[Originally preached 2 November, 2003]
Revelation 14.1-5
We are ready to move on to chapter fourteen. And it’s a good thing. Imagine if all you had of the book of Revelation is the message of chapter thirteen. You’d know about the first beast who has the power of the dragon and who uses that power for the destruction of the saints. You’d also know about the second beast, the false prophet of the first beast. He also has power and he uses that power to make everyone, the saints included, worship the image of the beast. He is allowed to kill any who refuse. Those he doesn’t kill may have to deal with economic oppression because they refuse to bear the mark of the beast. And what is the only word to the saints in this bleak chapter. ‘Here is the call for the endurance and faith of the saints.’ And what does that mean? ‘You saints need to patiently endure all of this and trust Jesus.’ Imagine if all you had was the message of chapter 13. It wouldn’t be too encouraging, would it? If chapter 13 were made into a movie, it would be a very dark movie indeed. We need the message of chapter 14. We need to hear its message of encouragement and hope.
John has another vision. He sees the Lamb. It’s Jesus. And where is Jesus? He’s standing on Mt. Zion. What does that mean? Should we take this literally? There are some who do. But I think that it’s clear that Revelation is far too symbolic a book to take this image referring to some mountain in the Middle East. How is the symbol of Mt. Zion used in other parts of the Bible? First, there is the imagery that shows up in Psalm 2. What does God say in response to the rebellious cries of the nations? ‘As for me, I have installed my King on Zion, My holy hill.’ Jesus is presented to us as the anointed King who rules the nations. John points us to Jesus as He rules from His throne. Then there is the imagery found in Hebrews 12.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering … Hebrews 12:22
Mt. Zion here is heaven. So, where is Jesus? What is the point of the imagery of our text? Jesus is in heaven where He rules over all things.
Now, with Him are the 144,000. Who are these? We’ve encountered them before, back in chapter seven. These are the saints, all the saints, the complete number of them. John pictures for us all the saints and they are in heaven with Jesus. And they bear two names, that of Jesus and of His Father. What is this but the seal of God. This is no counterfeit mark of some beast. It is the real seal, the seal of ownership and protection.
So, what is the point of the imagery that opens this chapter? The message of chapter 14 is an answer to the message of chapter 13. It is a message of encouragement to those seven churches, and to all the churches since, including ours. The message of chapter 13 is that life is hard. It tells us about just one aspect of how Satan attacks to make it hard. It is hard to be a faithful disciple of Jesus in this fallen, evil world. The temptations to give in abound. The message of chapter fourteen is this. Though life is hard, all the saints will make it. All the saints will be brought through the difficulties of chapter thirteen to enjoy the bliss of chapter 14. All the saints will make it to heaven. Not one will be lost.
Now, let’s be honest. To most Christians today that isn’t very striking. ‘Of course we’re going to make it to heaven. What’s the big deal?’ But it was a big deal for the people of those seven churches. Why else would John have written it? So, where is the disconnect? Is there something that we know today that they didn’t know in the first century? Or is there something that they knew back then that we don’t? Go back to chapter 13. The message there is that the battle with Satan is real. The danger is indisputable. The stakes are high. Souls are at risk. Eternal destinies are being decided. The seven churches understood that. They could see it before them. Actually, I should say that some of the seven churches could see it. Some had been fooled. Some had compromised and had fallen, at least to some extent. Here, just remember the church at Laodicea, the lukewarm church. Revelation for them was a wake up call. Maybe it’s a wake up call for us also. How well do we see this war with Satan? How well do we understand that it is a real war with real casualties? Is it an encouragement to us to hear, ‘Don’t worry. You will endure to the end. You will remain faithful and not give in. You will make it to heaven and stand with the Lamb. Jesus guarantees it.’ The Christians in Asia Minor needed to hear this message. The words of this chapter were an encouragement to them. You’ll know you’re making some progress when the words of the chapter are an encouragement to you.
However, John’s words are not a blanket assurance to all who profess to be Christian. He describes the real ones as opposed to those who are mere professors of the faith. For one thing, the real ones sing. They sing a new song, John tells us, and they sing it with gusto. They sing to Christ. We talked about the notion of a new song when we looked at Revelation 5. The songs in Scripture are a response to Christ’s amazing acts of redemption. When Jesus does something new in His work of redeeming His Church, the Church responds with a song, a new song. In our text the saints sing a new song. They have experienced the last stage of their redemption and they respond to it. Jesus has kept His word. They have made it to heaven. It’s time to sing. Did you notice that only the saints can learn this song. Not even the angels can sing it. And why is that? The angels were never redeemed. They never experienced what it means to be trapped by sin and death, and then to be completely freed from all that. But the saints know. They have experienced the Gospel. And so, they sing a new song. They sing this song with feeling, with energy, with passion. That’s why it is as loud as the roar of water and loud thunder. That’s why it’s as beautiful as the playing of harps. The song is an expression of their hearts. They sing with enthusiasm and zeal to the Savior who has rescued them. The singing of the real ones has nothing to do with musical ability. It has everything to do with a heart that has been gripped by the amazing truth that they are among the redeemed. If you are one of the real ones then along with the weariness that your heart feels as it battles against sin and the evil of this fallen world there is also the ecstasy of knowing Jesus and the power of His grace. The real ones have hearts that are stirred by the Gospel and it shows.
How else does John describe the real ones? ‘It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.’ I suppose that there are those who take this literally also. They must be monks. But remember that John repeatedly uses the Old Testament. Think of the theme of marriage there. It’s a picture of God’s relationship with His people. And how often is Israel’s faithlessness pictured as adultery, being defiled with strange women? Just think about Hosea. John is picturing for us the relationship of the Church to Christ. But remember, in terms of the imagery of Revelation the wedding has not occurred yet. When is the wedding day? It’s when Jesus comes back. And so, John here is using the same imagery that Paul did.
I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
John describes the real ones in terms of what Paul calls ‘sincere and pure devotion to Christ’. The real ones do not involve themselves in sordid affairs with the world. There is no cheating on the side. No, there is the sincere and pure devotion of a young woman who longingly waits to be wed to her love.
This devotion of heart shows. Listen to more of that verse. ‘It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.’ Sincere and pure devotion shows in humble submission to the will of Christ. If Jesus goes down the right fork in the road then you follow Him down that right fork even though the left fork looks so enticing. Now, you know what you’ll find down that right fork, don’t you? You’re going to find a cross. Suffering, hardship, conflict with the beast, the false prophet, Babylon the whore and whatever else Satan can throw at you. Jesus warned us about this.
And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. " Mark 8:34
Following Jesus means bearing His cross. That’s the message of chapter 13. But at the end of the right fork there’s heaven. There’s standing on Mt. Zion with Jesus and all the other saints singing at the top of your lungs from hearts full of love and adoration, ready to enjoy the promised pleasures and delights forever. ‘Enter by the narrow gate … for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.’ The real ones follow Jesus wherever.
The promise of the text is that these will make it. Life is hard now for them, but these have heard the call to endurance and faith and they strive to be faithful. John speaks the word of the Lord, the word of Jesus. ‘Rest assured. My seal is upon you. I will not let you go! I guarantee that where I am you will be also.’ Heaven is assured. What a thought! One day you will wake up in unimaginable bliss to enjoy the Lord and all the other saints, forever.
Now, there can be three responses to what I have just told you. Some of you have heard the word of Christ and you are encouraged. You are ready to return to the battlefield with renewed hope. It’s appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. You’ve heard the Gospel and you believe it. Come, renew your vows to be faithful to Christ even in the face of beasts and devils. Come, receive grace from Jesus to continue to be faithful. Come and be reminded by the Spirit that, one day, it won’t just be a bit of bread and the cup. One day it will be the full wedding banquet of the Lamb.
But then there are probably some of you who have heard the word of the Lord and are discouraged by it. You’ve heard John’s description of the real ones with their stirred hearts, their sincere and pure devotion to Christ, their readiness to follow Him wherever. Then you’ve looked at your own life and your sin stares back at you. You see that your heart is so often cold and distracted. Your devotion flags so often. You are, at times, hesitant to follow Christ down that right fork. You hear the word and wonder, ‘Am I a real one? Can someone so weak and sinful as I am be what John is talking about? Is the promise of the text for me?’ It is appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. What do you see? Bread and the cup. What are they about? They are a broken body and blood that was spilled. They are Jesus’ broken body and blood. You see before you the sacrifice of the cross. And who was that sacrifice for? It was for sinners. That is the Gospel message. Whether that Gospel message is summarized by John 3.16 or by Revelation 14 it is the same message. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Do you see your sin? Good! Does it trouble you? Good! Do you see Jesus as the Savior of sinners, as your Savior? Good! Do you look to Him alone to get you to heaven? Good! Come to the Table. It has been spread by the Savior. It is spread for sinners. It is spread for you. Come, take the bread and the cup. You will be holding the assurance of the promise of our text in your hands. ‘I will get you to heaven. One day you will be standing by My side and together we will rejoice that you are there.’ Don’t let the fact of your sin discourage you. All the saints who will one day stand on Mt. Zion are sinners. Entrust yourself to Jesus. He will get you there.
But then, could it be that there will be a third response? Is it possible that some of you will respond with thoughtless presumption? Are there any here today who are thinking, ‘Of course I’m a Christian. I’m sure about heaven. What’s the big deal?’ You assume that all is well with your soul. You take heaven as a given. And yet, look at your life. There are no thoughts for the amazing facts of redemption. And so, there is no song of praise in the heart. Any ‘devotion to Christ’ boils down to showing up most Sundays. More than that, following Jesus wherever, is considered the domain of only the really committed. And battling Satan out in the world, striving to enter by the narrow gate, is too hard. It’s much easier to conform. After all, everyone else is going down the left fork. What is this? Whatever it is, it isn’t the response of a real one. It’s appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. The Lord's Supper will not encourage you, nor comfort you, nor provide grace for you to be faithful. Your taking the Supper today will make God’s condemnation of you even more obviously justified since you trifle with Him and abuse His holy gifts. If this is you, I would urge to repent. Repent of your blasphemous sins. Repent and come to Christ and believe the Gospel. If you do not repent you will not stand on Mt. Zion. You will not make it to heaven. If you do not repent only hell awaits. Repent quickly. Believe the Gospel and then come to the Lord's Supper to receive the grace of the Savior so that you can live faithfully for Him.
Our text has a message of great encouragement to the saints of God. Hear the promise and then return strengthened for the battle.
Revelation 14.1-5
We are ready to move on to chapter fourteen. And it’s a good thing. Imagine if all you had of the book of Revelation is the message of chapter thirteen. You’d know about the first beast who has the power of the dragon and who uses that power for the destruction of the saints. You’d also know about the second beast, the false prophet of the first beast. He also has power and he uses that power to make everyone, the saints included, worship the image of the beast. He is allowed to kill any who refuse. Those he doesn’t kill may have to deal with economic oppression because they refuse to bear the mark of the beast. And what is the only word to the saints in this bleak chapter. ‘Here is the call for the endurance and faith of the saints.’ And what does that mean? ‘You saints need to patiently endure all of this and trust Jesus.’ Imagine if all you had was the message of chapter 13. It wouldn’t be too encouraging, would it? If chapter 13 were made into a movie, it would be a very dark movie indeed. We need the message of chapter 14. We need to hear its message of encouragement and hope.
John has another vision. He sees the Lamb. It’s Jesus. And where is Jesus? He’s standing on Mt. Zion. What does that mean? Should we take this literally? There are some who do. But I think that it’s clear that Revelation is far too symbolic a book to take this image referring to some mountain in the Middle East. How is the symbol of Mt. Zion used in other parts of the Bible? First, there is the imagery that shows up in Psalm 2. What does God say in response to the rebellious cries of the nations? ‘As for me, I have installed my King on Zion, My holy hill.’ Jesus is presented to us as the anointed King who rules the nations. John points us to Jesus as He rules from His throne. Then there is the imagery found in Hebrews 12.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering … Hebrews 12:22
Mt. Zion here is heaven. So, where is Jesus? What is the point of the imagery of our text? Jesus is in heaven where He rules over all things.
Now, with Him are the 144,000. Who are these? We’ve encountered them before, back in chapter seven. These are the saints, all the saints, the complete number of them. John pictures for us all the saints and they are in heaven with Jesus. And they bear two names, that of Jesus and of His Father. What is this but the seal of God. This is no counterfeit mark of some beast. It is the real seal, the seal of ownership and protection.
So, what is the point of the imagery that opens this chapter? The message of chapter 14 is an answer to the message of chapter 13. It is a message of encouragement to those seven churches, and to all the churches since, including ours. The message of chapter 13 is that life is hard. It tells us about just one aspect of how Satan attacks to make it hard. It is hard to be a faithful disciple of Jesus in this fallen, evil world. The temptations to give in abound. The message of chapter fourteen is this. Though life is hard, all the saints will make it. All the saints will be brought through the difficulties of chapter thirteen to enjoy the bliss of chapter 14. All the saints will make it to heaven. Not one will be lost.
Now, let’s be honest. To most Christians today that isn’t very striking. ‘Of course we’re going to make it to heaven. What’s the big deal?’ But it was a big deal for the people of those seven churches. Why else would John have written it? So, where is the disconnect? Is there something that we know today that they didn’t know in the first century? Or is there something that they knew back then that we don’t? Go back to chapter 13. The message there is that the battle with Satan is real. The danger is indisputable. The stakes are high. Souls are at risk. Eternal destinies are being decided. The seven churches understood that. They could see it before them. Actually, I should say that some of the seven churches could see it. Some had been fooled. Some had compromised and had fallen, at least to some extent. Here, just remember the church at Laodicea, the lukewarm church. Revelation for them was a wake up call. Maybe it’s a wake up call for us also. How well do we see this war with Satan? How well do we understand that it is a real war with real casualties? Is it an encouragement to us to hear, ‘Don’t worry. You will endure to the end. You will remain faithful and not give in. You will make it to heaven and stand with the Lamb. Jesus guarantees it.’ The Christians in Asia Minor needed to hear this message. The words of this chapter were an encouragement to them. You’ll know you’re making some progress when the words of the chapter are an encouragement to you.
However, John’s words are not a blanket assurance to all who profess to be Christian. He describes the real ones as opposed to those who are mere professors of the faith. For one thing, the real ones sing. They sing a new song, John tells us, and they sing it with gusto. They sing to Christ. We talked about the notion of a new song when we looked at Revelation 5. The songs in Scripture are a response to Christ’s amazing acts of redemption. When Jesus does something new in His work of redeeming His Church, the Church responds with a song, a new song. In our text the saints sing a new song. They have experienced the last stage of their redemption and they respond to it. Jesus has kept His word. They have made it to heaven. It’s time to sing. Did you notice that only the saints can learn this song. Not even the angels can sing it. And why is that? The angels were never redeemed. They never experienced what it means to be trapped by sin and death, and then to be completely freed from all that. But the saints know. They have experienced the Gospel. And so, they sing a new song. They sing this song with feeling, with energy, with passion. That’s why it is as loud as the roar of water and loud thunder. That’s why it’s as beautiful as the playing of harps. The song is an expression of their hearts. They sing with enthusiasm and zeal to the Savior who has rescued them. The singing of the real ones has nothing to do with musical ability. It has everything to do with a heart that has been gripped by the amazing truth that they are among the redeemed. If you are one of the real ones then along with the weariness that your heart feels as it battles against sin and the evil of this fallen world there is also the ecstasy of knowing Jesus and the power of His grace. The real ones have hearts that are stirred by the Gospel and it shows.
How else does John describe the real ones? ‘It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.’ I suppose that there are those who take this literally also. They must be monks. But remember that John repeatedly uses the Old Testament. Think of the theme of marriage there. It’s a picture of God’s relationship with His people. And how often is Israel’s faithlessness pictured as adultery, being defiled with strange women? Just think about Hosea. John is picturing for us the relationship of the Church to Christ. But remember, in terms of the imagery of Revelation the wedding has not occurred yet. When is the wedding day? It’s when Jesus comes back. And so, John here is using the same imagery that Paul did.
I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
John describes the real ones in terms of what Paul calls ‘sincere and pure devotion to Christ’. The real ones do not involve themselves in sordid affairs with the world. There is no cheating on the side. No, there is the sincere and pure devotion of a young woman who longingly waits to be wed to her love.
This devotion of heart shows. Listen to more of that verse. ‘It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.’ Sincere and pure devotion shows in humble submission to the will of Christ. If Jesus goes down the right fork in the road then you follow Him down that right fork even though the left fork looks so enticing. Now, you know what you’ll find down that right fork, don’t you? You’re going to find a cross. Suffering, hardship, conflict with the beast, the false prophet, Babylon the whore and whatever else Satan can throw at you. Jesus warned us about this.
And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. " Mark 8:34
Following Jesus means bearing His cross. That’s the message of chapter 13. But at the end of the right fork there’s heaven. There’s standing on Mt. Zion with Jesus and all the other saints singing at the top of your lungs from hearts full of love and adoration, ready to enjoy the promised pleasures and delights forever. ‘Enter by the narrow gate … for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.’ The real ones follow Jesus wherever.
The promise of the text is that these will make it. Life is hard now for them, but these have heard the call to endurance and faith and they strive to be faithful. John speaks the word of the Lord, the word of Jesus. ‘Rest assured. My seal is upon you. I will not let you go! I guarantee that where I am you will be also.’ Heaven is assured. What a thought! One day you will wake up in unimaginable bliss to enjoy the Lord and all the other saints, forever.
Now, there can be three responses to what I have just told you. Some of you have heard the word of Christ and you are encouraged. You are ready to return to the battlefield with renewed hope. It’s appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. You’ve heard the Gospel and you believe it. Come, renew your vows to be faithful to Christ even in the face of beasts and devils. Come, receive grace from Jesus to continue to be faithful. Come and be reminded by the Spirit that, one day, it won’t just be a bit of bread and the cup. One day it will be the full wedding banquet of the Lamb.
But then there are probably some of you who have heard the word of the Lord and are discouraged by it. You’ve heard John’s description of the real ones with their stirred hearts, their sincere and pure devotion to Christ, their readiness to follow Him wherever. Then you’ve looked at your own life and your sin stares back at you. You see that your heart is so often cold and distracted. Your devotion flags so often. You are, at times, hesitant to follow Christ down that right fork. You hear the word and wonder, ‘Am I a real one? Can someone so weak and sinful as I am be what John is talking about? Is the promise of the text for me?’ It is appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. What do you see? Bread and the cup. What are they about? They are a broken body and blood that was spilled. They are Jesus’ broken body and blood. You see before you the sacrifice of the cross. And who was that sacrifice for? It was for sinners. That is the Gospel message. Whether that Gospel message is summarized by John 3.16 or by Revelation 14 it is the same message. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Do you see your sin? Good! Does it trouble you? Good! Do you see Jesus as the Savior of sinners, as your Savior? Good! Do you look to Him alone to get you to heaven? Good! Come to the Table. It has been spread by the Savior. It is spread for sinners. It is spread for you. Come, take the bread and the cup. You will be holding the assurance of the promise of our text in your hands. ‘I will get you to heaven. One day you will be standing by My side and together we will rejoice that you are there.’ Don’t let the fact of your sin discourage you. All the saints who will one day stand on Mt. Zion are sinners. Entrust yourself to Jesus. He will get you there.
But then, could it be that there will be a third response? Is it possible that some of you will respond with thoughtless presumption? Are there any here today who are thinking, ‘Of course I’m a Christian. I’m sure about heaven. What’s the big deal?’ You assume that all is well with your soul. You take heaven as a given. And yet, look at your life. There are no thoughts for the amazing facts of redemption. And so, there is no song of praise in the heart. Any ‘devotion to Christ’ boils down to showing up most Sundays. More than that, following Jesus wherever, is considered the domain of only the really committed. And battling Satan out in the world, striving to enter by the narrow gate, is too hard. It’s much easier to conform. After all, everyone else is going down the left fork. What is this? Whatever it is, it isn’t the response of a real one. It’s appropriate that we have the Lord's Supper today. The Lord's Supper will not encourage you, nor comfort you, nor provide grace for you to be faithful. Your taking the Supper today will make God’s condemnation of you even more obviously justified since you trifle with Him and abuse His holy gifts. If this is you, I would urge to repent. Repent of your blasphemous sins. Repent and come to Christ and believe the Gospel. If you do not repent you will not stand on Mt. Zion. You will not make it to heaven. If you do not repent only hell awaits. Repent quickly. Believe the Gospel and then come to the Lord's Supper to receive the grace of the Savior so that you can live faithfully for Him.
Our text has a message of great encouragement to the saints of God. Hear the promise and then return strengthened for the battle.
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