Sermon, 1-20-13 BHF Series: Revelation Rev 14:6-11 First of all, we've been asking the question already,

last week, who are they? And I don't want to beg the issue but just to remind you, and also for those who weren't here to bring you up to speed, the hundred and forty-four thousand are a group of men chosen by God to preach the gospel to the world during the time of the Great Tribulation. At the end of the age, prior to the return of Jesus Christ, there will be a period of time called the Great Tribulation. This is about three times the world missionary force for Christianity right now. This is a very large force and a very potent and powerful one. Millions of Christians see no value of Israel in end time scenes. What a surprise is in store for them when this mighty group come into the worlds view. There can be no doubt at that time that Israel has always been very precious to God.

Who are the 144,000? Preach the gospel. Power that rivals Pentecost during; Great Tribulation

3 times the missionary force in the world today. Millions who deny 144,000 will see them!

In v1, they are purposely seen with Jesus Himself. It cant get any plainer than this that our Lord will lead V1, seen w/Christ and guide them in the New Heavens and New Earth. They are further honored by God in that their number remains the same in heaven as on earth. 144,000 evangelists and not None lost! one of them is lost. They have been protected miraculously No one can hurt them. by the seal God has placed on them. Like the two witness They survive the Trib. in chapter 11, no one can hurt them as long as God has a purpose for them. They may very well have been converted by the two witnesses in chapter 11. Both are announced and revealed by last 31/2 years. Its a scary time for the human race. There is discontent among nations. The judgments of the seals and trumpets have a frightening affect on the world. The antichrist and the false prophet will be eager to show that the woes of the world are the fault of those who refuse to accept the false Christ as God in flesh. The false prophet also holds that title. Political maneuverings will be at work. It will all be about power and control. No new sin is introduced. There has never been a different kind of sin introduced since the sin in the Garden of Eden. It has always been about, I want to be God.

A Scary time Judgments Falling Anti & Prophet, Those refusing the Mark!

No New Sin I want to be God.

Heres an interesting thought about the false prophet. Rev 13:11-13, Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. The false prophet, a great deceiver in the end time scenario, has given the title of the worlds religious leader to the antichrist and actually promotes him by miraculous signs. They are both deceivers and they know the other is a deceiver. I dont think the false prophet is deceived by the antichrist. I think the false prophet has been given an offer by the antichrist of even greater power and riches. My model for this is in the historic background of Antiochus Epiphanes and his actions against Israel and the Temple. Human nature is predictable. It seems rather simple that the antichrist promotes the false prophet if he can get the worlds attention off of the 144,000s outreach. The 144,000 will be labeled as outlaws by him. And it is at this point, if he can convince the world that this mighty are the cause of all the worlds problems. He claims for the antichrist the title of God. At this point, when the world is convinced or goes along with the false prophet that the antichrist is God that the world will show their support and allegiance by being identified with him. This will be the time for the mark of the beast to be imposed on all people. Those who refuse will be sought after to be put to death. There will be only one religion in the world. Any competition will be eliminated either by bribes or by force. Keep in mind that the antichrist will have the worlds military forces under his command. He cannot be overthrown by militants or by some military power. He cannot be defeated by anyone except at the return of Christ. The false prophet will perform great supernatural works that will dazzle the world and give them a false conviction that the man of sin is really God in human flesh. In passing lets understand one of the characteristics of this large group; they are not afraid. Remember in 1 Kings 18, Elijah facing off with 450 false prophets of
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Rev 13:11-12

False prophet promotes the antichrist.

False prophet given an offer Model, A.E. in Daniel

Human Nature Predictable Stop 144,000! They are worlds woes

Mark imposed

Refusal means death

One world religion Others eliminated Greatest military force

Convincing supernatural works Antichrist is God!

1 kings 18

Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah poles, a wooden image of a pagan god. Just think of it, 850 men looking to kill Elijah if they could get away with it. Elijah, filled with the Spirit of God and protected against these fanatical prophets was not impressed by their number. Instead, he left them quaking in their sandals. The world will fear the 144,000. They are in chapter 14 as glorious. V4, Rev 14:4, These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. As the saints see the power of the Spirit on them, they are assured that they also will be in the kingdom. They are an example to the Christian faithful of Gods pledge to save them. The God who promises and the God who provides is the God who protects. People who do not have the mark in end times will not be able to buy or sell. Yet, here is this large number who do not have that mark and are obviously fed in the last 3 years. They cant buy or sell, but God is not at a loss to feed them in His own way; manna, send ravens like He did for Elijah? While the world is receiving the mark of the antichrist so is this group marked with the name of the name of the Lamb and the name of the Father because they belong to Him, He is their protector. He will provide. This is the lesson of faith we can learn today. He provides then and He does the same today. The first outstanding characteristic of this group is that they are filled with the Spirit of Gods power. Heres another characteristic. Rev 14:2-3, 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. 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. With all the devastation, with all the trouble, with all the rejection, all the hostility and the hatred they've had to endure, you might think they might be a bit on the haggard side, a bit on the sorrowful side. They praise the Lord with joy for His protection and their victory over the beast and his mark. And they are actually joining in with a heavenly chorus. There are many wonderful singers in the Church. We hear some of them each week. What would it be like to be given a voice that can harmonize with angels?
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450 prophets of Baal 400 prophets of Asherah poles Feared Eligah

World fears 144,000! Rev 14:4 Firstfruits

God: Promises, Provides & Protects Buying and Selling Manna, Ravens?

Lesson of faith in Gods provision today

Endurance!

Singing with angels!

V2, there is a voice from heaven; we often see this in Revelation. God and heaven are close enough to us that if God so wished, we could hear singing from there. WE hear this voice from heaven in chapters 10, 14 and 18. During His ministry for us Jesus and the people hear a voice from heaven, John 12:27-29 27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to 28 Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice this hour. came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." John describes for us in Rev 1:15 the voice of Christ speaking to him, His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace and His voice as the sound of many waters. This is also the description in Rev 14:2, And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. The voice of many waters that sounds like loud thunder is telling us of the power of Gods voice for all to hear. What do you think they were singing? All of the angels, the 24 elders and the Father Himself are singing. In context of the entire book of Revelation lends itself that heaven celebrates the redemptive story of God becoming a human to unite once again in a face to face encounter with all of heaven. This is the heart of Revelations message. We read this central theme in Rev 5:9-10 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." I wonder what this song sound like? One day we will hear it. Listen to these passages: Isa 52:8, Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the Lord brings back Zion. Eye to eye, means, face to face without anything hidden. We will see and we will know the atmosphere of heaven. Jer 31:12, Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the Lord For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the
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V2, voices in heaven. Close enough to us Jesus and the people heard that voice.

Rev 1:15

Rev 14:2

What were they singing? Story of Redeemption

Rev 5:9-10

Isa 52:8

Jer 31:12

herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all. Zeph 3:17, The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Thunderous, continuous praise by the angels and God Himself, celebrating the victory that has been ours since before the creation of our world. The point for us to keep in our hearts as we think about the 144,000 and those who will also be on earth with them are the redeemed, is that they are individuals, chosen by Gods grace to show His glory and power to take them through the most terrible history the world has ever known. This is the only reason why they bring the world's greatest spiritual awakening. I believe that the indication of chapter 7 verses 9 to 12 is that during the Tribulation time under the ministry of these men there will be the greatest revival the world has ever known. No wonder the force and the power of their lives is unequalled in all of human history. And I hope they can serve, though they are so unique, as a model for all of us to enter into the triumph that is really ours in Christ if we choose to follow their path.

Zeph 3:17 Continuous Praise Celebrating Victory, Even before creation!

The Point: God can preserve through the toughest times.

Greatest Spiritual Revival Rev 7:9-12

They are a model of what God can do for anyone committed to Him.