Re-Reading Revelation, Lecture # 19: The Cosmic Conflict from A to Z, Part III

It has been said of chapter 13 in Revelation that it is "the Dragon's story": the Dragon acts. Then comes chapter 14, consisting of three parts almost equal in length. We have the three angels' messages (14:6-12), the harvest (14:14-20), and the scene of triumph on Mount Zion (14:1-5). What to call the chapter as a whole? This is God's response to "the Dragon's story": God re-acts. A key element in God's re-action are the three angels' messages. It may be drastic to say that these are among the most misunderstood verses in the entire Bible--misunderstood even by those who have 'understood' them--but let it be said. Here, read as God's re-action to the Dragon's action, it will be clearer what is what and who is doing it.