Gathering God's People
Gathering God's People
Text: Revelation 14
Big Idea: Wearing the mark of Christ has its benefits.
Purpose: To demonstrate the consequences of a life of sin.
Introduction:
Commercial - telling you membership has its benefits.
-acceptance in certain stores
-ability to purchase in emergencies
-you have status, clout – which is what people want
For people in Asia Minor, reading this story of Revelation
-their own lives, and this story to this point could have prompted the question
-“What benefits or privileges?”
Wearing the mark of Christ has meant shame and outcast
-you get ostracized, no citizenship in Rome, no justice, no purchases
-and while going through this, you are told, just endure
-and it will be worthwhile
In our text today
The people get to see what worthwhile will look like
-both the positive side – in God’s presence
-and negatively – by seeing the end result for those who wore the mark of the beast
We often hear - what the blessing will be
-peace, prosperity, blessing, assurance
-which are wonderful
-but not the primary emphasis of this chapter
-before this story of Revelation draws a picture of blessing
-it gives us a glimpse of consequences for sin, allegiance to the beast
This text - and next few chapters
-makes a point by looking at the other side
-the torment of walking away from God
-and facing His judgment
Textual Outline:
1. The Kingdom Established
-144,000 (totality) gathered
-in God's presence
-singing new songs
-sounds boring? is a picture of luxurious pleasures
-contrasted to life of torture
-our music today - pervasive, then, was a rare pleasure
The establishment of this kingdom turns the previous kingdom upside-down
-v. 4 – those who were redeemed were saved
-they couldn’t buy, but their freedom was purchased
-v. 7 – judgment is about to come
-they couldn’t get justice in the Old Kingdom
-but in God’s Kingdom – justice would come
For the people first reading this
-purchased, justice – were beyond possibility in Roman world
-but hope of pleasure – music, was beyond their hope
2. The Final Warning
-three angels call people to fear God
-fallen is Babylon (couldn't say Rome - Babylon, great Kingdom, pagan)
The original churches were not worried about Babylon
But Babylon – OT image of the enemy
-they took Israel into exile
-Israel had never been fully re-established
-the Roman Empire was now in Babylon’s place
-embodied wickedness, paganism, in run amock
-called to fear God - and His judgment
-there was only one fear that could dominate their lives
-if you feared Rome – and the punishment it could bring upon you
-then you submitted to Rome, wore the mark of the beast
-to avoid prison
-IF, HOWEVER, you feared God, consequences of offending Him
-then you pledged allegiance to Christ
-and wore His mark
-it is better to be dead - the dead in Christ are blessed
-than to face what those who will wear the mark of the beast have to face
3. The Judgment begins
-time to reap
-picture is a grotesque scene - not literal
-but emphasizes the terrible anger of God
-giving a picture of the consequences of sin
-blood running very deep and covering a vast area
Furthermore, it ushers in the final judgments that God will bring
-this section runs through chapter 17
-15:1 tells us that this is the final judgments
-this is God’s wrath
7 seals – Christ has a claim
7 trumpets – Christ fighting to re-claim, take possession
7 bowls – similar imagery – punishment on Christ’s enemies
Sermon Body:
Movement 1: *The consequence of sin is facing God's wrath.
-and God's wrath is often - just being let go
-Romans 1 - do it on your own
-Prodigal son - wallows in his own misery with the pigs
-child runs away - no food, shelter, comfort
God's wrath, purify is coming
-if you wear the mark of the sinful world - put your allegiance there
-you will face the consequence of sin - worse than death
The consequence of sin – rebelling against God – is facing God’s wrath
-maybe we don’t realize it
-but if we live to please the world – we have declared ourselves to be God’s enemies
-there is no middle ground in this end times judgment
If you are more worried about pleasing friends and peers – than pleasing Christ
-you run the risk of putting your allegiance elsewhere
-you have your membership privileges in this world
-which means you have shunned the privileges of God’s Kingdom
Not just friends
-money (economy), power, influence, pleasures
-not that money, power, influence, pleasure are evil
-but they may not command your allegiance
-allegiance belongs to Christ
-His will before these pursuits
And if, we put our allegiance elsewhere, we must be prepared to face consequences
Movement 2: *God's wrath comes after numerous warnings.
In this text - throughout the book - warnings and signs of power
-even in 14 - angels cry out one last time
In our lives
-depth that people fall into
-alcohol ruins family, lies ruin a reputation, anger leads to lack of trust
These consequences of sin are a warning
-that greater (meaning more terrible) consequences are still to come
Good News
-Until the wrath is poured out
-you can still turn to God in fear
It is truly sad what pledging your life to the ways of the world will do
-even when God’s domination is certain
-people will not let go of the world
-they will not deny the mark of the beast
It would mean swallowing pride, humbling yourself
The greatest danger is not that God won’t forgive
But rather – that you won’t want forgiveness
-because the lies of the world will dupe you into believing you don’t need it
Movement 3: *Pledging allegiance to Christ frees us from God's wrath.
It is understandable that you may fear what this world can do
-shut you out, throw you in prison, even kill you
-but we are told – if you die in the Lord
-it is better than what will be faced by those who pledge allegiance to the beast
Pledge allegiance to Christ
-and you need not fear
-because the worst the world can do
-is nothing compared to the wrath of God.
Conclusion:
Membership has its privileges – but you can only hold one membership
Membership with the beast – Kingdom of this world
-you get to enjoy this world – commerce, relative ease
-but your relative ease will end
Membership with the beast is a nasty credit trap
-enjoy now – pay for eternity – a bad deal
-for the wrath of God is more than we want to pay
Membership in Christ’s Kingdom
-may mean self denial
-will certainly mean rejection from this world’s kingdom
-but it means you will be gathered into God’s presence
-to enjoy luxuries and riches you would not have dreamed of
It also means
-the consequences of sin, God’s wrath, are something you will never face
Where is your membership, allegiance?
Choose wisely – for you can only choose one.