Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 14
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 14
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 14
"And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard [was] as [the voice] of harpers harping with their harps: and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, [even] they that had been purchased out of the earth. These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish." — Revelation 14:1-5 (ASV)
Mount Sion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church and in the midst of her in all her troubles; therefore, she is not consumed. His presence secures perseverance.
His people appear honourably. They have the name of God written in their foreheads; they make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and this is followed by suitable actions. There were persons in the darkest times who ventured and laid down their lives for the worship and truth of the gospel of Christ.
They kept themselves clean from the wicked abominations of the followers of antichrist. Their hearts were right with God; and they were freely pardoned in Christ; he is glorified in them, and they in him.
May it be our prayer, our endeavour, our ambition, to be found in this honourable company. Those who are really sanctified and justified are meant here, for no hypocrite, however plausible, can be accounted to be without fault before God (Revelation 14:6–13).
"And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 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, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; 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 goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them." — Revelation 14:6-13 (ASV)
The progress of the Reformation appears to be set forth here. The four proclamations are plain in their meaning, so that all Christians may be encouraged in the time of trial to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means by which people are brought to fear God and to give glory to him. The preaching of the everlasting gospel shakes the foundations of antichrist in the world and hastens its downfall.
If any persist in being subject to the beast and in promoting his cause, they must expect to be forever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer anything in obeying the commandments of God and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us.
Observe the description of those who are and will be blessed: those who die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; those who are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follow them: do not go before as their title or purchase, but follow them as proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord. The remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services and sufferings.
This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit, witnessing with their spirits, and the written word.
"And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud [I saw] one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great [winepress], of the wrath of God. And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs." — Revelation 14:14-20 (ASV)
When warnings and judgments fail to produce reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up. They then become ripe for judgment, which is represented by a harvest—an emblem also used to signify the gathering of the righteous by God's mercy when they are ripe for heaven. The harvest time is when the grain is ripe; when believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth will be gathered into Christ's storehouse.
Judgment is also represented by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and His church are not destroyed until, by their sin, they are ripe for ruin; then He will spare them no longer. The winepress is the wrath of God—some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked.
The patience of God toward sinners is the greatest miracle in the world. However, although long-lasting, it will not be everlasting. Ripeness in sin is a sure proof that judgment is near.
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