The Call to Endure

Ryan Miller

Revelation • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Revelation 14:6–13

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The Call to Endure

Intro

While the saints are not explicitly granted a vision of the torment of the damned, they are encouraged to stand firm in view of it (14:12). Either they should be encouraged because this judgment is their vindication (cf. 1 En. 104:3–4), or they should be exhorted to fill their role as martyr-witnesses so that more people may be spared from the agonies of eternal torment for worshiping the beast.

First, a warning of judgment to the unbelieving world is announced (vv 6–7).

The warning will not be heeded by the world system and its followers, resulting in their final judgment at the end of history (v 8).

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Keener, C. S. (1999). Revelation (p. 375). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

This final historical judgment is the precursor to the final, eternal judgment (vv 9–11).

But the warning is intended to influence true believers to remain faithful to Christ so that they might receive an eternal reward (vv 12–13).

Gospel Indictment -

The eternal gospel (that was, is, and is to come)

Never changing and permanently valid. This further stresses that:

First, a warning of judgment to the unbelieving world is announced (vv 6–7). The warning will not be heeded by the world system and its followers, resulting in their final judgment at the end of history (v 8). This final historical judgment is the precursor to the final, eternal judgment (vv 9–11). But the warning is intended to influence true believers to remain faithful to Christ so that they might receive an eternal reward (vv 12–13).

God’s plan from eternity past to eternity future has always been to send his Son to die for the sins of all who would repent and believe. There never has been and never will be another way.

The call to fear God, glorify Him, and worship Him

This is only possible for those who have been given the gift of faith.

- every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord

The gospel is grace to those that accept it, but judgment to those that do not.

All will realize that Jesus is Lord, but only the true believer will respond in fear, glory, and worship. The unbeliever’s recognition of Christ will only implicate their rejection of Jesus and bring on their judgement.

Certain Judgement -

- Babylon the great has fallen

Babylon was the ungodly world power under which Israel had to live in captivity.

Israel was tempted to compromise time and time again. When God’s people rejected Babylon, they suffered.

Babylon was the ungodly world power under which Israel had to live in captivity. While Israelite saints did not go along with Babylon’s religious practices, they were nonetheless tempted to compromise. When they remained loyal to their God, they underwent trial by their oppressors (see ). The ungodly social, political, and economic system dominated by the Roman Empire placed believers in the same position as Israel was in under Babylon. Just as Babylon destroyed the first temple and sent Israel into exile, so Rome came to be called “Babylon” in some sectors of Judaism because it also destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and exiled Israel

The Roman Empire placed believers in the same position as Israel was in under Babylon.

Just as Babylon destroyed the first temple and sent Israel into exile, so Rome came to be called “Babylon” in some sectors of Judaism because it also destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and exiled Israel.

Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 755). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

Our passage is also indirectly speaking to every world system that opposes God and attempts to take his glory.

Wine - the promise of prosperity by worldly powers intoxicates people everywhere. Once intoxicated, people:

lack the ability to resist temptation

become blurred to see God for who he is

become numb to the ramifications and severity of judgement

Reference

Spiritual

- Everyone who ever has claimed allegiance to worldly powers, thus rejecting God, will fall with Babylon.

Judgement comes for all (anyone) who worships the best (this is a denial to worship God)

God will pour out all of his wrath on his enemies.

- They will drink the wine of God’s wrath - ref

This wine was given by God as a result of their drinking Babylon’s wine.

Illustrate - parents make kids smoke a whole pack of cigarettes if they caught them smoking :)

God’s wine is far more powerful than what they were already drinking.

Powerful and Eternal - the torment of fire and sulfur forever and ever. No rest.

Eternal - the torment of fire and sulfur forever and ever. No rest.

The effects of drinking Babylon’s “weak wine” is short-lived, while the effects of drinking God’s wine is forever (full strength)

- This punishment - what is it and for how long?

Final judgment - Points back to and relates to the absolute and complete judgement of God, in which his enemies will never rise again.

How long? - There is some debate as to whether this final judgement will be the annihilation of unbelievers or instead their eternal punishment.

Smoke represents a memorial of God’s annihilation of sin. On the other hand, the parallel in refers to the devil, the beast, and the false prophet undergoing the judgment in “the lake of fire and brimstone,” where “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” It only makes sense to connect these two things to one another since the unbelievers are thrown into the same lake.

There is no justification in not identifying the fate of those in 14:10–11 with that of their Satanic representatives in 19:20 and 20:10. The fact that the ungodly are thrown into the same “lake of fire” as their Satanic leaders further confirms this (so 20:15). In

The smoke represents a memorial of God’s annihilation of sin. On the other hand, the parallel in 20:10 refers to the devil, the beast, and the false prophet undergoing the judgment in “the lake of fire and brimstone,” where “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” There is no justification in not identifying the fate of those in 14:10–11 with that of their Satanic representatives in 19:20 and 20:10. The fact that the ungodly are thrown into the same “lake of fire” as their Satanic leaders further confirms this (so 20:15). In

Torment is used nowhere in Revelation or biblical literature in the sense of annihilation of existence. Without exception it refers in Revelation to conscious suffering on the part of people. The word occurs approximately one hundred times in the OT, always referring to conscious suffering. Therefore, the phrase the smoke of their torment is a metaphor, where smoke is figurative of an enduring memorial of God’s punishment involving a real, ongoing, eternal, conscious torment.

torment (Greek basanismos, verb basanizō) in 14:10–11 is used nowhere in Revelation or biblical literature in the sense of annihilation of existence. Without exception it refers in Revelation to conscious suffering on the part of people (9:5; 11:10; 12:2; 18:7, 10, 15; 20:10; so also [“pains” in NASB]; 8:6, 29; 18:34; ; [“straining” in NASB]; ; , ; ). The word group occurs approximately one hundred times in the LXX, always referring to conscious suffering. Therefore, the genitival phrase the smoke of their torment is a mixed metaphor, where smoke is figurative of an enduring memorial of God’s punishment involving a real, ongoing, eternal, conscious torment.

Beale, G. K., & Campbell, D. H. (2015). Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (p. 305). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Day and night further clarifies the ceaseless nature of the suffering of the lost. The phrase is parallel with the preceding phrase forever and ever, so that the idea expresses a long period of uninterrupted restlessness. The same two phrases are linked in 20:10 in relation to the eternal suffering of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet.

The phrase day and night further clarifies the ceaseless nature of the suffering of the lost. The phrase is parallel with the preceding phrase forever and ever, so that the idea expresses a long period of uninterrupted restlessness. The same two phrases are linked in 20:10 in relation to the eternal suffering of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. The phrase forever and ever occurs twelve other times in the book and always refers to eternity (i.e., God’s or Christ’s eternal being, God, or the saints’ eternal reign; note the close verbal parallel with 19:3). In particular, the expression describing the eternal duration of the punishment (“tormented day and night forever and ever”) in 20:10 appears to be balanced antithetically by the identical phrase describing the eternal duration of the saints’ reign (“forever and ever”) in 22:5. In 7:15, the clause “day and night” refers to the time when the whole congregation of saints will worship in God’s temple in the new creation at the end of the age. Such worship and relief will continue forever; the same is true of use of the phrase “day and night” in relation to the worship of the four living creatures in 4:8.

The phrase forever and ever occurs twelve other times in Revelation and always refers to eternity (i.e., God’s or Christ’s eternal being, God, or the saints’ eternal reign).

Beale, G. K., & Campbell, D. H. (2015). Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (p. 305). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

The eternal punishment for those that worship the beast is in contrast to eternal joy for those that worship the Lamb ( vs )

In particular, the expression describing the eternal duration of the punishment (“tormented day and night forever and ever”) in 20:10 appears to be balanced antithetically by the identical phrase describing the eternal duration of the saints’ reign (“forever and ever”) in 22:5. In 7:15, the clause “day and night” refers to the time when the whole congregation of saints will worship in God’s temple in the new creation at the end of the age. Such worship and relief will continue forever; the same is true of use of the phrase “day and night” in relation to the worship of the four living creatures in 4:8.

Beale, G. K., & Campbell, D. H. (2015). Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (pp. 305–306). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Nature of judgement -

The nature of the torment is explained in the second part of v. 11 not as annihilation but as an eternal lack of rest. As you will see in , believers find eternal “rest” when they die, which appears as the opposite of the restlessness of unbelievers.

The nature of the torment is explained in the second part of v. 11 not as annihilation but as lack of rest. Therefore, the smoke is metaphorical of a continued reminder of the ongoing torment of restlessness, which endures for eternity. Only two verses later in 14:13, believers find eternal “rest” when they die, which appears as the opposite of the restlessness of unbelievers.

Beale, G. K., & Campbell, D. H. (2015). Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (p. 306). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Blessed Hope -

A call to endure through suffering -

Remember the warning of . It is less picture of what will happen to the unbeliever and more a warning for the believer to persevere.

This is an encouragement to know that will the believer suffers, it is temporary as where the unbeliever’s suffering is eternal (“how long o Lord from ).

This is also an encouragement that our suffering is worth it.

How do we endure?

Keeping the commandments of God (obey all that has been given to us through the covenants)

Keeping faith in Jesus

Believe that our faith comes from Jesus

Remain faithful to Jesus (as he is also a faithful witness ()

Hold onto to that faith in times when intoxication may be so enticing.

Illustrate - Whether you like “wine” or not, we are all aware of times we let our guard down. Explain

Blessed -

All those who remain faithful (who die in the Lord) will be blessed.

We are blessed with rest

Read (“Come to me…I will give you rest)

We find hope in the fact that while all will suffer, ours is temporary.

Our deeds follow us.

Remember above, we are to obey and keep the faith. But how?

By the source of our faith...

By the source of our good works...

We endure because we are in Christ.

We rest from our labors, and find security in His.

Close

Following Jesus promises us a glorious future as the people of the new Jerusalem if we persevere.

Following the Lamb promises us a glorious future as the people of the new Jerusalem if we persevere. The contrast between Zion (14:1), with its glorious future in the new Jerusalem (21:2–22:5), and Babylon (14:8), with its impending demise (18:2–19:3), warns us to invest in the future city rather than the present one (cf. ). The new Jerusalem is visible only by faith now (cf. , ; ), but God will vindicate that faith just as he has vindicated the faith of the generations who waited before us.

The contrast between Zion (), with its glorious future in the new Jerusalem (), and Babylon (), with its guaranteed demise (), warns us to invest in the future city rather than the present one.

Keener, C. S. (1999). Revelation (p. 381). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.