BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY

Transcription

1 BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY A Study of Revelation LESSON 34 Revelation 14:1-14:7 THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7) LESSON 34 REV 14:1-7 The Lamb and the 144,000 In 1965 we were embroiled in a war in Vietnam that, according to many, we were never intended to win, although many tens of thousands of young men fought and died in that war. In that year it was Barry McGuire of the New Christy Minstrels that sang a song of protest called EVE OF DESTRUCTION. The lyrics testified that many refused to believe that we were on the eve of destruction in our lifetimes. Today as then, many refuse to believe that our world is on the brink of destruction because of our selfcentered, anything goes, God denying, humanistic worldview that controls our lives. The Book of Revelation is man s final warning from God about what we may expect as God prepares to rain down His wrath on this rebellious world. This time God will present the Everlasting Gospel of impending Judgment to those that will feel the full force of His wrath in the final days before Christ s Second Coming. He even laid out His plan beforehand so that man can never say: You never told us what is about to befall on us in the final Judgment before sudden destruction rains from heaven. We will begin by presenting this Gospel, and will conclude next Lesson with a preview of the judgment on rebellious mankind that remains to be played out. Chapter 14 relieves the gloom of the previous chapter. It brings out the certainty of final victory of truth and righteousness. 1 The opening verse flashes ahead to the triumphal conclusion of the Tribulation. REV 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. This verse flashes ahead to see the triumph of Christ at the end of the Tribulation with the 144,000 witnesses, survivors of the Great Tribulation, still with the seal on their foreheads. 2 There are numerous opinions regarding the identity of these 144,000, as well as the location of the event. I believe that the simplest literal interpretation is the best. According to Dr. Henry Morris: Many commentators spiritualize this passage, taking it to be a vision of heaven and glorified saints. Even futurist interpreters, for some reason, often consider the 144,000 servants of Revelation 7 to represent a different group then the 144,000 here in Revelation 14. "Mount Sion" is taken as the church triumphant or the heavenly home, or something similar. The fact is, however, that Zion (or Sion) always refers in Scripture either to the actual mountain on which Jerusalem was built, or to Jerusalem herself personified. 3 1 Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p

2 Mount Zion was the name of an ancient fortified hill of the Jebusites. King David who afterward made his residence there took this hill. He built a city around this fortress hill. This city was known as the city of David, or Jerusalem. 4 REV 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. There is singing and rejoicing in heaven for the triumph of Jesus Christ and the survival of the 144,000 sealed witnesses. The unique experiences of these 144,000 witnesses qualify them alone to learn this song. 5 These 144,000 are Israelites, 12,000 from each tribe. They are servants of God, and they are redeemed among men. They are obedient followers of Jesus Christ. "Defiled with women" refers to fornication, not marriage relations. 6 Daymond Duck writes: This is a controversial verse. Some say the 144,000 will be celibate, while others claim they will either not break their marriage vows, or will remain unmarried. Still others believe they will not commit spiritual fornication by worshiping idols and teaching false doctrines. 7 According to Hal Lindsey: Most Bible commentators agree that celibacy of these men refers not so much to sexual purity (although this is important) but to separation from spiritual fornication and adultery. 8 You are free to decide for yourselves the actual meaning, because no one knows for sure. Dr. J. Vernon McGee comments: Therefore, the comment, these are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins (KJV), is probably referring to chastity in both the literal sense and the spiritual sense. And this makes good sense, by the way. 9 In a physical sense, this verse means just what it says, men undefiled with women. 10 In a spiritual sense, the meaning of "defiled with women" refers to spiritual harlotry. "Women" signifies religion; like the woman of Revelation 17 which signifies false religion. These 144,000 remained true to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, undefiled by this woman (idolatry). 11 The following may be closer to the meaning: REV 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 4 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 259, Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 260, Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Emphasis in the original. 8 Lindsey, THERE'S A NEW WORLD COMING, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Emphasis in the original. 9 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Emphasis in the original. 10 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, A COMMENTARY: CRITICAL, EXPERIMENTAL, AND PRACTICAL ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, Vol. III, Part III, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p

3 Notice these parables of a woman and leaven: MAT 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. LUK 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. MAR 8:15 And he [Jesus] charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. In Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:21 we find that a "woman" (false religion) took leaven (false doctrine) and hid it in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 12 There are some teachers that believe that these parables refer to the spread of the gospel throughout the world I am not one of them. Other teachers point out that leaven is always used as evil wherever else it is used in both the Old and New Testaments (98 times). 13 Whenever a woman is used in Scripture the woman represents a religious notion or witness, sometimes depicted as evil and sometimes good. 14 The three measures of meal may, as some say, represent the three divisions of the Church: Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox (some say: Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical). It is the church being leavened they say. As we learned in the opening lessons of our study of Revelation. We need to interpret these parables with Israel primarily in mind. It is Israel s rejection of the Kingdom and Messiah offered that establishes the spiritual conditions that will prevail on the earth between the time of Israel s rejection of the King and His Kingdom and her future acceptance of it. The leaven represents the corrupting influence of apostacy (false doctrine) until the end of that age when Israel, the untended vineyard, will once again be tended (saved) and enter her promised Millennial Kingdom. We can apply these same parable truths to the Church even though the emphasis is on reestablishing Israel. The "woman" is false religion, and the "leaven" is false doctrine. Notice that the woman "hid" the leaven. The meal (the church) was secretly corrupted. 1CO 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. We are to purge out the leaven. We are to be pure (unleavened). In Exodus 12:15 we find that leaven was put out of the Israelites homes for seven days during Passover. According to Henry Morris: The specific symbolism of the Passover required the absence of leaven, which symbolizes a corrupting influence. Leaven is associated with fermentation which is a process of decay (thus representative of God's curse on the earth) and is also connected with the production of the toxic substance, alcohol. 15 Leaven is false doctrine with the emphasis on the leaven of Jewish apostacy, but this principle may also be applied to the church. MAT 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 12 Gary Hedrick, PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM, Christian Jew Foundation, Audio Teaching. McGee, THRU THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE, Matthew 13:33, Vol. IV, p McGee, THRU THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE, Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:21, Vol. IV, pp. 77, Edgar C. Carlisle, A WORLD CHURCH IS PLANNED FOR 2000 A.D., 1994, Edgar C. Carlisle, p Morris, THE DEFENDERS STUDY BIBLE, Notes on Exodus 12:15. 3

4 Here, Jesus was warning the Jews not to trust the corrupting man-made doctrines of the Jewish Religious Leaders. Again, according to 1 CO 5:6-8 we can say the same about the doctrine of leaders of the organized church. Regarding the phrase "not defiled with women," I believe it refers to the Witnesses remaining undefiled by both immorality and spiritual harlotry (idolatry; false doctrine). There is, however, urgency during the Tribulation that possibly leaves no room for wives or children for these ambassadors of God. 16 Remember that in Revelation it is Israel that God is dealing with, not the church! In Revelation 14:4, "first fruits" indicates that the 144,000 were those that were saved at the very beginning of the Tribulation. They are the 144,000 of Revelation 7:4 that have come through the Great Tribulation victoriously and are believing Jews ready to enter the Millennial Kingdom in their natural bodies. 17 REV 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. The characteristics of those that are saved are that they are chaste, that they are true followers of Christ, that they have been redeemed from among men, and that they are without guile (deceitful cunning). 18 1PE 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: The 144,000 are True Followers of the Lamb 19 1 They imitate His example. 2 They obey His instructions. 3 They yield to His laws. 4 They receive Him as their counselor and their guide. True Christians follow Christ wherever He leads them, whether: 1 Into trouble, into danger, into difficult duty. 2 Into Christian or heathen lands. 3 Into pleasant paths, or in rough roads. True Christians are ready to die for Christ. JOH 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: PSA 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green The true Christian trusts in Christ in good times and difficult times. Even though the land was evil and the wrath of God was poured out, and the Beast oppressed and did murder, these witnesses remained faithful and persevered and were saved by their righteousness. We can summarize the characteristics of the 144,000 as follows: The 144, Stand with Jesus on Mount Zion they are victorious with Jesus 2. Marked on there foreheads with the names of Jesus and His Father 3. Understand the heavenly new song they understand because of their trials 4. Kept themselves pure they avoid immorality and idolatry 5. Follow the Lamb wherever he goes they abide in his presence 6. Purchased from among men they are bought with the blood of Jesus 16 Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 163, 164. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, p Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p

5 7. Offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb they are the first Jews saved during the tribulation 8. No lie was found in their mouths they are faithful and true THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL REV 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The first of six angels will fly above the earth preaching the everlasting gospel to the whole earth. There will be no excuses. This is the same gospel as preached by the Church. The earth will have the Bibles left behind by the Church. They will have heard the message of the two witnesses, the 144,000 will have evangelized them, and finally a heavenly messenger preaches the clear gospel message. They will have no excuse! They are given one last chance. Some believe that the fact that the angel flies signifies the rapid spread of the Gospel message. 21 Simply put, In context, the everlasting [eternal] gospel is the proclamation that men need to fear God and give Him glory and worship in light of the impending judgment that is ready to fall on the world. This is the last opportunity for men to be saved by God s grace. The word gospel means good news. Unlike the proclamation of the gospel at other times in Scripture, this time there is no call to repentance, nor is there an invitation given to receive Christ; the content of this gospel is judgment. 22 To all of us the everlasting gospel may be summarized as follows: The Gospel of Christ 23 1 Christ is the Creator of all things He is therefore able to control and Judge all things. 2 Christ is the Redeemer of all things He is therefore able to save all those that come to God by Him. 3 Christ is the Heir of all things He is therefore able to bring the kingdom of God to earth as in heaven. 4 The Creation is the foundation of the gospel. 5 The cross and the empty tomb constitute the power of the gospel. 6 The Second Coming is the blessed hope of the gospel. To preach the gospel, one must preach all these things one must be able to defend Creation and Prophecy. Many reject Christianity because they do not believe that God Created and that Prophecy can be fulfilled. In your witness, are you able to present each of these elements of the gospel, including prophecy and creation? The urgency reflected here it is that of impending judgment. The hour of God s judgment is come. The angel looks back in time and stresses the creation of the heaven and earth. The inhabitants of the earth were thoroughly indoctrinated with godless evolution promoted by Satan, and therefore refused to worship God. The lie of evolution was used by Satan to deceive the whole world. If Satan could convince the world that Christ was not Creator, then it followed that Christ was not Savior or the Coming King. 24 You might say, The Bible says that God created the world and everything in it, so for me that settles it I don t need to know any more about it. Oh Really? However, are you truly prepared to present the good news of creation to those you meet that do not believe because of evolution? Is one soul lost today because you could not present reasonable arguments for creation? This is exactly the area where we lose many of our young as they study the theory of evolution in public schools and universities. The professors understand the arguments for evolution, but do you understand the arguments for creation? This is one area where the Bible tells me so is not enough for many. Do you truly believe that this world is facing the Eve of Destruction? Then, you need to be able to express it in Biblical terms as a witness. "Fear God" means to reverence and honor Him. Do not worship the Beast; worship only God. 25 CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS Can you defend Israel s right to the Land against Replacement Theology? Has God forsaken Israel can you explain? 21 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 263, 264. Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, pp. 338, Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 165, 166. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 265, Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, p

6 Do you think that prophecy is difficult, controversial, and divisive? Do you think that a simple Gospel message of love and repentance is all you need to study? Do you realize that many, including myself, came to the cross of Christ because someone presented a simple reason to believe the prophetic Scriptures? Do you realize that once the prophetic Scriptures are received and believed, it opens evangelistic fervor to urgently witness for Christ in the sharing of His Gospel, including Creation and Prophecy? Do you realize that if you cannot witness using both Creation and Prophecy, then you are limited in your ability to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you realize Christ s message in our Bibles includes both Creation and Prophecy? Do you know this verse? Rev 19:10 And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. 6