“Revelation 14:9-13”

Thursday, January 04, 2018

“Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone 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; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!”’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.’”

---End of Scripture verses---

It must be admitted that it is not always easy to be a faithful child of God, as the brethren living in the first-century Roman Empire could easily attest to. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ were estranged from their families, expelled from society and even killed for their vocal and visible faith in the Lord. But, it is equally clear from today’s verses that the outcome will be much, much worse for those who choose the path of least resistance, and follow the world instead of the Word. The third angel proclaimed with a loud voice that anyone who “worships the beast” would sorely and eternally regret it (verse 9). The undiluted “wrath of God” will be “mixed in full strength” (verse 10), and poured out profusely upon all who worship anyone or anything other than the One deserving of all worship, praise and glory.

The Old Testament prophets often depicted God’s divine wrath as a wine-filled cup (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15-38). The inspired authors use figurative terms to describe the nature of the punishment that God will mete out to those who refuse to honor and obey Him as the Lord and Master of their lives (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). The “Spirit” says (verse 13) that the disobedient and ungodly will be “tormented with fire and brimstone,” which depicts the same fiery judgment that God rained down upon the horrid cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinfulness and gross, sexual immorality (Genesis 19:23-28). This vivid symbolism of God’s literal displeasure should prompt us to want to do whatever it takes to avoid His divine disfavor and retribution.

Please notice that God’s punishment for denying His Son and disobeying His commands (verse 12) is “eternal” suffering. “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” (verse 11). “Religious materialists such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists speak of ‘hell’ as only the grave. They deny that the divine punishment is endless. This context speaks of torment that is ongoing, not annihilation of the soul. In fact, the Bible speaks of the eternal judgment of God against sin as worse than death (Matt. 10:28)… Jesus spoke many times of the wicked being cast into a place of torment where there will be ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Luke 16:19-31; Matt. 22:13; 25:30). (Harkrider)

As the victorious saints serve and worship before the throne of God and His temple “day and night” (Revelation 7:15), there is “no rest day and night” for “those who worship the beast and his image.” “Those who attempt to minimize these horrible descriptions of eternal punishment usually ask, ‘How could a loving God cast anyone into a lake of fire and brimstone?’ but this approach plays on man’s emotion and reasoning that is based on his own shallow experience. Before anyone dares to redefine the consequences of God’s wrath, he should explain why a God of love would allow His only Begotten Son to die on the cruel cross of Calvary! Man is not in a position to assess the heinous nature of sin nor to determine what might be its just punishment (Isa. 53:4-6).” (Harkrider)

The saints who believe in the eternal victory and reward for God’s faithful, and the everlasting defeat and punishment for His enemies will find reason and motivation for “perseverance” in the face of trials and tribulations. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” (verse 13). This is one of the seven “beatitudes” pronounced for us in the book of Revelation (1:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). “Happy are the dead ‘who die in the Lord,’ that is, in a proper relationship with the Lord. These would be exalted in a heavenly joy; blissfully complete even in death. These are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (v. 12)… It had been revealed to John that the martyrs underneath the altar were at rest (6:9-11), and that those coming out of the great tribulation were before the throne serving God day and night (7:9-17). Now the Lord adds an additional word of hope and assurance for future sufferers—‘from henceforth’… the assurance is not limited to John’s contemporaries, but includes all faithful saints in every age who need comfort and consolation, who have seen their loyal brothers and sisters in Christ laid to rest.” (Hailey)

Please read Revelation 14:14-20 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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