I know it’s not Tuesday. But it’s Spring Break and, as much as I love having the kids at home, it does make it fairly difficult to have a complete thought around here. Let’s try it anyway.
I saw—it took my breath away!—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 144,000 standing there with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like a cataract, like the crash of thunder.
And then I heard music, harp music and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four Animals and the Elders. Only the 144,000 could learn to sing the song. They were bought from earth, lived without compromise, virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. Not a false word in their mouths. A perfect offering.
Revelation 14:1-5
So John sees Jesus standing on a mountain. There are a bunch of people standing with him. And God speaks. And his voice sounds like thunder. But it also sounds like a cataract. Which leads to the question. What in the world is a cataract? Tuns out, that is a weird bible word for a huge wave in the ocean. So God’s voice(in this passage) sounds like thunder or a big ocean wave.
And exactly who are these 144,00 people? Can I just tell you that your life will be infinitely better if you just decide you don’t need to know? I have seen some very smart people twist themselves into intellectual pretzels trying to answer this question. I’m not saying it isn’t important. I’m just saying I have no idea who these people are and my Christian life has been no worse due to my ignorance.
I saw another Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!”
A second Angel followed, calling out, “Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined! She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!”
A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God’s wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name.”
Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.
I heard a voice out of Heaven, “Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”
Revelation 14:6-14
Honestly, it’s just hard to imagine that AFTER ALL OF THIS, there are still people left on Earth that are ‘unbelievers’. But clearly there are a bunch. And you know what I love? God is still sending angels out to warn people. He is STILL giving out second chances. Ya’ll we just are not worthy of a God this good.
But as much as God is loving and patient and forgiving, there will come a time for his wrath. And folks…it ain’t gonna be pretty. I lament that Revelation is most often preached as a way to scare people. I don’t think that is the point or the intention. But if the idea of the wrath of God doesn’t scare you, you may want to seek professional help.
This passage ends with one of my favorite parts.
Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.
Living in this world angers me, annoys me, saddens me, horrifies me and frustrates me multiple times a day. But God has given me simple instructions.
Be passionately patient.
Keep God’s commands.
Stay faithful to Jesus.
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