THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Exploring Revelation Chapter 12-14 Part 3

REVELATION CHAPTER 14

AS previously deduced, chapters 12,13 and 14 are interposed to explain or give more detail to previous chapters as well as to add to our understanding of events yet to come.

In the 7^th chapter we have the Sealing of the 144k Jews consigned to the earth during the Tribulation period from the catastrophes to be wrought upon the earth, sea and trees by the four angels… in the 14^th Chapter we have the Gospel contingent sealed with the Lambs and the Fathers names written in their foreheads,  who have been caught up away from the Tribulation and are now in heavenly Zion. These are the First Fruits of the heavenly part of the Kingdom of Christ presented unto God and to the Lamb. Here we find the further understanding as to who is the Man-Child who was purchased from the earth and now brought into the heavenly realm above the earth, as Christ and His Angels war and cast out satan from his stronghold down to the earth.

Brief Outline of what has transpired up to chapter 12…..is that the Anti-christ had been revealed in chapter 11 having killed the two witnesses. The seals have been broken that 6 trumpets have blown…and the 7^th ready to sound with the vials then to be poured out on the transgressors.

The agricultural examples of first-fruits, followed by the harvest and then the vintage or grape harvest explain clearly the 12^th chapters: Catching up of the Man-Child of the Women into the heavens and Her other seed being left on the Earth to endure the heat of the Tribulation.

The Man-Child being used as a figure of speech to describe the matured or first ripened wheat as opposed to the yet unripe of the harvest. Those first faithful and fruitful found awake and praying, are worthy of the “reward” of one living on the earth and Overcoming the flesh, devil and the World,…now being those taken / delivered from the Earth from the time of Great Temptation soon coming upon the entire World.

The word “virgin” is applied to every believer to indicate the state into which we were placed at regeneration/rebirth….these First-Fruits had successfully resisted being corrupted by the beguiling of the serpent through his subtlety away from their attachment to Christ alone 2Cor 11:2,3. They had not made friendship with the World James 4:4 by which they would have alienated themselves from Christ no longer being a chaste virgin.

First-Fruits follow Him whithersoever he goeth when on earth it cost them something to do it. They took up the Cross and followed Him in the crucifying of their carnal soul.The First-Fruits kept his garments white upon the earth. They had surrendered their “rights” to Him.

They are the First Reaped and the first presented to God and the LAMB (Ex 23:19, 34:26 etc.). This would be in early summer. Now the hot summer will set in, which will ripen the entire field, bringing on the reaping of the Harvest. Which would be followed by the Vintage.

The First-Fruits and the Harvest are from the same sowing…. Matt 13:24, Mark 4:11-14… grown in the same field, and are the same kind of grain. There is no distinction between them, except the former ripened earlier and did not need the intense heat of the summer and were gathered in before it set in. This corresponds with the Woman’s seed left behind, both being of the same family….one taken and one left behind. One having escaped the period of the Beast persecution the other needing to endure it.

The Man-Child is caught up to the heavenly Zion where the Judgment Throne is to be set up, that is in the heavens associated with this World, where then God will sit Rev 4:2; Ezk 1; Dan 7:13; Psa122:5.

Thus we have 2 definite promises to Christians of the possible reward of escape Luke 21:36 and Rev 3:10 seen both in the Man-child and First-Fruits depictions. But these are based on morals….and works. What the servant has done with the goods (gift of eternal life) left in his charge as the householder goes on a long journey Matt 25:14 them not knowing when He may return and judge them on their stewardship.

As you ponder the Truth of the “Gift as opposed to the “Prize/Reward” of which we have said much in the past, and of the application here, consider also: that Aaron’s birth relationship, although indispensable, yet was not alone sufficient for access into the presence of God. Wholeness was equally required.

It is extremely foolish to refuse to recognize the strongly Scripturally supported Overcoming moral and works aspect of acceptance before God, for the beguiling lie that all Christians are so perceived by God as Overcomers this being imputed “in Christ”. Let it be discerned by the seeker that Character cannot be imputed…but must be developed,….and that by the Word and The Holy Spirit in the consecrated Christian. “Wherefore let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” 1Cor 10:11,12 “….beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” 2Cor 6:1.

Thus the order of events are the removal and escape of the First-Fruits  (typed by Elijah and Enoch) caught up to heavenly Zion.

The Beast comes into full authority and manifestation of tremendous persecution. THE ripening of the HARVEST of Chapter 14 verses 9-13.

The Lord gathers The Harvest verse 15.
Matt24:30,31; 1Cor 15:51,52; 1Thess 4:15-17; Titus 2:13; Rev14:14-16.

AT THIS TIME WILL BE THE FIRST RESURRECTION OUT FROM AMONG THE DEAD.
The Marriage supper of the Lamb.

After a short interval the Lord Descends to the Mount of Olives, and destroys The Beast, and his armies. It is THE VINTAGE the great winepress of the Wrath of God (Rev14:17-20) who gathers and destroys His enemies in Israel where their blood runs bridal deep to a horse over a hundred sixty miles.

Christ establishes the Kingdom of the heavens on the earth.