14:1-3 – “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
Reference here, is, of course, to Christ Jesus – the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36), and to the 144,000 elect saints (Rev. 7:4) which follow the Lamb “whithersoever he goeth.” (Rev. 14:7) It is to be carefully noted that instead of having been marked in their foreheads with the name and number of the Beast (Rev. 13:16, 17), these have the Father’s name written on theirs.… As the Redeemed from amongst men, and the “firstfruits” unto God, and to the Lamb, they follow him right into his, and their glory!
The 144,000 – The Faithful
“The faithful class is pictured to us in Rev. 7:3, 4; 14:1-5. These are the 144,000 who have the Father’s name in their foreheads. They sing the new song, which none can sing but these 144,000. Oh, we long to be among them! We cannot afford to be anywhere else. The outcome is all in our hands whether we succeed or fail, after God has given us his holy Spirit. It will be our own fault if we miss the kingdom. There will be no blame to attach to the Lord; for he has arranged for our continual cleansing day by day; and his loving, protecting providences are continually about us if we are trustful and obedient to the best of our ability.” (R5924:5)
“These are represented as standing with the Lamb on Mt. Zion, and singing the song which none but themselves could learn to sing. (Rev. 14:1-3) Again, these are represented as being with the Lamb, standing upon the sea of glass. (Rev. 15:2, 3) Thus in various ways this group seems to represent the very elect, the saintly few, the little flock, to whom it will be the Father’s good pleasure to give the Millennial Kingdom, as jointheirs with their Lord and Redeemer.” (R5231:5)
“The symbol of having the name written in the forehead, we believe, pictures something … definite.… While describing something that characterizes all of the ‘elect’ class throughout the Age, it seems to refer more especially to those who live in the period when the image of the beast is fully developed and acting. It appears to refer to some outward mark that will distinguish these from all others who profess the name of Christ, something that will make them conspicuous, even to the world at large.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Streeter, Vol. 2, p. 138)
The testimony of these, was to John, as a “voice from heaven,” and as the “voice of many waters.” Yet, only these from amongst the whole world of mankind, were able to sing this “song of redemption.” The music for this song was written in heaven, by the Father himself; therefore, the song is called “the Song of Moses and the Lamb” (Rev. 15:3); and thus is this testimony of the elect by word and by life, like a “voice from heaven.” Its being like unto “the voice of many waters,” is indicative of the fact that those who sing it, are from among many nations, kindreds and tongues. That it sounded like “a great thunder” signifies that it gives rise to controversies concerning the Word of Truth. Nevertheless, it was to John “the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.” That is, the harpers (the consecrated and elect saints) knowing well their instruments, sang as they played upon their harps (the Word of God); and the harmony of their well-tuned instruments together with their voices was so very sweet, John could hear its cadences above the roar of the “thunder.”
“The whole divine testimony must be in harmony, whether it be communicated by the Law, the prophets, the Lord or the apostles. Their entire harmony is the proof of their divine inspiration. And, thank God, we find that harmony existing, so that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments constitute what the Lord himself designates ‘the harp of God.’ (Rev. 15:2) And the various testimonies of the Law and the prophets are the several chords of that harp, which when tuned by the holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, and swept by the fingers of the devoted servants and searchers after divine truth, yields the most enchant- ing strains that ever fell on mortal ears. Praise the Lord for the exquisite melody of the blessed ‘song of Moses and the Lamb,’ which we learn through the testimony of his holy apostles and prophets, of whom the Lord Jesus is chief!” (F235)
These “harpers” (singers are they too) sang their new song “as it were before the throne … and the four beasts, and the elders,” that is to the honor, glory and praise of the Father, and the Son, in appreciation of the Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power, revealed in the prophetic
utterances and their fulfillment. And, as already sug- gested, “no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth!”
Yet, even now, such of these saints as are living in the end of this Gospel Age, are privileged to play upon the Harp¹ of God, and to sing, as none before them could:
The Song of Moses and The Lamb
Have you heard the new song
That most beautiful song,
The song which the saints now may sing
How the old harp of Moses,
And sweet flute of John
With harmonious melody ring?
‘Tis the song of the Lamb
Once by Moses foretold,
In the symbols and types of God’s law;
As the dawn of the day
Doth its symbols unfold,
We behold what we ne’er before saw.
O! what visions of glory
Are brought to faith’s view,
Of glory which all soon shall see;
For the great King of Glory
Shall make all things new,
And O! what rejoicing there’ll be.
Tune your voices, ye saints,
For this glorious strain,
And earth shall with melody ring;
Let the grand ‘harp of God’
Loudly swell the refrain,
For tributes of praise all may bring.
God’s Word is that harp,
Which has long been unstrung,
And men heard but discordant notes;
Now as tuned are its chords
From Moses to John,
How grandly sweet melody floats.
It will float o’er the world
In a rapturous strain,
Of glory and peace and good will,
And all then shall hear
And may join the refrain
And joy shall the hearts of all thrill.
Hymns of Dawn, 79
1 The ten strings of this Harp are as follows: (1) The Perfect Creation; (2) The Permission of Evil; (3) Divine Condemnation; (4) The Abrahamic Covenant; (5) The Law Covenant; (6) The Ransom Sacrifice; (7) The Resurrection; (8) The Election; (9) The New Covenant; (10) Restitution (Restoration)! (See Psa. 33:1-4; 92:1-4; 144:1-3; Rev. 5:6-10; 14:1-3; 15:2-4)
The 144,000 Standing With the Lamb on Mount Sion
This is, of course, as God sees them, in the finished picture, actually standing with the Lamb, as the glorified Church, on Mount Sion! However, it is similar to the picture Jahweh gives us of the glorified “priest” in Leviticus 8, arrayed in garments of glory and beauty before he has done a bit of sacrificing on the altar of burnt-offering (See T38); for as Revelation rolls along, we see the same class in Revelation 15:1-3, singing, the “song of Moses and the Lamb” while still standing on the sea of glass – mingled with fire! Commenting on this latter, Bro. Russell had this to say:
“These overcomers sing a song. A song symbolizes a beautiful and harmonious expression. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb. That is, the song, or preaching of these overcomers is in perfect accord with the Law and the Gospel. It is the same which Jesus (the ‘Lamb’) taught, and which Moses taught in the Law and types. Not only does the description of the overcomers indicate that they are but a little fragment of the nominal Church, but the words of the song teach us the same – that the class who proclaim these things are few.”(R497:3)
The 144,000 Standing on Mount Zion
These are the ones that are referred to by Obadiah, the prophet, when he says, “… saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.” (Obad. 21)
Yes, “saviors” shall come up on mount Zion.… The Lamb will be the Redeemer (for he took away “the sin of the world” – John 1:29); but with him there shall be the 144,000 “saviors” who had consecrated their all (were “baptized for the dead.” – 1 Cor. 15:29)
“… into death with Christ, baptized for the dead, to the intent that we may by and by be associated with him as the Life-giver of the world – the Seed of Abraham.” (F456)
The 144,000 = “Male-Child” (Man-Child) of Isa. 66
Isa. 66:7 – “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.”
These 144,000 (of Rev. 7:3, 4) are the sharers in the First Resurrection, upon whom the Second Death will have no power. (Rev. 2:11; 20:6) They are the “man child” born of Zion (nominal Christendom) before her travail.
“The symbolic travail, in the above prophecy, is a reference to the great time of trouble – the travail that is to come upon the nominal Gospel church, great ‘Babylon,’ from which some are to be counted worthy to escape. (Luke 21:36) …
“The travail that is coming is to be upon nominal Zion – ‘Christendom,’ ‘Babylon’; and it will be a great and sore affliction – ‘a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.’ But the marvelous thing the Prophet here has to record is that a man- child is to be born out of Zion before this travail comes. This is a striking reference to the fact, elsewhere clearly taught, that the ripe wheat of the Gospel church is to be separated from the tares, that they are to be exalted and glorified before the burning, the consuming trouble, shall come upon the latter. This man-child is, therefore, the little flock – the true Zion in God’s estimation, the body of Christ; as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Zion (the nominal Gospel church) the deliverer (the Christ, Head and body), and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (the fleshly Israel or Zion).’ (Rom. 11:26)
“This is the man-child that is to bless all the families of the earth. (Gen. 28:14; Gal. 3:16, 29) The birth of the man-child is the first resurrection. Such are now begotten of God by the Word of truth, and quick- ened by the holy spirit (Jas. 1:18; Eph. 2:1; Rom. 8:11), and in due time – before the travail – they will be born in the glorious likeness of Christ. The birth of this man-child began over eighteen hundred years ago with the resurrection of Christ Jesus. There the head of this body of Christ came forth; and as surely as the Head has been born, so surely shall the body come forth. ‘Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb? saith thy God.’ (Isa. 66:9) Ah, no: ‘the man-child,’ the Christ complete, the great Deliverer, shall come forth.
“Yet ‘who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things?’ for not only shall the body of Christ, the true overcoming Zion, the ‘holy nation, the peculiar people,’ be delivered out of nominal Zion, before the travail; but when she travails, a great company of other children will be born. This is the great company described in the Apocalypse as coming up out of the great tribulation, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:14) The body of Christ, the man-child, born before the travail, will be composed of those who heard and obeyed the call, ‘Come out of her, my people,’ etc. (Rev. 18:4) and who were counted worthy to have part in the first resurrection; while the many children born through the great tribulation will be those believers in nominal Zion, Babylon, who have allowed themselves to become measurably intoxicated by the spirit of Babylon, the spirit of the world, and who, therefore, are not quick to discern and prompt to obey the voice of the Lord in this harvest time, and consequently fail to understand the separating work which the sickle of present truth is accomplishing, regarding those servants of God who wield it as enemies, and hence as opposing them and the Lord whom they serve.” (R1648:1; 1649:2)
14:4, 5 – “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
In the Scriptures, a woman is often used to symbolize the Church as the bride-to-be, a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 11:2), but a woman is also used to symbolize the unfaithful Church, which commits fornication with the kings of the earth – the Harlot; and also of her “daughters.” (Rev. 17:1-5) Identification with the latter bespeaks defilement. The “harpers” (the true saints of God) who play upon their “instruments” and sing the heavenly music, are not so defiled, for they continually look unto Jesus, and follow him, as the Lamb of God, “withersoever he goeth”; they are the “redeemed from among men” – the “firstfruits” unto God and the Lamb.
“… a woman is always the symbol used for a church separate from its head and lord. The true Church is symbolized by a ‘chaste virgin,’ while the apostate church, which has fallen away from primitive purity and fidelity to the Lord, is symbolically called ‘a harlot’.” (B277)
“Blessed are those whose eyes can see that Jesus was indeed ‘the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world’; that the cancellation of the world’s sin is to be effected by the payment of man’s penalty, by the application of Jesus’ sacrificial merit in due time for the sins of all mankind. Only the church have as yet received of the merit of Jesus’ death. Greatly favored are those who can see that as the whole world lost divine favor and came under divine sentence of death, with its concomitants of sorrow and pain, so it was necessary that a satisfaction of justice should be made before this sentence, or cause, could be removed; and that therefore, as the Apostle declares, ‘Christ died for our sins’ – ‘the Just for the unjust,’ that he might bring us back to God. Thus he opened up a new way – a way of life everlasting.
“The Scriptures call the Church of Christ, ‘the church of the first-borns,’ ‘a kind of first-fruits unto God of his creatures,’ ‘the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb.’ (Heb. 12:23; Jas. 1:18; Rev. 14:4) These expressions imply that ultimately there will be others of God’s family later born; they imply after-fruits.” (R5869:6; 5870:1)
These selfsame saints of God, are pure and guileless – like unto little children, i.e., childlike, meek, lowly and teachable. And, they are very careful to see that no word proceeds out of their mouth, save that which is intended to build up and edify the brethren. (Eph. 4:29) This is the state or condition which they attain ere they are glorified to sit upon the throne of the heavens. Their hearts are right, and God, before whose throne they have a standing, considers them as being without guile, and faultless. (Num. 23:21)
14:6, 7 – “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
For John, the scene now changes. He sees another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto all peoples.
This, “another angel,” like some that preceded him, represents the fact that the time and the circumstances were exactly right for the propagation of this Gospel to all men. While this Gospel had already been given by God to some of the ancients who had the requisite faith, e.g., Abraham (Gal. 3:8); this grace was limited to the fleshly “seed” of Abraham, the Jewish nation, Israel, until the time their “seventy weeks” of special favor (Dan. 10:24) ended. Then, in obedience to the declaration of Jesus, his disciples began carrying this very Gospel into all the world “for a witness.” (Compare Matt. 24:14 with Matt. 28:19) The purpose then being, the calling out of the true “seed” of blessing; nor did this involve the immediate judgment of the world of mankind. This particular witness, in a sense began at the end of Israel’s seventieth “week” – that is, in the Spring of A.D. 36. But tThis preaching is not the one here referred to (Rev. 14:6), for, let it be noted, the latter was identified with the world’s “hour of judgment” (Rev. 14:7) – commencing at the end of the Gospel age, and taking in all of the Millennium!
It is true that some of this preaching to the world of mankind, began in the Harvest of the Gospel age, by some of the “feet members” still sojourning in the flesh; yet, this preaching is more particularly the ministry of the glorified Christ, throughout the Millennial age.
“… we find, that the message which God has sent us, preaching peace and life by the blood of the cross to every one that believeth is indeed the central good tidings. And since it shall be testified to all in due time, we see, how it will be good tidings ‘to all people.’ This is the ‘everlasting (good news) gospel,’ mentioned in the symbol of Rev. 14:6. It already is being sounded forth and must during the Millennial age now dawning, reach every nation and kindred and tongue and people.” (R924:3)
“The judgment seat of Christ does not come into existence until his thousand-year reign begins; and the krisis or the krises day does not begin until the dead come out of their graves, and Christ sits on his own throne. (John 5:29; Rev. 14:7)” (R2425:3-6¹)
To the world of mankind, released from the great prison house of death, this message – the glad tidings of redemption, so loudly proclaimed (everyone will hear it) – will be the means of instilling in them a sincere reverence and worship of Jehovah, causing them also, to glorify and praise him, the Creator of their new heavens and new earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13)
As time goes on, this world of mankind will gradually learn to read God’s other Book – the Book of Nature; and find therein that all physical phenomena are the reflection of the greater spiritual law! They will “see” new beauties in the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the fountains of water! And, perhaps, like David of old, they too will say, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament his handiwork; day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth forth knowledge” (Psa. 19:1) or “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?” (Psa. 8:3, 4)
14:8 – “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
Here we are told of another, a second angel, following the first. Again, the significance is that time and circumstances were ready for the event now to take place –the proclamation of the fall of Babylon.
As suggested, the preceding angel’s message began to be preached in the end of the Gospel age, during the Harvest period. The second angel’s proclamation, which is sequential to the first, also began in the same period, but later.
“We … see very clearly that the nominal church of the Gospel age is Babylon (the confused, mixed condition of worldly-mindedness and lukewarm Christianity), described in Rev. 18:2, 4.
“The ‘spewing out’ (Rev. 3:16), or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878 … the date of Babylon’s fall.… Since then we feel ourselves led of the Spirit, through the unfolding of the word of truth, to say in the name of the Lord, to all God’s true children in Babylon: ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues.’ (Rev. 18:4) This seems to accord wonderfully with the second message, ‘Babylon is fallen.’ (Rev. 14:8)” (R474:6)
The reason given for “Babylon’s” fall and rejection: “because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Fornication, i.e. illicit inter- course, here means worldly affiliation! This is the “wine” with which she made all nations “drunk.”
“False teachings concerning the character and mission of the Church, and the claim that the time for her exaltation and reign had come (and particularly after the great boom of success which her worldly ambition received in the time of Constantine, when she claimed to be the Kingdom of God set up to reign in power and great glory), led many into Babylon, who would never have united with her had she continued in the narrow way of sacrifice. Pride and ambition led to the grasping of worldly power by the early Church. To obtain the power, numbers and worldly influence was necessary. And to obtain the numbers, which, under present conditions, the truth never would have drawn, false doctrines were broached, and finally obtained the ascendancy over all others; and even truths which were still retained were disfigured and distorted. The numbers came, even to hundreds of millions, and the true Church, the wheat, still but a ‘little flock,’ was hidden among the millions of tares. Here, as sheep in the midst of devouring wolves, the true embryo Kingdom of God suffered violence, and the violent took it by force; and, like their Lord in whose footprints they followed, they were despised and rejected of men, men of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (C164)
The “Cup” of the “Apostate Woman”
“… there is a spiritual intoxication, the spirit of error. All the world are intoxicated with this spirit. All Christendom has been made drunk with the wine which comes from the golden cup mentioned in Revelation, which the apostate woman, has held out for all to drink. he cup is filled with false doctrines. These false doctrines were her mixture. Thank God! the intoxication of these is passing away, and we are able to see more clearly than ever before. But we see many who are still intoxicated.” (R5633:2)
14:9-11 – “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
1 Quote from a letter by M. L. McPhail to Bro. Russell, with the evident endorsement of the latter.
Here again, the appearance of the third angel evidenced the fact that time and circumstances were now most favorable to the proclamation of the third message.
The third message was a warning as to what would be the fate of those who failed to regard the second message, “Come out of her, my people.” Should they really be the spiritual Israel of God, they would not only find the creeds and doctrines of nominal Christendom quite uncomfortable, because they do not “fit,” but the fellowship, within its confines would leave very much to be desired. The very fact that message number three, followed number two, is an assurance that some of the Lord’s people would remain in Babylon after its fall.
“The third message (Rev. 14:9-11) was that concerning the worshipers of the Beast and his Image, showing the nominal church in the colors in which the Word of God paints it, pointing out how all who remain in her, either in spirit or name, in opposition to the Word of God, saying, ‘Come out of her,’ will be subjected to torment and vexation so long as they are worshiping creeds and doctrines and organizations of men, the remembrance of which distress (smoke of torment) will never be forgotten.” (R475:1)
It will have been noted that this third angel followed the other two in sequence, also during the harvest of the Gospel age.
“As with the preceding two, so with this third message, it could not have been more accurately fulfilled than it was. All three … as special messages in the sense referred to in the prediction of the Revelator, they all had been given before the fall of 1881, and this was the time which corresponded with the end of the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.” (R475:2)
Note: It is possible that the holy Spirit used the very early editions of the Watch Tower, to promulgate these three messages (Rev. 14:6-9; See R475:2) This much is certain, the messages were reiterated in the subsequent publication of Scripture Studies (originally known as Millennial Dawn) volumes 1-6!
14:12,13 – “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”
According to the Bible Chronology, the sleeping saints were resurrected in the Spring of 1878. Since that time, those remaining in the flesh, patiently, have been looking forward to their own “change” in the twinkling of an eye to glory, honor and immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-53); yea, in patience they have been possessing their souls. (Luke 21:19)
The Blessedness … Dead … Die … Henceforth
“Through the testimony of God’s Word we under- stand that the resurrection began in 1878; not that we saw anything by the natural sight of the eyes, but through the eyes of our understanding we recognized that the time had come for that great transaction, the first resurrection, as far as the sleeping saints were concerned; and we understand that there commenced the time mentioned by the writer of Revelation, when he declared, ‘Blessed are they who die in the Lord from henceforth,’ marking a particular time, before which it would not be a blessing to die, but after which it would be a blessing. ‘From henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.’ (Rev. 14:13)
“That particular time came, we believe, in 1878; then, not only the apostles were awakened, but all the faithful in Christ Jesus, all the sleeping members of the body of Christ. That was the beginning of the resurrection of the body of Christ – the Lord judging among his people first, before the judgment of the world. He foretold that when he would come he would call his own servants and reckon with them – not with the world – giving reward to those of his Church who had gone before, giving them part in the first resurrection, and then afterward dealing with us ‘who are alive and remain,’ so that each one of us who are of the Lord’s people, may at death be ‘changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,’ during the sounding of the last trumpet – the seventh.” (R5566:5)
“It signifies that from the time of the beginning of the reaping of the ‘harvest’ of this age by the crowned reaper (the Spring of 1878), there will be a wonderful blessing not previously possible, upon the certain class described. From this particular date onward those of this particular class who die will be favored or blessed in a manner in which none of the preceding members of this same class were blessed; namely, in that their death will not interrupt their works, which will continue right along, the labor and weariness alone ceasing, the work itself continuing under more glorious and more favorable conditions.” (R2982:3)
While many of their trials have been the result of the changes taking place in the world as the great “time of trouble” advances (Matt. 24:21), the severest trials have come as a result of the judgment beginning with the “house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17); and the shaking of all things that can be shaken (Heb. 12:27); but they have been warned that when “iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Herein too, lies the patience of the saints, for they continue to press on for the prize of their “high-calling of God in Christ Jesus”
(Phil. 3:14), keeping the commandments of their Lord, and their faith centered in Christ Jesus.
“Since then we are in the time of patient waiting for our ‘change’ described in verse 12 … it was in the fall of 1881 that, for the first time, we were able to read understandingly the words, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth.’ Evidently the blessing is to the members of the Christ now living.
“But, we inquire, in what respect will death be a blessing to us now? We answer, that now we shall not sleep, but we will be instantly invested with our heavenly (spiritual) bodies, being changed in a moment, dropping all that is human and earthly, and being clothed with our heavenly condition. In the case of Jesus, there were nearly three days of sleep – the unclothed, unconscious, dead condition between the times when the earthly body was resigned and the heavenly body was received. Paul and others have been nearly two thousand years waiting ‘unclothed,’ or ‘asleep in Jesus,’ and this is one of the principal reasons why death was undesirable even to Christians. We don’t wish to be unclothed, even for a moment, but we do desire to be clothed upon, or to have the change an instantaneous one. (1 Cor. 15:52)
“Herein consists the blessing to those of the body now taken. Death to the human will be instantaneous with the perfecting of the divine nature, hence it will be a blessed ‘change.’ Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; but their works follow with them.’
“To the class thus ‘blessed’ there will be no interruption of work. Already dead to the world and alive toward God, their work is in harmony with the kingdom work now going on, and they merely step to their higher plane of ‘divine’ perfection and power, and there continue the same work. It is only the labor (toil) incident to the mortal body – the frail ‘earthen vessel’ which ceases. Not so highly favored in this regard was the lot of any of the members of ‘the body’ which preceded us. Quite a period elapsed in Paul’s case between sufferings and glory. When he had fought the good fight and finished his course he looked forward, not to a change in a moment, but to a sleep from which he would be awakened to receive his reward in the kingdom. So he expresses his hope ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of life which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.’ (2 Tim. 4:8)” (R475:4)
14:14,15 – “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
The Sickle and The Harvest
“The sickle is suggestive of harvest time and harvest work. In this instance it doubtless represents what is generally termed, Harvest Truth. The golden crown symbolizes the Divine nature and authority of the kingly Reaper. The vision describes in a general way the work of gathering the ripe fruitage of the Gospel Age – the saints, who are to be united to Christ as His Bride. This is briefly, but very comprehensively described in the symbolic words: ‘And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.’ (Rev. 14:16)” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Streeter – Vol. 2, p. 211)
“Now, in the ‘harvest’ of this age, God causes the light to shine more clearly, for the reason that he is making the truth his ‘sickle’ by which he will separate wheat from tares completely and finally. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand – that you be not among the thousands to fall in this time of trial. (Psa. 91:7,11,12)” (R981:5)
Judgment Beginning at the House of God!
“… we have found also that the forepart of this day of trouble, will be a special time of peculiar trouble and trial, testing and sifting upon the church; for – The judgments of this day ‘must begin with the house of God.’ We see this sifting and shaking in progress all about us in the nominal church, and still more intensely among those who occupy a still higher position and enlightenment through the knowledge of present truth.” (R4077:3)
14:16 – “And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”
This bespeaks the Lord’s second presence; and that the world of mankind cannot see him, save figuratively, in the clouds of the “time of trouble.”
“Men see the clouds and, therefore, see him coming in the clouds with power and great glory (the glory of power and justice), but they do not recognize him. Not until the clouds have let fall hail stones and coals of fire (Psa. 18:12, 13) to batter down men’s pride, and selfishness, and prejudices, and consume these, will the clouds disappear, and reveal the full majesty and glory of Christ’s presence …
“‘Behold, he cometh with clouds,’ (Rev. 1:7), and in due time ‘every eye shall see (discern) him,’ shall recognize his presence, power and authority.” (B152)
As suggested, “clouds” in the Scriptures often are the symbols of the “time of trouble”; and “clouds of trouble are heavy and dark.” (B152) Here, however, the cloud is said to be white. It evidently still signifies trouble; but being associated with the presence of the Lord (one like unto the Son of man, sitting upon it), it betokens that the trouble is incidental to the establishment of his kingdom of righteousness in the earth!
“This harvest, like the Jewish one, is to be first a time of trial and sifting upon the Church, and afterward a time of wrath or pouring out of the ‘seven last plagues’ upon the world, including the nominal Church. The Jewish Church was the ‘shadow’ or pattern on the fleshly plane. That which tried fleshly Israel in the harvest of their age was the TRUTH then presented to them. The truth then due was the sickle, and it separated the ‘Israelites indeed’ from the nominal Jewish Church; and of the true wheat there was but a fragment compared to the professors. So also is the harvest of this age. The harvest of the Gospel age, like that of the Jewish age, is under the supervision of the chief reaper, our Lord Jesus, who must then be present. (Rev. 14:14) The first work of our Lord in the harvest of this age will be to separate the true from the false. The nominal Church, because of her mixed condition, the Lord calls ‘Babylon’ confusion; and the harvest is the time for separating the different classes in the nominal Church, and for ripening and perfecting the wheat class.” (A238)
“… the recognition of the harvest work in actual process is proof of the Lord’s presence, since he declared that he would be the chief reaper and director of the entire work, and that this would be his first work. – ‘Behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.… And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.’ – ‘In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, gather’ etc. (Rev. 15:14, 16; Matt 13:30)” (B150)
14:17-20 – “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”
Two other “angels” enter in upon the scene: one, as it were coming out of the temple in heaven; the other from the altar. Only the former had a sharp sickle. Evidently, time and circumstances were just right for another reaping, different to be sure, from that to be accomplished by the “one like unto the Son of man” that sits upon a white cloud. Yet, it seems evident too, that it is the selfsame agency that is to accomplish this reaping also! Is not our Lord Jesus, the Chief Reaper, the one who on leaving his disciples, promised that his going away was merely so that he might prepare a place for them, that he would return to gather them unto himself, so that where he was to be eternally, they might be also? (John 14:3) And is he not also the one who has received both power and authority from the Temple Court (where also the altar is located) of the great Jehovah, not only to avenge the blood of his saints (Rev. 19:3), but also to gather together, and utterly to destroy, the great Harlot system and her paramours, with all that is evil and iniquitous in the whole earth. (2 Thes. 1:7-10) Thus there is but one harvest period, but in it, two harvestings (reapings) will be accomplished.
“This harvest period not only accomplishes the separation of wheat from tares in the nominal Gospel church, and the gathering and glorification of the wheat class, but it is also to accomplish the burning (destruction) of the tares, (or imitation wheat – not as individuals; the fire of destruction is symbolic as well as the tares), and the gathering and destruction of the corrupt fruitage of ‘the Vine of the earth’ (human ambition, greed and selfishness), which has been growing and ripening for centuries in the kingdoms of this world and the various civil and social organizations among men.” (B104)
“‘I am the true vine,’ institutes a comparison, and suggests to the mind a counterfeit or false vine; and this reminds us of the fact that our Lord, through this same writer, subsequently explained that there would be two harvests – a gathering of the fruit of the true Vine, and subsequently a gathering of the ‘vine of the earth.’ (Rev. 14:18-20) If … the true Vine represents the true church, then the vine of the earth represents a false church, an untrue, ungenuine one.” (R2464:6)
“Great is the vine of the earth, wonderful in the eyes of men. But the harvesting time will show that these nominal systems are not the vine of Jehovah’s right hand planting (Isa. 60:21), and it is, therefore, the system which the Lord declares he will utterly uproot and destroy, and whose destruction is so graphically described in Revelation. In the winepress of the wrath of God, in the great time of trouble which is nearing – which we believe the Scriptures to teach will be fully upon the world (soon) – the blood of Babylon’s grapes will mean a flood of trouble and anguish to the world. By that time, however, the true vine and its branches will all have been glorified, and the results of their proper fruit-bearing will mean blessings to all the families of the earth.” (R3544:3)
“The treading of the winepress is the last feature of harvest work. The reaping and gathering is all done first. So this treading of the winepress of the wrath of God into which ‘the vine of the earth’ (the false vine, which has misappropriated the name Christian and Christ’s Kingdom) is cast when its iniquitous clusters are fully ripe (Rev. 14:18-20), represents the last work of this eventful ‘harvest’ period. It pictures to our minds the last feature of the great time of trouble which shall involve all nations, and of which we are so abundantly forewarned in the Scriptures.
“The fact that the King of kings is represented as treading the winepress ‘alone’ indicates that the power exerted for the overthrow of the nations will be divine power, and not mere human energy. It will be God’s power that will punish the nations, and that will eventually ‘bring forth judgment (justice, righteousness, truth) unto victory.’ ‘He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips (the force and spirit of his truth) shall he slay the wicked.’ (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 19:15; Psa. 98:1)” (D18)
The Vine of the Earth
“… we have shown that the harvest of the Gospel age is already come; that it began in 1874, when the presence of the Lord of the harvest was due; and that, while a great harvest work has been in progress ever since that date, we are now fast nearing the latter end of the harvest period, when the burning of the tares and the gathering and treading of the fully ripe clusters of the ‘vine of the earth’ (the matured fruits of the false vine – ‘Babylon’) are due. (Rev. 14:18-20)” (D51)
“The vine of the earth is the nominal Christian system organized along the lines of earthly wisdom. Its branches are the various sects and parties of Christendom. Its fruitage is cathedrals, temples, tabernacles, chapels, orphanages, hospitals, etc., political power, honor of men, wealth and social standing. It is great and influential in the world and has the spirit of the world running through its branches and governing all of its affairs, and brings forth a fruitage which is not entirely bad, but which is entirely earthly, and which is relished and appreciated because it is earthly and practical rather than heavenly. The vine has grown wonderfully, has some three hundred branches and claims four hundred million adherents, and through its untold wealth of property and its adherents it may be said to practically control the wealth of the world.” (R3544:3)
The Horses Bridles and the 1600 furlongs
We have been unable to find any exegesis of this passage anywhere, which we deem satisfactory. Nor can we find that Bro. Russell ever commented on it. Until we learn more about its true significance, may we suggest that it reflects the completeness of the overthrow, and utter destruction of all that is evil, or would be inimical to the establishment of God’s Kingdom of righteousness in the earth.
“Take another prophetic testimony. (Zeph. 1:7-9, 14-18) ‘The Lord hath prepared a slaughter, he hath bid his guests. (Compare Rev. 19:17) And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s slaughter that I will punish the princes and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed in imported clothing. And I will inflict punishment (also) on all those (marauders) who leap over the threshold on that day, who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.’ (This shows not only that there will be a great overthrow of wealth and power in this time of trouble, but that those who will for the time be the instruments of heaven in breaking down present systems will also be punished for their equally unjust and unrighteous course; for the coming trouble will involve all classes, and bring distress upon all the multitude.)” (A315)