Previews...
The Revelation of Jesus Christ Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:47
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We zoomed in from the large panning of the global wrath of God to focus in on some details and key individuals of this tribulation period. We observed the cosmic conflict that has raged over time between the WOMAN Israel, The DRAGON Satan himself, and the MALE CHILD Christ Himself.
God sent His Two Witnesses to declare His message to the world
Last week we observed that UNHOLY TRINITY (Dragon, Beast, False Prophet) work its deception among the people of the world and how the world worshiped
We observed a dark and evil world…
What is God doing?
Is there any hope?
What’s next?
There have been a number of shows that I watch that end an episode or a season with things in limbo, questions, or a sense of loss… as the next episode or season approaches there are PREVIEWS of what is next. It causes you to want to tune in… they are only snippets and taken from various points of the episode or season.
Chapter 14 is somewhat like that…
John is writing this down as he sees it and as all seems dark… then we are given glimpses of what is to come and even what has been occuring
With the dark backdrop of the beast ruling this world and demanding worship… we are given a PREVIEW of Christ and His coming reign on earth… Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
Preview of Christ’s Reign
Preview of Christ’s Reign
The Place
C.R. Psalm 2:6 ““But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.””
We read in Luke 1:32 speaking of Jesus…
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
This Mount Zion is the mountain upon which Jerusalem sits
It is here where Jesus Christ (Messiah= Anointed One) will take his seat on David’s throne
The 144,000
There with Him is the 144,000 from chapter 7… the ones God sealed
Those from the twelve tribes of Israel stand with their King!!! The King of kings and Lord of lords!!!
Notice how these men are described:
They are blameless and no lies while living in a time of Satan's deception
Did you notice their chasteness and moral purity???
Could mean virginity or could reference their spiritual maturity
They follow Christ, regardless!
These are traits that set them apart!
Swindoll summarizes their lives beautifully… In their relationship with others, they are pure. In their relationship with God, they are obedient. Surrounded by deception and lies, they exhibit remarkable integrity.
The Worship!!!
As the 144,000 stand with their King on Mount Zion there is a voice from heaven that is heard…
A chorus joins in the worship
The song thunders from Heaven, with melody and music
… as it is sung it is beautiful but only the 144,000 are able to learn this song
Unique to their experience, their situation
Have you ever been able to praise God uniquely because of the trial, situation, He has brought you through?
Others listen, they are even amazed, but they are not able to FULLY engage in the worship like you
After seeing this amazing PREVIEW of Christ coming reign on earth, listening to this chorus, John’s eye is drawn to the heavens as he sees and hears three angels declare the message given to them…
John records in Revelation 14:6-11 some amazing PREVIEWS of God’s Grace in this time of TRIBULATION…
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Previews of God’s Grace
Previews of God’s Grace
I absolutely love the verse in 2 Peter 3:9 which states:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
These verses here demonstrate this heart of our Savior Jesus Christ beautifully… Remember GRACE is when “LOVE STOOPS DOWN”… Charles Swindoll describes it beautifully in his book “Grace Awakening”...
To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.
The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.”
As we see these PREVIEWS brought to the world by these angels we see God doing something that is NOT DESERVED… yet, God stoops, what love, what compassion, what a deep desire to see all come to repentance! Three Previews of this grace:
His Gospel Goes Out - First Angel
His Gospel Goes Out - First Angel
I love how the gospel is described here… “the eternal gospel”, it does not change!!!
Some hold that this is mere information of coming judgment and yes there is a message of judgment but also of wake up and realize!!!
This message is to those “who live on earth”… ALL!!!! John 3:16… for all who believe!
This angel announced in light of: (a false savior, a false god, one who brought paralyzing fear)
Fear God Proverbs 1:7 & Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Worship the creator… Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
The second angel brings hope, assuring those who see impending doom that there will be victory… what grace that He would offer such assurance as He gives man a preview of what is to happen…
His Victory is Sure - Second Angel
His Victory is Sure - Second Angel
From very early Babylon has been indicative of man’s rebellion against God
It started Babel, then we see Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar’s boast of being the greatest) today it is close to modern day Bagdad…
Throughout scripture it has been representative of the evil world system… no doubt here representative of the Antichrist empire
Will this be a literal city or location ( I personally think it will be as we see and look at future chapters in Revelation)
Either way, it represents the Idolatry, Immorality, Sin and Evil of the rule
“Fallen, Fallen”… the emphasis is that Christ will bring about the doom and destruction of this Babylon! What assurance that God would offer in this time.
As the next angel travels the earth there is a clear warning involved…
His Warning is Clear - Third Angel
His Warning is Clear - Third Angel
Some of you may be wondering how we find grace in verses 9-11… ?
WARNING!!!… God does not need to warn those who oppose Him, YET HE DOES!
Do Not Worship, don’t take the mark!
You Fail to heed the message of the first angel to fear God Almighty and Creator
You Fail to understand that God is going to be victorious
Then you will most likely Fail to heed this message as well.
I love how Joshua would remind all the people of Israel of who God is, what he had done and will do… and then he offers up this choice to the people… Joshua 24:14-15
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Oh that they would heed this warning… yet they fail to fear God, they have no wisdom or understanding and they foolishly choose to serve this idol, this false god…
It is here in Revelation that the strongest language of damnation in all of scripture is used for those who disregard these messengers of grace and truth and choose to worship the beats…
Depending on their choice… we see two stark contrast of ETERNITY…
Previews of Eternity
Previews of Eternity
Heaven and Hell are real… it seems odd to have to say this. Some hold that these are states of the mind or short periods of time. Those that hold to this do NOT READ SCRIPTURE!
Hell is Real
It is a place of God’s wrath and God’s righteous anger
It is an eternal torment, burning anguish, no rest
It is continual, day and night, forever and ever
And in His GRACE… God extends a stern WARNING!
Heaven is Real
Then we see John almost in stark contrast TAKE NOTICE: Revelation 14:12-13
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And 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 that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
Illustrate with Diamond!
Like a diamond on a dark black backdrop… he sees the perseverance of the saints!!!
Oh how they shine!
Those who in this dark evil world who have kept their faith in Jesus Christ
All the more they shine, the beauty of their faithfulness
We see their perseverance and are amazed… and john hears a voice from Heaven and the Holy Spirit is in affirming!
Fro those who die In Christ..., there is BLESSING, there is REST… and it is eternal!
We are going to pause here for today…
More Previews to Come...
More Previews to Come...
There is more to come in this chapter, but I want us to pause here and reflect on what we have seen and heard.
What situations is God allowing YOU to go through in which YOU can glorify Him, how are you DISPLAYING PROOF of your relationship with Christ… being a living testimony for Him?
Knowing the Gospel, Understanding His Victory… What choices will you make in serving God each day
Eternity is forever… how are you pointing others to Christ?
