Note: To download/print the document, click on the
title below.
Psalms
110:1-7 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord,"Sit at My right
hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." The LORD shall send the
rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your
people shall be volunteers In
the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the
morning, You have the dew of Your youth. The LORD has sworn And will not
relent, "You are a priest
forever According to the order of Melchizedek." The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall
execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He
shall fill the places with dead
bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. He shall drink of the
brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.
Father God we praise you and give you thanks for all
things. Take us and mold us into a new being like the potter does with the
clay. Shape us into a being that will reflect your image to all around us. Keep
us all safe, healthy, and in good cheer. Help us to place our faith in you
totally for all things in our life. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Revelation 14:1-5 NKJV
Chapter
13 described the onslaught of evil that will occur when Satan and his helpers
control the world. Chapter 14 gives a glimpse into eternity to show believers what
awaits them if they endure, and also points out the wrath of God and what to
expect to those that are not true believers. It states some pretty grime
results.
1 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.
Then
I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion; The lamb being referred to is Jesus
Christ of course and Mount Zion is referring to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was built
where there were hills and it was built on one of the highest to the southeast
which is referred to as Mount Zion. This is where the temple was built in
ancient times, which was the dwelling place of God. At some point in time there
will be another temple built where the ancient one once stood. This will also
be the center of the New Jerusalem one day, although this Zion being referred
to is a Heavenly Mount Zion.
And
with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand; This
is the same 144,000 that we studied about in Chapter 7. Revelation 7:3-4 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or
the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their
foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel were
sealed: Going back to
the term Zion or Sion sometimes refers to the Church meaning those that are
true believer or Born Again Saints. Not only is Jesus standing on Mount Zion he
is also with His Church which is a glorious occasion, because it is the church
of Israel, God’s chosen people. These are individuals, Jews, that were saved during
the first part of the Tribulation.
Having
His Father's name written on their foreheads; These individuals will have a name or a seal of God on
their foreheads which will be a spiritual seal or mark only visible to the
spiritual world. Just like those on earth right now that are Born Again have
some type of identification to the spiritual world that they belong to God.
Take Job for instance, Satan knew he belonged to God therefore Satan responded
that God had a hedge of protection around him. Job 1:10 Have You
not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has
on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land.
2 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.
This verse tells me that the
music and singing in Heaven is such that it would give one on earth goose
bumps. It has to be so grand that we as human beings can’t even begin to
imagine what it must be like. If we could hear it when we are down and out, it
would minister to our souls and uplift us instantaneously here on earth. So
what is all this singing about? Let’s see if the next verse gives us a clue.
3 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.
They
sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures,
and the elders; This
song they are singing could very well be Psalms 149 since it mentions a new
song, the assembly of His saints, Israel rejoicing in their Maker, and Zion
being mentioned. Psalms
149:1-9 Praise the LORD! Sing to the
LORD a new song, And His praise
in the assembly of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children
of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them
sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His
people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the
saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged
sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And
punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles
with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment— This honor
have all His saints. Praise the LORD! This
rejoicing is something to shout about in Heaven, because Israel will finally
come home after over 2,000 years of rejecting Jesus. All the saints will be
happy, the angels, the 24 elders, Jesus, God, and all in Heaven. It will be
like the rejoicing when the prodigal son returned home.
No
one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth; No one could understand this song but
the redeemed. Anyone that has not been redeemed cannot fully understand the
feelings and sympathies of those that have been redeemed. To appreciate fully
the songs of Zion (redeemed church body); to understand the language of praise;
to enter into the spirit of the truths which pertain to redemption; one must experience
being redeemed by the blood of Christ. He must have the knowledge of what it is
to be a sinner under the condemnation of law; he must have the knowledge of
what it is to be in danger of eternal death; he must have experienced the joys
of pardon, or he can never understand its true significance and the language
used by the redeemed.
To try and put this joy
into perspective have you ever been rescued from a perilous circumstance? Think
about how a missionary person is delivered from being held captive in a prison of
torture and then released; or someone pardoned at the foot of the gallows; or someone
recovered from a dangerous illness; or someone pressing to their bosom a
beloved child just rescued from a watery grave. People that experience such
things will have an appreciation of the joy and triumph that comes from the
life changing experience associated with salvation. All the joy ever
experienced in the universe can’t match the joy of the redeemed standing on
Mount Zion in Heaven and realizing they are saved.
4 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.
These
are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; These people, the 144,000 are true
believers whose robes have been washed and made white in Christ's blood through
his death and resurrection. In the Old Testament and even today, idolatry is portrayed
as spiritual adultery, meaning that one proclaims to be a Christian by mouth
but their actions are such that they pray, honor, and worship manmade saints
and statues more than Jesus. The 144,000 being "pure as virgins" is
best understood symbolically, meaning that they are free from involvement with
the pagan world system. To remain spiritually pure, means resisting the
seductions and idolatries of the present world; power, wealth, sexual
immorality, greed, pride, etc. To do so requires daily application of God's
Word, for it has a purifying effect on the mind and heart. It requires great commitment
not to give in to these temptations. Verse 5 verifies their spiritual
virginity.
These
are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes; These 144,000 have come to know the
truth and the truth has set them free and they take up their cross daily and
follow the New Testament exclusively. They have denied themselves and placed
their faith in Jesus Christ. They have given their all to Jesus. Many times in
the New Testament Gospels Jesus tells us to give it all up and follow him, but
it is difficult for many people to do. Just like Jesus told the rich man to go
and sell all that he had and then come and follow Him, the rich man left with
his head hanging down because he refused to part with his money. Luke 9:23-24 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
Me. 24
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. This is why the 144,000 follow the
Lamb, because they have given it all to Him.
These
were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb; This is
referring to the first of Israel being redeemed during the Tribulation. No
doubt there will be many more Jews that will give their heart to Jesus during
the Tribulation when they come to realize who the Antichrist is, but this
144,000 will be the first to accept Jesus as their Messiah. At the second
coming of Christ there will be multitudes of the Jewish people forsaking their
customs, rules, rituals, and laws, and accepting Jesus as their Messiah.
5 And in
their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne
of God.
This verse verifies the
fact of the 144,000’s virgin state. This also holds true for anyone that gives
their heart to Jesus not just the 144,000. There won’t be any deceit found in a
child of God; no trickery; no foul language; no thievery; no using God’s name
as an ordinary word, they will be viewed by God as an individual without fault
because they are washed in the blood of Jesus our Saviour. It is what’s in a
person’s heart that tells others they are a child of God. Mark 7:20-23 And He said, "What
comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from
within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a
man." Our
flesh and spirit are at war with each other all the time which makes it
impossible for us as human beings to conquer sin on our own. That is why it was
necessary for Jesus to die on the Cross for us and that is why we need to
acknowledge this fact and ask Jesus into our hearts to rule and reign. Galatians 5:16-21 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall
not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do
not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law. 19
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy,
murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,
just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I’m
going to make this a short lesson due to the fact the next verses are talking
about angels flying in the midst of Heaven proclaiming the Gospel and the
judgment of God.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him
and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill
Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn
Sinners
Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner. I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my
sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my
sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all of my sins. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.” (John 3:16,17;
Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
No comments:
Post a Comment