144,000 during the Tribulation

Revelation 14:1–8
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Barclay quotes William Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, as defining worship as quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting … More

Worship

The beginning of chapter 14 refers to the preservation of the 144,000 during the Tribulation. Moving into chapters 14 and 15 we see various details of what is happening in heaven and on the earth just before the bowl judgements in chapter 16.

1. What is happening on Earth?

The 144,000 are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb (v. 1). This is the same group mentioned earlier (7:4-8). The Lamb is Christ and Mount Zion is Jerusalem. Three Angels with different announcements are introduced.

a. The first Angel gives a summons to worship God (vv. 6,7). This Angel comes with the message of the Gospel to all races, tribes, tongues, and peoples.

b. The second Angel announces that Babylon has fallen (v. 8). This angel has seduced all the nations with her immorality. This may speak of the huge system of spiritual adultery and corruption that holds sway over the whole prophetic scene

2. What is happening in Heaven?

A description is given of a song coming from heaven that only God’s own can learn to sing (vv. 2-5). With God’s voice it sounds like many waters, great thunder and many playing on harps.

Application

The tragedy of many who profess to know Christ is that they never learn what true worship is. Lord, help me to be disciplined to be in your word and learn how to worship you in Spirit and in truth.

Revelation 14:1-8 (English Standard Version)

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