【2018 Recording】

Today, I will be expounding on Revelation Chapter 14. It is imperative for all Christian brothers and sisters to understand that our actions today will have profound implications for the future. What we do today will determine the consequences we face. However, our actions are not solely determined by what we do, but rather by the thoughts and intentions within us. These inner thoughts dictate how we act, and in turn, determine the consequences. We must be acutely aware that every action we take has consequences. If one were to fall from a high building, the consequence would be death. We cannot naively assume that jumping would be harmless, for it would inevitably lead to death.

These 144,000 individuals possess unique qualities. They are redeemed by God from the earth, and they have not defiled themselves with women, meaning they are unpolluted. They are virgins, signifying their unwavering love for God alone, and not for the world. Wherever the Lamb goes, they follow Him. As the firstfruits, they are the best, without blemish or contamination. They are capable of singing a special song of God, a song exclusive to them.

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” (Revelation 14:3-5)

Previously, several types of Christians were discussed. The first type is the 144,000, and the second type is the overcomers. They do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)

There is also the non-overcoming Christian. In Chapter 13, the beast reigns and is killed. Although they do not overcome, they still have the opportunity to be martyred for God and return to Him. In Chapter 14, those Christians who worship the beast and its image and receive the mark of its name will have no rest day or night (Revelation 14:11). God pours out His wrath, unmixed, without mercy or compassion.

they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10)

The 144,000 experience one outcome, while those who worship the image of the beast experience another. In between are those who do not worship but are killed.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

Labouring for Eternal Life, Results Until Eternity

They will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them. If we labor in the Lord Jesus today, the results will undoubtedly follow us. Our thoughts, our logic, and the results of our actions will accompany us. Are our thoughts in line with God's thoughts, or with the logic of this world? What is the system of this world? It is a system of calculating losses and gains, of avoiding disadvantage.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

When do our actions cease to have effect? It is when we leave this world. However, some people's actions have effect and will follow them into eternity. The Lord Jesus instructs us to labor for eternal life.

And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. (Revelation 14:10-11)

The Patience and Faith of the Saints

When all this comes to pass, the believers will reflect on their patience and obedience to God's commands, realizing their value. Patience is crucial. In the previous chapter, John saw that those who worship the image of the beast and those who do not fight against it are killed, highlighting the importance of the saints' patience.

Do not labour for this life. When you reach heaven, you will understand the patience of the saints. Those who keep God's commands often witness injustice. Why? Because worldly values contradict ours.

A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. (Revelation 14:8-12)

In the previous chapter, John saw the saints' patience and faith in those who did not worship the beast and its image and were defeated and killed in battle against the beast. This chapter repeats this theme. Today, as we witness God's wrath judging this world, we may not see immediate retribution for the wicked. However, with a broader perspective, we will realize that retribution exists. Why do I say this?

Because the Bible says so. We lack sufficient foresight. Our God is a God of vengeance, a God of justice, and a good God. Blessed are those who die in the Lord. We must diligently serve God, for the effect of our labour will last forever. Our God will avenge us. We are not gloating, but we must understand that the patience of the saints stems from the belief that God will pour out His wrath on the wicked. Do not discern good and evil, for a limited perspective and ideas that contradict the Bible are a sorrowful thing.

Reading Revelation, God has revealed the future outcome. Today, we accept these things with the patience of the saints, knowing that God permits these things to happen in this world until the judgment arrives. In Noah's time, God was patient for 120 years, as He was with Sodom. This world will become increasingly corrupt, particularly in its morality, resembling the days of Sodom, while the church will become increasingly holy.

We will see that the church's labour and its effect will follow us into eternity. Upon returning to heaven, God will remember the price we paid for Him. Christians who do not pay a price have no Mingding Destiny and will pay a heavy price. If the saints' patience came without a price, John would not have included it in Revelation. After verse 14, we may assume that God will perform a final harvest. What is being written about here?

Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. (Revelation 14:15-16)

We might think this passage refers to people being harvested from earth to heaven, which may be part of its meaning. More accurately, it indicates that the harvest is ripe. These individuals, God may want to spare them from the seven bowls of wrath. Whether the harvested are in God's kingdom is not clear. These crops are overripe. When eating fruit, we do not prefer overripe fruit; we prefer the firstfruits.

Still another angel came from the temple and shouted to the one with the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. (Revelation 14:17-20)

Do Not Love the People and Things of the World

When we read this passage, it seems that these people have received the gospel but have not truly obtained it. Today, we must make a real choice, because when the end days arrive, making a choice will be futile. From now on, do not love the people and things of the world; if you love the people and things of the world, the love of God is not in you. One must be certain that loving the world is a very dangerous choice.

The decisions of your mind and thoughts determine your choices. If you love the Lord your God with all your heart and strength, the effect of your work will follow you forever. If you do not love God, you will incur His wrath. Follow God no matter what; your God is my God, and where you are, I will be. We must follow God until the end.

Do not wait until that time, because at that time there will be only one choice: to worship the image of the beast. In the end, you will provoke God's great wrath and be thrown into the lake of fire. What do you value most? No matter what, you must live a victorious life in this world. Worshiping the beast for a few more years of survival will ultimately incur God's greater wrath. We must pay an eternal price, so that the effect of your work will follow you forever and ever! Amen!

Revelation 14 describes the following: Firstly, the 144,000 who follow the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, are the firstfruits. Secondly, three angels preach the gospel. Thirdly, the final harvest should be a harvest of God's wrath.

Following the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5)

It says here that they are without blemish. No lie was found in their mouths. Reaching a stage in life where one is without blemish means that God has refined us with fire. What is fire? It is suffering. It is rare and commendable that people still do not lie in the midst of suffering! When do people lie? When under pressure, or when facing persecution.

Three Angels Preaching the Gospel

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:6-11)

First angel: What is the gospel he preaches? It is the gospel of fearing God and giving glory to Him. So the gospel of fearing God is the true gospel. Only by fearing God can the gospel be preserved! Without fearing God, it is easy to fall into falsehood and fear man. It is conceivable that if a person has a heart of reverence, fearing that he will not be able to please God, he must be a righteous person!

Second angel: What is the gospel he preaches? It is the gospel of the complete fall of the world. Since the world and everything in it will fall in this way, what is there to love? Why are you still clinging to the world?

Third angel: What is the gospel he preaches? Those who worship the beast (worship the devil) for the sake of worldly benefits will drink the wine of God's wrath! That is the punishment of having no peace day and night! Those who hope to live well are living in the wrath of God!

The gospel of the three angels forms a complete gospel. If there is no fear of God and thirst for eternal life, it is not the gospel. If there is no complete destruction of the world, it is not the gospel either. Recently, there has been more talk about the gospel of transforming the world, but God's intention is not to transform the world, but to destroy it. But what God wants are His people who are separated from the world! What God wants is not Egypt, but the Promised Land! Without the punishment of hell, it is not the gospel either.

The Effect of the Saints' Work Follows Them

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:12-13)

This passage speaks of how the effects of our service on earth will continue to follow us. Blessed are those who pay the price of life for the gospel!

The Final Harvest Should Be a Harvest of God's Wrath

Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1600 stadia.(Revelation 14:14-20)

What kind of harvest is being spoken of here? From the literal meaning, it seems to be a harvest of God's wrath. There are two harvests: one of grain and the other of grapes. Both use the word ripe. This ripeness is in contrast to the firstfruits mentioned earlier. That is to say, even if these people who heard the gospel preached by the angels believed in the Lord, I don't think they would be very good! How stubborn must one be to wait until the angels preach the gospel before believing in the Lord! Brothers and sisters, do not be such people! Nevertheless, these people should be more blessed than those who will endure God's great wrath in chapter 15!