps the harvest” (v.16) refers to His intense judgment which seeks to destroy the evil forces completely. The Creator of heaven and earth is truly glorious and worthy to be revered, and not the arrogant evil trinity.

This is an image of judgment: Christ is separating the faithful from the unfaithful like a farmer harvesting his crops. This is a time of joy for the Christians who have been persecuted and martyred—they will receive their long-awaited reward.

Christians should not fear the Last Judgment. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believer in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sin, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

The vision John sees in Revelation 14 has completely turned the situation around found in Chapter 13. Chapter 13 described the onslaught of evil that will occur when Satan and his helpers control the world. Chapter 14 gives a glimpse into eternity to show believers what awaits them if they endure.

The Lamb is the Messiah. Mount Zion, the Holy Place is contrasted with the worldly empire. The 144,000 represent believers who have endured persecutions on earth and now are ready to enjoy the eternal benefits and blessings of the life with God forever. The three angels contrast the destiny of believers with that of unbelievers (vv.14-19).

This heavenly scene tells us that, in the end overcomers are those who are faithful to the Lamb, who are persecuted and killed because they hold on to the Word of God. However, the arrogant beasts and people of all nations who covet after the comfort and steady lifestyle shall receive eternal punishment from God.

The message of the judgment of God projects to us a greater future, hope and longing we have for the universe and world. The light will definitely overcome the darkness. The vision and hope had strengthened the seven churches and their believers to persevere in keeping their faith.

Pray that we will not yield to the intimidation and inducement from the great fiery red dragon, the beast of the sea and the beast of the earth, even it means giving up our lives. Do not covet and participate in the prosperity of Babylon. We will definitely be conquerors, as our Lord has overcome and triumphed over all His enemies.