Revelation 14:6-12 Messages of Hope

All around us today, there seems to be no hope. We are in the midst of a war with terror – more specifically a spiritual battle. We are engaged in a war with Islamic fundamentalists. These men are bent on destroying America and Israel.

But Revelation is not just a book of gloom and doom. It is meant to spur Christians to action. It is a book of hope. There are messages of hope in all chapters, but this chapter gives us a glimmer of hope as well.

In this passage of Scripture, we see that God clearly uses angels to thwart Satan’s plans. In the midst of the Tribulation and before the bowl judgements, lots of activity has occurred. The Antichrist rules. There is the False Prophet. The world has turned to the Antichrist and decided to follow him.

But there is hope. Evidently, some have not turned to the Antichrist. Perhaps they are in regions in the world where he cannot reach. Perhaps, he has not reached the whole world. Some people still have time to choose. So this angel goes up high in the sky where everyone can see, and proclaims the gospel.

There is a message of hope to all believers (v.6-7)

This message is proclaimed by an angel. There have been 144,000 Jewish evangelists who have become Christians and have taken the duty to tell as many people as they can about Christ. They are spread throughout the world. Satan will try to destroy them, but he will be unsuccessful.

Because there is the need for a gospel to save humanity, God will even send an angel to the whole world. This first angel has the task of preaching the gospel. He will be in the sky telling the whole world about Jesus. He will tell the whole world that there is still time to accept Jesus.

Imagine this: CNN is everywhere giving the news. During this time, CNN would cover this bit of news. The Antichrist would be furious and would try to kill this angel. But he knows that he cannot kill an angel of God. This angel becomes another way God gets His message of hope out to people.

God’s grace is so big even Satan cannot stop it. The Gospel is so strong that not even the “gates of hell” cannot prevail against it.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Will it take an angel during a time of personal persecution to get you to consider God’s love and strength?

There is a message of hope concerning the bad reign of Babylon (v.8).

During this time in Revelation, the seat of the Antichrist will be in Babylon. Babylon is modern day Baghdad, Iraq. It is no accident that we are engaged in a spiritual struggle with Saddam Hussein. He has been trying to recreate the glory of the kingdom of Babylon, like the time of Nebuchadnezzer.

As we saw in the previous chapter, Antichrist will set up his kingdom in Babylon. This is the spiritual center of the Antichrist’s reign.

There will be a spiritual center and a political/economic center. The Bible refers to a Babylon in both ways.

Spiritual Babylon Political/Economic Babylon

Is. 21:9 Is. 47:15

Jer. 51:7 Rev. 17:18

Rev. 14:8 Rev. 18:3

The Bible talks about these two Babylons and makes it clear that they will be under the control of Antichrist. The False Prophet Beast will rule in spiritual Babylon, and the World Leader Beast (Antichrist) will lead from Political Bablyon.

In some Old Testament scriptures, Babylon is used to represent Jerusalem. But this is nowhere alluded to in Revelation. Some people believe that because “Babylon” sits on seven hills (Rev. 17:9) that it will be Rome. This is possible. Since Babylon in Genesis 10 is the name of modern day Baghdad, then some think that Babylon will be ruled in that country.

The text could refer to a spiritual and political Babylon in the same place. This is possible. Many countries and empires in ancient Europe were ruled by the ceasr-pope system. There was a merger in the empires of the religious and political powers under one roof. This could come again.

But this time, this kingdom will not serve Christ. They will clearly not be a Christian spiritual leader, and clearly not a Christian political leader.

Let us look at the Bible says will happen. The angel announces that the present reign of Babylon will end. It is in the aorist tense which means that the end of Babylon is a certain future event. He is not just predicting it will happen. He is assuring us that in God’s eyes it has happened. There will be an end to this reign of terror.

The reason for her fall is her system will collapse. This is confirmed in Revelation 17:15-18. Here, the influence of this powerful religious and governmental system will fall. The power over Babylon will try to defeat Christ and will be unsuccessful. Then the 10 world kings will then hate Babylon and burn that city to the ground.

Who are the 10 world kings? I cannot say for sure. But they are headquartered in Babylon.

She has committed fornication. She has merged religious beliefs. Fornication is when you decide to have sex with someone other than your spouse. Actually fornication is any pre-marital sexual relationship – whether they be with female or male.

Here, the Bible is describing a spiritual fornication. This is when people turn from God and turn to another deity or idol for worship and belief. In Hosea, the people of Israel committed spiritual adultery. They left God for someone else. God was very angry and grieved about this. He told Hosea to marry a woman who had committed adultery and bring her back to himself – illustrating the love that God has for us.

The city of Babylon is the seat of this fornication. She will tempt the world to leave God for another religion. What kind of faith will this be? That is not described although there are hints.

First, the seat of this religious authority will be in Babylon. Some think this may be symbolic for Rome, or even Jerusalem. But I tend to this place is literal.
Second, this has happened before. A casual look at Genesis 11 will show that people came together to oppose God. “the land of Shinar” was the place of modern-day Babylon. The people wanted to “make a name for themselves” which is another way of saying worship themselves. Genesis 10:8-10 shows the leader to be Nimrod.
There is a description later of the kind of religion in Revelation 17:5. Babylon is called “the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations”. There are two descriptions here of a religious nature. A harlot is someone who has intimate relations with someone else than their spouse. The implication is that Babylon will house a worship that is not God. The second description, an abomination, is something that God hates. Every time He uses this word, it is when people put someone else before Himself. This religion will put someone else before God.
When you combine these images, I think that there will be a religious system that will focus on the worship of “Man.”

Look at all the self-help books in the shelves today. Look at the people who listen to Oprah Winfrey and her psychological friend. We are in a world that self-absorbed. We are absorbed with staying young, staying happy, and staying free – without any commitment to a God.

Even the name “self-help” implies a reliance of humanism and man’s efforts. We are own best doctor, psychiatrist, and pastor. We do not need the intervention of a transcendent, all-powerful, rule-giving God.

But the Bible makes it clear that this religious system will not last.

There is a message of hope concerning the bad influence of the Beast (v.9-12).

A third angel starts to pronounce judgment on the people who have been influenced by the Antichrist. The people who have followed the Antichrist will be noted by their mark.

Their allegiance to this world leader will be useless. They will follow a losing king. Their punishment is severe. This is a description of their destination – hell.

The wrath of God will be the judgement that these people will receive for following Antichrist. Because they have followed the wrong Christ, and not Jesus Christ, God will pour out judgement. This judgement is based on their own decision and commitment.

Look at what you get in exchange for following Antichrist:

Torment will be painful, with fire and brimstone.
The torment will be in the presence of everyone, including Christ.
The torment will be eternal.

This is the Book of Revelation’s description of Hell.

Now here is the catch, you will either follow Christ or Antichrist. You will have to make a decision. The reason you have to choose is shown in the next verse:

“here is the patience (steadfastness, endurance) of the saints; those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

This last verse points back to believers in Jesus Christ. You will endure if you choose Jesus. You will die in a painful, everlasting hell if you do not choose Jesus.

The implication in Revelation is that everyone will choose Antichrist, if they do not choose Jesus. That is why in earlier passages, it shows the influence of Antichrist:

Revelation 13:7-8 says “every tribe, tongue, and nation”; “all who dwell upon the earth.”

Revelation 13:14 says “he deceives those who dwell upon the earth.”

Revelation 13:16 says “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave.”

You are either with Jesus, or with Antichrist against Jesus.

You are either now with Jesus, or against Jesus.

But the message of hope is this: even in the midst of these painful experiences, God still sends a message of grace, and salvation. He does not abandon anyone that wants to choose Him during this time in Revelation 14. He certainly will not abandon you if you choose to accept Him today.