March 12, 2017
Evening Service

In chapter 12 John’s revelation took a slight detour from its chronological order to reveal to us the beginning of the conflict between God and Satan which also was the origin of sin, evil, persecution and suffering. It ends, as we saw this morning, with Satan declaring war on us as followers of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged over the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

 Chapter 13 returned to sometime during the end times and introduced to us the beast and the prophet.  Both of these are believed to be men who will play prominent roles in this tribulation period.  Both of these tools of Satan do things that “mimic” the true things of God.  The first beast was thought to be dead and was resurrected and the second was able to call down fire from heaven.  They are counterfeit antichrists that try to set up all men to worship an image set up to honor them not God; openly defying the second commandment.  They will make war with saints and prevail (physically) over them.  They then made a declaration that all would have to receive what we call “the mark of the beast.”  Without it one could not buy or sell, this again mocked the seal God placed on His people in chapter 7.  This seal showed ones allegiance to Satan and rebellion against God whose fate we will see tonight.  This chapter’s onslaught of evil is now is now balanced by a glimpse for us into eternity as we begin chapter 14.

Revelation 14:1-5  And I looked, and lo, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion. And with Him were a hundred and forty-four thousands, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.  (2)  And I heard a voice from Heaven, like the voice of many waters and like the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.  (3)  And they sang as it were a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousands who were redeemed from the earth.  (4)  These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, as a first fruit to God and to the Lamb.  (5)  And in their mouth was found no guile, for they were without blemish before the throne of God.

·         These 144,000 are the ones who received the seal of God in chapter 7.  They are described as blameless, but that has come only because they “washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) 

·         Their purity seems to be best understood symbolically, meaning they are free from any involvement with any other pagan beliefs. They are considered spiritually pure remaining exclusively faithful to Christ.  They chose to follow Christ even if it meant some physical pain or even death.  They were all in.

·         This new song of redemption cannot be sang or understood by the angels of heaven but only by those who have been overcomers.

 

Revelation 14:6-7  And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation tribe, tongue, and people,  (7)  saying with a great voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

·         This appears to be the final worldwide appeal calling those on the earth to repentance.  It says the message was sent to “every nation, tribe, tongue and people.”  Notice how that ties into what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew.

 

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.

·         The call is to fear and worship God the true Creator of this earth.

 

Revelation 14:8 And another angel followed, saying, “The great city, Babylon, has fallen, has fallen; because of the wine of the anger of her fornication; she has made all nations to drink.”

·         Babylon here refers to not only the city, but also the immoral empire that has arisen and is led by Satan and his followers.  This actually jumps ahead to its fall described in chapters 17 and 18.

 

Revelation 14:9-11  And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark in his forehead or in his hand,  (10)  he also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before 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, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

·         Here we are given the price that is paid for willingly taking the mark of the beast we saw in chapter 13.  They will be subject to the full wrath of God.

·         Notice that this is a choice they have made or perhaps even a lack of a choice.  They willing chose to receive the mark placing their allegiance with evil rather than God.  It also just could have been simply not having enough faith in God to choose Him and the persecution that would follow.  They simply made the easiest, yet the wrong, choice but the result is the same.

·         The ultimate result of sin is the separation from God.  We are created with a longing desire to have fellowship with our Creator.  Our separation from God will be the ultimate torment and misery.  Our choice to accept the gift of Jesus’ blood and God’s redemption to cleanse us from our sin restores that broken relationship with our Creator resulting in an unbroken relationship for eternity.

 

 

 

Revelation 14:12-13  Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  (13)  And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, “Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

·         The saints are to be encouraged that here in the end we win!  Our patient endurance and labors will be rewarded with what follows in eternity.

 

Revelation 14:14-20  And I looked, and behold, a white cloud. And on the cloud sat one like the Son of man, having a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand.  (15)  And another angel came out of the temple, crying in a great voice to Him sitting on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth was dried.”  (16)  And He sitting on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.  (17)  And another angel came out of the temple in Heaven, also having a sharp sickle.  (18)  And another angel came out from the altar, which had authority over fire. And he spoke with a great cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”  (19)  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 anger of God.  (20)  And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, for the space of a thousand, six hundred furlongs.

·         Here is an image of the judgement as Christ reaps the wheat and the tares; just like the parable of Matthew 13.  It is a terrible time for those who do not know Christ.  It describes their fate as being placed in a wine press to face the wrath of God with the blood to flow somewhere around 4 feet deep and travel 180 miles. This certainly does not paint a pleasant picture for them.

·         We as Christ followers have nothing to fear throughout this final time of tribulation and judgement.  Jesus spoke these words in John 5.

 

John 5:24  Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

·         How important a decision it is that we accept the gift that is offered to atone for our sins and restore the broken relationship between us and our Creator.  We choose to enter into His church and become part of His body thus freeing us from the chains of condemnation and judgement that we would have been forced to face.

 

Lord, thank you for offering to us love, forgiveness, and a chance to spend eternity with You.