Do not have a heart of defiance, but a heart ready for Christ’s return.

John recorded this three-scene heavenly vision for the benefit of church-age saints so that we also would praise the Lamb for His deliverance(s) and His making us overcomers of the agents of Satan. Our present worship should anticipate and reflect our future praise of the Lamb.

In Revelation 14, we see three pictures of the hour of judgment, revealing both the blessings of redemption and the certainty of divine wrath, so that we may be faithful to the only one worthy of enduring worship.

John exhorted his hearers to perceive the character of Satan’s agents in their own day through their understanding of his future political and religious agents so that they might exercise preserving conviction in Christ. As church-age saints, these same exhortations are given for our benefit. “He who has an ear, let him hear what [Christ through] the Spirit says to the churches.

The Christian believer (you and me!) must be knowledgeable of Satan’s schemes. A knowledge of Satan’s past and future conflicts reminds us that our present Christian experience is also one of conflict with Satan so that we will be aware of his hostile persecutions, temptations, deceit, and accusations against us that can only be overcome through the blood of the Lamb, our faithful testimony, and our willingness to die for Christ.

In this text we will see that God shows Himself faithful to His word to redeem the world through grace and judgement, protect His people, judge unrighteousness, and rule and reign over all creation as He set out to do.

In this passage, God reveals three divine markers that His final judgment is imminent, and His long-awaited plan for justice and redemption will no longer be delayed, so that we would remember our hope and evangelistic duties.

John recorded the future warnings the Lord will give to earth-dwellers during the Tribulation era noting the consequences of their lack of repentance in greater judgments so that Church Age saints would take seriously the warnings of Christ to them and repent (2:5, 16; 3:3, 19).

When the final seal of the Lamb’s scroll is opened, the judgement is so ominous that heaven is silenced and prepares for the continued judgment of the unbelieving world from the throne of God, motivated by the prayers and cries of His people.

No one can be neutral or apathetic when confronted with the resurrected, living Jesus. You must either bow down and worship Him as your God and obey Him as your Master like the women and disciples or explain the facts of the Resurrection away like the guards. Being neutral to the reality of the Resurrection is not an option!