Rev. 14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
Rev. 14:2 And I heard a voice out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the voice which I heard was like [the sound] of harp-singers playing on their harps.
Rev. 14:3 And they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth.
Rev. 14:4 These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men [as] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth no lie was found; they are without blemish.
Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who has made heaven and earth and the sea and the springs of waters.
Rev. 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication!
Rev. 14:9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev. 14:10 He also shall drink of the wine of the fury of God, which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their tormenting goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Rev. 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice out of heaven, 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; for their works follow with them.
Rev. 14:14 And I saw, and behold, [there was] a white cloud, and on the cloud One like the Son of Man sitting, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Send forth Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come because the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev. 14:16 And He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Incentives to escape the great tribulation
Rev. 14:2 And I heard a voice out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the voice which I heard was like [the sound] of harp-singers playing on their harps.
Rev. 14:3 And they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth.
Rev. 14:4 These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men [as] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth no lie was found; they are without blemish.
Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who has made heaven and earth and the sea and the springs of waters.
Rev. 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication!
Rev. 14:9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev. 14:10 He also shall drink of the wine of the fury of God, which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their tormenting goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Rev. 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice out of heaven, 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; for their works follow with them.
Rev. 14:14 And I saw, and behold, [there was] a white cloud, and on the cloud One like the Son of Man sitting, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Send forth Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come because the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev. 14:16 And He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Lk 21:36 But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man. (Firstfruits/manchild)
What is the need to be watchful?
(1 The 4:14-18)
1Th 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.
1Th 4:15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep;
1Th 4:16Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord.
1Th 4:18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
After the great tribulation, the majority of the saints will be raptured. The reaping of the harvest (rapture) is in a sequence. The rapture has at least two major parts - but why this is needed?
2 The 2: 1-4
2Th 2:1 Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2Th 2:2 That you be not quickly shaken in mind nor alarmed, neither by a spirit nor by word nor by a letter as if by us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth, saying that he is God.
1Th 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.
1Th 4:15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep;
1Th 4:16Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord.
1Th 4:18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The WRONG concept - all the believers will be raptured at the same time.
The RIGHT concept -
- Before the great tribulation- The rapture of the overcomes (first fruits, man child), the place at the throne of God, standing before the Son of Man.
- After the great tribulation (7th trumpet sounds) - believers will know due to the lawlessness that will take place as mentioned in 2 The 2:1-4, the vast majority of the believers will be raptured, the place to the air and to the cloud.
2Th 2:1 Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2Th 2:2 That you be not quickly shaken in mind nor alarmed, neither by a spirit nor by word nor by a letter as if by us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth, saying that he is God.
