Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
The Messages of the Three Angels6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia. Meditation God holds history, working all things according to His will. Jesus rules over everything, seen and unseen, the Lord of history and potentate of time. Three words deepen security in God’s sovereignty as we see with John the history God has written that will happen: identification, allegiance, and harvest. Identification: Psalm 2:6 declares what John sees (1). God has set His King on Mt Zion. Jesus is the Lamb standing with all who identify with Him, sealed by His sovereign grace to worship Him alone (2-5). The “redeemed from all the earth” are so identified with King Jesus they “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” Allegiance: Judgement will come to all whose allegiance is with the beast. The gospel will be declared to all nations, inviting everyone to turn and worship the Lord, (6-7) as the fall of Babylon is proclaimed (8) and eternal judgement pronounced (9-11). Grace invites people to switch allegiances. Eternal judgement comes to all who refuse to switch allegiance from the beast to the Lamb. The warning empowers believers to endure in faith through the reward of death (12-13). Harvest: Joel 3 looks forward to the restoration God gives through judgement with specific imagery John sees, namely the sickle of the Lord harvesting the wicked and their wickedness to trample them like grapes (14-20). God will remove the tares from the wheat! John sees the history God promised will happen. Until we do too, we must deepen our identification with Jesus, responding to His grace by doubling down on our allegiance to Him. Richly Dwelling -Do you identify with Jesus, the Lamb of God who is King of the world? Is this evidenced by your total allegiance being to Him- His rule and word? -What is your response to the sickle of judgement harvesting the wicked and their wickedness from the world? -God’s sovereignty over history should strengthen the saints in service to our Savior. How can you enrich endurance of faith by celebrating the sure end of history that will happen? Key Verses 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. |