9-1-2019 Heaven's Poster Children Revelation 14:1-5
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Sadly, yet interestingly in churches today, heaven is usually a topic not taught about. While it is true that heaven is mentioned--perhaps many times--there still seems to be a lack of actual teaching on the details of what makes up heaven.
Sadly, yet interestingly in churches today, heaven is usually a topic not taught about. While it is true that heaven is mentioned--perhaps many times--there still seems to be a lack of actual teaching on the details of what makes up heaven.
In the book Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, commenting on the lack of developed teaching on heaven in the church today, Alcorn laments:
Commenting on the lack of developed teaching on heaven in the church today, Alcorn laments:
“Many Christians who’ve gone to church all their adult lives (especially those under fifty) can’t recall having heard a single sermon on Heaven. It’s occasionally mentioned, but rarely emphasized, and almost never is it developed as a topic. We’re told how to get to Heaven, and that it’s a better destination than Hell, but we’re taught remarkably little about Heaven itself.… Heaven has fallen off our radar screens. How can we set our hearts on Heaven when we have an impoverished theology of Heaven?”
The hope for heaven—far from distracting our focus—can sharpen our faith. It can propel us forward into steadfast obedience and courageous witness.
When truly taught and practiced, it is impossible to be “too heavenly minded.”
Transition:
Our passage this morning gives us yet another glimpse into what heaven is like—with some interesting details! In chapter 13 the dragon stands on the seashore and calls forth the two beasts to wage war against the saints. Chapter 14, the last part of this third extended interlude of 12:1–14:20, opens now with the Lamb standing victorious with his faithful followers on Mount Zion.
Scripture Reading:
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.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. 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. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 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.
The war and struggle of chapter 13 appear in bold contrast to the victory and celebration of chapter 14. In many ways, chapter 14 offers God’s response to the previous actions of the unholy trinity against his people: the triumph of the Lamb and his followers (14:1–5), angelic proclamations of judgment (14:6–13), and the harvests of judgment (14:14–20). For those engaged in brutal combat with the forces of evil, knowing the final glorious outcome provides encouragement to persevere.
Transition:
So this morning, I want to look at three things that makes this musical group so heavenly
I. The 144,000 on Mount Zion (14:1)
I. The 144,000 on Mount Zion (14:1)
Once again John sees a vision (14:1, 6, 14), this time of the Lamb and the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion.
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.
“on Mount Zion”
The earthly Mount Zion refers to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, or even to the entire city or its inhabitants (; ; ; ). Throughout scripture Zion comes to represent God’s dwelling place and the center of his consummated kingdom, and this is the meaning in and here.
“with him 144,000”
Since the figure of 144,000 appears only twice (first in and again here), the number likely refers to the same group in both cases. The judgment scenes of and 13 are followed by the interludes of and 14, where the righteous (the 144,000) are portrayed as sealed or protected by God. BUT Why the Number 144,000?
The text itself suggests the 144,000
are sealed with the seal of the living God (7:2);
are servants of God (7:3);
are from all the tribes of Israel (7:4);
stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb (14:1);
have the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name on their foreheads (14:1);
sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and elders (14:3);
are redeemed from the earth (14:3);
did not defile themselves with women (14:4);
follow the Lamb wherever he goes (14:4);
are purchased from among humankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb (14:4);
have no lie found in their mouths (14:5);
are blameless (14:5).
We understand the 144,000 to refer to literal Israel -- an end-time remnant of Jews who are protected by God during the great tribulation (i.e., 7:4: “144,000 from all the tribes of Israel”). You may recall from when we were in chapter 7 that there are 12 groups of 12,000 each of the 12 tribes of Israel. In addition, the number may suggest a military census and depict the people of God as an end-time army organized into battle formation. In short, it is God’s chosen people with Him!
“His name and His Father’s name”
Does this refer to one name or to two? It may refer to the titles of , which relate to both the Father and the Son. These are those who have been sealed and belong to God.
The 144,000 have both the Lamb and the Father’s name written on their foreheads, in direct contrast to those whose foreheads bear the mark of the beast. The name on the forehead shows that God’s people belong to him in a secure and permanent relationship and that he has sealed them with spiritual protection.
“written on their foreheads”
This is in stark contrast to satan’s mark
We have to choose sides in the conflict between God and evil; neutrality is not an option. Everyone receives a mark or stamp: either the mark of the beast or the seal of the living God.
As Craig R. Koester wisely observes in his commentary, “John did not make such a sharp distinction because the alternatives were obvious to his readers, but because the alternatives were not obvious.”
Christians in the seven churches were torn between compromise and commitment. The pressures to cave in to worldly pleasures were strong and increasing, and the same is true today. This passage promises both God’s spiritual protection and the assurance that we belong to him, but it also announces the costly demands of following the Lamb: the Lamb walks the path of the cross, the path of sacrificial suffering. Paul’s warning to the Galatian Christians bears repeating in this context ():
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Evil remains subtle and can rob us of what God desires if we give ourselves to things that are worthless and wasteful. What sorts of books or magazines do we read or movies do we watch? What are we doing on our smart phones? Does the humor we enjoy honor Christ? Do our words tear down or build up? How do we spend our money? What about our time—are we so distracted by our devices that we don’t serve? Is our life energy directed inward in selfishness or outward in service? This text calls us, the bride of Christ, to spiritual faithfulness as opposed to the spiritual adultery that is so common. As James puts it, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (1:27; cf. ; ).
Illustration:
Transition:
Added to what John sees, he now hears a resounding heavenly anthem.
II. The 144,000 Singing a New Song (14:2–3)
II. The 144,000 Singing a New Song (14:2–3)
The sound is both booming and beautiful:
And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. 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. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
“I heard a voice from heaven, like”
Rev
These descriptive phrases were used of God’s voice in , of Jesus’ voice in 1:15, and of the heavenly multitudes’ voices in 19:6. Often it is used to denote that the speaker is in heaven (cf. 4:5; 11:19; 16:8).
and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
“they sang a new song before the throne”
This is an allusion to . As with other “new songs” in Scripture, this one celebrates God’s mighty acts, especially his victory over his enemies (e.g., ; ; ). Only those who have been redeemed may sing this new song, implying that they have endured as faithful followers of Jesus, a reality made clear in 14:4–5. They have overcome and now enjoy the privilege of a victory celebration.
The “they” could refer to
(1) the angelic creatures who sing the song in or more likely
(2) the song of the one hundred and forty-four thousand in v. 3
This new song is an allusion to and ; ; ; ; ; . The promised new age of the Spirit has come!
“who had been redeemed/purchased from the earth”
This is the OT concept of a near relative purchasing a family member’s release (Hebrew: go’el i.e. Ruth and Boaz). It is used of those for whom Christ died (cf. 5:9; 7:14).
As with other “new songs” in Scripture, this one celebrates God’s mighty acts, especially his victory over his enemies (e.g., ; ; ). Only those who have been redeemed may sing this new song, implying that they have endured as faithful followers of Jesus, a reality made clear in 14:4–5. They have overcome and now enjoy the privilege of a victory celebration.
Illustration:
Transition:
Last, John commends these 144,00
III. The 144,000’s Conduct (14:4–5)
III. The 144,000’s Conduct (14:4–5)
The redeemed are now described in terms of their godly character and behavior.
4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 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.
It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
“these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins”
Is John saying that marriage is defiling?
At first glance, it appears that John is condemning both women and marriage, but he could also be speaking figuratively about spiritual truths. Given the symbolic understanding of the visions from chapters 12 & 13, the contrast in Revelation between godly women and evil women (e.g., the great prostitute Babylon/Rome vs. the bride of Christ), and the enormous problems associated with a literal reading, the term “virgins” are cues as to a metaphor for all genuine believers who have refused to compromise with the world. This also fits with the larger biblical image of the people of God as a virgin betrothed to the Lord and explains “defilement with women” as a symbol of spiritual adultery. In addition, when John speaks of virgins, he may be referring to Christians as soldiers in a holy war since soldiers were required to maintain ceremonial purity before battle (as in ). This would also make sense with the 144,000 as God’s people arrayed in battle formation.
“these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes”
Second, the redeemed are identified as those who “follow the Lamb wherever he goes,” which is really a stellar definition of biblical discipleship ().
Third, these redeemed or “purchased” people
“These have been redeemed”
They have been offered to God and the Lamb as “firstfruits,” a term used of both Jewish and Gentile believers, and used occasionally, as is the case here, to describe the entire group rather than the first of many to follow. Since Christians have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (), they are living sacrifices, belonging exclusively to the Lord ().
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
Rev
Finally, they speak without lies or deceit. They are ambassadors of truth and enemies of falsehood in what they say and how they live. For this reason, they are “blameless,” a term highlighting the moral integrity of God’s people (e.g., ; ; ).
Because there is no sin found in them – and we know that there is NO perfect man or woman – this should reinforce that Jesus wipes away all sin.
-- They are before the Throne, giving glory to God
-- They are being offered to the Lord as a pleasing sacrifice to the Father
- These souls lived a life honorable to God
Their lives were lived in a sadistic “it is feels good do it world”
They were offered up to God first as pleasing and right
Would you be willing to be honored and be offered as a first-fruit?
Imagine for a moment, that Jesus is so proud of your life and the way you have lived, that He offers you as a living sacrifice to His Father.
Illustration:
It takes courage to walk in the way of the Lamb
Many people of old have heard the name of the famous tightrope walker Charles Blondin. Born Jean-François Gravelet, Blondin gained notoriety for crossing Niagara Falls on several occasions. He not only crossed the falls; he camped out on the tightrope! Blondin would cross with a wheelbarrow. He used stilts. On one occasion he camped out halfway across and made an omelet. The acrobat rightfully earned his reputation as a courageous daredevil. However, his manager, Harry Colcord, demonstrated another kind of courage. On one of Blondin’s many crossings, Colcord, who was no tightrope walker himself, rode across on his client’s back. That kind of courage can only be exercised when we place our total trust in someone else’s capabilities.
Transition:
So What?
So What?
Can that be said about you?
-- Can your life be offered to the Father as a first-fruit by His Son?
-- Would Jesus be proud to give you as an offering?
-- We have this example to live our lives by, and if we are failing to live this way – we need to change.
-- It should not be a far off thought to live this way … if only we would be obedient.
As believers, we have a future worth looking forward to.
Revelation calls believers to faithfulness in the here and now, but it also points forward to the near incomprehensible blessings of life in YHWH’s very presence. We should never forget that we are on a pilgrimage to the eternal city; this world is not our final home (, ; ). This text also reminds us of the priority of worship, of celebrating God’s faithfulness and Christ’s redemptive work with enthusiastic songs of praise. The life of the local church should never be reduced to an authentic fellowship time in a community group or to dynamic preaching or teaching. Corporate worship provides a weekly opportunity to join in something much, much bigger than ourselves, something majestically grand. When we prepare faithfully and are led effectively, Spirit-led worship can transform our hearts and minds like nothing else. And such worship can touch our souls, renew our minds, and provide what we need to continue the journey. We celebrate in weakness and frailty now, but we do so in anticipation of a future worship experience that will far exceed our greatest expectations.
Conclusion:
▪God’s people can be assured that they belong to Jesus.
▪Believers receive encouragement and strength when they contemplate their triumphant and glorious future in the presence of God and the Lamb.
▪Genuine Christians remain loyal to Jesus in the midst of adversity and the temptation to compromise.