The Grapes of Wrath

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

In the last chapter we saw a call for endurance on the part of God's people, even in the face of persecution. In the middle of this chapter we find that call repeated, but also promoted, as we see the faithfulness of the 144,000 in the opening verses. Here we find a reminder to keep in mind the big picture. Judgement is coming, which involves both justice for God's people and punishment for those who have chosen worship of the beast instead.  The remainder of the chapter proceeds to describe the beginning of this judgment, known as "the grapes of wrath."