“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12, ESV)
In this scene there are 4 voices; three angels. The combined messages proclaim the proximity of God's judgement, the end of the evil empire known as Babylon the Great; and encouragement to the Church, even in death. The first angel is said to be proclaiming the "eternal gospel". The message is:
“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.”” (Revelation 14:7, ESV)
The second angel announced the Fall of Babylon. "Babylon the prostitute represents society’s allure of material prosperity and pleasure, seducing the unwary into adultery against the Lord." [1] "Just as the 144,000 were symbolized as sexual virgins, so the opposite group is symbolized by prostitution." [2]
“And 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, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger . . .." (Revelation 14:9–10, ESV)
Punishment on the beast’s people is now described for the first of several times as tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb . . . The language of burning sulfur is based on God’s punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah and was the strongest possible way for John to describe ghastly agony (Gen. 19:24).[3] This is a ghastly description of God's wrath:
“. . . . he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And 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.”” (Revelation 14:10–11, ESV)
One might ask, "To what end does the vivid description of God's wrath serve the Church?" We are told by the Editor that the purpose this serves is this: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12, ESV)
But there is a final voice. It is a benediction: “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!” (Revelation 14:13, ESV). "The desire to persevere is to be motivated not only by the warning of judgment (vv 6–11) but also by the promise of reward." [4]
"Those who die in the Lord from now on see face to face the One who has died for them and ever lives to make intercession for them. They now see Him as the Lamb that has been slaughtered. They see Him in the glory of His human nature which He has taken with Him to heaven. They see Him as the One who has conquered sin, death and Satan. They rest from their toil. Their works, however, follow with them. This is true, not only in the sense that their works are the result of their character, which when thoroughly sanctified, goes with them to heaven but also in the sense that these works are about to be rewarded with the reward of grace and glory." [5]
Father, forsaking You, rejecting You does not go without consequences. There is a side to the eternal Gospel that is not happy. Your wrath is real. In the surety of Your judgment enable us Your Church to remain faithful and obedient. Cause us to endure for the sake of Christ and for the joy of one day resting in the presence of Your face forever and ever.
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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2483). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (250). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
3. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (251). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
4. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (767). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.
5. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 154-155). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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