A Movement of Destiny

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Focus on self gratification and pleasure.

Lawlessness. Includes Laws against God’s Commandements.

Love grows cold.

Hate grows hot.

False messages of various kinds.

Love of money.

Eventually all these things pierce a person with many sorrows.

Whenever we seek life outside of God’s will, we will eventually pierce our own hearts.

Any comments on that ?

What is the Lord’s command to us living in such times?

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

God is still on His throne.

Lean into the Lord more and more.

Matthew 5:13–16 NKJV

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Structure of Revelation 14

Mark Finley made two statements,

The ancient prophets speak to this generation in trumpet tones.

All have to respond to the divine trumpet tones with eternal choices.

Revelation 14 can be divided into three parts.

1) God’s last day People - The 144,000

Read,

Revelation 14:1–5 NKJV

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. 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. 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. 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. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The 144000 are described in terms of their destination and character.

They are redeemed, first fruits, with the Lamb, on Mount Zion, before the throne of God.

They are sealed on their foreheads with God’s name, worshipping with a new song, holy to the Lord, followers of the lamb, hearalds of truth and without fault before God.

Probably not literal number. Rather symbol for completeness.

Those totally sold out to Christ in the last days.

God’s end time people.

Any other thoughts or comments on Rev 14:1-5?

2) God’s last day Message

Read,

Revelation 14:6–12 NKJV

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—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.” 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.” 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, 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. 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.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

The focus of this series.

Frist three Angels of the six Angels in Rev 14.

The first three angels announce the final message and the coming final judgment.

The first angel announces that the hour of God’s judgment has come.

The second angel announces judgment on Babylon, which represents the apostate religious powers of our day.

The third angel announces judgment on the beast who oppresses, persecutes, and declares war on the people of God.

Mark Finley is going to return to this in much more detail.

3) The Execution of Final Judgement

Read,

Revelation 14:13–20 NKJV

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.” 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. 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.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Here we see the Son of Man and three further Angels.

These three Angels execute the final judgement announced by the previous three Angels.

The Son Of Man

What imagery is used to describe Jesus? What is upon His head and in His hand?

Why does the Bible so often refer to Jesus as the Son of Man?

Daniel 7:13 NKJV

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

Right at the close of earth’s history, as Jesus returns, once more He is called the Son of Man.

God giving this authority to a man, to the one perfect son of man.

God sending forth this one man for Salvation to all who believe.

God’s reign will be exercised through this one son of man, Jesus.

God’s judgement will also be exercised through this one son of man, Jesus.

Jesus is at the centre of salvation and of judgement.

NT Wright says “son of man’ is more of a ‘role’ than a ‘title’: the point is that this figure now does two things: he embodies God’s own reign, seated at his right hand; and he symbolizes God’s people, vindicated after suffering.

God’s people finally to be harvested from the last suffering and enemy death.

The Harvest of the Redeemed

Revelation 14:14–16 NKJV

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. 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.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

The Son of Man does this reaping.

The time has finally come.

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Harvested by the Son of Man.

Revelation 5:9 NKJV

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Worthy and given authority as the Son of Man to harvest the redeemed.

The first resurrection.

Blessed are those who take part in the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6 NKJV

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The Other Harvest

Revelation 14:17–20 NKJV

Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Describe the second harvest?

The second resurrection.

Revelation 14:20 (ASBN): outside the city. The city is Jerusalem. See Joel 3:12–17. one thousand six hundred furlongs. About 180 miles (300 km). Approximate length of Palestine from north to south.

Symbol of complete destruction.

The Everlasting Gospel

There is no middle ground.

Harvest of those in Christ by Christ

The other harvest, under the wrath of God

Lets conclude with the Apostle Paul’s words on the everlasting gospel

1 Corinthians 9:19–22 NKJV

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

That is the view he should have.

Paul was taken up with the most important mission, the gospel and winning people to it.

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