Revelation 14:6-13 – The call to endure patiently

Here John describes three angels, each with an announcement for the people. The first announces the eternal Gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people. It is a call to fear, honor and worship God. This eternal Gospel is not about God’s redeeming grace but about God’s eternal purpose for His people. It is about God’s impending judgement

Verse 8 speaks of another angel announcing the fall of Babylon the Great. This ancient Mesopotamian city of Babylon was the political and religious capital of a world empire. It was also the great enemy of the people of God in the Old Testament where they were brought into exile. We first read of it in Genesis as the Tower of Babel. This ancient city has become a symbol of moral corruption, and the godless spirit that entices people away from the worship of the Creator in every age. Here John is using it to symbolize Rome, the great city at that point in time. Drawing from Old Testament passages like Isaiah 21:9 and Jeremiah 51:7, John describes its doom. It’s because she has made the whole earth drunk with her passionate acts of corruption. Like Babylon of old, Rome was luring the people into her corrupt practices and was incurring God’s wrath and her judgement awaits her.

In chapter 13, we learned that those who would not worship the image would be killed and that those without the mark of the beast would not be able to buy or sell. Now we see the third angel giving a counter announcement. It prescribes a worst end for those who do. Those who worship the beast or bear his mark would be made to drink the wine of God’s fury and endure eternal torment in burning sulfur. A place of endless torment – day and night.

It would be terrible for anyone to fall into what John has described in verse 9-11. He was concerned for the followers of Jesus, and would not that any to be pulled into the swirl of God’s rage. John wanted believers of Christ to be patient, obedient and true, and be confident of the fact that death itself is defeated. This will enable followers of Christ to be a source of blessing and not a source of curse. He wanted us all to know that whatever we are doing for Christ will never be a lost cause.

Let’s take heed of Paul’s word in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”