The Saints with the Lamb

Rev. 14:1-5

Introduction:  So far, the world in Revelation has been ruined by man.  The restraints have been removed, the seals have been broken, and the passions of man have come to full fruition.  The world is totally chaotic in the days ahead.  The trumpets have been blown which announces Satan is taking over the world for a short time.  Satan power has been unleashed and he is controlling the minds of mankind.

Human population has united under the banner of the beast to worship the Antichrist.  Chapter 14 changes the scene.  God has a people which from chapter 7 is identified with the Lamb.  He has protected and provided for them.

Jesus had told us He had sheep of another fold, more than likely these are those sheep.  The first fold is the sheep out of the church age and now this is sheep out of the Tribulation Period.  He has not lost one of them.  They are His and He is with them.

Please notice what God is saying about His relationship to them.

I. They are an exalted company v. 1

A. Their identification

1. This special group of Jewish men who were sealed by God before the seventh seal was opened Rev. 7:1-4

2. These were saved during the Tribulation Period out of the 12 tribes.

3. No matter how wicked the world gets, God always has a remnant of faithful, Godly people.

4. They have the mark of the Father in their forehead in direct contradiction to the mark of the beast.

B. Their location

1.  They are dwelling with the Lamb-which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Even John the Baptist calls Him the Lamb of God John 1:3. Sion refers to the heavenly Mount Zion where Jesus will be coronated King and we are enthroned with Him

John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

4. We are not told how and when they were caught up into heaven-give us the assurance one day we will reign with Him

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:6-7

II. They are an exclusive company vv. 2-3

A. Given a new song v. 2

1.  There are so many sorrows and heartaches on the earth.

2. Here we find God is a happy God and when the Lamb comes into contact with His people; a son of joy and happiness. 3. Three voices: from heaven, great thunder, and harpers.

3. A voice of many waters refer to the loud sound from heaven.

4. The gods of the pagans are fierce, wicked, and cruel thriving on the fears of man.

5. God takes us out of the horrible pit, the miry clay, and places us into a position much like this position of the Tribulation saints.

6. One of the great lessons here is that there is no happiness and joy apart from the holiness of God-their courts are filled with singing and these saints have much to sing about.

B. Given a special song v. 3

1. No man can sing the song of redemption except those who are redeemed.

2. Don’t be surprised that unbelievers do not sing-they don’t have a reason to sing-the song of redemption is missing from their life.

3. This new song belongs to a special group who lived during the future Tribulation Period and suffered for the cause of Christ.

4. This song is out of the experience they faced in the future for believing on Christ.

III. They are an exemplary company vv. 4-5

A. By their conduct v. 4a

1.  They remained separated from the world-their lives are characterized by purity, holiness, and godliness.

2. This probably refers to their separation from the religious system of the Beast-the Babylonian philosophy of catering to every lust of the human heart.

3. They chose to live Godly in Christ Jesus.

B. By their consecration v. 4b

1.  These consecrated people of God allow no rivals, no refusals, and no restraints to mar their dedication.

2. They are willingly ready to be at the Lamb’s bidding.

3. Would God we had dedicated people today as they will in the future Tribulation Period.

C. By their calling v. 4c

1.  In Israel a farmer would cut one sheaf of grain and offer it to God before the rest was presented.

2. This one represented to the whole crop-the first fruits.

3. God says these are they who called to represent many who will be saved.

D. By their conversation v. 5a

1.  This means they did not follow the lie of the beast.

2. They refused to do lip service to the world religious system of the beast.

3. They lived the truth and preached the truth for Jesus Christ.

4. They preached it even if they had to die for the truth.

E. By their character v. 5b

1.  This means that they will enter into the righteousness of Christ-clothed in His righteousness.

2. They are living in Jesus’s righteousness and so should we.

Conclusion:  There is a special blessing seeing the love and compassion of our Savior in this passage.  God will show His love to them in the future which gives us a hint of the love He will show us when we see Him.