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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 20
By John S. Torell

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Verse 1: From the earth we are now taken back to the city of God in the third heaven, where Jesus is together with the 144,000 men who have been redeemed from the earth. They were first identified in Revelation 7:4, and the sealing of men has been done before. Ezekiel 9:4.

Verses 2-3: These men are not only following Jesus wherever he goes, but they have been given a song that only they can sing. At this time we on earth do not know the full understanding of why and what this song will do.

Verses 4-5: This is a difficult verse to understand and here is the reason for that: When God created Adam, he said that it was not good for Adam to be alone and it was God who gave him a wife. Genesis 2:18-25. Abraham was a married man, so were Isaac and Jacob. Abraham and Isaac had only one wife at a time, while Jacob had four. Jesus stated that from the beginning a man is only to have one wife, unless she dies before the man does. Mark 10:2-12. Some of the apostles which Jesus had hand picked were married men - 1 Corinthians 9:1-5. Yet, these men were made righteous by faith in Jesus! Romans 4:1-8.

God is informing us in these verses about the 144,000 men He has picked and we have nothing to do with it. Thus, it is out of our hands, and no doctrine should be written that states that marriage is unclean, which is what the Roman Catholic Church has done. We should take heed to Paul’s written warning - 1 Timothy 4:1-3.

Verses 6-7: Many contemporary pastors and evangelists are referring to this verse when they talk about satellites being used to preach the Gospel today. Regardless if this is a true understanding or not, at the time that the book of Revelation was given, radio and TV were unknown to mankind.

Beginning in the mid 1920's the Gospel was preached first through radio and then from the 1950's also on TV. With satellite hook-ups there is no region on the earth today that does not have access to the Gospel. However, there is a mixed message that is beamed to people, ranging from false religions to a Gospel message which has been perverted. Probably no more than 25% of the Gospel broadcast is pure and from the Word of God.

Also, in verse seven we are told that this angel will bring a very specific message. Thus we must wait until it happens, to understand it.

Verse 8: This angel is making an announcement that the city of Babylon is fallen. The entire Chapter 18 of Revelation is a description of her down fall.

Verses 9-11: This is going to be the most important message preached during the tribulation period. If any person consents to taking the mark of the Beast, there is no remedy for that person, regardless if he has professed Christ previously, taking the mark of the Beast is a straight ticket to hell and later to the Lake of Fire.

Verses 12-13: These verses are a comfort to Christians. If you refuse the mark of the Beast there will be a reward from God. The generation living at this time will be under a pressure that has never before existed and never will again. Matthew 24:21-25. If there ever was a time to be steadfast, this will be the time - 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Verses 14-20: This is a future summary, of what will happen when Jesus returns in power to the earth. The execution of million upon millions of humans, where the blood stands up to four feet high and a river of blood 160 miles long. Revelation 19:11-21.