HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
HolyStudy

Read the Scriptures and pray with the mind of the Church.

Bible

  • Read Bible
  • Topics
  • Reading Plans

Worship

  • Worship of the Day
  • Daily Prayers
  • Saint of the Day
  • Church Calendar

Tradition

  • Encyclopedia
  • Church Fathers
  • Saints
  • Councils
  • Creeds
  • Heresies

More

  • Reflections
  • Mission
  • Support HolyStudy
  • Contact
  • Connection Map ↗
© 2026 HolyStudy
PrivacyTerms
HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
Gospels
History
Pauline Epistles
General Epistles
Apocalypse

Revelation 14

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,

and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,

and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

And he said with a loud voice, “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.”

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

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, and 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.”

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: 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!”

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”

So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

← Previous chapterNext chapter →

Revelation 14

The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000 who have his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads, singing the new song that no one could learn except the redeemed—the exclusive hymn of those purchased by Christ's blood. The three angels proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people, announce the fall of Babylon the great, and warn against worship of the beast and reception of his mark, establishing the gospel's universal reach even as judgment unfolds. A fourth angel announces: Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality—the final judgment of the world system opposed to God. Another angel like a son of man comes on the cloud with a sharp sickle to reap the harvest of the earth, gathering the grain into God's granary, while another angel gathers the grapes for the winepress of God's wrath. The winepress is trodden outside the city, and blood flows from the winepress as high as a horse's bridle for a distance of 1,600 stadia—the immensity of God's judgment poured out upon the rebel world.

Revelation 14:1

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 - Mount Zion is the sanctuary of God, the antithesis of the beast's image. The 144,000 (12 x 12 x 1,000) represent the complete redeemed community, sealed with God's name and ownership.

Revelation 14:2

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 - the heavenly worship erupts with cosmic acoustics, the voice of God like waters and thunder from Ezekiel's throne-chariot vision. The harpists signal joy and victory in the presence of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:3

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 - the new song belongs uniquely to the redeemed, a melody of covenant fulfillment only they can comprehend. The song celebrates deliverance and expresses the intimacy of those restored to God.

Revelation 14:4

These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes; they were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb - the language of virginity (purity) and following the Lamb (discipleship) marks them as entirely consecrated. As firstfruits, they represent the guarantee of the full harvest of redemption.

Revelation 14:5

No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless - the 144,000 are marked by truthfulness and moral integrity, the antithesis of the beast's deception. They embody the holiness required of those who dwell in God's presence and serve at his throne.

Revelation 14:6

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 - the first of three angels announces the good news of Christ's redemption to all humanity before the final judgment. This gospel is 'eternal,' rooted in God's plan before time and validated by Christ's victory.

Revelation 14:7

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' - the proclamation calls humanity to proper worship and fear of God on the threshold of judgment. The reference to creation (heavens, earth, sea, springs) echoes the fourth commandment and calls people to recognize God's sovereignty.

Revelation 14:8

A second angel followed and said, 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries' - the fall of Babylon (Rome or any anti-God empire) is announced with the cry of Isaiah 21:9. Babylon's seduction of nations through idolatry and spiritual compromise is reversed; her dominion collapses.

Revelation 14:9

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury' - the warning against the beast's mark is absolute and severe. Those who pledge allegiance to the anti-God system will face the full measure of God's judicial wrath.

Revelation 14:10

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 - the language of fire and sulfur (gehenna imagery) conveys the irreversible consequences of rejecting God's grace. The presence of the Lamb at judgment emphasizes that rejection of Christ's lordship brings condemnation.

Revelation 14:11

There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name - the endless torment underscores the finality of that judgment. Those who in life chose the beast's system over God's kingdom inherit a destiny of unending anguish separated from his presence.

Revelation 14:12

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus - amid the beast's claims and persecutions, believers are exhorted to steadfast faithfulness. Endurance is not passive resignation but active allegiance to Jesus and God's commandments.

Revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Write: 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' - those who remain faithful even unto martyrdom are declared blessed. Their rest from labor contrasts with the restless torment of those who worship the beast; their deeds (faithful testimony) follow as their eternal legacy.

Revelation 14:14

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 - the Son of Man on the cloud (from Dan 7:13) comes in royal splendor with harvesting authority. The sharp sickle signals judgment and the gathering of the elect.

Revelation 14:15

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' - the harvest of the earth represents the judgment when the Son of Man gathers his elect and judges the wicked. The ripeness of harvest signals the fullness of time has arrived.

Revelation 14:16

So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested - the Son of Man executes the harvest, gathering the righteous and separating them from the wicked. This is the judgment of the nations, the final separation of the sheep from the goats.

Revelation 14:17

Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle - another angel, this one bearing a sickle for the vintage (the grape harvest), prepares for the final outpouring of judgment. The movement from grain harvest to grape harvest signals the shift from reaping the righteous to treading out judgment on the wicked.

Revelation 14:18

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 of the fire (from the altar of prayer) summons the harvest of grapes. The ripeness of the grapes indicates that judgment is due.

Revelation 14:19

The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God - the grapes (the ungodly) are gathered and cast into God's winepress of judgment. This imagery, drawn from Isaiah 63, transforms the vintage into an instrument of divine retribution.

Revelation 14:20

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 - the winepress outside the city (reminiscent of the execution of Christ) becomes the place of final judgment. The blood rising to horses' bridles over 1,600 stadia (two hundred miles) expresses the vast and terrible scope of God's final wrath.