6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven , having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth , and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people ; 7 and he said with a loud voice , " Fear God , and give Him glory , because the hour of His judgment has come ; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." 8 And another angel , a second one , followed , saying , " Fallen , fallen is Babylon the great , she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality ." 9 Then 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 , 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God , which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger ; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb . 11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever ; they have no rest day and night , those who worship the beast and his image , and whoever e receives the mark of his name ." 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus .
13 And I heard a voice from heaven , saying , "Write , ' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!' " "Yes ," says the Spirit , "so that they may rest from their labors , for their deeds follow with them."
14 Then I looked , and behold , a white cloud , and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man , having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand . 15 And another angel came out of the temple , crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud , " Put in your sickle and reap , for the hour to reap has come , because the harvest of the earth is ripe ." 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth , and the earth was reaped .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 14:6-16
Commentary on Revelation 14:6-13
(Read Revelation 14:6-13)
The progress of the Reformation appears to be here set forth. The four proclamations are plain in their meaning; that all Christians may be encouraged, in the time of trial, to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means whereby men 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 downfal. If any persist in being subject to the beast, and in promoting his cause, they must expect to be for ever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us. Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such as die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as 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.
Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20
(Read Revelation 14:14-20)
Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. The harvest time is when the corn is ripe; when the believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth shall be gathered into Christ's garner. And by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed, till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer. The wine-press is the wrath of God, some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked. The patience of God towards sinners, is the greatest miracle in the world; but, though lasting, it will not be everlasting; and ripeness in sin is a sure proof of judgment at hand.