Revelation 14:1-13 The Lamb on Mt. Zion with 144,000

Woodland Hills Church of Christ

The Lamb on Mt. Zion with 144,000

Revelation 14:1-13

Introduction: I would like you to imagine living as a Christian in the year 68 AD. Nero, the first emperor to aggressively persecute and kill Christians, and was responsible for the deaths of Peter and Paul, has just died. For a moment there may have been a feeling of relief. But then, a letter from Jesus through the apostle John arrives and is read during Sunday worship.

The letter pictures the resurrected Jesus preparing the churches for what was soon to come. Suddenly in the reading, a dragon raises up monstrous beasts to destroy and devour Christians. Then Jesus spoke directly to his people telling them plainly: “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is the call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (13:10).

This was not a warning far in the future. It would happen very soon. If you were living then and heard the message of Jesus, how are you feeling? In the midst of trembling over the vision, what do you need? –

• Assurance that Jesus will be with you
• Assurance that the battle against the dragon will be won

But Jesus was not finished with his vision. Who would stand against the dragon and his beasts? And Jesus answers with a picture of the Lamb with his 144,000 standing on Mt. Zion. While death and captivity was still decreed, who would ultimately win? Vicious beasts, or a Lamb with 144,000?

The dragon’s purpose of raising these beasts was to intimidate us; to make us tremble with fear. If we will fear, we will compromise.

1. The Lamb and 144,000 (1-5)
   1. Who can comfort us when the dragon and his beasts are making war? Just imagine seeing the Lamb on Mt. Zion! The Lamb, who has already conquered, who was dead and yet is alive and has the keys to death and Hades, is standing on the mountain of God.
   2. But that is not all, 144,000 are standing with him. We have already been introduced to this group in chapter seven. They were the perfect number of God’s people on earth who were “sealed” (protected) from the judgments to come when the seventh seal was opened.
      1. This should remind us that the battle with the dragon and his allies includes us. Chapters 13-14 shows who the players are in the war taking place: the dragon and his allies, the beast and false prophet, and God with his allies, the Lamb and the 144,000. This is an identity message! Do you see yourself in this battle, warring along side the Lamb in the battle for the Kingdom of God?
      2. This is a victory scene. The dragon came out of the bottomless pit and his beasts came out of the sea and the earth. But the Lamb and his followers stand on an impenetrable mountain. Hebrews 10:22, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering…”
   3. Notice the details: this is a fair test of our spirituality and our allegiance to our Savior.
      1. They have the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name written on their foreheads boldly announcing their loyalty to the Lord and not accepting the mark of the beast.
      2. A voice from heaven singing a new song…like the roar of many waters. In 15:2-3, we learn who is singing this song in heaven. It is those who have conquered, paralleling the great multitude who had gone through the tribulation in chapter 7.
      3. Singing a new song, or the song of Moses and the Lamb, a song of victory, a new victory even greater than God’s victories of old. Are we living a victorious life as we look forward to the ultimate victory?
      4. No one can learn the song except the 144,000 since only they have overcome the dragon and the beast.
      5. They have not defiled themselves with women.
         1. “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
         2. “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”(Revelation 19:7–8)
         3. They have kept themselves pure for their bridegroom. This doesn’t just refer to sexual immorality, but more primarily to the spiritual adultery of idolatry connected with earthly desires. Cf. The idolatrous prostitute of Babylon.
      6. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes – in the way they live, in carrying the cross, and to victory.
      7. They are “redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.” Titus 2:13-14, “…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” We are a “firstfruits” (the best of a harvest) for God, made as his own possession and for his glory.
      8. Finally, they are blameless because no lie is found in their mouth. (Cf. 21:8) In contrast, the dragon and his beasts are liars and deceivers. Always know that when a nation becomes beastly, you can see it in their lies and deceptions in order to grab power for themselves over God and his people. “The coming of the lawless one is … with all wicked deception…” (2 Thes. 2:9-10).
2. Three Angels Deliver Their Messages (6-13)
   1. Judgment is ready to begin and the messages of these angels prepare the world for what is about to come.
   2. First angel: the proclamation of the eternal gospel to all who dwell on the earth.
      1. Eternal gospel suggests that which was in the mind of God since before the foundation of the world (Titus 1:1-2).
      2. The Lord’s “gospel” implies both good news and a warning. All have sinned. All have become enemies of God and have followed the deception of the dragon. God in his mercy has offered redemption through the sacrifice of the Lamb. Rejection of God’s offer is not the reason for judgment. Every person is already under the judgment of God. The gospel is the remedy; the only solution to our lost condition. This has forever been the problem of mankind. We think we won’t be condemned because we are living fairly good lives according to our conscience. No, we are already condemned. Before Jesus ever came, the world had caught a deadly disease. Rejecting Jesus isn’t the reason for the disease, it is the only cure possible.
      3. When COVID hit and people were dying worldwide, if a cure had been found that would have saved every person who caught the disease, no one would have rejected it. We would have all gladly paid for the remedy. But covid was nothing compared to the deadliness of sin. Sin is 100% deadly.
      4. When the angel announces the gospel message, he is not “gentle” about it nor does he beat around the bush. Fear God and give glory to God because the hour of judgment has come! How urgent does this sound? It is even more urgent today.
   3. Second angel: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great…”
      1. The same words are used in Isaiah 21:9 to refer to the eventual fall of the physical nation. “Babylon” is a symbol of a nation desiring to supersede the reign of God and cause all the world to worship. We see this in Genesis 11 with the tower and later with the empire.
      2. Her sin was to make all the nations drink the wine of the “passion” of her sexual immorality. This refers to the intoxicating influence of Rome’s wealth, pleasures, and power. Think of it this way: people’s lives become consumed and intoxicated with time to experience another “fun” thing, fulfill more desires, and pursue whatever their eyes see.
         In the past three years, I have preached at church after church where elders told me, “Well, we just never got back to meeting on Sunday evenings. People are just so busy with their families, you know.” One man came to me after Sunday morning worship and told me how much he like the lesson, but unfortunately he would not be able to come to the next lessons because “you know how it is, my son has soccer, so I’m sure you understand.” Yes, I understand you are teaching your son that the pursuit of our personal desires always comes before God. Good job, dad!
   4. Third angel: those who drink the wine of the passion of the beasts immorality, will have another cup to drink: “the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger…”
      1. Notice “full strength.” It is not diluted with water as was the common practice of the day when drinking wine. There will be no dilution to God’s cup of wrath.
      2. You might ask, “Why is God’s so wrathful?” He gave his only Son to save us from being justly condemned for eternity. Further, through his Son he promised to crown us with glory and honor and give us pleasures forevermore. But instead of being eternally thankful, mankind gave their time and their honor and glory to a beast created by a dragon.
      3. Verses 10-11 describe the consequences of such a blasphemous life. As with Sodom and Gomorrah, “tormented with fire and sulphur.” And, “the torment goes up forever and ever.”
         Further, “there is no rest, day or night.” Any doubt about the severity of pursuing beastly desires and/or rejecting the eternal gospel of God?
      4. Verses 12-13 In contrast, what does God offer the saints? What is it that God has promised that will give us endurance to never pursue our own desires, but to always give honor and glory to God? It is REST, “that they may rest from their labors.” Those who worship the beast have no rest, but those who labor for the Lord will rest.
      5. Notice the concluding words, “for their deeds follow them.” When you breathe your last, what deeds in service to God will follow you? What are you doing that will cause God to say, “It is time to rest”?

Conclusion: The words of these angels presents to us a high stakes decision we all must make. It is not just a choice to be “religious” or not. Peter said it this way, “Therefore brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this, you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10 NET)

Berry Kercheville

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