December 23

The person who accepts the mark of the antichrist (Christ’s great enemy) is accepting the antichrist’s rule over his life. So, that person has chosen, on purpose, to serve the devil. As a mark on the body is permanent, so the person has given his life to the devil completely.

That is why the judgement against these people is so severe. God’s kindness is great, but these people have chosen on purpose to oppose God. They hate his kindness; they hate everything that is good. Now they belong to the devil; so they must suffer a punishment that will be like the devil’s punishment (20:10).

The description of that punishment is truly awful. There are fires that cause constant pain. There is sulphur, a substance that burns with an awful smell. The punishment is both constant and permanent. Nobody will ever escape. Such descriptions appear occasionally elsewhere in the Bible. Isaiah 66:24 refers to such a punishment. So does Jude 7 in its reference back to Genesis 19:24. Christ also spoke about it in Mark 9:43-48 and Luke 16:23-26. His purpose, of course, was to warn and not to frighten. His message was that people must not allow the devil to rule their lives. Hell is a terrible place, but God wants to save people from it. Christ died to make that possible (Romans 5:6-19; Hebrews 9:14). ~ From: usefulbible.com

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
~ Revelation 14:9-11

Zechariah 4:1-5:11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23

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New Testament: Revelation 14:1-20

Summary: The Lamb and the 144,000
The Messages of the Three Angels
The Harvest of the Earth

Revelation Chapter 14

14:1 – 144,000 people who remain loyal to God
14:2-3 – The new song
14:4 – About the 144,000 people
14:5 – God only accepts what is perfect
14:6-7 – An angel with good news
14:8 – An angel declares the defeat of Babylon
14:9-11 – God’s judgement against people who accept the mark of the antichrist
14:12 – God’s people must stand firm
14:13 – Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord
14:14-16 – The harvest from the world
14:17-18 – God’s final acts of judgement against sin
14:19-20 – The fruit harvest as a word-picture of judgement

Revelation 14:8

A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” ~ Revelation 14:8