Revelation 14:1-20
Notes
Transcript
Would you stand for the reading of God’s word? It’s a longer section today. Revelation 14:1-20
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, “It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen. She made all the nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath.”
And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.”
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.
Would you pray with me? Go ahead and have a seat.
What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to follow Jesus? How do we have a relationship with Christ?
Those may seem like basic questions to some, trivial questions to others, but I would contend that we have great confusion on some of these essential questions.
Take my first question: What does it mean to be a Christian? Depending on your church tradition you’ll answer that differently. One may say: “I’ve been baptized, Catechized, and confirmed to be a Christian.” One may say instead: “I’ve prayed to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.” Still another would say: “I’ve repented of my sin and was baptized.” or “Well I go to church and try to be a good person.” or “You have to be born again.” or “You have to demonstrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” and on and on it goes.
And evangelicals have, I think rightly, stated that there needs to be a personal relationship with Jesus in there. I think that’s good - though finding that term “Personal Relationship” is tricky to find in Scripture. And it can often make Jesus seem like an on-again off-again boyfriend that we are scared to offend incase he leaves us.
What does it mean to follow Jesus when he is no longer living on the earth? How do we actually do it?
How are we saved, and how do we obey?
Like those are good essential questions - but if we can be honest, there is a lot of confusion that arises when we ask those questions.
Even questions like: what is the gospel? That’s a great essential question, but I bet we would have many different answers if we were to take turns sharing, right?
The issues in our faith and our lives typically encounter usually comes out of that confusion. The lack of clarity. Which is so like satan.
That’s a huge reason as to why I think preaching through Revelation is so important. Because in Revelation the spiritual world seems to break through the physical veil, and though intimidating, is so important when it comes to our daily lives. and our faith. and our relationship, and out salvation.
Cause remember - this book was written to real christians going through real persecution, and it was immensely challenging and hopeful.
But it is effective in the amount that it touches our lives through faith. It can’t just be speculation. We can’t just memorize it. We can’t just know it. The pharisees and the scribes were really good and knowing it. We have to hear it, and obey it.
But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Revelation is a call to obedience and perseverance. To conquer and resist. It’s a call in the words of Michael Gorman, its a call to ultimate security, cruciform hope, and faithful discipleship.
And where revelation 12 we were introduced to the dragon, and in chapter 13, his two beasts - in chapter 14 we see the people of God. And the response of Heaven.
Important to note again as we work through this chapter: timelines as linear reading is tricky when it comes to apocalyptic literature. So the “when is this” can be rather tricky, with passages and visions perhaps going back in time, to the current time, and hinting at the future time, all culminating in the second coming, final judgement and resurrection.
So as the sea beast and the earth beast corrupt through power and falseness, we turn. Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
John sees the lamb from Revelation 5, Jesus who stands as slain - standing on Mount Zion. Mount Zion is highly significant. It God’s dwelling place in the present, in Ps 74, and 76, and a future dwelling place, like in Zechariah. It’s a place of hope for Israels salvation and victory.
Now remember, in Ad 70, most of Jerusalem was laid to waste with the destruction of the temple. However the prophets throughout the old testament promised Zions restoration - Isaiah 1:27, 4:5, 46:13, 51:3, 62:11. Mica 4:2,7. That’s a lot of passages. but Mt Zion has always been in the mind of the prophets as the place where God will make war from and make things right.
It’s important to note taht in view in REvelation is not just the temporal but the eternal, New Jerusalem. The coming dwelling place of God where he will make all things new, and literally reign from in new heavens and new earth. It’s not like Babylon - who we will read about in verse 8 and later - who was the jewish arch nemesis and the like ultimate boogy man. And they would call all evil empires that opposed the work of God Babylon - and as we will read later - the early Christians viewed rome as a type of Babylon. Here we see the Lamb in the holy city - standing against the evil babylon. And we will see this “tale of two cities” play out many times int he remaining chapters.
But notice the Lamb isn’t alone - with him are the 144,000, who we met in revelation 7, who perhaps stand for the completely people of God - and look they are marked which we read about in chapter 7, with Christs name and the Fathers name on their foreheads.
Again - John is showing the difference between those marked by the beast, and those marked by Christ and the Father.
There is a great noise in heaven, which often seems to indicate the voice of God and the heavens. And there was the sound of harps.
And now there is a new song played by the people of God. This new song indicates its different than that which was being sung in Revelation 4 & 5, this is a special one. And no one could learn this song - except those redeemed from the earth.
This is a victory song, by the redeemed. And why is it known only by the redeemed? because it’s a unique experience for those who are redeemed. They are made new, they’ve been given new names by God, and they sing the victorious songs of praise.
And we read about their characteristics - they are undefiled with women, remaining virgins. There was an old testament president that when the warriors were off at war they would abstain from sex. This will play out more as we read about the whore of babylon. But these end-times warriors are purified from the sensuality of babylon.
And therefore they follow the lamb wherever he goes. They are redeemed out of humanity as the firstfruits for God and the lamb.
Now remember - when JEsus had his earthly ministry - where did he go? to the cross. To death. and therefore to resurrection.
These followers are committed. They pure. They follow him - even to death. They are the firstfruits of God - perhaps martyrs and the saints before. and verse 5, they are honest. No lie was found in their mouths they are blameless.
Satan is the father of lies. Revelation has a lot to say about liars, none of it good. And friends - we need to be careful in our own hearts. In the midwest we have this idea of passive aggressiveness. And while many are not blatant liars - they definitely don’t tell the truth.
And they are blameless. They haven’t compromised with the world. They are washed clean in the blood of the lamb.
Tim Dwyer points out that If you look at these five verses, you can see five characteristics of true discipleship in the 144000: They are faithful to JEsus (they follow him wherever they go), they are morally pure, they are truth tellers, they are blameless (linked with holiness where we are called to walk like lights in the world), and fifth they are worshippers.
Five characteristics of a true disciple from the 144,000:
They are faithful to Christ
They are morally pure
They tell the truth
They are blameless
They are worshippers.
All in the context of them standing with the lamb, in the presence of God. So good.
Next we get a set of angels and their proclamations. the first angel reading on Verses 6-7
Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
John now sees an angel flying over all the inhabitants of the earth. That phrase “of the earth” is usually used in Revelation for those who are NOT in Christ, but play along with the systems of the world. This angel is over the whole earth, every nation, tribe, language, and people - like the ones that the sea Beast was given authority and receive worship - and this angel announces the eternal gospel. Now note what he says:
“FEAR GOD and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Not that’s a different way to present the eternal gospel, no? Fear God and give him glory.
Recall, if you will - that gospel, euangelion, means proclamation, and was used outside of Christian circles to announce new kings. So this eternal Gospel is the proclamation of the eternal God and our forever King Jesus to everyone.
But starting with fear? Well Proverbs 9:10 says this.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
And we like to soften this in our pluralistic world, and say things like: Well fear doesn’t mean fear, it means respect.
Y’all - fear means fear. Not because God’s evil, no quite the opposite. Because he’s entirely good. and WE are evil. How did John react when he saw JEsus at the start of REvelation - at his feet as if dead.
We CANNOT fail to warn people that judgement is indeed coming. Don’t fear the romans who can destroy the body - but GOD who can destroy body and soul. Give him praise. Worship him. One could say - repent and follow Christ.
Another angel comes, Revelation 14:8
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, “It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen. She made all the nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath.”
The proto-typical evil empire of the world - who later will be all but explicitly correlated with Rome has been pronounced as fallen. Note - she made the nations drink of her sexual immorality. It’s interesting to me that as societies quote unquote progress and become enlightened, gross and deviant sexual immorality increases. And don’t you dare question it, instead come drink of it. This invites wrath.
Another angel comes, Revelation 14:9-12
And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.”
Woah. You feel that weight here? I think you’re supposed to. We learned last chapter about the mark of the beast, where people had to recieve the mark, a type of Anti-Shema- in order to buy or sell. If you didn’t take the mark - no participation in the market. The implication is that the beast required submission, required worship, requires you to turn on God and instead bow to the beast.
And we know things like this HAVE happened throughout history. We talked about the libelium, where in the 200s, under Emperor Decius, Christians were required to worship caeser and they would be given a mark of participation, or if they didn’t they would be brutalized. That’s a real thing! Beyond just a physical thing, it’s also a deeper truth in where we participate in worship of idols and forsake God. We worship creation rather than the creator.
Woe to those who follow the beast instead of the lamb. For whoever receives that mark will drink the wine of God’s wrath.
And as we read it - we’re talking about hell here. tormented in the sight of the angels and the lamb - forever and ever. no rest. This correlates to Jesus teachings on hell in the gospels. And it should be a wake up call to not trade your eternal soul for a few years of physical success! That’s a bad trade!
Some would ask if that means that taking the mark of the beast is an unforgivable sin, some might ask about what JEsus says in Mark 3:29-30 an blasphemy against the Holy Spirit being unforgivable. Others will look at Hebrews 6, and 10, and ask if this too is an unpardonable sin.
Friends - the text seems very clear here - those who receive the mark of the beast will drink the wrath of God forever more. This couldn’t be more serious. And that’s why verse 12 says
this calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.
We must NOT participate in the worship of other false GOds, or Satan. We must ONLY worship God. We must flee from idolatry. even if it costs us. And indeed it will cost. However, those in Christ who sacrifice for God will receive in return abundantly. Thats all through the Gospels like Maththew 19:29.
But the cost can be high - verse 13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
We are to be vigilant, awake, at work with the Lord. even to the point of death . however those who are in the Lord and die, will rest forever. We need to endure.
Next John sees a harvest. This seems to be a sight forward again, to the final judgement. This is a flash forward, where we will see much more of in Revelation 19. Here, we see Some being reaped to salvation, others to damnation. First, verses 14-16
Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Using the image of the SOn of Man from daniel 7, and also from Psalm 2. this seems to be a clear picture of Christ, and here he has a sickle, and it’s time to reap. The harvest as come. So Jesus swings his sickle, seeming to receive to himself all those who are saved to be with him.
That’s not the end though - look at 17 - 20
Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.
Christ is the the king of nations. He has come to rescue his bride - and to judge the damned. The wicked are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath, and then we get this grotesque picture - that outside of the city - perhaps a picture of the city of babylon again - there was so much blood shed that it was as high as a horses bridle for 180 miles.
Woe to those who follow the beast, who worship the dragon, instead of the Lamb.
This is a heavy chapter. Let’s pause and ask our question:
So What?
So What?
Friends - this is one of those chapters that should serve like a wake up call, and would have to the churches in the first century. It peals back the sleepy veneer that can coat our realities. We can get lulled into complacency. I pray that this would be like a cold shower on our souls.
We need to be found, like the 144,000, to be following the lamb wherever he goes. IF it means to hard places, then there we go. IF it means even temporary suffering, yes and amen. For Jesus has the keys to eternal life - where else would we want to go? Who would give up their soul, their eternal life, for temporary worldly pleasures?
We must follow Jesus. We must come to him in faith. We must then obey him. We work out our salvation in fear in trembling.
And I think that goes back to the five characteristics of the 14400 again:
Five characteristics of a true disciple from the 144,000:
They are faithful to Christ
They are morally pure
They tell the truth
They are blameless
They are worshippers.
We need to slow down and ask ourselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit - have I been faithful? Am I pure? Am I following Christ? And If I can be bold, this calls for continual repentance. It calls for faith. And it calls for action.
We are saved by grace through faith and faith alone. But not a faith that is alone. Our faith must push us into following Jesus. Lead us into growing fruit. Lead us to look more and more like JEsus.
When we discover sin in our lives - we ought to repent.
We ought to tell the truth. Not just not lie - but actively contend for the truth. We can’t just be peace-keepers, but peace makers. Agents of reconciliation partnering with God to proclaim.
And we ought to worship! and that doesn’t just mean singing. Our culture has wrongly said that worship is just the singing portion of our Sunday services. no. Worship is an act or practice expressing devotion, reverence, and adoration towards God. Now, it often includes rituals, ceremonies, prayers, singing, and other spiritual practices - but our LIVES are to be worship - our LIVES are to express devotion and reverence and adoration.
Now singing is a part of that - and There is something deeply powerful when we express the praise of God alone. Speaking the truth. Speaking the praise. That matters. Don’t bottle up praise for God.
So this passage is a call for us to follow Jesus, and to rejoice in our salvation.
How great is it, that for those of Christ, there is no more wrath for us? And doesn’t it reveal how great the Love of Christ is? Jesus took our punishment. Jesus paid the due penalty, and it was a great penalty.
But we can’t stop just with joy that we are saved, and not weep and be deeply moved by the fact that there are those who do not know about Christ.
We MUST tell people about Christ. We MUST proclaim that JEsus is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him. We MUST tell people about salvation. It’s not our job to save anyone, but it is our job to tell others about Christ.
Look, there are going to be many people who hear the truth, and gnash their teeth at God, for they hate his rule and reign. We can share with them, love them, but that doesn’t mean we don’t keep sharing.
For there are many people who haven’t heard the Gospel. Who have no idea about JEsus. Who have never been invited to worship God and follow him.
That’s why our denomination has the great commission fund - where we pay our missionaries to bring the scriptures and the gospels to those who have no gospel presence. So give to mission! Give to the great comission fund,
But beyond that - we all have a part to play. Think of this in Romans 10:9-15
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
How can they call if they have not heard? Friends - we are called to do this work. To tell people of Christ and his message of reconciliation.
Should they reject God, that’s between them and God. But we need to be truth tellers. We need to be lovers of God, and our neighbors - which necessitates telling others about Jesus.
Revelation 14 is a call for us to follow Jesus. To join in his work. To join in his victory. And to join in his work that he’s up to right now: the message of reconciliation.
Would we FLEE from sin. Would we FLEE from immorality, and would we press into JEsus, and proclaim the lord’s death and victory till he comes again.
Stand with me as I pray.
