“Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Tziyon; and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1).
Yochanan looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Tziyon. In ancient times, this mountain was the highest point in Jerusalem; today it is the mountain south of the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. The word Tziyon occurs 161 times in the Complete Jewish Bible and means ‘signpost’ or ‘monument.’
King David attacked the Jebusites in Jerusalem and captured the fortress of Tziyon and it became the City of David (2 Samuel 5:6-7). Tziyon in Jerusalem became a possession of Isra’el and King David put up the Tent for the Ark of the Covenant on the mountain next to his palace. Because of the continual worship at the Tent of David, Mount Tziyon became the spiritual center for the world.
Eventually the name Tziyon became synonymous the city of Jerusalem from where the Torah would be proclaimed along with the Word of Adonai (Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2) and the vision of the eternal Promised Land and the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:10).
“On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive assembly; to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua…” (Hebrews 12:21-24).
Hebrew Word Pictures
צ Tzade – A Fishhook means ‘draw near.’
י Yod – A Closed Hand means ‘finished work.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
ן Nun – A Fish means ‘life.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for tziyon: draw near to the finished work binding life.
Standing on Mount Tziyon were 144,000 men: 12,000 from each of the 12 Tribes of Isra’el. They have the Lamb’s name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. The promise given to those in the congregation of Philadelphia who persevered and won the victory are given the name of Yeshua and Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. They never disowned the name of Yeshua even when attacked by false Jews. These overcomers will be kept from the time of trial that will test the earth. They have been ‘sealed’ by Adonai.
The Hebrew word for ‘forehead’ is metzak. Some Scriptures suggest ‘forehead’ is symbolic of being stubborn; however, an ornament of pure gold was fastened to Aharon’s turban as a ‘seal’ (Exodus 28:36-38). This ‘seal’ protected the High Priest from the guilt of the people of Isra’el when he accepted their gifts.
As part of the Shema, Isra’el is told to love Adonai with all their heart, mind and soul, and to teach the commandments to their children. As a ‘sign,’ they are to tie them on their hands and bind them on their forehead (Deuteronomy 6:8-9). This command has become literally exemplified by many Orthodox Jews who tie straps on their arms and hands and bind little black boxes to their foreheads. This is a reminder that the commandments protect the thoughts of the mind and are obeyed by the action of the hands.
Yeshua’s name and the name of his Father written on the ‘forehead’ is a sealing of protection, and proof that these 144,000 obey the commandments and their minds are protected from the evils of the world.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Forehead – Metzak
מ Mem – Water and means ‘chaos’ or ‘mighty.’
צ Tzade – A Fishhook means ‘draw near.’
ח Chet – A Fence and means ‘protect.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for metzak: mighty draw near protection.
“I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing waters and like the sound of pealing thunder; the sound I heard was also like that of harpists playing on their harps. They were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living beings and the elders, and no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who have been ransomed from the world. These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes; they have been ransomed from among humanity as firstfruits for God and the Lamb; on their lips no lie was found — they are without defect” (Revelation 14:2-5).
This group of men, B’nei Isra’el were first ‘sealed’ in Revelation chapter 7. They have remained physically and spiritually pure. They follow Yeshua wherever he goes. They are given harps that when played sound like rushing waters and pealing thunder. They sing a new song that only they can learn, and sing before the four living beings and the 24 elders. They are the firstfruits of those who have been ransomed from the world. Like the Lamb, they are without defect.
The phsat or literal interpretation of being a virgin is not being defiled by a woman. The remez or ‘shadow’ of this condition alludes to spiritual purity. These men of Isra’el have never defiled themselves with other religions or religious practices, including Christian. They remained faithful to the Shema, the Torah and the Prophets. They are true Jews with new covenant, circumcised hearts who receive the praise of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh (Romans 2:29).
The prophecy speaks of a new song that only could be sung by those redeemed from the world. The ‘new song’ is spontaneous because they are the only ones who have had victory had over the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet. It is a new victory song because this war had never been fought before by humans, and it will never be fought again (Matthew 24:21).
The ‘new song’ is first mentioned in Revelation chapter 5, but is being sung around the throne in heaven: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals; because you were slaughtered; at the cost of blood you ransomed for God persons from every tribe, language, people and nation. You made them into a kingdom for God to rule, cohanim to serve him; and they will rule over the earth” (Revelation 5:10). In Revelation chapter 14, the new song is being sung on Mount Tziyon, the mountain of Adonai where those who come out of the Great Tribulation will worship King Yeshua who holds the scepter of promise to Judah and King David (Psalm 2:6, Psalm 110:2). At this time, Mount Tziyon will be called the mountain of the Holy One and Jerusalem will be known as the city of Truth (Isaiah 2:3, Michah 4:2).
“At that time, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved. For in Mount Tziyon and Yerushalayim there will be those who escape, as Adonai has promised; among the survivors will be those whom Adonai has called” (Joel 3:5).
“Next I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with everlasting Good News to proclaim to those living on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. In a loud voice he said, “Fear God, give him glory, for the hour has come when he will pass judgment! Worship the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:6-7).
Yochanan sees a messenger flying in the mid-heaven proclaiming the message of respentance and salvation to those living on the earth: to every nation, tribe, language, and people. For those who have asked about the Aborigines in the remotest part of the earth, here’s the answer. Everyone will hear the message of repentance. The messenger tells everyone to worship Adonai, the Creator who made heaven and earth, the seas and springs of water.
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh is compassionate and desires that all men come to a full knowledge of the Truth. When judgment comes, He wants all nations to know that it is His judgment and that they can be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
“Another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel the Great! She made all the nations drink the wine of God’s fury caused by her whoring!” (Revelation 14:8).
A second messenger follows saying that Bablyon the Great has fallen. Babylon the Great is great global city comprised of all the nations that embrace the false gods and religions of the world (Leviticus 20:6). She is called the ‘Mother of Whores and Great Obsenities’ –– she is the bride of the Adversary. Her spiritual rebellion draws people away from Adonai and provokes Him to anger, to make them drink the wine of his fury.
The religious system of Babylon goes back to the one religion anti-Elohim pre-flood Babel. More than witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritual idolatry, Babylon, the Mother of Whores, is responsible for the slaughter billions of people on earth from the beginning of time until the judgment; Babylon the Whore is the root of all religious wars against the people of Adonai.
“Another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will indeed drink the wine of God’s fury poured undiluted into the cup of his rage. He will be tormented by fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb, and the smoke from their tormenting goes up forever and ever. They have no rest, day or night, those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of its name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
Those who worship the beast’s image and receive the ‘beast’s mark’ on their forehead or hand will also drink the undiluted wine of Elohim’s fury. The Greek word for ‘mark’ is charagma and means ‘stamp or impression’ like an image impressed upon a coin. It is a undeniable ‘mark’ that proves the identification of its owner and determines their eternal destination. Like the ‘beast’ and the false prophet, they will be tormented in the ‘lake of burning fire and sulfur.’ The smoke will go up before the angels and Yeshua, and their torment is eternal. These people will have no rest day or night if they worship the beast, its image, and receive the ‘mark.’
“This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness” (Revelation 14:12).
This all-important verse reveals the identity of Adonai’s people: they observe His commandments and have a testimony of Yeshua. This is the witness of two for being a saint, set-apart for Elohim. The Holy Ones wholeheartedly understand the message of repentance and a return to Adonai through faith and obedience.
Those who do not put their faith in Yeshua are not called Holy Ones. These could be Jewish people who obey the commandments, but reject Yeshua because of anti-missionaries and the stigma attached to a Jesus who doesn’t keep Torah. Those who do not obey Torah are not called Holy Ones either. These could be Christians who have a testimony of Yeshua, but reject obeying the Torah commandments. The preaching of a Torah-less gospel is called the ‘spirit of lawlessness’ that is at work deceiving even before the ‘man of lawlessness’ is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:7 Romans 2:7-9).
The Greek word for ‘perseverance’ is hupomone and means ‘remaining behind.’ Those who remain behind are the wheat and not the tares. The tares, the godless, the faithless, and the lawless, are planted by the evil one. They will be gathered together and thrown into the fire. Those who are ‘left behind’ are the wheat that will be gathered into Yeshua’s barn. The Holy Ones are ‘sealed’ by Adonai through their testimony of Yeshua and their obedience to Torah and gathered to Yeshua (Matthew 13:29-30).
“Next I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘How blessed are the dead who die united with the Lord, from now on!’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘now they may rest from their efforts, for the things they have accomplished follow along with them’” (Revelation 14:13).
The ‘voice’ in heaven speaks to Yochanan. The Hebrew word devar is used for ‘voice’ which means ‘word’ like Devar Elohim or Word of God. Devar (word) is used with katab (write) directing toward something important. This devar holds a blessing for those who die united with Yeshua from this point forward.
These will be the ‘left behind’ martyrs. When they die for their faith, they will rest from the efforts “for the things they have accomplished follow along with them.” The word for ‘rest’ in Hebrew means ‘to lie down and relax.’ These martyrs have a faith they expressed by their deeds and actions which followed them (Psalm 85:14, Ephesians 2:10).
“Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud. Sitting on the cloud was someone like a Son of Man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Start using your sickle to reap, because the time to reap has come — the earth’s harvest is ripe!” The one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested” (Revelation 14:13-16).
Clouds are found throughout Scripture. Adonai put his bow in the cloud, He followed the Israelites in a cloud, He rides a swift cloud on His way to Egypt (Isaiah 19:1). The glory of yod-hey-vav-hey departed the Temple and left Jerusalem in a cloud over the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 10). Adonai makes the clouds His chariot and He rides on the wings of the wind (Psalm 104:3). Clouds not only represent the presence of Adonai, but they are also a mode of transportation (Deuteronomy 33:26).
The Greek word for ‘cloud’ is nephele and means a literal ‘cloud.’ According to Vines Expository Dictionary of Greek and Hebrew, the cloud is ‘a definitely-shaped cloud’. Nephele comes from the word nephos with a symbolic meaning of ‘a dense multitude or throng.’ A nephele is a large physical cloud comprised of masses of clouds that covers the heavens.
The Hebrew word for ‘cloud’ is anan and means ‘cloud mass’. Jeremiah describes the anan, “You have covered yourself with a ‘cloud’ so thick …” (Lamentations 3:44). It is used for the presence of Adonai and His ‘cloud’ sukkah over Israel –– His ‘sign of divine protection.’ The ‘cloud’ served as a barrier to hide the fullness of Adonai’s holiness and glory while giving Israel divine protection from the Egyptians as well as the Red Sea itself.
The Hebrew word for ‘before me’ is hineni and means ‘here I am’ in the spiritual sense of being ready to do the will of Elohim. Avraham responded to El Shaddai with Hineni when he was asked to take his only son to Mount Moriah. Hineni suggests ‘the cloud’ is prepared to do the will of Elohim. There is a ‘cloud’ of witnesses that has been resurrected and are ready to do the will of Adonai.
Sitting on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. Daniel had a vision: “I kept watching the night visions, when I saw, coming with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man” (Daniel 7:13). This ‘son of man’ was led into the presence of ‘Ancient of Days’ and given a scepter, glory, and an eternal Kingdom. Daniel saw Yeshua coming with the clouds; however, at this time the Son of Man is sitting on the cloud (Matthew 24:30).
The Son of Man wears a crown symbolizing his power and authority. As the King of Kings, Yeshua will wear many crowns on his head representing the many victories he had over the nations’ kings (Revelation 19:12). He wears a crown showing his power and authority to harvest the earth bringing many into the Kingdom (John 4:35).
A messenger comes out of the Temple and tells the Son of Man that the time has come to reap for the harvest is ripe. Some do not believe the person sitting on the cloud is Yeshua because he doesn’t take orders from angels; however the messenger came out of the Temple after having received the order from Yeshua’s Father. As the Son of Man, he waits for his Father’s command to claim his Bride; he must also wait for Adonai’s ‘specific time’ for judgment (Lamentations 1:15).
Yeshua holds a sickle in his hand. A sickle is a reaping-hook with a curved blade used for harvesting crops. The prophet Joel writes, ‘swing the sickle for the harvest is ripe, the winepress is full, the vats are overflowing –– wickedness is great” (Joel 3:13).
Lamentations says there is a ‘specific time’ or ‘appointed time’ for Adonai’s judgment. The Hebrew word used is mo’ed and refers to the Feasts of Adonai. Each of the ‘appointed times’ follow an agricultural cycle. There is the planting of the seed that must fall to the ground and die (John 12:24). There is a firstfruits spring harvest offered Feast of Firstfuits (1 Corinthians 15:20). There is a later firstfuits harvest offered on Feast of Weeks (Acts 3:41). The fall harvest of grapes put into a winepress was known as the final harvest or the ingathering celebrated on the Feast of Tabernacles.
“Another angel came out of the Temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Then out from the altar went yet another angel, who was in charge of the fire; and he called in a loud voice to the one with the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because they are ripe!” The angel swung his sickle down onto the earth, gathered the earth’s grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s fury. The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as the horses’ bridles for two hundred miles!” (Revelation 14:17-20).
One angel comes out of the Temple with a sickle while another from the Altar manages the fire. Together the sickles are swung down onto the earth to gather the clusters of grapes that are ripe for the fury of Elohim. The prophet Isaiah says that the ‘arm’ of Elohim brings forth salvation –– Yeshua. (Isaiah 63:3-6).
Outside the city of Jerusalem, the winepress was trodden and symbolizes the blood that will be shed at the time of judgement. Blood flowed for 200 miles; it will be as ‘high as the horses’ bridle.’ The distance between Jerusalem and Cairo, Egypt to the south is 263 miles, between Jerusalem and Damascus, Syria to the north is 222 miles, and Jerusalem and Ammon, Jordan to the east is 160 miles. Taken literally, the whole Middle East, the war zone from Damascus to Ammon to Cairo will be one large lake filled with blood.
This website actually tried to figure out how many people must die to fill the land with so much blood and came up with between 15,000 and 30,000 people which seems too few. Another interpretation could be that the swinging of the angelic sickles is so violent that blood will be splattered everywhere even up to the horses’ bridle.
Using the measurement of a horse’s bridle suggests the armies will be riding horses. In today’s technology of fighter jets and tanks, it seems odd that there will be mounted armies. Yet, there are five countries that still use horses in their military, and a few of them could be part of this war: India has the last fully-operational mounted cavalry; Jordan uses camels to guard their borders with Syria and Iraq; and the United Nationsuses horses in desert areas like Iran and Iraq.
With the release of Adonai’s fury, He destroys many nations and pours their lifeblood onto the earth.
Revelation 15 – Song of Moshe
©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.