SESSION #10: REVELATION #14 - JESUS THE END TIMES HARVEST
“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.” (Revelation 14:1-2).
WHO IS THE LAMB? JESUS
WHAT IS MOUNT ZION? HEAVEN
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:22-24)
“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.” (Revelation 14:3-5).
WHO ARE THESE 144,000? (this is a spiritual, symbolic description of God‘s people)
1. Virgins - spiritual purity and faithfulness
2. Following the Lamb - disciples of Jesus (Matt. 9:9)
3. Redeemed - Jesus died for them – the saved (Christians)
4. Firstfruits to God - in the harvest of souls
ANOTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE SECOND COMING:
“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.” (Rev. 14:6-8).
• John saw three angels making proclamations regarding Jesus’ victory:
• God is giving the inhabitants of the Earth another chance to repent and turn to God.
ANGEL #1 - came to preach: the everlasting gospel to those on the earth
• Fear God - Luke 1:50; 12:5; 10:35
• Glorify God - Matt. 5:16; 9:8; 15:31
• God is Judge - John 12:23, 31-32
• Worship God the Creator - Genesis 1-2
ANGEL #2 - said: Babylon is fallen, that great city
• this is the first mention of Babylon in Revelation – is this Rome?
• Babylon symbolizes a proud, idolatrous, persecutor of God’s people
“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.” (Revelation 14:9-12).
ANGEL #3 - said: those who worship the beast shall experience God’s wrath:
• they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone - their punishment in hell
• the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever - their punishment is eternal
“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.” (Revelation 14:13-20).
• The ‘One’ on the cloud with the crown = Jesus!
• Note there are two ‘harvests’ taking place here. What do they represent?
WHAT IS THIS HARVEST? THE HARVEST AT THE END OF THE AGE:
“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ’Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ’An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ’Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ’No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:24-30).
CLOSING APPLICATION:
• Rev. 14:1-5 describes the blessedness that awaits believers in ‘Mount Zion’ = Heaven.
• Rev. 14:6-20 describes the punishment and wrath of God that awaits unbelievers at the end of the age = hell.
• Where will YOU go??
REVELATION #15 - THE SONG OF MOSES:
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” (Revelation 15:1-4).
• Those who have victory over the beast are all believers in Jesus.
• They are pictured singing the song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-21):
• “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (v.1-2).
• This song was sung on Sabbath evenings in the synagogue to celebrate Israel’s great deliverance from Egypt. (NASB Study Bible).
• In Exodus 15, God’s people had come through the red sea into the Promised Land and were celebrating the defeat of their enemies, the Egyptians, who oppressed them.
• In Revelation 15, God’s people are standing by the glass sea in the Promised Land of Heaven, celebrating the defeat of their enemies, the beast, sin, Satan and the world.
• See what they worship God for:
o God’s works are great and marvelous.
o God’s ways are just and true.
o God’s judgments have been manifested against His enemies.
“After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” (Rev. 15:5-8).
• The tabernacle of the testimony is the tent of witness from Exodus:
• “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Ex. 40:34-35).
• God is getting ready to pour out His wrath on His enemies – the seven bowls.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
