The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the Lord of Hosts will reign as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and He will display His glory in the presence of His elders. Mount Zion on the slopes of the north is the city of the great King.” Isaiah 24:33 adds, There in verse 6 we read, “I have consecrated My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 48:2 says that God’s holy mountain, “rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. However, I believe it is better to see this as earthly Jerusalem and a reflection of the beautiful messianic hymn of Psalm 2. Some believe this is heavenly Zion, based on Hebrews 12:22-24. These followers of Christ are dependent on God, loyal to God, owned by God, safe and secure in God. Both His name and the Father’s name are written, permanently inscribed, on their foreheads.
As there, I believe these are Jewish believers who belong to God and are protected by God. This is the same 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8. The Lamb is now standing on Mount Zion and with Him 144,000. The Redeemed Will Stand with Him Securely ( 14:1) Three glorious promises are ours to enjoy forever and ever. To this I would add, “Better to worship the Lamb who redeems and rewards than the beast who deceives and destroys.” John begins this chapter with his attention turned to the Lamb, the Lord Jesus, and His followers. Warren Wiersbe is certainly correct: “Better to reign with Christ forever, than to reign with Antichrist for a few years” ( Be Victorious, 112). Faithful Followers of Jesus Have a Glorious Future This chapter is a preview of coming attractions. They have the promise of heaven and glory whereas the followers of the beast have the certainty of judgment and hell ( 14:6-20). They sing the song of redemption ( 14:2-3) and follow after the Lamb in holiness and purity ( 14:4-5).
Now in three separate visions (see “I looked” or “I saw” in 14:1, 6, 14) we see the warrior Lamb standing on Mount Zion with his army of saints ( 14:1). He wars against the saints and overcomes them ( 13:7), takes authority over the whole earth ( 13:7), and puts to death those who will not worship him or bear his mark ( 13:15-18). There the beast, the antichrist, rises to power. Rise up, Judge of the earth repay the proud what they deserve.” The prayer of the psalmist is answered in Revelation 14, a text that stands in amazing contrast to chapter 13. In Psalm 94:1-2 we read, “ Lord, God of vengeance-God of vengeance, appear. However, the wrath of God is a thoroughly biblical concept we neglect or deny at our peril. One denomination recently refused to include the popular hymn “In Christ Alone” because it found offensive the line “When on the cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” They preferred to change the latter phrase to “the love of God was magnified.” The idea of wrath offends modern sensibilities. There is an old song called “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which begins with words that reflect the text before us: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The idea of God trampling out sinners in wrath is not a popular idea in our culture. The judgment will be universal and horrific ( 14:17-20).The judgment will be in glory and on time ( 14:14-16).Jesus Will Pour Out His Wrath on the Earth in Righteous Judgment ( 14:14-20).Believers will endure, obey, find rest, and be rewarded ( 14:12-13).Unbelievers can anticipate defeat, wrath, and eternal torment ( 14:8-11).
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