Rev 14.1-20 will give us a basic overview of the seven year Birth-pains, similar to Isaiah chapters 26 and 27.
v 1…And I looked, and behold the Lamb (Yeshua) was standing on Mount Zion (Zion means “mark” and after discussing those who have rejected Messiah and taking a “mark” in their hand and forehead in 13.16, meaning non-Torah observant, we now discuss those who take the name of God on their foreheads, meaning they are Torah observant-Eph 4.30) and with him 144,000, having his name and the name of his Father (the Hebrew letter “shin”) written on their foreheads (the seat of comprehension, and idiom meaning “Torah observant” and have a Torah-based faith in Yeshua).
v 2… And I heard a voice from heaven (a “bat kol” meaning “daughter of the voice” which is feminine in Hebrew. It alludes to the Shekinah, meaning “presence” which is also feminine, and the Ruach Ha Kodesh which is also feminine, meaning Holy Spirit), like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps (harps is an idiom for “hearts”-Psa 49.4-teachers teaching the true Word of God).
v 3…And they sang a new song (usually in Scripture “new song” is written in Hebrew in the feminine “chadash shirah”, but in Psa 96.1 and 98.1 it is written in the masculine “chadash shir” meaning the Messiah has come and greater revelation. These Psalms are read at the beginning of the Sabbath called “Kabbalat Shabbat.” The word for “harp” is “kinor” and if you look at the letters in Hebrew, the first two letters have a numerical equivalent to the name of God, and the last two means “flame.” This brings us to Prov 20.27 where it says that “the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.” The harp is the only known instrument whose strings can be played by the wind (Ruach). So this “new song” is referring to the second redemption when the Messiah comes-Isa 42.10-13) before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been purchased from the earth (in the first century, each Rabbi had his own melody when teaching and singing prayers called a “nigun.” This is saying that the 144,000 were followers of Yeshua and had bound themselves to his teaching).
v 4… These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste (this is an idiom for “not corrupted by the idolatry of the spiritual harlots”). These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes (idiom for “Torah observant”). These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb (This alludes to the feast of First Fruits. The first fruits were “marked” previously to be “pulled up” and harvested on the festival day, early in the morning. The 144,000 are the first people saved during 1000 year period of the Messianic Kingdom and first fruits of the Birth-pains. They will be saved and ready by Tishri 10 when the Birth-pains begin. Rev 13 tells us of a “mark” for unbelievers).
v 5… And no lie was found in their mouth (no deceptive teaching and true to Israel’s calling in Exo.19.6), they are blameless (a Rosh Ha Shannah term meaning “redeemed”).
v 6.. And I saw another angel flying in the mid-heaven (v 6-8 begins the commission of the 144,000), having an eternal gospel (basar, good news-see the article “The Basar” this site for a deeper understanding of what the true gospel is) to preach to those who live on the earth (or “land” referring to the land of Israel), and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people (all the other nations. Before the end, the true gospel will be preached to all nations as a witness, and then the end comes. What passes as the gospel today falls far short and is not a fulfillment of this, no matter what they say about their television networks);
v 7… and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come (what the 144,000 will proclaim); and worship him who made the heaven (spiritual) and the earth (physical) and the sea (humanity-Isa 57.20) and springs of waters (sources of truth-Jer 17.13; John 4.14).
v 8… And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen (In Hebrew thought, when fallen is mentioned twice it has a spiritual and a physical component, and both have met their end, repetition means that it is certain. So, it was so definite that it could be talked about as if it has already happened) is Babylon the great (Babylon means “confusion” and this refers to the apostate, counterfeit religious systems of the world. Also, the USA is called Babylon in prophecy and this is the home for many false religions and this may be alluding to the destruction of America a few days after the Natzal and right before the Birth-pains begin), she who has made all the nations drink (learn, experience) of the wine of the passion of her immorality (spiritual immorality through false doctrine).
v 9…And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If any one worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead (the seat of the intellect) or upon his hand (action, service and this is an idiom for “non-Torah observant.” This is the mid-point of the Birth-pains and the Abomination of Desolation has been set up)
v 10…he will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God (experience it), which is mixed in full strength (judgment not diluted) in the cup of his anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone (destructive judgments) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (as a witness).
v 11… And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night (the opposite of a believer’s rest), those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
v 12… Here is the perseverance (patience) of the saints (tzaddikim) who keep the commandments (Torah) of God and their faith in Yeshua (a Torah-based faith in Yeshua; here is when their faith and patience is tried and tested).
v 13…And I heard a voice from heaven (called a “bat kol” or “daughter of the voice” which alludes to the Shekinah, or presence of God, which is feminine in Hebrew and the Ruach Ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit, which is also feminine), saying, “Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors (being persecuted by the false messiah), for their deeds follow with them.”
v 14… And I looked, and behold, a white cloud (the Shekinah), and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man (“Bar Enosh” of Dan 7.13, a messianic title) having a golden (God) crown (“stephanos” or victory garland, not the “diadem” of a king) on his head, and a sharp sickle (the symbol of judgment, harvest-Matt 13.37-43- Joel 3.12-13) in his hand.
v 15…And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to him (Yeshua) who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come (judgment), because the harvest of the earth (both Israel and the nations will be judged. God told Moses that his judgment would come upon Israel in the last days in Deut 31.16-21, and the nations in Joel 4.9-17)) is ripe.”
v 16… And he (Yeshua) who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth; and the earth was reaped (judged).
17…And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.
v 18… And another angel, the one who has power over the fire (although unnamed, the two angels doing these judgments may be Michael and Gabriel. In Jewish thought, Michael and Gabriel are clearly linked together in a midrash, with Gabriel being the one with having power over the fire-Midrash Rabbah, Exodus 18.5), came out from the altar, and he (Gabriel) called with a loud voice to him (Michael) who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters (the by-products of false teaching) from the vine (the vine is clearly the subject here-Isa 5.1-30; Psa 80.8, which is unbelieving Israel) of the earth (can mean “land” meaning land of Israel), because her grapes are ripe (ready, full of sin and idolatry).
v 19…And the angel swung his sickle to the earth (land), and gathered the clusters (the by-products of false teaching) from the vine (unbelieving Israel-Isa 5.1-30; Psa 80.8) of the earth (land), and threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
v 20… And the wine press was trodden outside the city (of Jerusalem) and blood came out from the wine press (judgment of unbelieving Israel-Isa 63.36; Rev 19; Joel 3.13), up to the horses bridles (this is not to be taken literally, but it is an idiom and a hyperbolic expression meaning “much” or “a lot”-see Ezek 32.6 for example) for a distance of two hundred miles (this means that judgement will come upon the whole land of Israel, which is approximately 200 miles long).
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