3. The Four Views
Historicist Approach:
In general, the seven bowls of wrath find
fulfillment in the judgment upon the
papacy (Babylon), beginning with the
French Revolution and the Napoleonic
Wars and concluding yet in the future.
4. The Four Views
Preterist Approach:
The judgments of these bowls are largely
against Jerusalem, culminating in its fall in
A.D. 70, though the fifth bowl touches the
Roman Empire as well—probably
referring to the chaotic state of affairs that
prevailed after Nero’s suicide.
Alternatively, this section says nothing
about the fall of Jerusalem and refers
strictly to the judgment of God upon
pagan Rome.
5. The Four Views
Futurist Approach:
The bowls represent future global judgments
that, in their devastating effects, are
unparalleled in history.
These occur at the very end of the
Tribulation period, culminating in World War
III, or the Battle of Armageddon.
This war is the last battle to be fought by
mankind, and it will be ended by the
personal appearing of Christ as He comes to
establish His millennial kingdom.
6. The Four Views
Spiritual Approach:
There is a relationship between the bowl
judgments and the trumpet judgments.
The former may be a recapitulation of the
latter.
The principle distinction between the
trumpets and the bowls is that the former
are partial in their effects and serve to
warn the wicked of their spiritual danger,
whereas the latter are complete and
represent final judgment upon the
unrepentant.
7. The Four Views
Spiritual Approach (continued):
The same event in history may serve as a
trumpet judgment or for one person (a
mere warning) and as a bowl judgment for
another (final judgment, resulting in
death).
The disasters described recur in history
repeatedly.
8. Revelation 14
In chapter 14 the scene shifts from the short
lived victories of the false trinity, to the ultimate
triumph of Christ and His servants. Hinson
sums up this shift, saying, “Chapters 6-11
announced the prophetic message to the world
in general: ‘Bad news, you lose!’ Now the
message focuses on the people of God: ‘Good
news, we win!’”
The chapter is divided into three parts, each
beginning with the words “and I looked,” or “and
I saw.”
9. Revelation 14
The first part pictures the 144,000 with the
Lamb in heaven.
The second part is the pronouncement of
the fall of the government of the Antichrist
and a warning to the people of the earth to
fear and worship God rather than the
Antichrist.
The third part is a description of judgment
upon the earth.
10. Verse 1
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing
on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand, having His Father's name
written on their foreheads.
He sees “a Lamb standing on Mount Zion” The
Lamb is not the false prophet, who is really
more of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This Lamb is
the same Lamb identified in chapter 5, “a Lamb
as it had been slain” (5:6). This is none other
than Jesus Christ Himself.
11. Verse 1 (cont.)
Mount Zion refers either to:
Jerusalem, which by the first century was
collectively referred to as Zion (Aune).
To a heavenly place of power and authority
(Lahaye)
Or it is primarily symbolic, “the place of
God’s dwelling as a symbol of safety and
stability for his people” (Kistemaker).
12. Verse 1 (cont.)
Perhaps this is a vision of the literal Jerusalem, but
the Lamb is to be seen as spiritually standing on
Mount Zion with His people who are still physically
upon the earth. Just as Jesus is seen as walking
among the lampstands(2:1), He is here standing with
the redeemed of the Tribulation. Not physically, but
in His spiritual presence. This would be relevant for
the original readers, and a source of reassurance as
the church anticipates His return. In the face of
hostility toward the absolutes of the Christian
message we stand on the promise of Christ, “I am
with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mat.
28:20).
13. Verse 1 (cont.)
Sutton (2001) believes that this is a vision of
heaven and that the 144,000, along with
their converts, will be taken up into heaven
at the mid-point of the tribulation period. It is
for this reason, says Sutton, that the angels
instead of the 144,000 begin to take on the
role of pronouncing the gospel.
14. Verses 2-3
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of
many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And
I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3
They sang as it were a new song before the throne,
before the four living creatures, and the elders; and
no one could learn that song except the hundred and
forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the
earth.
These voices are the voices of the 144,000 who sing
a “new song.” It is a song, says John, that only the
144,000 could learn. Mounce says, “Only those who
have paid the full price of endurance in the faith are
equipped by experience to give voice to the
subsequent anthem of victory.”
15. Verse 4-5
4 These are the ones who were not
defiled with women, for they are virgins.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb
wherever He goes. These were redeemed
from among men, being firstfruits to God
and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth
was found no deceit, for they are without
fault before the throne of God.
16. Verses 4-5
1. They were not defiled with women, they are
virgins.
2. These are the ones who follow the Lamb
wherever He goes.
3. They were redeemed from among men.
4. They were the firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb.
5. In their mouth was found no deceit.
6. They are without fault before the throne of God.
17. Verses 6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to
those who dwell on the earth--to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud
voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs
of water."
Part two of this chapter begins with “I saw.”
What John saw was another angel. “Another,”
simply indicates that this angel is distinct from
any of the previous angels in the vision. This
angel comes with an announcement that is
referred to as “the everlasting gospel.”
18. Verses 6-7 (cont.)
The “gospel” is summarized as, "Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has
come; and worship Him who made heaven and
earth, the sea and springs of water."
So while the Antichrist is trying to get people to
worship him under the threat of death, the angel is
in midair declaring the everlasting gospel with a
loud voice. The angel is warning the world that the
hour of judgment has come. The sand is slipping
though the hourglass and the time has come to
choose.
19. Verse 8
8 And another angel followed, saying,
"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great
city, because she has made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication."
A second angel follows with the
declaration, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.”
Which leads one to ask who, or what, is
Babylon?
20. BABYLON
Some believe that it is literal Babylon, which will be
rebuilt and become a center of world commerce.
Hinson argues that the view that Babylon is the
ancient Babylon revived “over literalizes ‘Babylon’ in
the Revelation passages” and “misses the obvious
symbolism.” John “tells us that the ‘Babylon’ of the
Apocalypse is a symbolic name for Rome. He calls
it ‘mystery Babylon’ (17:5).” “Two thousand years of
church history verify that apocalyptic ‘Babylon’ is
Rome. It is either pagan Rome, papal Rom, or a
future revived Rome—but it is Rome!”
21. BABYLON
Babylon was a powerful symbol of anti-god
government. Babylon had invaded Israel
and had demolished the Temple. Likewise,
Rome had persecuted the Jews, and they
too had destroyed the Temple, but from a
Christian perspective, Rome was the source
of ongoing persecution against the church
and promoted the idea that the kingdom
itself was worthy of worship—something true
believers were not willing to do.
22. BABYLON
The message and the promise is that
just as historical Babylon fell, the Rome
of John’s day would fall, and any
revived form of Rome, whether it be a
revived Roman empire or merely
another world empire that elevates
itself to the level of worship and
allegiance at the expense of devotion
to God, will fall as well.
23. Verses 9-11
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his
image, and receives his mark on his forehead or
on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full
strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels and in the presence
of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest
day or night, who worship the beast and his
image, and whoever receives the mark of his
name.”
24. Verses 9-11 (cont.)
The warning in chapter 13 was that anyone
who did not take the mark of the beast would
face persecution from the beast and they would
not be able to buy or sell.
However, the warning here is that if anyone
does worship the beast and his image, or takes
the mark of the beast, he or she will face the
full strength of the wrath of God (full cup) which
will not just be for a lifetime, but for eternity.
25. Verses 12-13
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are
those who keep the commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes,"
says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them."
In contrast to those who will face eternal torment,
with no rest day or night, there are the saints.
The promise is that they who have obeyed the
Lord are blessed, even those who die in the Lord.
These believers will “rest from their labors, and
their works follow them.”
26. Verses 14-15
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud,
and on the cloud sat One like the Son of
Man, having on His head a golden crown,
and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And
another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on
the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap,
for the time has come for You to reap, for
the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So He
who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on
the earth, and the earth was reaped.
27. Verses 14-15 (cont.)
Next, we come to the subject of the harvest.
The question that arises here is whether two
separate types of harvests are being
described (namely, righteous and
unrighteous), or if only one harvest is being
described with two separate metaphors—
wheat and grapes (see verse 17). In
addition, the question is asked whether the
“son of man” is a reference to Christ, or to
yet another angel.
28. Verses 14-15 (cont.)
As to the identity of “the Son of Man,” the
evidence from within Scripture weighs heavily
in favor of identifying Him as Christ. Wilson
says that this “is clearly Jesus.” Kistemaker
notes that the reference to “Son of Man” is
taken from Daniel 7:13, 14, which appears to
be a clear reference to the coming Messiah and
His kingdom. Also, Jesus refers to Himself with
the title “Son of Man” in Mark 14:61-12.
29. Verses 14-15 (cont.)
The position that the “Son of Man” in Revelation 14:14
is Christ, is the position of most scholars. However, a
strong case for identifying him as an angel can be
made.
First, there is the rule of sevens. There are seven
seals, seven trumpets blown by seven angels, and
seven bowl judgments. If the “son of man” here in
verse 14 is an angel, then there would be seven
angels in chapter 14.
Second, there is the question as to whether Jesus
would have to take a command from an angel, as
opposed to receiving it directly from the Father.
Third, it is argued that Christ is nowhere pictured
with this type of crown any place else in Scripture.
30. Verse 17
17 Then another angel came out of the temple
which is in heaven, he also having a sharp
sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the
altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with
a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather
the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her
grapes are fully ripe.“
The sickle represents both harvest and
judgment. The wicked seed produces a harvest
of judgment. The time, in this vision, is right, the
harvest is fully ripe, and judgment is coming.
31. Verses 18-19
19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth
and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it
into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trampled outside the
city, and blood came out of the winepress, up
to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six
hundred furlongs.
The imagery is both frightening and graphic. It
is of humans being cut down like clusters of
grapes and their blood flowing into the streets in
rivers.
32. Verses 18-19 (cont.)
It would seem that this is hyperbole and not
a literal river of blood 180 miles long and
four feet high. The point is that the judgment
of God, withheld to this point only by the
mercies of God, will in fact come at the
appointed hour. Furthermore, the threats of
Satan and the anti-god world governments
do not even compare to the wrath of God
that will be executed upon a world that has
scoffed at God’s offers of redemption and
salvation.
33. Revelation 14: Conclusion
This chapter gives us some assurances and
some warnings. First, we are assured by the
witness of the 144,000 sealed saints that
those who have the seal of God upon their
head and heart will be spared from the wrath
to come. This does not insure immunity from
persecution, or even death on this earth, but
the assurance that death itself is already a
defeated foe and holds no power over the
believer who will merely use death as a
stepping-stone into eternal life.
34. Revelation 14: Conclusion
There is the assurance that no power on
earth—political, religious or military—can
match the might of an Almighty God. The
enemy may inflict pain and cause great
suffering, but as Paul says, “The sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us” (Rom 8:18-19, NKJV).
35. Revelation 14: Conclusion
There is the warning not to accept
momentary and temporal relief from trouble
and turmoil at the expense of eternity.
Those who worship the beast and his
image, and who take the mark of the beast,
may gain some respite from the
persecution at the hands of the enemy, but
they will gain an eternity in a place where
“the smoke of their torment ascends forever
and ever; and they have no rest day or
night.”
