God's Final Rescue Mission
Notes
Transcript
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then 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, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Recap
The Book of Revelation not written in chronological order.
Timeline of Revelation image here.
The Lamb and the 144,000 - sneak preview of the return of Christ.
We were introduced to the 144,000 in Revelation 7, where there were 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, who were sealed by God’s protection so that they could be the Evangelists who will preach the Gospel of salvation to those who would remain during the Tribulation.
This is another reason why I believe that the rapture has to happen first before the seven-year tribulation period.
There is no longer any mention of the church after Revelation 3.
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
In this text that talks about the coming of the Lord, which is like a thief in the night, God rescues the church because we are “not appointed to wrath”. Whether we are awake or asleep (dead) at His coming - we should live together with Him.
But God will allow a remnant that will remain during the Tribulation period. They will be sealed by God so that they are protected from the wrath to come.
In the middle of the terrible events of the Tribulation period, remember that chapter 13 before this chapter today, introduces the Antichrist --- God still extends his grace and His mercy- through a Final Rescue mission.
Chapter 14 is like a pause of the prophetic account of God’s wrath. God gives us a glimpse of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our study today has three parts:
The Preservation of the Evangelists.
The Angelic Proclamation of the Gospel.
3. The Reward of Those Who Overcome in the Tribulation.
1. The Preservation of the Evangelists.
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
The Lamb in Revelation always refers to the Lord Jesus. Mount Zion, heavenly or earthly? My personal interpretation is that this is the literal Jerusalem at the second coming of Christ.
In contrast to the ones who receive the mark or name or number of the beast on their right hand or on their foreheads, who will be doomed for destruction, the 144,000 have the name of God on their foreheads.
We hear the sound of their victory!
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The Song of the Redeemed - I believe that like the 144,000, we will learn a new song that the Lord will give us.
There was an accompaniment of harps.
They are pure. Are they men?
They are without fault - not without sin (explain). Justified by God though Jesus Christ.
They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Complete allegiance and obedience to Jesus.
Firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. This means they were first among many others were saved after them.
2. The Angelic proclamation of the Gospel.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
Angels rarely preach the Gospel. The job of preaching the Gospel is given to us. We are the ones commanded to go and preach the Gospel. But here in the middle of the Tribulation, God in His grace and mercy gives mankind one final call by sending an angel to preach.
The Message of the First Angel
“Fear God”
“Give glory to Him”
“Worship Him”
Does not sound like the full gospel but because of the depravity and spiritual bankruptcy of the world at that time, they just need to start with the basics.
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
The Message of the Second Angel
The Futility of False Religious Worship
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
The Message of the Third Angel
The Destruction of Those Who Worship the Antichrist
3. The Reward of Those Who Overcome in the Tribulation.
The call for endurance.
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
A Blessing.
13 Then 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, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
A Promise (Revelation 14:13b) - A reward.
The Eternal Gospel.
The Gospel is the same.
Paul said in Galatians:
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
We do not have to wait for the 144,000 or an angel to hear the Gospel.
Hear and Heed the Gospel message now!
We do not have to depend on the 144,000 or angels to preach the Gospel.
Preach the Gospel now!
While the 144,000 were sealed by God for their special mission in the time of the Tribulation, if you have trusted in Christ, you have also been sealed now.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
What is the central message of the Gospel?
The imagery of the Lamb - used 28 times in the Book of Revelation
“The Lamb of God”
We see several imagery of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation.
The glorious “Son of Man” standing in the midst of the Seven Golden Lampstands in Chapter 1.
The Conquering Warrior King riding a white horse in Chapter 19.
The Judge of the world holding a sickle that will reap a harvest of the earth in the end of this chapter, Chapter 14.
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Matthew 23 (the wheat and the tares); Matthew 25 (The sheep and the goat)
But more than these images of glory, conquering warrior king and judge, The imagery of the Lord Jesus that was most used in the Book of Revelation is the Lamb.
Goes back to the sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament… Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of the New Covenant. He DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
John the Baptist prophetically announced this:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John the Baptist was looking forward, the Book of Revelation is looking back to the Supreme Accomplishment and His feat closest to His heart - His FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY.
Because of the tremendous love of God for you and for me.
Least we can do, is to go out, share that love and preach the eternal Gospel that saves!