The scene now switches over to Heaven. The phrase "a Lamb stood on the mount Sion" (Revelation 14:1) refers to Christ, the "hundred forty and four thousand" (Revelation 14:1) are the Saints who have risen from the dead and who have shared in the first resurrection "These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Revelation 14:4), and so have overseen events from the time of Christ until the end of time. Their allegiance to Christ is signified by "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (Revelation 14:4). The word 'virgins' is not meant in its literal sense 'sexually inexperienced' here, (though in some cases it may happen to be literally true), rather it means that they are pure from sin. The same is meant by "not defiled with women" which is an unfortunate metaphor that is partly due to prophetic contamination (see my discussion on Prophecy), and partly due to ancient Greek and Roman views on women. 'Women' here signifies the temptations of the flesh which, in turn, signifies the allure of all kinds of things which can distract one from a life focused on God and so pervert one's priorities.  God has no quarrel with women or human sexuality when used appropriately:

"God created man in his image. In the image of God he created them. Male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the Earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:27-28)
"Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man is alone; I will make him a helper like himself" (Genesis 2:18), "And the rib which the Lord God took from the man, he made into a woman, and brought her to him, Then the man said, 'She now is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, for from man she has been taken' For this reason a man leaves his father and mother, and clings to his wife, and the two become one flesh" (Genesis 2:22-24).

The Saints wear "his Father's name written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1) to signify their allegiance to the Father, and to indicate their more intimate relationship with the Father and the Son. In contrast with those who bear other symbols of allegiance, this indicates that the Saints have their priorities straight. Their greater intimacy is also exhibited in the knowledge they share, which is a puzzle to all others, "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand" (Revelation 14:3).

The first angel that appears has a message that is of the utmost importance for today, for the time is very near: "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Revelation 14:7). Because of the nearness of the end it is important that the message of Christ be spread "unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:6).

The second angel announces the fall of the United States, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). We shall see how the United States is called 'Babylon' in the chapter 17.

The third angel announces a warning that is given prior to the fall of the United States (for an explanation of the chronological reversal, see my discussion on Prophecy), "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:9-11). We have already seen that 'the beast' refers either to the first beast (the United States) or the second beast (the puppets of the United States). Receiving "his mark in his forehead, or in his hand," indicates accepting any symbol of allegiance to the United States or its allies during the final combat between the US and Christ. This especially applies to those who put on a military uniform during this time, but the real concern here is not for the outward sign, but for an inward commitment.

Why will the USA oppose the Kingdom of God? On the surface, the principle rhetorical claims will be the preservation of 'democracy' and 'freedom', neither of which the USA provides in any true measure to its own citizens, let alone the peoples of other nations. The USA will brand Christ and his followers as crazy, and suggest wild scenarios like 'Christ is a space alien.' Even Christ faced such accusations, "He has a devil and is mad, Why do you listen to him?" (John 10:20). Under the surface, the motives of the USA will be more selfish: He who holds power is slow to give it up; He who holds wealth is slow to share it; He who has sinned much, fears God excessively; He who deems his current condition good, loathes the prospect of change.

It is important to know that this battle is not about supremacy in this world: The USA has had its day in the Sun, but now this world is passing away and it is time for a new order, not a "Novus Ordo Seclorum" which is what the USA claimed to be, but the eternal Kingdom of God. This is a battle for the salvation of your soul. Those who resist Christ are fighting their own destiny and defending death. To give them the full taste of the significance of their resistance, Christ will let them have all that they were fighting for, and they "shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night" (Revelation 14:10-11). In this battle there shall be no restraint. All of the wicked will suffer and fall, whether old, young, male, female, strong, weak, or in any other condition or circumstance. Also, there should be no doubt about who will win this final struggle. It is a foregone conclusion that has clearly been foretold.

As always, the rich will try manipulate the poor into fighting their battles for them, and so this message goes out as a warning especially to the poor: Do not give in to the temptation to fight for an evil cause. If they try to coerce you to fight for them, resist. What can they do to you? If they injure you, the slightest cut purchases eternal glory for you, and the more extensive your wounds are, the more intense your glory will be. If they kill you, so what? God will restore your life in full glory in just a few days time. You will have slept through the worst of it and gain, from your viewpoint, instant access to eternal life "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13). This is the reward for having the will to remain loyal to the Lord God,  "Here is the patience of the saints who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). There is much to gain here, for who in their right mind would not suffer a moment of pain in order to gain an eternity of honor? Remember this as well, "Whoever tries to save his life will lose it; and whoever loses it will preserve it" (Luke 17:33)

Following this, the end will come. The battle will not go well for the USA, but the work will be easy for Christ and his assistants, like mowing grass "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped" (Revelation 14:14-16), or harvesting ripe grapes, " And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." (Revelation 14:17-19), but the slaughter will be great, "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs" (Revelation 14:20).