1 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,280 Having sung that song through the battle and the blessing by City 2 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,880 of Light, I think I've made the right choice, because the words, 3 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,080 particularly in that closing verse, get us ready for what we're 4 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:25,120 about to see. 5 00:00:26,570 --> 00:00:29,930 As John reveals it to us in Revelation 14. 6 00:00:31,370 --> 00:00:37,810 The battle has been fought and won, and where are the redeemed of 7 00:00:37,810 --> 00:00:38,330 the Lord? 8 00:00:38,970 --> 00:00:42,730 Well, in a moment, we will see John telling us that they are there, 9 00:00:43,530 --> 00:00:47,130 symbolized by a number of 144,000. 10 00:00:48,170 --> 00:00:52,700 The gathered people of God are around the throne singing praise 11 00:00:52,700 --> 00:00:54,620 of his name, for the victory is his. 12 00:00:54,620 --> 00:00:58,020 The battle is won, and the redeemed are there. 13 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:01,980 But before we get to that, I want to go back to something that 14 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:05,220 we've thought about a few times in the studies that we've been 15 00:01:05,220 --> 00:01:07,459 doing in Revelation that's been about identity. 16 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:11,860 We thought a few times about that word and what it means for us. 17 00:01:12,420 --> 00:01:13,340 Who are we? 18 00:01:13,340 --> 00:01:14,900 Or whose are we? 19 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:17,700 As well as the identity of the people that we see. 20 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,280 The Lamb that looked as though it had been slain, of course we know 21 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,320 that to be the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb that 22 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:26,960 was slain. 23 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:35,120 And so looking to Jesus and knowing him as that image presented 24 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,160 to us is good and right. 25 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,040 But whenever we think of our own identity as human beings, we 26 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:46,450 realize that there's so much more to who we are, by whose we are. 27 00:01:47,090 --> 00:01:50,250 At the beginning of each of our lives, a decision is made for 28 00:01:50,250 --> 00:01:53,250 us on our behalf, and we have absolutely no say in it whatsoever. 29 00:01:54,050 --> 00:01:57,250 And this decision has perhaps shaped us more than we can imagine. 30 00:01:58,210 --> 00:02:02,210 We either like and appreciate this decision, or we quite literally 31 00:02:02,210 --> 00:02:03,330 balk against it. 32 00:02:04,450 --> 00:02:09,170 This decision is the name that was given to us by our parents. 33 00:02:10,050 --> 00:02:14,960 Now, your name might be a family name, so links you with generations 34 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:15,920 of your family. 35 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,040 I have it on both sides. 36 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:23,240 You all call me David, but the taxman calls me William, named after 37 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,320 my father's father, and Samuel, named after my mother's father. 38 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,800 I was very quickly told that if we ever had a boy, William would 39 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,600 not be carried on in the family tradition. 40 00:02:38,650 --> 00:02:44,010 Or your name might be a new name that was in the fashion of the 41 00:02:44,010 --> 00:02:44,330 time. 42 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:51,130 Did you know that the name Wendy did not exist until JM Barrie 43 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:52,170 wrote Peter Pan? 44 00:02:53,130 --> 00:02:57,890 And so new and modern names happen to come along, and particularly 45 00:02:57,890 --> 00:02:59,290 if you live overseas. 46 00:03:00,090 --> 00:03:07,180 Where I once met a man, and this was 2000, was called email simply 47 00:03:07,180 --> 00:03:09,220 because it sounded like a good word. 48 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:11,300 So you either like your name or you don't. 49 00:03:11,460 --> 00:03:14,260 Or maybe you wished you were called something else. 50 00:03:15,780 --> 00:03:21,140 Because our names give us an identity, either linking us to the 51 00:03:21,140 --> 00:03:26,300 past generations of our family or the name we've been given signifies 52 00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:30,660 something more about the time and culture into which we were born. 53 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,480 And if we like our name, we live up to its standard. 54 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,160 And perhaps if we've met someone who we don't get on with, 55 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,120 their name resonates. 56 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,960 And we judge everyone by that name the same as we've judged that 57 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:43,960 person we don't get on with. 58 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,400 So it does truly define. 59 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,120 Well, this has got absolutely nothing to do with anything else 60 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,240 I'm going to say tonight, but if you're interested, Olivia remains 61 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,800 the top baby girl name for the ninth year in a row. 62 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:55,960 That's in 2025. 63 00:03:56,570 --> 00:04:00,730 But interestingly, the name Mohammed is the most popular name 64 00:04:00,730 --> 00:04:05,290 for boys in the UK for the second year in a row in 2025. 65 00:04:05,290 --> 00:04:08,730 And this alone might tell us a little of the shape of the country 66 00:04:09,130 --> 00:04:10,650 in which we now live. 67 00:04:11,450 --> 00:04:14,330 Anyway, that's got nothing to do with what I'm about to say next. 68 00:04:15,290 --> 00:04:16,250 Names are important. 69 00:04:17,450 --> 00:04:18,970 They tell us things. 70 00:04:20,010 --> 00:04:24,550 And so, as we now turn to revelation, chapter 14, what we're 71 00:04:24,550 --> 00:04:27,670 quite literally presented with is a name tag that's blank. 72 00:04:28,070 --> 00:04:30,790 If you've ever been to a conference or to a gathering, you've 73 00:04:30,790 --> 00:04:34,310 been told to write your name on a sticky label or on a proper 74 00:04:35,190 --> 00:04:35,990 name badge. 75 00:04:36,630 --> 00:04:39,710 Well, tonight we're not looking for your name because we 76 00:04:39,710 --> 00:04:41,070 pretty well know each other's name. 77 00:04:41,070 --> 00:04:45,350 But there's two other names that are given to us in this passage 78 00:04:45,350 --> 00:04:45,990 this evening. 79 00:04:46,630 --> 00:04:50,710 And by the end of tonight, you will be confronted about what name 80 00:04:50,710 --> 00:04:53,670 you will be putting on that name tag. 81 00:04:55,750 --> 00:05:00,430 You see, the passage does link us back to what we've already been 82 00:05:00,430 --> 00:05:04,669 looking at in previous chapters in Revelation, and it presents 83 00:05:04,669 --> 00:05:06,550 us with really two types of people. 84 00:05:07,110 --> 00:05:09,750 Two names or two groups of names of people. 85 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:13,070 The first we find in verses one to five. 86 00:05:13,070 --> 00:05:18,760 And those are who we call the Redeemed, and those are the redeemed 87 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,440 from the earth who have placed their faith in Jesus. 88 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,000 The second are those who have worshipped the beast and his image 89 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,960 and have defiled themselves with the woman. 90 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,080 Their name will be discovered to us later whenever we come to that. 91 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:39,080 But we're going to begin by thinking of these first five verses 92 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:40,680 and what they have to say to us. 93 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,320 And verse one begins like this. 94 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:46,310 Then I looked, says John, a new scene is before him. 95 00:05:46,310 --> 00:05:51,110 And behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 96 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:56,390 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 97 00:05:57,110 --> 00:06:01,790 Now, straight away, John sees something new and distinct from the 98 00:06:01,790 --> 00:06:02,630 two beasts. 99 00:06:02,630 --> 00:06:04,710 That he saw in chapter 13. 100 00:06:05,430 --> 00:06:08,950 He sees the risen Lord Jesus Christ standing in Zion. 101 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:14,150 And with him stand a group of people, 144,000 in total. 102 00:06:14,630 --> 00:06:18,390 And we've met these people before, back in chapter seven. 103 00:06:18,950 --> 00:06:23,870 And the 144,000 represent the people of God, all those redeemed 104 00:06:23,870 --> 00:06:24,710 by the Lamb. 105 00:06:26,070 --> 00:06:30,830 But we've also found their mark before because we're told in 106 00:06:30,830 --> 00:06:33,590 verse one that they have a mark on their foreheads. 107 00:06:33,990 --> 00:06:38,320 And on their foreheads, it is the name of the of the Lamb and his 108 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:39,120 Father's name. 109 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,680 And this mark is that of the Lord. 110 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:47,600 So to have his name written on them means that they are his, and 111 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,960 they are his to claim and his to keep. 112 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,680 In other words, they are secure in his keeping. 113 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,160 And this is important for us to begin to know who these people 114 00:06:59,160 --> 00:06:59,520 are. 115 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:05,370 They are kept by God, and they can never be shaken from his hand. 116 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:08,450 Moving on to verse two. 117 00:07:08,450 --> 00:07:11,450 John now not only sees, but he hears a voice. 118 00:07:12,330 --> 00:07:14,090 And he describes the voice like this. 119 00:07:14,090 --> 00:07:15,130 The voice is loud. 120 00:07:15,770 --> 00:07:18,410 He describes it as the roar of many waters, but the voice is also 121 00:07:18,490 --> 00:07:20,090 strong, the sound of thunder. 122 00:07:20,490 --> 00:07:23,690 But I wonder, did it surprise you that it was like the sound of 123 00:07:23,690 --> 00:07:25,770 harpists playing harps? 124 00:07:26,410 --> 00:07:29,050 How can all of these three things come together? 125 00:07:29,290 --> 00:07:32,610 We have been introduced to the roar of many waters before, and we've 126 00:07:32,610 --> 00:07:35,030 been introduced to a voice that sounded like thunder before, 127 00:07:35,510 --> 00:07:41,190 but this is new, the sound of harpists playing harps. 128 00:07:42,390 --> 00:07:46,190 Now, it seems that this is not the voice of God this time, but the 129 00:07:46,190 --> 00:07:47,990 voice of the 144,000. 130 00:07:48,470 --> 00:07:53,030 And we say that because of the plurality that's given in verse three, 131 00:07:53,430 --> 00:07:56,550 because the text tells us that there's more than one voice, this 132 00:07:56,710 --> 00:08:02,320 sounding like harps playing, but it's strong and it's loud. 133 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,280 And verse three tells us that it is a new song that they sing. 134 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,200 So what we're seeing here again is an act of eternal worship 135 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,400 that's taking place before the throne of God. 136 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,640 It's in the presence of the four living creatures and in the 137 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:18,960 presence of the elders. 138 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,440 And even though John doesn't tell us what this song is, we've 139 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:24,320 heard it before. 140 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,480 Because as this multitude was gathered around the throne in Revelation 141 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,830 7, verse 10, they sung the song, this redeemed of the Lord. 142 00:08:32,830 --> 00:08:33,790 What did they sing? 143 00:08:34,990 --> 00:08:38,350 They sang, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, 144 00:08:38,830 --> 00:08:43,670 and to the Lamb, the great praise of heaven, of all people standing 145 00:08:43,670 --> 00:08:44,510 before the throne. 146 00:08:45,070 --> 00:08:48,630 And so, once again, we are seeing and hearing the song of the 147 00:08:48,630 --> 00:08:49,150 redeemed. 148 00:08:49,790 --> 00:08:52,910 It's a celebration song because it's the celebration of heaven, 149 00:08:53,230 --> 00:08:55,310 and it's theirs to sing. 150 00:08:55,870 --> 00:08:58,510 And that's what verses 4 and 5 confirm for us. 151 00:08:58,510 --> 00:09:02,410 The reason why they can sing it is because these are those who 152 00:09:02,410 --> 00:09:06,130 have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. 153 00:09:06,850 --> 00:09:09,650 It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 154 00:09:10,130 --> 00:09:14,330 These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and 155 00:09:14,330 --> 00:09:14,850 the Lamb. 156 00:09:15,250 --> 00:09:20,210 And in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. 157 00:09:24,130 --> 00:09:29,430 What we have in these two verses are three descriptions, the 158 00:09:29,430 --> 00:09:30,830 144,000. 159 00:09:31,710 --> 00:09:35,070 First of all, we're told that they're virgins undefiled by women. 160 00:09:35,550 --> 00:09:39,910 They follow the Lamb then everywhere, and they, thirdly, are 161 00:09:39,910 --> 00:09:42,190 the redeemed, the first fruits. 162 00:09:43,070 --> 00:09:46,550 So first we're told that they are undefiled by women, there are 163 00:09:46,550 --> 00:09:46,950 virgins. 164 00:09:46,950 --> 00:09:49,310 And clearly the language is symbolic here. 165 00:09:49,470 --> 00:09:53,710 For John is not saying sexual relations defile inherently. 166 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,040 Indeed, those who claim that marriage defiles spread the teaching 167 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,200 of that marriage defiles, spreads the teaching of demons, as 168 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,120 Paul teaches in First Timothy 4:1:3, where he speaks very clearly 169 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,840 that those who say people should remain single or not get involved 170 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:10,600 in marriage. 171 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:12,120 Well, Paul says that's wrong. 172 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,760 So if Paul's already taught this, then we should understand that 173 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:17,160 this is not literal. 174 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,120 The thought then is similar to what Paul does teach, what he says 175 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,750 to the Corinthians in 2nd Corinthians 11:2, that he betrothed 176 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:30,110 them to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 177 00:10:31,070 --> 00:10:34,230 In the Old Testament, the people of God are portrayed as the 178 00:10:34,230 --> 00:10:39,430 bride of the Lord, and they're indicted for their harlotry, for 179 00:10:39,430 --> 00:10:43,070 giving their allegiances to other gods through other peoples. 180 00:10:43,470 --> 00:10:47,350 And so this people, in front of John, the 144,000, the people 181 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:51,230 of God in the heavenly Mount Zion have not committed adultery 182 00:10:51,740 --> 00:10:52,420 with other gods. 183 00:10:52,420 --> 00:10:56,940 They have remained faithful and loyal to the one true God. 184 00:10:57,660 --> 00:10:59,780 So that's one description. 185 00:10:59,780 --> 00:11:02,820 The first description of these people, the second description is 186 00:11:02,820 --> 00:11:03,740 similar to the first. 187 00:11:05,020 --> 00:11:06,980 It describes them as having followed the Lamb. 188 00:11:06,980 --> 00:11:11,180 And that means to be obedient to him, to listen to him, to heed 189 00:11:11,180 --> 00:11:16,340 his voice, that voice of the good shepherd, as John refers to 190 00:11:16,340 --> 00:11:17,660 Jesus in his Gospel. 191 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,440 And finally, the 144,000 are the redeemed among humanity. 192 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,280 They are those who are ransomed and delivered by the Lamb's 193 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:26,680 blood. 194 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,720 And so what does John mean in calling them the first fruits of 195 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:31,640 God and the Lamb? 196 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,040 We could ask the question, does he mean that the 144,000 are 197 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,600 saved first, with more being saved later on? 198 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:44,290 Well, first fruits designates the first part of the crop, anticipating 199 00:11:44,290 --> 00:11:45,970 the full harvest to come. 200 00:11:47,090 --> 00:11:51,290 Now, it is doubtful that the term always carries the notion of 201 00:11:51,290 --> 00:11:54,650 more to follow, as if there were other believers apart from the 202 00:11:54,650 --> 00:11:56,770 144,000 to be redeemed. 203 00:11:57,170 --> 00:12:02,290 John has already told us that the 144,000 are the redeemed from 204 00:12:02,290 --> 00:12:04,850 those on earth back in verse three. 205 00:12:05,410 --> 00:12:09,250 So he likely means they are specially devoted to God. 206 00:12:10,390 --> 00:12:13,870 If there's any idea of further blessing, it would be the renewal 207 00:12:13,870 --> 00:12:17,750 of all creation, not the salvation of others in the future 208 00:12:17,750 --> 00:12:19,750 beyond the 144,000. 209 00:12:19,830 --> 00:12:23,470 And we have to be very careful when we start to look at that number 210 00:12:23,470 --> 00:12:27,030 as being literal, because then we're verging into the terms of what 211 00:12:27,030 --> 00:12:30,030 the Jehovah's Witnesses believe, that there will only be 212 00:12:30,030 --> 00:12:35,030 144,000 in the new heaven with all of the other redeemed, so called 213 00:12:35,030 --> 00:12:37,990 redeemed of the Jehovah's Witnesses on the new earth. 214 00:12:38,890 --> 00:12:42,410 That's very dangerous territory to be in. 215 00:12:43,930 --> 00:12:46,810 But as we move into verse five, there's one final description 216 00:12:46,810 --> 00:12:50,450 that is separate from what verse four says, a description of 217 00:12:50,450 --> 00:12:51,930 this 144,000. 218 00:12:52,970 --> 00:12:55,210 And it is of their blamelessness. 219 00:12:56,250 --> 00:12:58,570 John tells us that they do not lie. 220 00:12:59,370 --> 00:13:02,610 And of course, those who belong to the people of God do not 221 00:13:02,610 --> 00:13:04,250 make a practice of lying. 222 00:13:05,500 --> 00:13:06,620 But what John is. 223 00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:11,540 Well, he's not focused here on the literal practice of lying, just 224 00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:13,900 as he's not speaking of literal singleness. 225 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:19,100 In verse four, in the Old Testament, devotion to idols is described 226 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:20,060 as lying. 227 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:24,540 And Isaiah ridicules the idolatry of his day, saying about 228 00:13:24,540 --> 00:13:26,740 the idolater in chapter 44. 229 00:13:26,740 --> 00:13:29,260 In verse 20, he feeds on ashes. 230 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:33,700 A deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself 231 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:37,430 or say, is there not a lie in my right hand? 232 00:13:38,230 --> 00:13:41,270 The lie in his right hand is the idol. 233 00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:48,230 So the 144,000 are blameless because they refuse to involve themselves 234 00:13:48,390 --> 00:13:51,029 with idolatry, with the worship of false gods. 235 00:13:51,350 --> 00:13:55,110 They stay faithful to God even when persecuted. 236 00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:59,990 And this is where we move into verse six as we hear of the judgment 237 00:13:59,990 --> 00:14:01,670 of God that is to come. 238 00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:06,590 But before we do, I do want to encourage your heart, because as 239 00:14:06,590 --> 00:14:10,510 we read verses one to five, isn't it wonderful to see the image 240 00:14:10,510 --> 00:14:11,750 that's presented here? 241 00:14:12,310 --> 00:14:17,830 In the midst of tribulation, of persecution and trial, the family 242 00:14:17,830 --> 00:14:22,990 of God are assured that they are kept safe for the day when they 243 00:14:22,990 --> 00:14:27,110 will sing the celebration song of heaven. 244 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,800 You see, the 144,000 have the right to sing it, and that is the 245 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,360 promise given to those who are in Christ here and now. 246 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:45,680 It will be to our song, as we stand before the throne and declare 247 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,840 salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb. 248 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:57,900 For those in Christ, for the believer, this is our reality, and 249 00:14:58,060 --> 00:15:01,820 nothing, nothing can take it away from us. 250 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:06,100 We are secure and we are as we are. 251 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:11,580 Then we must worship God, because that security can only come 252 00:15:11,580 --> 00:15:16,180 through Jesus, as Paul writes in Romans 8, 38, 39. 253 00:15:16,180 --> 00:15:19,020 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 254 00:15:19,020 --> 00:15:22,020 rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor 255 00:15:22,020 --> 00:15:25,290 height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will 256 00:15:25,290 --> 00:15:30,450 be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our 257 00:15:30,450 --> 00:15:30,850 Lord. 258 00:15:31,650 --> 00:15:34,930 This is wonderful truth, wonderful truth for us to know, but 259 00:15:34,930 --> 00:15:38,050 it's also wonderful assurance for God's people. 260 00:15:38,690 --> 00:15:42,570 And we shouldn't take it for granted because it was bought at 261 00:15:42,570 --> 00:15:47,810 such a cost, but we should enjoy it as the blessing of God's 262 00:15:47,810 --> 00:15:51,180 salvation to us through Jesus Christ. 263 00:15:51,180 --> 00:15:56,100 Hence why we sing the battle which was all of Christ's and the 264 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:59,020 blessing which is all ours. 265 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:07,100 So take heart, there is a song to be sung, a song of celebration 266 00:16:07,180 --> 00:16:08,460 to our God. 267 00:16:09,020 --> 00:16:14,060 And what John sees here now for the second time, is the people, 268 00:16:14,060 --> 00:16:18,500 the redeemed of the earth, singing it before the throne of heaven. 269 00:16:20,980 --> 00:16:27,500 But as we turn to verse six, so John sees three angels, and they 270 00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:29,940 bring with them three messages. 271 00:16:31,460 --> 00:16:35,260 The first message is contained in verses six and seven, and it's 272 00:16:35,260 --> 00:16:36,340 one of encouragement. 273 00:16:36,820 --> 00:16:41,260 We're told that John sees and an angel is flying directly overhead. 274 00:16:41,260 --> 00:16:43,700 Some translations call this the middle heaven. 275 00:16:44,660 --> 00:16:48,500 And the first of the three angels enters the scene with a message. 276 00:16:49,060 --> 00:16:50,740 And notice what the message is. 277 00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:54,940 It's an eternal gospel to proclaim to all those who dwell on 278 00:16:54,940 --> 00:16:55,460 the earth. 279 00:16:56,260 --> 00:17:00,900 So significantly this time, John does not use the phrase earth 280 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:04,180 dwellers, as he has done before and will use again. 281 00:17:04,660 --> 00:17:08,420 But here he speaks of a gospel for all people, a gospel for those 282 00:17:08,420 --> 00:17:11,460 from every people, group, tribe, language and nation. 283 00:17:12,180 --> 00:17:16,540 And this is a proclamation of the message of salvation to be heard 284 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:21,140 by all people, so that they might respond as all nations will. 285 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:25,140 Those who do well, they will be saved. 286 00:17:25,619 --> 00:17:29,420 For those who don't embrace the gospel, they will be judged for 287 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:30,260 their rebellion. 288 00:17:30,740 --> 00:17:34,260 So what John is saying here, that while there is still time, as 289 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:37,940 we've seen before in Revelation, people can respond in 290 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:38,380 Faith. 291 00:17:39,660 --> 00:17:43,580 But the second angel comes in verse 8, and this is what we're told 292 00:17:43,980 --> 00:17:45,100 about that message. 293 00:17:45,420 --> 00:17:48,740 Another angel, a second followed, saying, fallen, fallen 294 00:17:48,740 --> 00:17:52,620 is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of 295 00:17:52,620 --> 00:17:55,020 the passion of her sexual immorality. 296 00:17:56,220 --> 00:17:59,180 And this is more encouragement for John's readers. 297 00:17:59,660 --> 00:18:05,000 The source of all the ugliness, perversion, and unsatisfying 298 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,280 consumerism and consumption that wrecks so many lives will on 299 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,640 that day lose all of its allure. 300 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,440 Whether it was the Babylon of the Old Testament, the Rome that 301 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:21,280 was encircling around John and the first Christians, or whether 302 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:26,400 it is the world of our day, one day it will all be gone. 303 00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:32,720 All of the ugliness of sin, all of its perversion, and all of 304 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:37,200 the unsatisfying consumerism and consumption will be gone, and 305 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,080 we will truly be free, because no longer will it be able to deceive 306 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:42,600 us nor destroy us. 307 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,920 Babylon, given to us here symbolically is judged for making 308 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,800 the nations drink the wine of her fornication. 309 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:57,440 And this fornication is spiritual, and it does include the 310 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:58,760 idea of sexual sin. 311 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:04,200 But it is first and foremost that spiritual aspect of our lives. 312 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,280 And so the focus is on spiritual harlotry and spiritual 313 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,760 prostitution, just like the children of Israel were often told, 314 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,080 and indeed why they were punished for their rejection of God 315 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:24,000 and going after other gods, gods that were ugly, perverse and 316 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:24,960 unsatisfying. 317 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,840 You see, God is making all things new. 318 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,520 Babylon will face judgment for encouraging the worship of false 319 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,880 gods, spreading worldwide the message that it is good and right 320 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,880 to rebel against the one true God. 321 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:42,880 But God will make it all right. 322 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:49,610 And fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, for the victory is Christ's, 323 00:19:50,330 --> 00:19:53,290 and his reign is eternal over all. 324 00:19:54,410 --> 00:19:56,930 And so this should be encouragement for us that there is 325 00:19:56,930 --> 00:20:00,610 a day where all of the things of this world, the things that hurt 326 00:20:00,610 --> 00:20:04,690 us, the things that make us angry and cross, the things that 327 00:20:04,690 --> 00:20:10,530 would want to lure us away, will be gone, nevermore to tempt 328 00:20:10,530 --> 00:20:13,050 and lead astray the people of God. 329 00:20:14,410 --> 00:20:18,530 But there's a third angel that appears in verses 9 to 11 and warns 330 00:20:18,530 --> 00:20:18,810 those. 331 00:20:19,450 --> 00:20:22,050 And these are our second group of people, the worshippers of the 332 00:20:22,050 --> 00:20:23,290 beast and his image. 333 00:20:24,090 --> 00:20:27,170 And this is quite the contrast for what we've seen in verses one 334 00:20:27,170 --> 00:20:31,650 to five, which showed us those who have been marked by Christ enjoying 335 00:20:31,650 --> 00:20:35,210 perfect security in Mount Zion, singing and celebrating. 336 00:20:35,530 --> 00:20:41,210 And here in verse 9 through to 11, we see all who have been marked 337 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:46,280 by the imposter, the beast and his image, all who believed his false 338 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,720 promises and fell for his charm, gagging and spitting as they 339 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,200 drink the wine of God's wrath. 340 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:59,320 Rather than being comforted by the lamb, they'll be tormented in 341 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,040 the presence of the lamb. 342 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:09,050 And you know that torment will be so severe that it will never end. 343 00:21:10,810 --> 00:21:15,770 Their experience of torment continues perpetually. 344 00:21:16,570 --> 00:21:20,810 And such a portrait of the final judgment is exactly what Jesus 345 00:21:20,810 --> 00:21:25,690 says in Matthew chapter 25 and verse 46, where he says, the righteous 346 00:21:25,690 --> 00:21:29,050 will enjoy eternal life, but the wicked face eternal punishment. 347 00:21:29,370 --> 00:21:33,730 And John's readers are warned that terrible suffering will forever 348 00:21:33,730 --> 00:21:39,010 ensue if they worship the beast and its image, or if they receive 349 00:21:39,010 --> 00:21:39,730 its mark. 350 00:21:42,530 --> 00:21:45,770 And where we can see encouragement in the message of the 351 00:21:45,770 --> 00:21:46,690 first two angels. 352 00:21:47,330 --> 00:21:52,370 This third message of the third angel is a stark warning, and 353 00:21:52,370 --> 00:21:57,970 it's not to be given to a place of gloating or a place of satisfaction 354 00:21:57,970 --> 00:22:00,450 where believers can look down and wag the finger. 355 00:22:01,730 --> 00:22:04,370 Rather, this should be a position and a warning to believers 356 00:22:04,370 --> 00:22:08,930 that should drive us to our knees in prayer and open our voices 357 00:22:08,930 --> 00:22:14,770 to proclaim that while there is yet time, the lost can be redeemed. 358 00:22:17,250 --> 00:22:21,050 And the remarkably strong warning in verses 9 to 11 is not 359 00:22:21,050 --> 00:22:25,090 primarily written for unbelievers, because John did not 360 00:22:25,090 --> 00:22:27,480 write the book for unbelievers. 361 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,880 As he concludes this section, verse 12, he tells us that this warning 362 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,640 is addressed to believers. 363 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:39,160 He says the saints, and is intended to provoke them to persevere 364 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:39,960 until the end. 365 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,480 If they give their allegiance to the beast, then they will suffer 366 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,000 forever and ever and ever. 367 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,360 So that's why we have the warning of verses 9 to 11. 368 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,600 And the message of the two angels calls John's readers to endure 369 00:22:53,690 --> 00:22:54,730 and to persevere. 370 00:22:55,450 --> 00:22:59,010 And endurance is explained in terms of keeping God's commands and 371 00:22:59,010 --> 00:23:00,810 continuing to put faith in Jesus. 372 00:23:01,450 --> 00:23:06,010 The reality of faith will reveal itself in observable and concrete 373 00:23:06,010 --> 00:23:06,490 ways. 374 00:23:06,890 --> 00:23:10,970 Those who endure follow God in obedience. 375 00:23:12,410 --> 00:23:15,450 And so verse 13 concludes this section. 376 00:23:16,570 --> 00:23:20,250 And I heard a voice, John says from heaven, saying, write this. 377 00:23:21,390 --> 00:23:24,190 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. 378 00:23:24,670 --> 00:23:28,550 Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their 379 00:23:28,550 --> 00:23:31,310 labors, for their deeds follow them. 380 00:23:32,190 --> 00:23:36,630 And so now a heavenly voice speaks, summing up in many ways the 381 00:23:36,630 --> 00:23:40,910 message of this chapter so far and really the book as a whole. 382 00:23:41,550 --> 00:23:45,550 John is supposed to record this message because of its importance. 383 00:23:46,030 --> 00:23:50,190 Believers are called to endure in a world fiercely opposed to them. 384 00:23:50,780 --> 00:23:55,500 But this world, as it is now, is not their home or our home. 385 00:23:56,220 --> 00:23:59,340 And so those who die in the Lord are blessed. 386 00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:04,220 They leave the struggles of this world behind, exchanging them 387 00:24:04,220 --> 00:24:08,460 for their final reward, that celebration song of heaven. 388 00:24:09,340 --> 00:24:11,780 The Spirit reaffirms the blessing of death. 389 00:24:11,780 --> 00:24:17,320 Because believers rest from the toils marking this present evil 390 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:22,560 age, they will then experience relief from the pressures impinging 391 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:23,680 upon them in life. 392 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:29,120 Believers will rest, John says, because their works follow 393 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:29,520 them. 394 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,840 In other words, their works testify that they belong to God. 395 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:41,080 And so the rest given them is warranted, just as the reception 396 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,890 into heaven is warranted because they have trusted in Christ. 397 00:24:45,930 --> 00:24:47,850 And isn't this what we all need to know? 398 00:24:48,650 --> 00:24:52,050 We need to understand this truth, that earthly history will 399 00:24:52,050 --> 00:24:56,370 end one day, and then either eternal glory for the redeemed of 400 00:24:56,370 --> 00:25:02,050 the Lord or eternal punishment as we know them to be the worshippers 401 00:25:02,050 --> 00:25:05,530 of the beast and of his image. 402 00:25:06,010 --> 00:25:08,970 And so we go back to that name tag at the start. 403 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:11,280 What is your name? 404 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:13,520 What is your identity? 405 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,520 Are you the redeemed of the earth that God will bring into his 406 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:18,000 heaven? 407 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:22,720 Or are you a worshiper of the beast and of his image? 408 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,320 You see, how we put a name down will determine how we get there. 409 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,600 And I don't simply mean we simply have to write it down. 410 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,640 But only those with the Father's name written on their foreheads 411 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:39,200 will know eternal glory and presence with God because the name 412 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,190 of the Son is on their foreheads. 413 00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:45,420 And it is faith in Jesus that makes them the redeemed of the earth, 414 00:25:45,740 --> 00:25:48,140 so that they will enter eternal glory. 415 00:25:49,260 --> 00:25:52,620 Those with the mark on their forehead or hand because they have 416 00:25:52,620 --> 00:25:56,940 worshipped the beast and its image will enter eternal punishment. 417 00:25:57,340 --> 00:25:59,660 Those who have worshipped the beast and his image. 418 00:25:59,980 --> 00:26:02,380 You see, the problem here is there's no middle ground. 419 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,500 And not one of us is neutral. 420 00:26:08,230 --> 00:26:12,870 I wonder, do we fully understand that we can't be neutral? 421 00:26:13,670 --> 00:26:16,470 The number of times I've looked down this meeting house and 422 00:26:16,550 --> 00:26:19,670 how the pews are designed, people sitting on one side or the 423 00:26:19,670 --> 00:26:19,830 other. 424 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:21,750 Have you ever tried to sit in the middle? 425 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:27,270 It doesn't work because none of us are neutral. 426 00:26:27,910 --> 00:26:32,870 We are either for Christ, and if we're not, then we are against 427 00:26:32,950 --> 00:26:33,350 Him. 428 00:26:33,950 --> 00:26:37,390 And if we are against him, then we are a worshipper of the beast 429 00:26:37,790 --> 00:26:42,070 and his image and have his name written on our hands or our 430 00:26:42,070 --> 00:26:46,430 foreheads as a sign that we are not the Lord's. 431 00:26:47,950 --> 00:26:49,150 Which is it for you? 432 00:26:50,670 --> 00:26:54,830 Do you know the blessed assurance of life in Christ that 433 00:26:54,830 --> 00:26:56,910 you will join the redeemed in Zion? 434 00:26:57,390 --> 00:27:01,190 Or will you face eternal punishment because you have rejected 435 00:27:01,190 --> 00:27:01,470 it? 436 00:27:03,750 --> 00:27:07,470 I urge you this evening to look to Jesus, each and every one 437 00:27:07,470 --> 00:27:11,630 of us, to take heart that there is a place for the redeemed 438 00:27:11,630 --> 00:27:16,710 in the city of Zion, where indeed we will sing the eternal celebration 439 00:27:16,950 --> 00:27:18,950 song of Heaven. 440 00:27:21,270 --> 00:27:27,350 But I also must warn you of what John sees and hears in the message 441 00:27:27,350 --> 00:27:28,470 of the third angel. 442 00:27:30,570 --> 00:27:35,490 In fact, we can even go back to the second, because Babylon will 443 00:27:35,490 --> 00:27:35,850 fall. 444 00:27:36,890 --> 00:27:38,530 And if your hope is in Babylon. 445 00:27:38,530 --> 00:27:40,010 Well, then you have no hope at all. 446 00:27:40,490 --> 00:27:43,770 For the message of the second angel warns us of the judgment that 447 00:27:43,770 --> 00:27:51,130 will come, that if we have that mark on our heads, foreheads 448 00:27:51,290 --> 00:27:56,180 and on our hands, that of the name of the beast, then we will be 449 00:27:56,180 --> 00:27:57,100 lost forever. 450 00:27:58,380 --> 00:28:01,940 And in fact, this is something we should know, because what we've 451 00:28:01,940 --> 00:28:06,220 read In Revelation chapter 14, verses 1 to 13, is nothing new. 452 00:28:07,260 --> 00:28:13,300 Jesus said it first, as he said in John chapter 5 and verse 453 00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:13,980 24. 454 00:28:17,980 --> 00:28:24,110 Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes 455 00:28:24,110 --> 00:28:26,230 him who sent me has eternal life. 456 00:28:26,790 --> 00:28:30,790 He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death 457 00:28:31,270 --> 00:28:31,910 to life. 458 00:28:32,470 --> 00:28:34,470 This is what Christ tells us. 459 00:28:34,870 --> 00:28:39,550 And if this is not our hope tonight, then we're not neutral hoping 460 00:28:39,550 --> 00:28:40,150 for the best. 461 00:28:41,190 --> 00:28:44,830 We will be found in a lost eternity that goes on forever and 462 00:28:44,830 --> 00:28:48,950 ever and ever and ever, where the smoke of punishment will endure. 463 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,280 And it will be a place that I do not want to be, nor do I want 464 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:55,000 you to be. 465 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:01,760 So come unto the Saviour to know glorious hope as a follower 466 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:07,160 of him, a hope that will lead you to the celebration hymn of heaven. 467 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:12,040 And so you will know that you are redeemed to be the Lord's, the 468 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:18,930 first fruits of his wonderful salvation, and so escape such a horrible 469 00:29:19,330 --> 00:29:22,610 and horrific punishment that truly we all deserve. 470 00:29:23,490 --> 00:29:28,610 But because of Christ, we can know his salvation and redemption. 471 00:29:29,810 --> 00:29:30,610 Let us pray. 472 00:29:31,730 --> 00:29:34,050 Our Father God, we thank you for your word. 473 00:29:35,010 --> 00:29:40,010 And however we understand the Images of Revelation 14 to be, there 474 00:29:40,010 --> 00:29:47,760 is one conclusion for us, and that is to be with the 144,000 symbolically 475 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:52,360 given to us as an image of the redeemed from the earth who sing 476 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,600 the salvation and celebration song of heaven. 477 00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:00,560 For, Father, that is what you have given us, a means of assurance 478 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,560 by which we can know this truth. 479 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:09,760 So speak to us clearly, help us to understand your truth that 480 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:11,720 indeed we must be born again. 481 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:18,400 That indeed we must endure and persevere until the end, so that 482 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:22,680 we will know the outcome of our faith and the blessing of our 483 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:23,320 salvation. 484 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,160 And that is the image of what John sees of those gathered around 485 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,360 your throne and before the Lamb. 486 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:35,120 So, Father, may we respond well to your wonderful truth this 487 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:35,480 night. 488 00:30:35,950 --> 00:30:38,350 In Jesus name, amen.