A Daily Walk

John Randall: An important reminder next on *A Daily Walk*. Chapter 14 consists of a series of pronouncements and visions that assure the reader of Revelation of our Lord's ultimate victory and judgment of the nations.

I believe that this is an important reminder in light of the days in which we're living in. Although the nations are currently raging against one another—we think of what's going on in Afghanistan at this moment, what's taken place in Haiti at this moment—we see crisis on the world stage escalating. This is what we have to remember: God is still in control.

Guest (Male): It is great to have you along for today's edition of *A Daily Walk*. Today, our teacher Pastor John Randall will move along into Revelation Chapter 14. Now, in the past several chapters of Revelation, we've seen destruction and suffering at an unprecedented scale. But here in Chapter 14, we get a glimpse of the winner of the war, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here's John with today's study titled, "The Victory of the Lamb."

John Randall: Revelation Chapter 14 this morning, beginning in verse one. "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000, having his Father's name written on their foreheads. 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. 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 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth."

In Revelation Chapter 14, there is a stark contrast to Revelation Chapter 13. Chapter 13 revealed how the majority of the world will worship the Antichrist and participate in his religious and economic system. We read of how this one-world leader will be given great power and achieve global acceptance. We read of how he will wage war against Jew and Gentile alike that choose to side against him.

He will be empowered by the devil to deceive the world, and he will be accompanied by the false prophet who will serve as his personal religious promoter. He will create an image of a beast that will be worshipped by the world. But in Revelation Chapter 14, we are encouraged by seeing the sight of the Lamb of God standing on Mount Zion in his ultimate triumph. We also see a group of 144,000 servants of God alongside of him.

Chapter 14 consists of a series of pronouncements and visions that assure the reader of Revelation of our Lord's ultimate victory and judgment of the nations. I believe that this is an important reminder in light of the days in which we're living in. Although the nations are currently raging against one another—we think of what's going on in Afghanistan at this moment, what's taken place in Haiti at this moment—we see crisis on the world stage escalating. This is what we have to remember: God is still in control.

There are some of you here this morning that are genuinely concerned about the future of your employment. Others are fearful because you're not sure if you'll be able to see your ailing parents in the hospital due to suggested new requirements. Still others are worried whether they'll be able to visit relatives in other places, or attend the school you desire, or pursue the career path you're on. Listen, church, God is still in control.

At this very moment, we need to believe what we have said we've believed all along. As the church, we have to continue to stand in faith and not bow in fear. We have to humble ourselves and pray and cry out to God for his help, for his mercy, for his grace upon our nation. In opening of Chapter 14, John writes what he sees and what he hears. He says in verse one, "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000, having his Father's name written on their foreheads."

First, John sees the Lamb. The Lamb is none other than Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, a lamb would be offered sacrificially for the sins of the nation. Therefore, when Jesus is referred to as the Lamb in scripture, it's a reminder of his sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of the world. When John the Baptist was ministering in the Judean wilderness and Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by him, when John saw Jesus coming, he said to the crowd, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."

In the same way, the Apostle John refers to Jesus as the Lamb. It was in Revelation Chapter 5 that we saw the Lamb as if it had been slain, and in that moment, all of heaven bowed before the Lamb in worship. Then in Revelation Chapter 6, we saw the Lamb of God who alone was worthy to take the seven-sealed scroll and open it. Then in Revelation Chapter 6, we observed those on the earth who attempted to hide themselves from the judgment of God that was referred to as the wrath of the Lamb.

Then in Revelation Chapter 7, we were reminded again that salvation belongs to the Lamb. Again in Revelation 7, we saw a group of martyred saints who were clothed with white robes, and the Bible says their robes were made white because of the blood of the Lamb. Then in Revelation Chapter 12, we saw those come to faith during the tribulation period who missed the rapture, and they overcome the enemy because of the blood of the Lamb.

Then in Revelation 13, we read of the Lamb's Book of Life and how he was described as the Lamb slain before the foundations of the world. Now in Chapter 14, we see the Lamb standing victoriously and triumphantly in an important location. It says he was standing on Mount Zion. The Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing on Mount Zion is the fulfillment of every messianic hope of the Jewish people. As the Messiah, Jesus Christ comes to rule and reign from Mount Zion. This is God's fulfillment of his promise that he made to David so long ago.

Mount Zion holds a significant place in scripture. It's a small hill in Israel where the temple originally sat. Sometimes Zion is referred to as the entire city, others the entire nation, but most of the time it is in conjunction with prophecy because it speaks of the Messianic age with a literal Jerusalem, a literal Israel, a literal period of time called the millennium. Forty times in the Book of Psalms, Zion is mentioned, and almost in every reference, it is to the Messianic age where Christ will rule and reign.

The Bible tells us in the book of Joel Chapter 2, "It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant who the Lord calls." Friends, why do you think there is so much turmoil and all the eyes of the world constantly looking toward Jerusalem? Because for one thing, that's where the Antichrist is going to seek to set up his kingdom, but more importantly, that's the place that Jesus Christ is going to rule and reign forever. His throne will be established there. That's why there's so much tension.

There's also an important group of people noted as standing with Jesus on Mount Zion. By the way, I think these are the days in which we need to be standing with Jesus. This group of people, it says in verse one, is 144,000 having his Father's name written on their foreheads. It was back in Revelation Chapter 7 where we saw how that 12,000 Jews from each of the 12 tribes were marked and sealed by the Lord Jesus Christ, equaling 144,000.

This group of 144,000 Jews will be preserved through the fires of persecution during the tribulation period. They are protected by the Lord. They will be preaching the gospel and leading many people to Jesus Christ. It was in Chapter 7 that the Lord started with 144,000, and when you come to Chapter 14, there are still 144,000. Not 143,999—not one of them was lost. This is a glorious testimony to the fact of the awesome preserving power of God in the darkest of times that the world has ever known.

Just as the Lord is the protector of the 144,000 during the tribulation period, he is the protector of his church today. It doesn't mean that we're not going to face trials or hardships, but we can be confident that God is with us in the midst of them. I think of the church there in Afghanistan, the second largest growing church in the world, now being persecuted by the Taliban. The idea and the intention is not to convert them; it's to annihilate them.

We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters who are going to have to lay their lives on the line for the cause of Christ today. We need to be praying for them. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter Chapter 1 verse 5 that we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Again, this is so important for us to remember in these days: God is with us, and we are kept by his power.

Sadly, there are many, even in the church, that are tapping out, giving up, calling it quits, and even walking away. We are finding which churches, which pastors, which leaders, which Christians truly believe—not what we've said that we've believed, but what we actually believe because we live it. That's what's happening. There is a winnowing fan that is flowing through the church, separating the wheat from the chaff, and things are being divided.

The Bible tells us very clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:57, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Friends, we need to stand on that victory that has been given to us. Amen? These are the days that we have to stand with Christ. One final thing that I want to mention to you in verse one: this group of 144,000, notice this, they have a name on their foreheads. It says, "having his Father's name written on their foreheads."

You may remember in Chapter 13 where we read of the Antichrist having a name or a mark for his followers that he placed on their foreheads. It was an obvious counterfeit to the seal of God on the 144,000. The seal upon this group reveals that they belong to the Lord and not to this world. I love that it says it's the Father's name written upon them. I ask myself in light of that, what about us? Have we been sealed, as the Bible says, by the Holy Spirit?

If you're a Christian, you have. His name is upon you. But if not, whose name do you bear upon your life? Have you identified with a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee is going to bow, every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? Have you identified with that name? The name of Jesus alone has the power to save you from sin and death and hell. Is that name upon your life?

It can be today. In fact, before our time is over, I'm going to give you the opportunity to get out of your seat, wherever you're at, and come and stand below this platform and receive Christ as your Savior and have his name placed upon you. You be sealed by the Holy Spirit. You be thinking about that. But John not only sees this important vision, but he also hears important sounds. This group of 144,000 were protected because they were sealed by the Savior, but they were also found singing a song to the Savior.

For we read in verse two, "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. 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 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth." John hears a voice, it says, like many waters. It was back in Chapter 1 and Chapter 4 of Revelation that the same voice was mentioned and the same description was given.

This acoustically awesome reverberation that John hears. John also heard harps that were playing. It was in Revelation Chapter 5 that we saw in verse 8 how the elders were playing their harps in heaven, which was an instrument of worship. John hears the melodious sounds of worship and the harps playing once again. Then he describes the 144,000, and they are collectively in a chorus of praise singing, it says, a new song.

We're not certain of the lyrics. We don't know the tune. But we know that the song that they sang, they sang because they were redeemed. For the 144,000, they had come through a horrible time, but because they made it through, they could sing. They had experienced firsthand the preservation of God, and they could sing. Friend, there are times when God takes us through trials and hardships that we might come out with a new song.

Like Paul and Silas when they were there in prison, beaten for their faith in a Philippian jail. At midnight, it says that they began to sing worship to the Lord, being beaten for doing the will of God. They chose to sing. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 40, he said, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me and he heard my cry. And he brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and he set my feet upon a rock and he established my steps. And he has put a new song in my mouth: praise to our God. Many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord."

Maybe this morning you're in a rough place. Maybe like the Psalmist, you say, "I'm in a horrible pit, Pastor. I feel stuck in the miry clay. Oh God, lift me out of this place that I might praise you. God, give me a new song in my heart to praise you in spite of all of this, to praise you regardless of what I'm going through." May I ask you this morning, what song are you singing? Have you prayed, "God, place a new song in my heart? Lord, I choose to praise you. Lord, I choose to trust you. I will sing to you, oh Lord, Most High."

You say, "I don't feel like singing, Pastor." Then let your song be a sacrifice of praise this morning. Come on, church, let's choose to praise the Lord. The enemy of our soul can't stand it when we choose to praise God. So let's lift our voice in praise and adoration, for he is faithful. The Apostle then goes on to describe the character of the 144,000 in detail. He says in verse 4, "These are the ones who are 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 the firstfruits of God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God." Verse 4 makes it clear that the 144,000 are redeemed. They were bought with the precious blood of Jesus in the same way that we've been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. The evidence of their redemption is found in the way that they live their lives. First of all, their lives were marked by purity.

It says they were not defiled with women and they were virgins. Now, some have looked at this verse, and because it says that they were not defiled with women, that somehow it implies that the 144,000 are only males. That is possible. However, in scripture, we find the word "virgin" also speaking of a spiritual purity that applies to both men and women. Let me give you an example of this. 2 Corinthians Chapter 11 verse 2: the Lord said, through the Apostle Paul, "I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. I betrothed you to one husband that I might present you," that is the church, men and women, "a chaste virgin as unto Christ."

Paul was talking about the collective body of the church being a chaste, purified virgin presented to the bridegroom Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 37, he says much the same thing, speaking of Israel: "This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning him. The virgin, the nation of Israel, the daughter of Zion, the nation of Israel," it says they were preserved for the Lord or given to the Lord. So it is a reference, I believe, collectively to a group of people who are walking in purity in the midst of an impure world.

They were not defiled in the midst of an alarming and overwhelming immorality within the culture. They remained pure. They remained pure in the midst of a defiled world. This group right here, they made the same decision that Daniel made when he was in Babylon. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies. They were walking in purity. Friend, have we made that decision? Have you made that decision to walk in purity? It's an important one to make.

Are you allowing yourself or putting yourself purposely in a place to be defiled or impure? These are not the days to be playing around with impurity. These are the days to be living right in the sight of the Lord because the Lord is coming for a pure bride. We need to keep ourselves chaste, as it were, ready for the bridegroom coming. The Bible says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." There is power in purity. There is privilege and opportunity that comes with walking in purity before the Lord.

In addition to purity, it says there was a loyalty or fidelity in verse 4. It says, "These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes." This group followed Jesus without turning back, no matter where he leads. They are fully committed. These aren't part-time Christians on Sunday. On the contrary, they follow Jesus all week long. This fidelity and faithfulness in following the Lord is evidence again of a redeemed life.

It's the mark of the individual who's been born again. The person that's been born again seeks to follow the Lord, walks with the Lord. Jesus said in John Chapter 8 and verse 30, as he spoke these words, many believed in him, and he said to the Jews who believed in him, "If you abide in me and my word abides in you, you are my disciples indeed." Jesus said in John 15, "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you."

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy Chapter 2, the Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me." Those that are truly born again follow Jesus. Are you following Jesus today? Do you know what it means to follow the Lord? Are you living for Christ at this moment? To follow means to follow. That's exactly what it means.

To say that I'm a Jesus-follower and not follow Jesus is a false statement fueled by self-deception or comparison or misunderstanding of biblical truth. If you're a follower, then follow. As Christians, our lives are to be marked by purity, loyalty to the Lamb who is the Lord, and we follow him. But the 144,000, also we find, it says here that they are the firstfruits of more fruit that will come. Look at verse 4: "being the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."

In the Old Testament, there were several feasts, festivals, or celebrations. One of them was called Firstfruits. The purpose of this celebration was to bring the firstfruits, or the first part, of your harvest to the Lord and present it to him as an offering in appreciation for the blessings that he provided. The people would bring their first and their best and offer it to the Lord, and by so doing, they recognized that ultimately it was all from the Lord.

Everything had come from him, and it was also an indication that there was more fruit to come. By saying that this group, the 144,000, are the firstfruits, it means they are the first of those who are to be saved in the tribulation, but also there were more to be saved after this. They came to faith in Christ, and others will follow their example and their preaching and also come to Christ. A greater harvest is to come.

You know, as I think about this last year, I think we have seen a great harvest of people come to Christ over this last year. It's our prayer that there will be more harvest to come. I believe that the Lord right now is using the current circumstances in our world not only to awaken a deaf world, but to revive an unconscious church to the reality that Jesus Christ is coming soon. That's why these things are happening.

Guest (Male): That is Pastor John Randall on *A Daily Walk*. Don't go away; he'll be right back. Today's message from Revelation 14 goes by the title of "The Victory of the Lamb." You can hear it again at adailywalk.org. It's also available through the Calvary South OC app.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." That beautiful verse served as the inspiration of a book we'd like to send your way called *If My People: A Prayer Guide for Our Nation*. Written by Jack Countryman, this will no doubt stir your heart and mind as you read seven noteworthy prayers from past presidents.

They were inspired during some of our country's darkest days. This prayer guide not only reminds the reader that in God we still trust, but also brings some measure of hope for our country just when we need it. You can order that today online at adailywalk.org or call us at 877-242-0828. The cost is just $8, and anything given above that amount will help us deliver God's word on stations like this one all across the great USA and around the world. Again, call 877-242-0828 or donate online at adailywalk.org. As we return to Pastor John, he encourages us to grab hold of our mission to be proclaimers of the truth.

John Randall: Finally, it says here that the 144,000 were truthful. It says in verse 5, "And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they were without fault before the throne of God." The 144,000: the things that they say, the things they proclaim, the words they speak are not marked by deception, but they are marked by the truth. They speak the truth. They live in the truth, and they are found without fault before God.

In the midst of the lies of the false prophets seeking to deceive the world into a universal worship of the beast, this group uncompromisingly speaks the truth. The father of lies is the devil, and he seeks to do his ultimate damage in lying to the masses. He's doing it right now. People are deceived. People are under the blindness of the enemy even at this moment. But this group stands in the midst of the tribulation period, and they are speaking up for the truth.

Oh church, you know we're called to walk in the truth, to speak the truth in love in a midst of a world that is deceived by sin. We need to be proclaimers of the truth of Jesus Christ. This is our time. This is our moment. If we don't do it, who's going to do it? That's why we're still here: to proclaim the truth of Christ. In a world full of lies and deceit, people need to hear the truth, and as followers of Christ, let's be faithful to give it to them. Join us next time on *A Daily Walk* when Pastor John Randall returns to Revelation Chapter 14. We'll hear all about some angelic messengers.