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Revelation 14:13 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

13 And G2532 I heard G191 a voice G5456 from G1537 heaven G3772 saying G3004 unto me, G3427 Write, G1125 Blessed G3107 are the dead G3498 which G3588 die G599 in G1722 the Lord G2962 from henceforth: G534 Yea, G3483 saith G3004 the Spirit, G4151 that G2443 they may rest G373 from G1537 their G846 labours; G2873 and G1161 their G846 works G2041 do follow G190 G3326 them. G846

Cross Reference

Hebrews 4:9-11 STRONG

There remaineth G620 therefore G686 a rest G4520 to the people G2992 of God. G2316 For G1063 he that is entered G1525 into G1519 his G846 rest, G2663 he G846 also G2532 hath ceased G2664 from G575 his own G846 works, G2041 as G5618 God G2316 did from G575 his. G2398 Let us labour G4704 therefore G3767 to enter G1525 into G1519 that G1565 rest, G2663 lest G3363 any man G5100 fall G4098 after G1722 the same G846 example G5262 of unbelief. G543

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 STRONG

Seeing G1512 it is a righteous thing G1342 with G3844 God G2316 to recompense G467 tribulation G2347 to them that trouble G2346 you; G5209 And G2532 to you G5213 who are troubled G2346 rest G425 with G3326 us, G2257 when G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 shall be revealed G602 from G575 heaven G3772 with G3326 his G846 mighty G1411 angels, G32

2 Timothy 4:7-8 STRONG

I have fought G75 a good G2570 fight, G73 I have finished G5055 my course, G1408 I have kept G5083 the faith: G4102 Henceforth G3063 there is laid up G606 for me G3427 a crown G4735 of righteousness, G1343 which G3739 the Lord, G2962 the righteous G1342 judge, G2923 shall give G591 me G3427 at G1722 that G1565 day: G2250 and G1161 not G3756 to me G1698 only, G3440 but G235 unto all them G3956 also G2532 that love G25 his G846 appearing. G2015

Hebrews 6:10-11 STRONG

For G1063 God G2316 is not G3756 unrighteous G94 to forget G1950 your G5216 work G2041 and G2532 labour G2873 of love, G26 which G3739 ye have shewed G1731 G1731 toward G1519 his G846 name, G3686 in that ye have ministered G1247 to the saints, G40 and G2532 do minister. G1247 And G1161 we desire G1937 that every one G1538 of you G5216 do shew G1731 the same G846 diligence G4710 to G4314 the full assurance G4136 of hope G1680 unto G891 the end: G5056

Revelation 7:14-17 STRONG

And G2532 I said G2046 unto him, G846 Sir, G2962 thou G4771 knowest. G1492 And G2532 he said G2036 to me, G3427 These G3778 are they G1526 which came G2064 out of G1537 great G3173 tribulation, G2347 and G2532 have washed G4150 their G846 robes, G4749 and G2532 made G3021 them G4749 G846 white G3021 in G1722 the blood G129 of the Lamb. G721 Therefore G1223 G5124 are they G1526 before G1799 the throne G2362 of God, G2316 and G2532 serve G3000 him G846 day G2250 and G2532 night G3571 in G1722 his G846 temple: G3485 and G2532 he that sitteth G2521 on G1909 the throne G2362 shall dwell G4637 among G1909 them. G846 They shall hunger G3983 no G3756 more, G2089 neither G3761 thirst G1372 any more; G2089 neither G3761 G3361 shall G4098 the sun G2246 light G4098 on G1909 them, G846 nor G3761 any G3956 heat. G2738 For G3754 the Lamb G721 which G3588 is in the midst G303 G3319 of the throne G2362 shall feed G4165 them, G846 and G2532 shall lead G3594 them G846 unto G1909 living G2198 fountains G4077 of waters: G5204 and G2532 God G2316 shall wipe away G1813 all G3956 tears G1144 from G575 their G846 eyes. G3788

Ecclesiastes 4:1-2 STRONG

So I returned, H7725 and considered H7200 all the oppressions H6217 that are done H6213 under the sun: H8121 and behold the tears H1832 of such as were oppressed, H6231 and they had no comforter; H5162 and on the side H3027 of their oppressors H6231 there was power; H3581 but they had no comforter. H5162 Wherefore I praised H7623 the dead H4191 which are already H3528 dead H4191 more than the living H2416 which are yet H5728 alive. H2416

Isaiah 57:1-2 STRONG

The righteous H6662 perisheth, H6 and no man H376 layeth H7760 it to heart: H3820 and merciful H2617 men H582 are taken away, H622 none considering H995 that the righteous H6662 is taken away H622 from H6440 the evil H7451 to come. He shall enter H935 into peace: H7965 they shall rest H5117 in their beds, H4904 each one walking H1980 in his uprightness. H5228

Matthew 25:35-40 STRONG

For G1063 I was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 ye gave G1325 me G3427 meat: G5315 I was thirsty, G1372 and G2532 ye gave G4222 me G3165 drink: G4222 I was G2252 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 ye took G4863 me G3165 in: G4863 Naked, G1131 and G2532 ye clothed G4016 me: G3165 I was sick, G770 and G2532 ye visited G1980 me: G3165 I was G2252 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 ye came G2064 unto G4314 me. G3165 Then G5119 shall the righteous G1342 answer G611 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 when G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 an hungred, G3983 and G2532 fed G5142 thee? or G2228 thirsty, G1372 and G2532 gave thee drink? G4222 G1161 When G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 took thee in? G4863 or G2228 naked, G1131 and G2532 clothed G4016 thee? G1161 Or when G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 sick, G772 or G2228 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 came G2064 unto G4314 thee? G4571 And G2532 the King G935 shall answer G611 and say G2046 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Inasmuch G1909 as G3745 ye have done G4160 it unto one G1520 of the least G1646 of these G5130 my G3450 brethren, G80 ye have done G4160 it unto me. G1698

Job 3:17-19 STRONG

There the wicked H7563 cease H2308 from troubling; H7267 and there the weary H3019 H3581 be at rest. H5117 There the prisoners H615 rest H7599 together; H3162 they hear H8085 not the voice H6963 of the oppressor. H5065 The small H6996 and great H1419 are there; and the servant H5650 is free H2670 from his master. H113

Galatians 6:7-8 STRONG

Be G4105 not G3361 deceived; G4105 God G2316 is G3456 not G3756 mocked: G3456 for G1063 whatsoever G3739 G1437 a man G444 soweth, G4687 that G5124 shall he G2325 also G2532 reap. G2325 For G3754 he that soweth G4687 to G1519 his G1438 flesh G4561 shall G2325 of G1537 the flesh G4561 reap G2325 corruption; G5356 but G1161 he that soweth G4687 to G1519 the Spirit G4151 shall G2325 of G1537 the Spirit G4151 reap G2325 life G2222 everlasting. G166

Philippians 1:21-23 STRONG

For G1063 to me G1698 to live G2198 is Christ, G5547 and G2532 to die G599 is gain. G2771 But G1161 if G1487 I live G2198 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 this G5124 is the fruit G2590 of my labour: G2041 G3427 yet G2532 what G5101 I shall choose G138 I wot G1107 not. G3756 For G1063 I am in a strait G4912 betwixt G1537 two, G1417 having G2192 a desire G1939 to G1519 depart, G360 and G2532 to be G1511 with G4862 Christ; G5547 which is far G4183 G3123 better: G2908

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 14

Commentary on Revelation 14 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 14

After an account of the great trials and sufferings which the servants of God had endured, we have now a more pleasant scene opening; the day begins now to dawn, and here we have represented,

  • I. The Lord Jesus at the head of his faithful followers (v. 1-5).
  • II. Three angels sent successively to proclaim the fall of Babylon and the things antecedent and consequent to so great an event (v. 6-13).
  • III. The vision of the harvest (v. 14-20).

Rev 14:1-5

Here we have one of the most pleasing sights that can be viewed in this world-the Lord Jesus Christ at the head of his faithful adherents and attendants. Here observe,

  • 1. How Christ appears: as a Lamb standing upon mount Zion. Mount Zion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church and in the midst of her in all her troubles, and therefore she is not consumed. It is his presence that secures her perseverance; he appears as a Lamb, a true Lamb, the Lamb of God. A counterfeit lamb is mentioned as rising out of the earth in the last chapter, which was really a dragon; here Christ appears as the true paschal Lamb, to show that his mediatorial government is the fruit of his sufferings, and the cause of his people's safety and fidelity.
  • 2. How his people appear: very honourably.
    • (1.) As to the numbers, they are many, even all who are sealed; not one of them lost in all the tribulations through which they have gone.
    • (2.) Their distinguishing badge: they had the name of God written in their foreheads; they made a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and, this being followed by suitable actings, they are known and approved.
    • (3.) Their congratulations and songs of praise, which were peculiar to the redeemed (v. 3); their praises were loud as thunder, or as the voice of many waters; they were melodious, as of harpers; they were heavenly, before the throne of God. The song was new, suited to the new covenant, and unto that new and gracious dispensation of Providence under which they now were; and their song was a secret to others, strangers intermeddled not with their joy; others might repeat the words of the song, but they were strangers to the true sense and spirit of it.
    • (4.) Their character and description.
      • [1.] They are described by their chastity and purity: They are virgins. They had not defiled themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery; they had kept themselves clean from the abominations of the antichristian generation.
      • [2.] By their loyalty and stedfast adherence to Christ: They follow the Lamb withersoever he goes; they follow the conduct of his word, Spirit, and providence, leaving it to him to lead them into what duties and difficulties he pleases.
      • [3.] By their former designation to this honour: These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb, v. 4. Here is plain evidence of a special redemption: They were redeemed from among men. Some of the children of men are, by redeeming mercy, distinguished from others: They were the first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb, his choice ones, eminent in every grace, and the earnest of many more who should be followers of them, as they were of Christ.
      • [4.] By their universal integrity and conscientiousness: There was no guile found in them, and they were without fault before the throne of God. They were without any prevailing guile, any allowed fault; their hearts were right with God, and, as for their human infirmities, they were freely pardoned in Christ. This is the happy remnant who attend upon the Lord Jesus as their head and Lord; he is glorified in them, and they are glorified in him.

Rev 14:6-12

In this part of the chapter we have three angels or messengers sent from heaven to give notice of the fall of Babylon, and of those things that were antecedent and consequent to that great event.

  • I. The first angel was sent on an errand antecedent to it, and that was to preach the everlasting gospel, v. 6, 7. Observe,
    • 1. The gospel is an everlasting gospel; it is so in its nature, and it will be so in its consequences. Though all flesh be grass, the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
    • 2. It is a work fit for an angel to preach this everlasting gospel; such is the dignity, and such is the difficulty of that work! And yet we have this treasure in earthen vessels.
    • 3. The everlasting gospel is of great concern to all the world; and, as it is the concern of all, it is very much to be desired that it should be made known to all, even to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
    • 4. The gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. Natural religion is not sufficient to keep up the fear of God, nor to secure to him glory from men; it is the gospel that revives the fear of God, and retrieves his glory in the world.
    • 5. When idolatry creeps into the churches of God, it is by the preaching of the gospel, attended by the power of the Holy Spirit, that men are turned from idols to serve the living God, as the Creator of the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters, v. 7. To worship any God besides him who created the world is idolatry.
  • II. The second angel follows the other, and proclaims the actual fall of Babylon. The preaching of the everlasting gospel had shaken the foundations of antichristianism in the world, and hastened its downfall. By Babylon is generally understood Rome, which was before called Sodom and Egypt, for wickedness and cruelty, and is now first called Babylon, for pride and idolatry. Observe,
    • 1. What God has fore-ordained and foretold shall be done as certainly as if it were done already.
    • 2. The greatness of the papal Babylon will not be able to prevent her fall, but will make it more dreadful and remarkable.
    • 3. The wickedness of Babylon, in corrupting, debauching, and intoxicating the nations round about her, will make her fall just and will declare the righteousness of God in her utter ruin, v. 8. Her crimes are recited as the just cause of her destruction.
  • III. A third angel follows the other two, and gives warning to all of that divine vengeance which would overtake all those that obstinately adhered to the antichristian interest after God had thus proclaimed its downfall, v. 9, 10. If after this (this threatening denounced against Babylon, and in part already executed) any should persist in their idolatry, professing subjection to the beast and promoting his cause, they must expect to drink deep of the wind of the wrath of God; they shall be for ever miserable in soul and body; Jesus Christ will inflict this punishment upon them, and the holy angels will behold it and approve of it. Idolatry, both pagan and papal, is a damning sin in its own nature, and will prove fatal to those who persist in it, after fair warning given by the word of Providence; those who refuse to come out of Babylon, when thus called, and resolve to partake of her sins, must receive of her plagues; and the guilt and ruin of such incorrigible idolaters will serve to set forth the excellency of the patience and obedience of the saints. These graces shall be rewarded with salvation and glory. When the treachery and rebellion of others shall be punished with everlasting destruction, then it will be said, to the honour of the faithful (v. 12): Here is the patience of the saints; you have before seen their patience exercised, now you see it rewarded.

Rev 14:13-20

Here we have the vision of the harvest and vintage, introduced with a solemn preface. Observe,

  • I. The preface, v. 13. Here note,
    • 1. Whence this prophecy about the harvest came: it came down from heaven, and not from men, and therefore it is of certain truth and great authority.
    • 2. How it was to be preserved and published-by writing; it was to be a matter of record, that the people of God might have recourse to it for their support and comfort upon all occasions.
    • 3. What it principally intended, and that is, to show the blessedness of all the faithful saints and servants of God, both in death and after death: Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth, etc. Here observe,
      • (1.) The description of those that are and shall be blessed-such as die in the Lord, either die in the cause of Christ, or rather die in a state of vital union with Christ, such as are found in Christ when death comes.
      • (2.) The demonstration of this blessedness: They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.
        • [1.] They are blessed in their rest; they rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution. There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest.
        • [2.] They are blessed in their recompence: Their works follow them; they do not go before them as their title, or price of purchase, but follow them as their evidence of having lived and died in the Lord; and the memory of them will be pleasant, and the reward glorious, far above the merit of all their services and sufferings.
        • [3.] They are happy in the time of their dying, when they have lived to see the cause of God reviving, the peace of the church returning, and the wrath of God falling upon their idolatrous cruel enemies. Such times are good times to die in; they have Simeon's desire: Now, Lord, let thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. And all this is ratified and confirmed by the testimony of the Spirit witnessing with their spirits and with the written word.
  • II. We have the vision itself, represented by a harvest and a vintage.
    • 1. By a harvest (v. 14, 15), an emblem that sometimes signifies the cutting down of the wicked, when ripe for ruin, by the judgments of God, and sometimes the gathering in of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. This seems rather to represent God's judgments against the wicked: and here observe,
      • (1.) The Lord of the harvest-one so like unto the Son of man that he was the same, even the Lord Jesus, who is described,
        • [1.] By the chariot in which he sat-a white cloud, a cloud that had a bright side turned to the church, how dark soever it might be to the wicked.
        • [2.] By the ensign of his power: On his head was a golden crown, authority to do all that he did and whatsoever he would do.
        • [3.] By the instrument of his providences: In his hand a sharp sickle.
        • [4.] By the solicitations he had from the temple to perform this great work. What he did, he was desired to do by his people; and, though he was resolved to do it, he would for this thing be sought unto by them, and so it should be in return to their prayers.
      • (2.) The harvest-work, which is, to thrust the sickle into the corn, and reap the field. The sickle is the sword of God's justice; the field is the world; reaping is cutting the inhabitants of the earth down and carrying them off.
      • (3.) The harvest-time; and this is when the corn is ripe, when the measure of the sin of men is filled up, and they are ripe for destruction. The most inveterate enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer; he will thrust in his sickle, and the earth shall be reaped.
    • 2. By a vintage, v. 17. Some think that these two are only different emblems of the same judgment; others that they refer to distinct events of providence before the end of all things. Observe,
      • (1.) To whom this vintage-work was committed-to an angel, another angel that came out from the altar, that is, from the holiest of all in heaven.
      • (2.) At whose request this vintage-work was undertaken: it was, as before, at the cry of an angel out of the temple, the ministers and churches of God on earth.
      • (3.) The work of the vintage, which consists of two parts:-
        • [1.] The cutting off, and gathering, the clusters of the vine, which were now ripe and ready, fully ripe, v. 18.
        • [2.] Casting these grapes into the wine-press (v. 19); here we are told,
          • First, What was the wine-press: it was the wrath of God, the fire of his indignation, some terrible calamity, very probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked.
          • Secondly, Where was the place of the wine-press-without the city, where the army lay that came against Babylon.
          • Thirdly, The quantity of the wine, that is, of the blood that was drawn forth by this judgment: it was, for depth, up to the horses' bridles, and, for breadth and length, a thousand and six hundred furlongs (v. 20); that is, say some, 200 Italian miles, which is thought to be the measure of the holy land, and may be meant of the patrimony of the holy see, encompassing the city of Rome. But here we are left of doubtful conjectures. Perhaps this great event has not yet had its accomplishment, but the vision is for an appointed time; and therefore, though it may seem to tarry, we are to wait for it. But who shall live when the Lord does this?