Teaching | Understanding Revelation: The Harvest of the Martyrs (Revelation 14-15)

The book of Revelation begins with the glorified Christ and ends with the glorified church. This helps us understand the narrative arc of Revelation. Christ’s bride shares in his glorious inheritance by following him through the path of faithful witness and suffering, but her blood does not spill in vain. God’s martyrs ascend from their earthly suffering to their heavenly throne. Martyrs from generations past cry out for vengeance from the base of the heavenly altar in Revelation 6. God promises vengeance, but not until the sealed 144,000 martyrs join their ranks. In Revelation 14-15 Jesus harvests his martyrs after they die under the persecution of the sea beast of Rome allied with the land beast of the corrupt Jewish priesthood. Revelation 14-15 breaks down into four sections: first, the lamb and his flock (14:1-5), second, the lamb and his message (14:6-13), third, the lamb and his harvest (14:14-20), and finally the lamb and his song (15:1-8). This is Understanding Revelation.