No, Not One! - Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1895

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!

Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

Whom have you put your trust in?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
BUT WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.
Psalms 20:7

Imitating Christ’s Humility

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore GOD EXALTED HIM to the HIGHEST PLACE & GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME,
THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW,
IN HEAVEN & ON EARTH & UNDER THE EARTH,
AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
Philippians 2:5-11

Thank you Daddy

O Lord I am very very grateful
For what you have done for me
O Lord I am very very grateful
And am saying thank you Daddy

Thank you Daddy (x6)
And am saying thank you Daddy

Submission to Governing Authorities

Everyone MUST SUBMIT himself to the governing authorities, for THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, HE WHO REBELS against the authority IS REBELLING AGAINST WHAT GOD HAS INSTITUTED, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Romans 13:1-6

Glory be to Our God & Father

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:20

Treasures in Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God & not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 
2 Corinthians 4:7-12

My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
Job 19:25

THE KEY

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation & wisdom & knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Isaiah 33:6

Living in Plenty or in Want?!

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, & I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any & every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

What to think about

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Present your request to God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Pressing on Toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14

KNOWING CHRIST

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God & is by faith.
I want to know Christ & the power of his resurrection & the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, & so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11

TIME & CHANCE

I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time & chance happen to them all.
Ecclesiates 9:11

HUMILITY

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself & became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8

The Confidence We Have in Approaching God

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15

The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalms 23:1-6

Epilogue: Warning

I WARN EVERYONE WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: IF ANYONE ADDS ANYTHING TO THEM, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK. AND IF ANYONE TAKES WORDS AWAY FROM THIS BOOK OF PROPHECY, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY FROM HIM HIS SHARE IN THE TREE OF LIFE & IN THE HOLY CITY, WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS.

THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH GODS’S PEOPLE.
AMEN.
Revelation 22:18-21

Epilogue: Invitation

“Behold, I AM COMING SOON! MY REWARD IS WITH ME, & I WILL GIVE to EVERYONE ACCORDING to WHAT HE HAS DONE. I am the ALPHA & the OMEGA, the FIRST & the LAST, the BEGINNING & the END.

“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WASH THEIR ROBES, THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE & MAY GO THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY. OUTSIDE ARE THE dogs, THOSE who practice magic arts, THE sexually immoral, THE murderers, THE idolaters & EVERYONE who loves & practices falsehood.

“I, JESUS, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the ROOT & the OFFSPRING of DAVID, & the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.”

The Spirit & the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; & whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:12-17

John and the Angel

The ANGEL said to me, “THESE WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY & TRUE. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the THINGS THAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE.”

“Behold, I AM COMING SOON! BLESSED IS HE WHO KEEPS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY IN THIS BOOK.”

I, John, am the one who heard & saw these things. And when I had heard & seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you & with your brothers the prophets & of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because THE TIME IS NEAR. Let him who does wrong CONTINUE to do wrong; let him who is vile CONTINUE to be vile; let him who does right CONTINUE to do right; & let him who is holy CONTINUE to be holy.”
Revelation 22:6-11

Eden Restored

Then the angel showed me the River of the Water Of Life, as Clear as Crystal, Flowing from the Throne of God & of the Lamb Down the Middle of the Great Street of the City. On each side of the river stood the Tree Of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the Leaves of the tree are for the Healing of the Nations. No Longer will there be any Curse. The Throne of God & of the Lamb Will be in the City, & his Servants Will Serve Him. They will See his Face, & His Name Will be on their Foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. AND THEY WILL REIGN FOR EVER & EVER.
Revelation 22:1-5

Lamb's Book Of Life??!!

I Did Not See a Temple in the City, because the Lord God Almighty & the Lamb Are Its Temple.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the Glory Of God Gives It Light, & the Lamb is Its Lamp. The nations will walk by its light, & the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory & honor of the nations will be brought into it. 
Nothing Impure Will Ever Enter It, Nor Will Anyone Who Does What Is Shameful Or Deceitful, But Only Those Whose Names Are Written In The Lam's Book Of Life.
Revelation 21:22-27

The City Of Pure Gold

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates & its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod & found it to be 12,000 stadiaa in length, & as wide & high as it is long. He measured its wall & it was 144 cubitsb thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, & THE CITY OF PURE GOLD, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, & the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
Revelation 21:15-21

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came & said to me,
“Come, I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great & high, & showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It Shone with the Glory of God, & its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, & with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south & three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, & on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:9-14

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Then I saw a New Heaven & a New Earth, for the 1st heaven & the 1st earth had passed away, & there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming Down out of heaven from God, prepared As A Bride Beautifully dressed for Her Husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Dwelling Of God Is With Men, & He Will Live With Them. They Will Be His People, & God Himself will be With Them & Be Their God. He Will Wipe every Tear from Their Eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy & true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the ALPHA & the OMEGA, the BEGINNING & the END. To him Who is Thirsty I Will Give to drink without cost from the Spring of the Water of Life. He Who Overcomes will Inherit All This, & I will Be His God & he Will Be My Son. But The cowardly, The unbelieving, The vile, The murderers, The sexually immoral, Those who practice magic arts, The idolaters & All liars—Their Place Will Be in the Fiery Lake Of Burning Sulphur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 21:1-8

The Judgment of the Dead

Then I Saw a Great White Throne & him who was seated on it. Earth & sky fled from his presence, & there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great & small, standing before the throne, & Books Were Opened. Another book was opened, which is The Book Of Life. The Dead were Judged according to what they Had Done as Recorded In The Books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, & death & Hades gave up the dead that were in them, & each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death & Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The Lake Of Fire is the Second Death. If Anyone's Name was Not Found written in the Book Of Life, he was Thrown into the Lake Of Fire.
Revelation 20:11-15

The Judgment of Satan

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison & will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog & Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth & surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven & devoured them. And The Devil, who deceived them, Was Thrown Into The Lake Of Burning Sulfur, where the beast & the false prophet had been thrown. They Will Be Tormented Day & Night For Ever & Ever.
Revelation 20:7-10

The Thousand Years

And I Saw An Angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss & holding in his hand a great chain. He Seized The Dragon, That Ancient Serpent, who is The Devil, or Satan, & Bound Him For A Thousand Years. He threw him into the Abyss, & locked & sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus & because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image & had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life & reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This Is The First Resurrection. Blessed & Holy Are Those Who Have Part In The First Resurrection . The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God & of Christ & will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-6

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

I saw heaven standing open & there before me was a White Horse, whose Rider is called Faithful & True. With Justice he Judges & Makes War. His Eyes Are like Blazing Fire, & On His Head are Many Crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, & His Name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses & dressed in fine linen, white & clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” a He treads the winepress of the fury of the WRATH of GOD Almighty. On his robe & on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw the Beast & the Kings of the earth & their Armies Gathered together To Make War Against The Rider On The Horse & His Army. But the Beast Was Captured, & with him the False Prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast & worshiped his image. The Two of them Were Thrown alive Into The Fiery Furnace Of Burning Sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, & all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 19:11-21 summary

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!
Salvation & glory & power belong to our God,
for true & just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

And again they shouted:
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever & ever.”

The 24 elders & the 4 living creatures fell down & worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:
“Amen, Hallelujah!”
Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters & like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, & his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”
(Fine Linen Stands For The Righteous Acts Of The Saints.)

Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed Are Those Who Are Invited To The Wedding Supper Of The Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:1-10

The Fall of Babylon

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, & the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted:

“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! 
She has become a home for demons & a haunt for every evil a spirit, 
a haunt for every unclean & detestable bird.
For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, 
& the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“Come out of her, my people, 
so that you will not share in her sins, 
so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 
for her sins are piled up to heaven, 
& God has remembered her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given; 
pay her back double for what she has done.
Mix her a double portion from her own cup.
Give her as much torture and grief as the glory & luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, & I will never mourn.’
Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning & famine.
She will be consumed by fire, 
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

The kings of the earth, the merchants, every sea captain, all who travel by ship, the sailors & all who earn a living from the sea will weep & morn the ruin of the city.

Rejoice over her, O heaven!
Rejoice, saints and apostles & prophets!
God has judged her for the way she treated you.’"
Revelation 18:1-24 summary

The Woman on the Beast

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came & said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery & the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had Seven Heads and Ten Horns.

This title was written on her forehead:

MYSTERY

BABYLON THE GREAT

THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The Seven Heads are Seven Hills on which the woman sits. They are also Seven Kings. Five have Fallen, One Is, the Other Has Not Yet Come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

“The Ten Horns you saw are Ten Kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They Have One Purpose and will Give Their Power & Authority To The Beast. They Will Make War Against The Lamb, but The Lamb Will Overcome Them Because He Is The Lord Of Lords And King Of Kings—& with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Then the angel said to me, “The Waters You Saw, where the prostitute sits, Are Peoples, Multitudes, Nations & Languages. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin & leave her naked; they will eat her flesh & burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled. The Woman You Saw Is The Great City that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17:1-18

The Sixth & Seventh Bowl of God’s Wrath

The SIXTH ANGEL poured out his bowl On The Great River Euphrates, and Its Water Was Dried Up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I Saw Three Evil Spirits that Looked Like Frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast & out of the mouth of the false prophet. They Are Spirits Of Demons Performing Miraculous Signs, & They Go Out To The Kings Of The Whole World,To Gather Them For The Battle On The Great Day Of God Almighty.

“Behold, I COME LIKE A THIEF! BLESSED IS HE WHO STAYS AWAKE & KEEPS HIS CLOTHES WITH HIM, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Then They Gathered The Kings Together To The Place That in Hebrew Is Called Armageddon.

The SEVENTH ANGEL poured out his bowl Into The Air, & out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder & a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, & the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great & gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away & the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Revelation 16:12-21

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, Pour Out The Seven Bowls Of God’s Wrath On The Earth.”

The FIRST ANGEL went & POURED out his bowl On The Land, & ugly & painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast & worshiped his image.

The SECOND ANGEL POURED out his bowl On The Sea, & it turned into blood like that of a dead man, & every living thing in the sea died.

The THIRD ANGEL POURED out his bowl On The Rivers & Springs of Water, & they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,
you who are & who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged;
for they have shed the blood of your saints & prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true & just are your judgments.”

The FOURTH ANGEL POURED out his bowl On The Sun, & the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat & they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent & glorify him.

The FIFTH ANGEL POURED out his bowl On The Throne Of The Beast, & his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony & cursed the God of heaven because of their pains & their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
Revelation 16:1-11

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

I saw in heaven another great & marvelous sign: SEVEN ANGELS WITH THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire &, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast & his image & over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God & sang the song of Moses the servant of God & the song of the Lamb:

“Great & marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just & true are your ways,
King of the ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

After this I looked & in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen & wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever & ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God & from his power, & no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Revelation 15:1-8

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

I looked, & there before me was a white cloud, & seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head & a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple & called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle & reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, & the earth was harvested.

Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, & he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar & called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle & gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes & threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, & blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
Revelation 14:14-20

The Three Angels

Then I SAW another ANGEL flying in midair, & he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language & people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God & give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea & the springs of water.”

A SECOND ANGEL followed & said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

A THIRD ANGEL followed them & said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast & his image & receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels & of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever & ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast & his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments & remain faithful to Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Revelation 14:6-13

The Purchased of God.

The Lamb & the 144,000
Then I looked, & there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, & with him 144,000 who had his name & his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
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 & offered as firstfruits to God & the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Revelation 14:1-5

The Beast out of the Earth

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, & made the earth & its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And He Performed Great & Miraculous Signs, Even Causing Fire To Come Down From Heaven To Earth In Full View Of Men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, He Deceived The Inhabitants Of The Earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword & yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak & cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He Also Forced Everyone, small & great, rich & poor, free & slave, To Receive A Mark On His Right Hand Or On His Forehead, So That No-One Could Buy Or Sell Unless He Had The Mark, Which Is The Name Of The Beast Or The Number Of His Name.

THIS CALLS FOR WISDOM. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.
Revelation 13:11-18