Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 14:9

"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand," — Revelation 14:9 (ASV)

And the third angel. A more accurate rendering is: And another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice, If any man worship the wild beast and his image, and a mark upon his forehead or upon his hand, he also himself shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled pure (in full strength, undiluted, for example, He shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy, James 2:13) in the cup of his indignation, and shall be tormented in fire...

This third angel naturally follows the other two, which describe the powers that are in conflict: the word of God and the Babylon of the world. The gospel will triumph; Babylon is doomed. Therefore, the warning is that people should not identify themselves with the city of worldliness, falsehood, and sin.

The reference to the wild beast, the image, and the mark carries us back to the previous chapter and shows us that Babylon is only another aspect of the work of God’s enemies: it is the city of the world-power.

The warning not to receive the mark is a declaration that each person—each individual—is responsible. There is no necessity for receiving the mark, the hallmark of a cowardly connivance at wrongdoing, or for basing one's judgments on the fashions of the world.