Revelation 14:1—5Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144 000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard the sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144 000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

 

This section follows the number of man that brought us up to the year 1998, and is a vision of the Second Coming. Once again Revelation wants to bring it into relation with what has been said. Mount Zion is a synonym for Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem is mentioned later in Revelation 21. Revelation indicates the New Jerusalem, because the foundations of the New Jerusalem (that can only be established at the end) must be used to interpret the last chapters of Revelation.

The reader is in the fortunate position that he can now look ahead at the diagram of the New Jerusalem on page , and quite easily interpret the following chapters of Revelation. (In the previous chapters it was shown how the colours of the gemstones of the foundations of the New Jerusalem are placed on the generations of 72 years measured in the second millennium - refer back to page )

"who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads"

These words are of the greatest importance, and refer to those who

If a government equalises religions it undermines the all important concept of the Holy Spirit that is active in those who accept the absolute truth of the resurrection and the forgiveness of sin through the death and blood of Jesus Christ.

Why 144 000? This is to indicate that we have to do with the time 1860—2004 which is 144 years and the "half-day" of the "three and a half days" as calculated from the thousandth anniversary of the birth of Christ in AD 996. At this point the reader knows that the "number of man" was measured in "years". In Revelation 21:17 (see p ) the angel measuring the wall of the New Jerusalem was using "man's measurement". This confirms that the time "144" indicates "years". The "000" after the 144 indicates all the Christians in the East, Middle East and West who did not accept an amalgamation of religions or the equalising of Christianity to all other religions of the earth. "Thousand" also incorporates the concept of one day being equal to a thousand years in the eyes of God. This will be discussed later.

"like the roar of rushing water and a peal of thunder"

These words will be repeated later in Revelation and they indicate the voice of Almighty God in relation to the judgment of the dead. Here it means that what is to follow, is an absolute truth. Not everyone will be able to "learn the new song".

As we here have to do with the time of 144 000, which we now know is the last 144 years, it seems as if Revelation is indicating sexual corruption in the twentieth century by the words "those who did not defile themselves with women". This will be substantiated in the following chapters that will indicate moral decline in this century. In the next verses of this chapter, Revelation seems to be specifically focussing on this generation (1932—2004).

According to the laws of sacrifice in the Old Testament, the first of all ripe fruits was offered in God's house (Ex 23:19: "Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord"). It was AN ACT OF ALLEGIANCE TO GOD AS THE GIVER OF ALL THINGS. No exact quantity was demanded, but it was left to the spiritual and moral discretion of each individual.

Why does Revelation bring "first fruits" into relation with sexual conduct in the twentieth century? Those Christians who kept themselves pure in the sexually promiscuous society since 1932, did so as an act of allegiance to God as the Giver of all things.

The words "first fruits" in this section that deal with the last 144 years, made me realize that the colours of the gemstones of the New Jerusalem could be used to determine the time 1860—2004, the chart of the "manner of fruits". Refer back to page . You will recall that Revelation indicated the time of 144 years could be divided into twelve sections through the mention of twelve tribes of Israel in Rev 7:4-8. Revelation also established the time of "5 months" from 1898, the time of the star seen by the Hopi tribe (Rev.8:10 and 9:1). It seemed as if Revelation was dividing the time 1860 to 2004 into divisions of six years. As a "month" is 6 years in Revelation, I thought that a "crop" or "manner" (KJV) of fruit ("bearing twelve crops of fruit" in Rev 22:2) might consist of two fruits of the same colour. This was determined by the words of Rev 22:2 "yielding its fruit every month" meaning TWICE the time of a "month", that is six years, being equal to twelve years. As Revelation mentioned "green grass" (8:7)and "crowns of gold" (9:7) and "fire and jacinth" (9:17) it seemed as if "manner of fruits" of the earth could indicate colours of VARIOUS KINDS of things produced by the earth or on earth. I then placed the twelve colours of the foundations of the New Jerusalem on the twelve divisions in the period 1860 to 2004. In the previous chapters times of green -"green grass"-(1896-1908); blue-white-"sea" ( Krakatoa 1883) - (1884-1896); yellow - crowns of "gold" -(1956-1968) and orange-red - "fire"-(1980-1992) have been mentioned. In this chapter Revelation mentions "first fruits" specifically, to show that the mention of "fruits" or the colour of fruits will be used to indicate divisions of twelve years in the time 1860 to 2004.

The colours of the gemstones of the New Jerusalem placed on the twelve divisions of the time 1860 to 2004. See also the chart of the "manner of fruits" on page .

1860 -1872 jasper (opaque)

1884. sapphire (blue)

1884 -1896 chalcedony (blue-white)

1908. emerald (green)

1920. sardonyx (red)

1932. carnelian or sardius (red)

1932-1944 chrysolite (green-yellow)

1956. beryl (green-yellow)

1968. topaz (yellow)

1968-1980 chrysoprase (yellow-green)

1980-1992 jacinth (orange-red)

1992-2004 amethyst (indigo)

Revelation 14:6—7Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea and the springs of water."

 

"another"

It will be seen that certain angels in this chapter are preceded by the word "another".

Consider the following reference:

Judges 2:10 (KJV)And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord.

In this reference the word "another" is used with the word "generation" to indicate that a following generation "knew not the Lord". In this chapter Revelation refers to seven angels. The first three are the "first" , "second" and "third" angels. The first angel is "another angel" (14:6). Later in this chapter it will be seen that the last four angels are also preceded by the word "another". Revelation is indicating by the mention of the words "first fruits" the time of the colours of ripe corn or wheat( yellow) and grapes( indigo) measured according to the colours placed on the times of twelve years in the period 1860 to 2004 as indicated above. By the word "another" it seems as if Revelation wishes to indicate progressing "generations" ( in the second millennium) or times of twelve years ( in the time 1860 to 2004) who were moving away from adherence to their Christian beliefs, "knew not the Lord". This will be explained in the following verses.

It must be noted that the words "midair", "every nation, tribe, language and people", "earth ", "sea" and "springs of water" all relate to the year 1932. This can be verified on pages .

"midair"

As mentioned (see Rev 8:13, p ), it seems as if the word "midair" in Revelation has to do with the centre of the earth and also indicates that what is happening there is going to affect the entire world.

"he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth — to every
nation tribe language and people"

This means that we have to do with the spread of Christianity according to the Creed of Chalcedon to all the countries of the world. It seems as if Revelation is indicating that by about the time 1932—1956 Christianity had spread to the ends of the earth. Twenty-four years (1932—1956) is indicated for Revelation mentions the time "hour".

The reader will recall that in a previous chapter the "springs of water" were linked to the year 1932. What Revelation is indicating here, is that the period 1860—2004 can also be divided into "hours":

The words "twelve crops of fruit" and "yielding her fruit every month" (Rev 22:2) therefore indicate two fruits in every crop (see p ; 6 years = 1 month).

In this verse, Revelation is looking ahead to Revelation 17 and 18. The last section of this verse: "which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries" is linked to the fall of Babylon. The angel is saying that Babylon is going to fall because the kings of the earth committed adultery with the "prostitute" (that will be established in a following chapter), and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. Revelation will make all this clear later. Most important is that the angel is linking it to the "hour" 1932—1956.

As shall be indicated in a following chapter, the fall of Babylon includes the First and the Second World Wars.

When dealing with the "fall of Babylon" in Revelation we have to do with the time up to 1956 (the time that the "beast" was given power to rule) and the very end time. This deduction is based on Revelation 16:19, which deals with the very end time, and the words: "God remembered Babylon the Great".

In measuring time on the chart of the "manner of fruits", it will be seen that the time of "wine" corresponds to the time 1992—2004 (or about 12 years after the time of "the little season").

From what we know of the number of man (and what will be established later), Revelation is measuring time. 1956 is the time that the beast is "given the power to rule"(Rev 17:17).

Once again Revelation is looking ahead, and introduces an immense concept that will later be revealed in great detail. When through the centuries the nations had Christian kings that could not overcome the influences of the "dragon", man in ever increasing movements of revolt sought liberty from treacherous monarchs. Within the Church there were also leaders who succumbed to the "dragon" and this led to division within the Christian Church (culminating in the Reformation). However, what man did not realise was that the nations were furthering the ultimate goal of the dragon by trying to change the Christian’s way of thinking. Man sought to establish the rule of man, which did away with the influence of the Church in the rule of State. What actually happened, however, was that Christians began to accept the equality of world religions. This is not acceptable to Almighty God, because Christianity is an absolute truth that may not be relinquished by Christians. As time progressed it became even more difficult for Christians to resist the subtle influence of the governments of the world to accept their way of thinking.

Without knowing it, the nations were actually drying up the "the living waters", and were in fact following the "dragon". It seems as if Revelation is revealing that man in this way brought the horrors of the wars of the twentieth century largely upon himself. To add to this, man probably does not realise today that the judgment of the nations has already begun.

"the smoke of their torment"

These words come from Revelation 9:6. Revelation is combining East and West and this has to do with the anguish of the First and Second World Wars from c 1898—1958, approximately 60 years (see "torment" and " five months" on p ). The words: "smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever " indicate the increased use of drugs between 1958 and the end time, but also convey that the drug users may never, ever awake from their intoxication.

In a world preoccupied with the freedom of man and religion, and the "death" (death, the rider on the pale horse) of the fervour of the Christian religion becoming more prevalent in nations accepting all religions, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christians to carry forth the message of the resurrection to an ever more unbelieving world.

Revelation 14:14I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like the son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

 

By using the word "another", Revelation reveals that the following "generation" of the second millennium, or colour on the chart of the "manner of fruits", must be measured. The first three angels measured the time 1932—1956, the time of the fall of Babylon to the time when the "beast was given the power to rule" (1956).

The clue to the time of the fourth angel is the colour of the "topaz" of the ninth foundation of the New Jerusalem and "the crown of gold" as well as the yellow colour of corn when it is ripe. Consult the charts of the New Jerusalem and the chart of the "manner of fruits" on pages and . On the chart of the New Jerusalem the time of "topaz " is 1644 to 1716. The times of the "generations" of 72 years of the chart of the New Jerusalem are conveyed by the words "out of the temple" , because the times of the "three and a half days" of the second millennium are measured from the birth of Christ, the time of "temple". According to the divisions of the time 1860 to 2004, the time of "topaz", is 1956 to 1968. It is indicated by the colour yellow and is the colour of ripe corn or wheat ready to be harvested.

1644-1716

As mentioned the year 1644 was the time of the Civil War in England, but also the time of the execution of William Laud (1645), the Archbishop of Canterbury. He sought to enforce an Anglican liturgy, very close to Catholicism, provoking the rebellion of the Puritans and the Presbyterians. In 1644—1716 the nations of Europe started realising that a representation of the people could be set in place and that the powers of the anointed king could be curbed, as had happened in England. It was also the time that the logic of the Supreme Being (as explained in the previous chapter) was developing.

1956—1968 can be linked to the time of rebellion in the Soviet Union (hence the sickle). Soviet tanks crushed the uprising in Hungary in 1956. In 1968 there was the Warsaw pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Revelation is possibly indicating the torment brought on man by rebellion (war) against atheist communist rule that had destroyed the Christian church.

Revelation now seems to be measuring the time 1968—1980. In the chart of the "manner of fruits" it is the time indicated by the colour of the tenth foundation of the New Jerusalem, which is chrysoprase — a yellow or light green. "Out of the temple" could also mean that the time of harvesting includes the time 1716—1788 in the measurement of the "temple".

The angels indicate that there was a "harvesting of the earth" since the time that the rule of Christian kings was overthrown (Charles I was executed in 1649) to the time when the French Revolution started in c 1788.

1956-1980 was a time of war in the Middle East and Vietnam. It was also a time of uprising or rebellion in Africa and South America.

 

The sixth angel (1788—1932 and 1980—2004)

Historically this is very accurate for the time 1788—1932 marks the time of the French Revolution, the revolutions in Europe, and the two World Wars. The time 1992—2004 corresponds with what was said previously about "fire". 1992 was linked to the word "fire". Revelation 13:13: "fire came down from heaven in full view of men", indicate the war Desert Storm (1992).

We know that the angel in Revelation 8:3—5 that took the censer and filled it "with fire from the altar" also relates to the time 1992—2004 (refer to p ).

The grapes and wine have the same purple—indigo colour as the amethyst stone of the twelfth foundation of the New Jerusalem.

Hebrews 13:12—14And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

The words "high place" (or places) in the Bible can indicate the place of the altar or places of idolatry. "High" can mean arrogant. From what we have learnt, and from what will still be conveyed in the following chapters of Revelation, all of these meanings apply to this generation (1932—2004). It is the time that the Lamb is placed on the altar by the Christian nations, and the time that man has become arrogant and corrupt.

In Revelation 21:16 it is said that "He measured the city (the New Jerusalem) with a rod and found it to be 12, 000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it was long." This is a heavenly measurement. Of significance is that 1600 can be divided in 12 000 about seven times.

Here we have a reference to "bearing the disgrace he bore". This means that we have to look at history and to those that also endured death, punishment and the disgrace that Christ suffered.

These words should be seen in relation to Golgotha, the place "outside the city" where Christ was crucified. Golgotha means "the place of the scull". This might be because it was the place where the convicted were put to death, or because it was a hill that had the form of a scull.

It will later be established that the seven "hills" that are part of the "beast" have to do with the death of seven particular Christian martyrs or times of martyrdom. The number "seven" also implies the total number of Christians that died for their faith. As was mentioned in a revious chapter, some of the deaths of the martyrs in the second millennium can be brought into relation with times of persecution in the first millennium. (See p .)

"blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia"

This phrase also relates to the time 1932—2004. In the measurement of the "temple" the colours of the New Jerusalem are used to indicate the generations between 996—2004, which is also "three and a half days".

According to the instruction "exclude the outer court" given in Revelation 11:1, we were told not to measure the first generation (996—1068). The colours of the gemstones were therefore placed on the generations measuring from 1068—1932, the twelve generations of the time of "three days". That is why the time 1932—2004 is not measured in the time of the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem. Where Revelation 11:1 says "exclude the outer court", it could also mean the time 1932—2004.

Revelation 11:1—2"Go and measure the temple of God and the altar,
and count the worshippers there. But exclude the outer court …

 

The time 1932—2004 was incorporated in the time 1860—2004, the time of the last "half-day" of the "three and a half days" of the second millennium. Now Revelation seems to indicate that the time 1932—2004 must be regarded as "one generation". As we are living in this time 1932—2004, it could possibly be referred to as "this generation". The time 1932—2004 also indicates the time that the "Lamb" was slain. (See Rev 5:6, p .)

Therefore "outside the city " (in a following chapter we shall see that "the great city" extends for a time of "three days", the time 1068—1932) also relates to the time 1932—2004. It seems as if the "wall", according to the generations of the chart of the New Jerusalem in the second millennium, figuratively rises "high" in the time 1932—2004. Throughout Revelation it is stressed that this generation has become arrogant and has forgotten the message of Jesus Christ to the world.