Read Revelation 14:1–5
Questions from the Scripture text: What did John do in Revelation 14:1? What did he see? Where was the Lamb standing? How many were with Him? What did they have written where? What did John hear (Revelation 14:2)? From where? What was this voice like (cf. Revelation 1:15; Ezekiel 43:2)? What else did he hear? What were these harps accompanying (Revelation 14:3)? What sort of song (cf. Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1, Psalm 98:1)? Before what did they sing it? Before whom? Who could learn it? With what had they not been defiled (Revelation 14:4)? Whom did they follow? Where? What had been done to them? As what were they offered unto Whom? What was not found in their mouth (Revelation 14:5)? Why not?
Who is winning in the age of the dragon? Revelation 14:1–5 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, even as the dragon rages through his beasts, the Lamb reigns for and with His sealed multitude.
In the previous chapter, we saw the dragon (Satan) and his beasts (the political and religious powers in the world). They rage and plot, and they seem to be winning (cf. Psalm 2:1–3). But chapter 14 zooms out so that we can see the whole picture. It zooms far enough out that we can now see and hear Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1). He Who sits in heaven laughs (cf. Psalm 2:4), for He has set His Christ (anointed) on Mount Zion (cf. Psalm 2:6).
The raging of the devil and the worldly political/religious powers can be seen in the images that are used for them (dragon and beasts). The Christ is gentle and quiet by contrast (cf. Isaiah 42:1–3, Matthew 12:16–20), because His genuine strength needs no such demonstrativeness to rule the world (cf. Isaiah 42:4, Matthew 12:21). So He is pictured here (as is done often in this book) as a Lamb (Revelation 14:1). He need not rage. The power of His mere Word is described here as of many waters and thunder (Revelation 14:2b).
Those who are His may not be the majority in the world, but they are a complete and great multitude. They are a complete multitude: the church throughout the ages, including both the administration before Pentecost (twelve patriarchs) and after (twelve apostles). Here, however, it is not merely additive (twelve plus twelve, as represented in the twenty-four elders) but multiplicative (twelve times twelve). And the number is not merely complete but great (one thousand times the twelve times twelve!).
They are not only a complete multitude and a great multitude, but a secure multitude. They are the sealed (cf. Revelation 7:3–4), having the name of the Lamb (not in NKJ, but in the Majority Text) and of His Father on their foreheads. They have been marked by the triune Name of the triune God, and the Spirit has brought them to kiss the Son (cf. Psalm 2:12), in submission to the Father (cf. Psalm 2:6–11). This is signified to us by our water baptism in the Name “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” And its reality is produced in us when Jesus pours out His Spirit upon us to give us life to believe in Him, and then makes His Spirit to dwell in us. The indwelling Spirit makes us to call the Father “Abba” (cf. Romans 8:14–15) and to know and enjoy our union with the Son (cf. Romans 8:16–17).
The fruit of that genuine mark (Revelation 14:3b) is evident in the praise (verse 3a) and purity (Revelation 14:4a–b) of the redeemed (verse 4c). The melody in the worship under Christ is not played upon stringed instruments, but rather grace in the hearts of the singing congregation (cf. Ephesians 5:19 “melody in your heart” with Colossians 3:16 “grace in your hearts). When you sing Christ’s Word with His grace in your heart, you enjoy His and your triumph over the dragon and his worldly powers (and any believer who has sung the Psalms has experienced this!). The fruit of the genuine mark is evident in their praise.
The fruit of the genuine mark is also evident in their purity. The unconverted are especially defiled by seventh commandment violation (Revelation 14:4a), but these sealed are not defiled, because they are pure/single-minded in following the Lamb (verse 4b). The unconverted are especially marked by speaking falsehood (Revelation 14:5), but these sealed use their mouths as those whose mouths are consecrated/dedicated especially unto God’s worship (verse 5b, cf. James 3:6–10). When your commitment to Jesus precludes sexual sin, you enjoy His and your triumph over the dragon and his worldly powers. When your commitment to using your mouth for worship precludes being a speaker of falsehood, you enjoy Christ’s and your triumph over the dragon and his worldly powers. Dear believer, this is the triumphant life in Christ: a Psalm-singing, sexually pure, truthfully speaking life, following the Lord Jesus in whatever He says and does!
Whereas the mark of the beast was demanded of the world to participate in the power of the dragon and the beasts, the mark of the Lamb belongs to those whose lives show forth the power of Him Who sits on the throne and the Lamb. They are not in the majority. They are not ferocious. Yet, they overcome. They overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives even unto death.
Following the Lamb may get you killed in the beastly world. But following the Lamb also brings you all the way home to the heavenly Zion (cf. Hebrews 12:22) with all of that triumphant company (cf. Hebrews 12:22–24). He often takes us in directions that are most undesirable to our flesh, but those genuinely sealed by the triune God “are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:4).
How are you triumphing in Christ in your Psalm-singing? How are you triumphing in Christ through commitment to sexual purity? How are you triumphing in Christ through maintaining godly speech? Why shouldn’t you be intimidated by Satan or his worldly powers?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how we have been intimidated by the political and religious powers through which Satan rages. And forgive us for how we have not recognized the power of the Lamb in His Word. Make us to know that power. Fill our heart with His praise. Consecrate our mouths to the truth, as those who belong before His throne. Forgive us for those parts of following Him from which we have shrunk. Make us to follow Him wherever He goes, for we ask it through His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH244 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”