Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room

Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room

Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy

Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals

Revelation 6:1-8 - The First Four Seals

Revelation 6:9-17 - The Fifth and Sixth Seals

Revelation 7:1-17 - Who can Stand on the Day of the Lord?

Revelation 8:1-5 - Anticipation of Further Judgment

Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:6-13 - The First Four Trumpets

Revelation 9:1-21 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

Revelation 10:1-11 - The End is Near

Revelation 11:1-14 - The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:15-19 - The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions

Revelation 12:1-17 - The Woman, Child, and Heavenly Hosts Versus the Great Dragon

Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation 13:11-18 - The Beast from the Earth

Revelation 14:1-5 - The 144,000

Revelation 14:1 - A Heavenly Scene

Revelation 14:2-5 - The Song of the Redeemed

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

John sees a new vision that draws his gaze from earth to heaven.

The Lamb of God stands victorious on Mount Zion as the redeemed worship God.

Revelation 14:1 - A Heavenly Scene

1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb

The gaze of John is drawn to Heaven instead of the visions on earth where he sees Christ, the warrior Lamb, and not the beast

Mount Zion

Old Testament

Jebusite city

Temple Mount

Jerusalem

The people of Israel as a whole

Zion replaces Sinai as the the mountain where the Lord dwells

Jewish thoughts on end times were wrapped up into this plot of land

New Testament

Radically shifts from a geographical location (The temple in Jerusalem) to a theological understanding rooted in the person of Jesus

Represents the eternal heavenly city where God’s people reside

This reveals that the Lamb is the true King ruling from His heavenly, holy, and sacred place - Mount Zion

Christ is standing in opposition to the false claims of lordship by the beast - the beast’s rule will not be forever

Furthermore notice the posture of Satan when he calls out the first beast

With him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads

144,000 - All the redeemed people of God who have been sealed - the bride of Christ

Notice the parallel between the mark of the beast and those who have been sealed as God’s covenant people who identify with him

Christ Connection - Fulfills Psalm 2:6

Revelation 14:2-5 - The Song of the Redeemed

2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder.

John SEES 144,000 in vs 1, but here he HEARS a voice

He hears the voices of the 144,000 and it is overwhelming and filling heaven as the redeemed are with God

The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders.

Harps symbolize joy - the redeemed are overjoyed to be in the presence of God and sing worship to the one true King

New song is used in Scripture when a new act of deliverance occurs - thus the 144,000 are the redeemed people of God

No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Those who are marked by the beast CANNOT learn the song

4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.

This is not literal

These are the redeemed who are sealed by the Spirit

They have not committed adultery to other gods

It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

The redeemed live an obedient life to the Good Shepherd

These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

Those who are redeemed have come from humanity

Some will be redeemed, but not all

In their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless

Not literal lying, but not following idols/other gods

Christ Connection - Jesus is the Great Shepherd

Jesus is the Great Shepherd who loving leads His redeemed to Mount Zion

How Should we Live in Light of Revelation 14:1-5?

We are the redeemed people of God and our victorious Lamb stands on Mount Zion directing opposing the dragon and two beasts.

As such, we should respond with a joy-filled heart centered on worshipping the true Triune God as we follow the Lamb in perseverance to the heavenly Mount Zion.

Main Point

John sees a new vision that draws his gaze from earth to heaven.

The Lamb of God stands victorious on Mount Zion as the redeemed worship God.