Imagine a point when God says, “That’s it! I’ve given you enough warning! No more mercy!” It’s coming. His judgement! So, let’s recap. We’ve had…
- The Rapture of the Born-Again, Christians
- The 7 Seal Judgements where large portions of the earth are destroyed by man — including the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
- The 7 Trumpet Judgements where Satan takes over the world for a while.
Revelation 14 and 15 — Introduces the 7 Bowl Judgements with the last 7 plagues — like the world hasn’t had enough of plagues! However, God gives those left behind one last chance to repent and follow Jesus!
Revelation 14
Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 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 mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.
This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame.
Revelation 14:1-5
So, the 144,000 Messianic Jewish believers from the 12 tribes of Israel are the only ones who can learn this song. That’s exclusivity! Notice the words to the song are not shown. They are true followers of Jesus.
The Three Angels
And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”
Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Revelation 14:6-13
This is the final warning! For any of those left behind who still have not accepted Jesus as their savior, they have ONE LAST CHANCE to repent and believe in Jesus. If they don’t, they will face God’s final judgement. Babylon, the Antichrist’s new city, is falling. His reign is ending. The Tribulation Saints are the blessed ones. Furthermore, from the next passages, we get the idea that some people, still left on earth, hear the Good News and decline the mark of the beast. Those saints are part of the harvest before the judgement.
The Harvest of the Earth
Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Then another angel came from the Temple and 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.
After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.
Revelation 14:14-20
So those left behind are either ripe for harvest — salvation or ripe for judgement. It’s your choice!
Revelation 15
Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works,
Revelation 15:1-4
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
So the folks who declined the mark of the beast are in Heaven rejoicing because of their victory over the Beast (the Antichrist). This song is not exclusive — all the saints rejoice!
The Seven Bowls of the Seven Plagues
Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.
Revelation 15:5-8
That’s it! No more chances! No more mercy! If you don’t get it, if you don’t believe that Jesus is the King of Kings by now and the only way to salvation, there is no hope for you. You need to worship the creator not the creation. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize the truth of false religions and false prophets and teachers.
And if you do get left behind, whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST!
Next time, we cover the last 7 plagues. Don’t miss it!
I’m going to leave you with this devotional from the Prophetic Gallery Series studies from the YouVersion Bible App…
God’s purpose is to fill heaven. Satan’s purpose is to destroy mankind and prevent the Church from reaching these people with the Good News. So God’s patience with mankind opens the door for Satan to attack the Church – with vigor and harshness. It takes endurance to fulfill God’s command when facing this kind of hatred. It takes a determination to be faithful in the midst of great opposition. It takes a willingness to confront evil even at great personal cost.
John, in writing to spiritual children, tells them another key thought – people who oppose Jesus are people who love lies. They lie about many things, but they cannot lie about loving Jesus! Jesus – the Son of God – is not someone they will ever love. It is good to be reminded of this. We love Him – because He loved us so much that He died to set us free. They hate Him, because He died to set people free from Satan’s control and He condemns the evil that people do. It is good to remember this when we see it in our world.
The Prophetic Gallery Series https://aaec.ae/
If you want the assurance of salvation and a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven and that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Pray this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly…
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14 NLT
Are you ready?
Soli Deo Gloria — to God Alone be the Glory!
