Readings:
Revelation 14-15

John sees the Lamb on Mount Zion, this hill in Jerusalem is traditionally identified with the Temple Mount, but also is used throughout the Old Testament as another name for Jerusalem. Many passages about the messianic age, the life of the world to come, and other eschatological themes use Mount Zion as a focal point.

The name of God is written on the forehead of the 144,000 that represents the people that make up the church. This is instead of being marked with the numerical name of the beast for those worshiping the beast and dragon.

It says these 144000 are virgins and sing a new song. This probably reflects the chastity requirement of temple priests while they were on rotation, that is the basis of the celibacy doctrine of the church today. We are seeing these people representing the priesthood that we all share in as believers, and they’re all priests of God.

“The Lamb walks the way of virginity. Follow him there, you virgins, for on this count you follow him wherever he goes. . . . The masses of the faithful, unable to follow the Lamb to this blessing, will rejoice with you; but they will not be able to sing that new song which is for you alone”

Saint Augustine

Three angels make pronouncements while flying in the air, or midheaven as John calls it. One calls on the people to leave their idols and worship God alone, one declares the fall of Babylon in an echo of the prophecies of Babylon’s destruction in Isaiah and Jeremiah, and one declares that anyone who throws their lot in with the beast (those who have his mark) will share in his destruction.

The next thing John sees is Jesus arriving in a cloud to issue judgment, and the visuals used to describe it are from Daniel when he talked about the “son of man” and the “ancient of days.” Also it’s portrayed as a harvest from the field, language that would be familiar to an agrarian society.

Chapter 15 starts with another sign in heaven. John sees a sea of glass with people described as the ones who had conquered the beast. This means these people are martyrs, who though seemingly having been killed by the beast wouldn’t be considered to have conquered it, but they stood their ground and didn’t waive and through the shed blood of the Lamb they are victorious because they go to heaven while the beast’s time has almost come to an end.

The song of Moses is important because just like Christ’s passion is described as his exodus in the gospels, so too is our journey from baptism (foreshadowed in the Red Sea) all the way to the promised land in heaven.

The entire Exodus from Egypt was a type of the Church’s coming forth from the Gentiles. In the end, the Lord will lead her out of this world into his own inheritance, which was not conferred by Moses, the servant of God, but by Jesus, the Son of God.

Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies

The chapter ends with seven angels, who are dressed in priestly garb, carrying bowls that would be similar to ones used during liturgy in the temple. The sacred bowls and the priestly garb point to these plagues in the bowls being the wrath of a just and holy God and that his judgements are just.

Readings:
Revelation 16