Revelation 14

Harvest Time on Earth

While Revelation 13 tells about the power and growth of the kingdoms of Satan, in Revelation 14 we read about the Restoration and the growth of the kingdom of God on the earth in the latter days. This period was (and is) compared to the harvest time, when all the good crops are gathered in and stored, while all things that are not useful are destroyed—cut down, plowed under, and burned. One purpose of the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth in the latter days is to warn the people of the earth of this harvest time, or day of judgment, that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. If we are warned, we can be prepared by producing good fruit, or godly works, that allow us to be safely gathered to God.

Understanding the Scriptures

Revelation 14

Redeemed (vv. 3–4)Saved (the literal meaning is to be purchased from slavery or bondage)

Defiled (v. 4)Unchaste

Virgins (v. 4)Sexually pure

Guile (v. 5)Dishonesty of any kind, deception

Wrath (vv. 8, 10, 19)Judgment

Fornication (v. 8)The worship of idols

Indignation (v. 10)Terrible judgments

Sickle (vv. 14–19)A curved, sharp blade used for cutting down stalks of grain

sickle

Sickle

Reap (v. 15)To cut down a crop at harvest time

Winepress (vv. 19–20)A place where juice was removed from fruit by stomping on it

winepress

Winepress

Revelation 14:1—Having the Father’s Name Written in Your Forehead

See “Understanding the Scriptures” for Revelation 7:3–8 (p. 168).

Revelation 14:1–5—The “Firstfruits unto God”

In ancient Israel the people brought their first and best crops to the temple as an offering to God. By giving up these “firstfruits,” Israelites demonstrated to the Lord that He was most important in their life. The 144,000 men described in Revelation 14:1–5 had done with their lives what ancient Israelites did with their crops—they gave the Lord the first and the best of their obedience (as described in verses 4–5). Thus they were the “firstfruits” of the Lord’s people on earth.

Revelation 14:6–7—“I Saw Another Angel … , Having the Everlasting Gospel to Preach unto Them That Dwell on the Earth”

President Gordon B. Hinckley quoted part of Revelation 14:6 and said, “That angel has come. His name is Moroni. His is a voice speaking from the dust, bringing another witness of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 93; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 70). His purpose is to prepare people for the coming of the Lord (see D&C 133:17–19).

In the context of John’s vision, Moroni first visited the Prophet Joseph Smith at the beginning of the harvest season in the place where Joseph lived and told him about a book that would be, as President Ezra Taft Benson said, “the instrument that God designed to ‘sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out [His] elect’ (Moses 7:62)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 3; or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 4) in preparation for the coming of the Lord.

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity A and two of the other activities (B–D) as you study Revelation 14.

1. Scripture Mastery—Revelation 14:6–7

   1. Read the “Understanding the Scriptures” section above for Revelation 14:6–7. You may want to mark or write something in or by these two verses based on what you read.

   2. Using Revelation 14:6–7, write what you would tell someone who asked who and what the figure on the top of our temples represents.

2. Explain the Symbolism

   Imagine someone investigating Christianity asking you to explain the meaning of Revelation 14:1–5. They especially want to know if there are any members of the Church with Heavenly Father’s name written on their foreheads. Write what you would say to them about what it really means to take on the name of God and what the forehead might symbolize. Include something about how the 144,000 men demonstrated that they truly had taken on the Father’s name (see vv. 4–5).

3. Important Assignments

   1. There are six different angels spoken of in Revelation 14. Each seems to have a specific assignment. Write in your notebook the verses in which the assignment of each angel is described. Then describe what that angel is supposed to do. (Each of those angels might represent a whole group of angels, or heavenly ministrants.)

   2. Choose any two of those angelic assignments and describe how you would feel if they had been given to you. Explain why you would feel that way.

   3. Read Doctrine and Covenants 11:1–4, 27 and write in your notebook which angelic assignments are most like the one the Lord has given you.

4. Thrust in Your Sickle

   Revelation 14 speaks about a harvest prior to the Second Coming of Christ. Read each of the following scripture references and write what they teach you about what will happen in the harvest and the purpose of the harvest: Revelation 14:14–19; Alma 26:5–7; Doctrine and Covenants 12:1–4; 29:7–12; 33:2–7; 45:1–5; 86:1–7; 88:84–85, 94.