Revelation 14 is an
abrupt change and contrast from chapter 13. Revelation 14 describes God’s
activity, while chapter 13 describes Satan’s. Can good and evil co-exist
in the same time period? Herein lies the mystery of God’s kingdom. Along
with the advancement of God’s Kingdom there has also been an escalation
of evil. This escalation of evil has resulted in the whole world
being engulfed by the power of the beast, his image, and his mark. However
that has not prevented God’s kingdom from growing. This growth is the result
of the work of the Lamb. As the Church continues to follow the Lamb she
will help bring about “that which is to come”.
John sees the Lamb
with 144,000 standing on “the Mount Zion”. We know that the Lamb represents
Jesus as our redeemer. We were introduced to the 144,000 in Revelation
7. By what is said of them they represent the fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
They are the original Jewish converts to Christianity - the first century
Church. So John sees the Lamb and His people standing on the Mount Zion.
In the Greek text the definite
article is used in reference to Zion. “The” designates this Mount Zion
as the true, the real, and separates it and sets it apart from all other
mount Zions. This Mount Zion is the fulfillment of all the predictions
about Zion. She is the stone that shattered the golden image spoken of
by Daniel. A stone that became a great mountain. (Daniel 2:35) Mount Zion
is the mountain created by the gospel. Mount Zion is the Everest of mountains.
It is the mountain that supports the Lamb and His followers – the Church.
Once again we see the Lamb.
Without the Lamb there would be no appearance of the 144,000. Neither would
it be possible for these 144,000 to have the Father’s name written in their
foreheads. It is only the Lamb that allows us to see, think of, and address
God as Father. If your vision and knowledge of the Father is distorted
by condemnation, guilt, rejection, or retaliation you need another look
at the Lamb.
Revelation 14 is about redemption,
not retaliation! (v 3&4) It is a chapter that reveals God’s will and
plan for the Church to the Church. She was part of God’s plan before He
created the world. She became a manifested reality on earth on the day
of Pentecost. Her future is graunteed to be beyond what we could ask or
think. Therefore in God’s mind she is designated as “that which is” but
she is also part of that “which is to come”. In Revelation 14 we are shown
both of these aspects of the Church.
Accordingly this chapter
begins with introducing us to the Lamb and the Churches first 144,000 members.
As the fulfillment of the Old Covenant they form the nucleus of the New
Covenant Church. They experienced that new covenant in its virginity. Of
them it is said: they were not “defiled by women”. They are the “first
fruits” to the Lamb and they follow the Lamb, without guile or fault. What
a testimony of the early Church. They are seen as standing with the Lamb
on The Mount Zion. Is the church of today standing with the Lamb on the
gospel mountain? For the Church to be standing with anyone else, or anywhere
else is to compromise her designated position.
After this introduction
John sees three angels in succession. Each has an important proclamation
for the Church. The first two angels admonish the Church. With the third
angel comes a warning. A warning as compelling as that given to Adam.
First angel: He stresses
the importance of the proclamation of the gospel. The Church has been called
to proclaim with whom she stands and where she stands. Her standing is
referenced as “the everlasting gospel”. It is God’s good news to every
nation, family, and language group. It is not intended to bring all people
into one religion. The Gospel is intended to enhance cultures, not conform
them. First and foremost the gospel informs us that all the people groups
of this world are “at-one-ment” with the Father.
To this end the proclamation
of the gospel becomes the hour of God’s judgment. Jesus said: “now is the
judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
(John 12:31) The proclamation of the gospel draws the line in the sand.
It calls the hearer to either accept or reject the claims of God’s Kingdom.
To accept those claims is to stand in agreement with the Lamb. To ignore
or reject those claims is to cast ones lot with the beast and his system.
Second angel: He proclaims
the fall of Babylon. The Church is called to live the gospel, then the
fall of Babylon is assured. Compromise the gospel and Babylon thrives.
Therefore the only way to combat Babylon is to live the gospel in purity
and potency.
Third angel: A warning!
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath
of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation."
(Rev.14:9,10)
It was noted in study
eleven, that the giving of the mark is unavoidable. Trade today is dependant
on the mark, which is money. In Revelation 13 there is no warning about
receiving the mark. Because Revelation 13:6 specifically speaks to and
deals with the giving of a mark. However with the three angelic messengers
comes a specific warning about receiving the mark. In that warning the
receiving of the mark, as well as the worship of the beast and his image,
are presented as parallel actions. Anyone who worships money has received
the mark, and/or anyone who receives the mark worships money. Doing one
precludes having done the other.
John’s phrase:
"if any man" calls our attention to two things. First it spells out individual
responsibility. Secondly it establishes that there will be no exception
to the rule. Since Revelation 14 is to the Church about the Church the
warning is first and foremost for the Church. If any of her members receive
the mark they will experience the accompanying torment.
There will be no respect
of persons. This is further clarified by what is said about where
the torment takes place. We are told it takes place "in the presence of
the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."(verse 10) Who but
a Christian can be considered to be in the presence of the Lamb, and the
holy angels. (See Eph.2:6) To assume that a Christian could never receive
the mark, or worship the beast, is to assume that a Christian is infallible.
Have you met such a Christian? The answer is obvious; because we
know Christians who have fallen short: ourselves included. However
falling short is not the issue here. At issue here are one’s priorities.
God isn’t angry with
the individual. God’s cup of indignation is poured out against the system.
God is angry at the beast and his system that has engulfed the whole world.
It is an economic system that is unjust, unrighteous, and unworthy of the
honor and esteem we give it. For it is a system that draws us away from
Christ-likeness. God never intended for humanity to be valued on
the basis of how much money one has or can earn. Let us be clear on this
point: God's vengeance is poured out against the beast. That indignation
is irrevocable and unavoidable.
John states that God’s wrath
will be “poured out without mixture”. God will not dilute the potency of
His indignation. By this phrase John declares that God has predestinated
the system to failure. It is not God's intention to make life difficult
for you. However He knows the sorrows, pain, and imprisonment that
humanity has suffered because of this beastly system. Since God wants
His people free His anger is turned against that which is not of Him. Because
God loves you, He comes against the system that has harmed you, and held
humanity hostage.
Anyone who worships the
beast and receives his mark will experience that anger in proportion to
your worship of money. This does not preclude that those who are rich will
suffer the most. Receiving or not receiving the mark is not determined
by how much or how little money a person has. Receiving the mark is about
‘how much money has you’. Ananias and Sapphira are a case in point.(Acts
5:1f) They didn't die because of the amount they withheld. In fact
scripture doesn't mention any amount in respect to their story. Peter
made it clear - they could have kept it all - the money was in their power
to do with as they saw fit. But the money had them in its power. It dictated
to them to lie! They obviously considered having it more important than
being honest.
You have probably heard preachers come to various conclusions about
the story of Ananias and Sapphira, so let me suggest another: God designed
the Church to be a fellowship of believers. The Greek word “koinania”,
from which we get the word fellowship designates a deeply committed bond.
In the Church of Acts this bond included having a common purse. Ananias
and Sapphira wanted the benefits of this bond without any cost or commitment
on their part. So they lied about their commitment. Their action was deadly
to this fellowship. God agreed, He saw it healthier for Ananias and Sapphira
to be removed rather than allowing them to live a lie.
Why was the sentence on
Ananias and Sapphira so swift and final? Does the story show us how God
feels about our attachment to money? Is it in fact a foreshadowing
of the warning of Revelation 14? God's position is very clear: Anyone that
worships the beast, and receives the mark will drink from the cup of God's
wrath, which is paralleled with being tormented by fire and brimstone.
We associate fire and brimstone
with final and everlasting judgment. However let us keep in
mind what is being judged. It is not the person that is being judged. It
is the beastly system that is being judged. The fire and brimstone indicate
that the beastly system will go the way of Sodom. Fire is also a
cleansing agent, it refines gold. Paul said: "Every man's work shall be
made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed
by fire: and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.” (1
Cor. 3:13) So if you receive the mark, the trial by fire will bring it
to light. Those who have built on the security of money will suffer loss.
That loss is stated to be a torment. (Rev.14:10) What would you call the
agony that people go through who have just heard of their hoarded investments
taking a nose dive. I say it again: take heed, don't put your confidence
in money. I think the words of Jesus concerning the unjust steward are
fitting and timely: Make friends with mammon of unrighteousness, invest
in people.
The torment is stated to
take place in the presence of the angels as well as the Lamb. If it wasn't
stated by John it would be unbelievable. Angels are assigned to minister
to us. (Heb.1:14) The Lamb pictures our forgiveness, our right standing
with God, our redemption, our not experiencing what we deserve. Yet here,
neither the angels nor our redemption can do anything to alleviate the
torment. Is God that hard hearted? No: God is Love! Therefore
we must conclude that the torment is directly related to how much the individual
has bought into the system. God is not against the person, but He will
destroy the beastly system. If you insist on giving your loyalties and
allegiance to the beast and his system you will suffer the vengeance directed
against the beast and his system. Take note: Tormented in the very
presents of the one who came to set you free. Isn't it ironic that when
we hold to the wrong beliefs, one can be tormented in the presence of the
deliverer; just like the Pharisees, Sadusees, and Scribes of Jesus day.
Verse 11 has a gripping
observation: "the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
What could describe the
torment of inflation more accurately. Is there ever any rest for those
who put their trust in the dollar? The hope that tomorrow the economy
will have an up turn, becomes a torment with the first stock market report.
There is no rest day or night from the constant fluctuation of monies assumed
value. You see the problem with the dollar is not epidemic, it is pandemic.
There isn't a politician, banker, broker, or even an anti-Christ that can
solve the problem. God has set His face against the beast, the image
and the mark. God will bring them into final and complete judgment. In
God’s kingdom the person is of primary value not money. Revelation
comes back to this subject in Chapter 16, so will we.
The Church and Her Future
After giving us the
warning not to receive the mark John speaks words of encouragement to the
Church. It is in the throws of inflation that the saints will realize the
value of their faithfulness. Integrity has its rewards! The systems of
the beast, both the religious and economic, have brought a time of testing
for the saints. In fact for some it has meant death, but they won't be
forgotten. And the works that follow these saints is what leads us into
the events of verses 14-20.
Like the rest of the
chapter this section also involves the Church. However we are now given
the positive side of God’s wrath Verses 14 - 16 gives us the task
of the Church. Verses 16-20 focus on God's passion for His Church.
Verse 14 pictures one like
the son of man, seated on a white cloud, crowned, and holding a sickle.
In Revelation 1:13 John also refers to one like the son of man. However
the details given here fall far short of the one like the Son of Man in
Revelation 1:13. Here unlike 1:17 John is not overcome by this one’s presents.
Like the rider on the white horse this one is crowned. He is given a sickle.
This would indicate that this one is not the glorified Jesus, but a personification
of the Church. A Church that has come into the position granted her by
her LORD. In Hebrews she is spoken of as surrounded by a cloud of witnesses,
here she is seated - her struggles are behind her.
With verse 15 the Church
is given her commission. The time to fulfill that commission has come.
There have been revivals over the centuries, and those revivals have also
been a time of great kingdom advances. However all past revivals will fade
in comparison to the time of reaping that looms on the horizon. Are
you ready for that reaping?
Some think and teach that
God has given up on the peoples of this earth. I have heard it repeated
often: "If God doesn't punish the world for their sinfulness, He'll have
to apologizes to Sodom and Gomorah."
"WRONG!" The
truth is: if God does to humanity what tribulation theologians predict
He is going to do, He will have to apologize to Jesus. For the heart of
the gospel is that Jesus as The Lamb of God took away the sins of the world.
So if God punishes the world for their sin He will owe Jesus an apology.
Where did the church get
the idea that God will destroy sinfulness by destroying the sinner? (God
destroied the power of sin in Christ Jesus. Now it's our turn to get the
victory over sin by living in what God provided.) We think that the escalation
of sin is an indication that people don't want deliverance. Do you think
sin satisfies and brings fulfillment? Definitely not! It is because
sin doesn't satisfy that people go deeper and deeper into sin.
The term used for ripe in
verse 15 speaks of this very condition. The word speaks of the world’s
methods of trying to find fulfillment. There is no fulfillment or satisfaction
in what the world offers. The worlds arts, sciences, humanities and religions
have no living water, they are dry. (John 4:10) Yet there is a frantic
search for spiritual experience and meaning. Church, the fields are
white, ready for harvest.(John 4:35)
Unfortunately, much
of what the church offers is rooted in the methods of this world. Therefore
the church also finds itself in dry places. So the church also needs to
get a new perspective on life. She needs to join the Lamb on Mount Zion!
So she to needs a deeper understanding of what the gospel is all about!
The Churches Destiny: God’s Winepress
Where it not for what follows
in Revelation there would be no hope for the church or the world. Revival
movements have contributed significantly to the life of the church. However
not a single revival movement has maintained its original momentum. Therefore
God Himself will initiate a program that will seal the Church against all
Babylonian influences.
John states he saw another
angel come out of the temple with a sickle. An angel from the altar, who
has power over fire, cries to the angel from the temple to gather the vine
of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. The word used here for ripe
carriers the idea of "vintage stock" Grapes that are perfect and
ready for the winepress.
The angel does as he is
commanded, and casts the vintage stock into the
winepress of the wrath of God. This is God's program to take the church
to a level of being she has not as yet attained. She is destined to be
the Church!
This is the positive side
of God's wrath. The negative side of God’s wrath was spelled out in verses
9-11. We now discover God’s wrath in its positive polarity. God is
for the Church and His intention for her will come to fruition. She is
the vintage stock. She is gathered and cast into the winepress
of God's passion. Bear in mind that a winepress is the most natural and
logical place for vintage grapes. In God’s winepress the Church will become
what she was ordained to be. The winepress of God's passion is an event
that will do for the Church what no other revival in history has done.
In our study of the sixth
seal, I said God was sending us repeated revivals. In that study
I admonished you to expose yourself to the revivals of the sixth seal period;
for in those revivals God is ripening the grapes. If you want to
be part of the vintage stock you must expose yourself to these revival
movements. God knows His vintage stock which He will process in the
winepress.
In light of what I've said
and what we will be studying allow me to give you one word of practical
importance: Don't confine God to your denominational structure. See, appreciate,
and understand what God is doing outside your denominational structure.
Here’s why:
The winepress is stated to be trodden outside the city. What city is
being talked about here? The immediate context would suggest Babylon. But
what significance is there in saying the winepress is trodden outside Babylon?
For the answer to that question we must answer another question: What does
Babylon represent? The term derives from Babel, and according
to Genesis 11:9 that is where humanity endeavored to construct their own
means of access to God. All denominations carry with them this Babylonian
air of self aggrandizement. God’s winepress of passion will take us outside
and beyond all these systems that we as human beings have constructed.
This is not saying that
the believers of denominational structures won’t be included in the winepress
experience. God accepts us on the basis of faith, not according to the
denomination we belong to. Therefore the structures we adhere to have very
little to do with whether we are vintage stock. However be forewarned –
wineskins aren’t sacred! Jesus declared: "New wine must be put into new
bottles." (Luke 5:37) Accordingly the winepress process will take place
outside the old structures.
Allow me to address another
structural flaw of all denominations that will be rendered obsolete by
the winepress. Most every revival movement of history has pointed out this
flaw. Revivals of the past have often been carried by what we refer to
as the laity. This is not accidental, but God ordained. God’s intention
is for all believers to be ministers. However the best revival movements
tend to take on the characteristics of the Babylonian system. Perhaps the
first of these characteristics is the distinction between the clergy and
laity.
In the letters to the Churches
Jesus addresses this matter twice. The Church at Ephesus was against
the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, as was Jesus. Within the second Church addressed,
which is Pergamos, these deeds had become “the doctrine” of the Nicolaitanes.
A literal rendering of the term Nicolaitanes would be: "to be triumphant
over the people." It refers to our practice of holding the clergy to be
the ministers, while the laity is not. Since God is not in favor of this
distinction, the winepress will not support this distinction. God wants
all His people to "do the work of the ministry.” (Eph.4:12)
Now don't go and fire
your pastor! The Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher, are
gifts that God has given to the Church. However they are not the ministry
gifts. They are “perfecting” gifts. They are to perfect the saints, in
order that those saints can do the work of the ministry, so that the body
of Christ will be edified. You as a believer should lay hands on the sick
and see them recover. You as a believer can lay hands on those who
seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and see them speak in tongues. As a
believer you have the right and authority to do the work of ministry.
If the world
is going to be reaped we will have to follow scriptures directive: the
saints must do the work of the ministry. For to long we have
made a distinction between the clergy and the laity, and have left the
work of ministry to the clergy. God is going to change that: The winepress
of God's wrath will accomplish it. It will wipe out all clergy/laity divisions,
it will obliterate all barriers of distinction. It will be the Church presented
to the world in all of her glory and power.
The second phrase
in Revelation 14:20 states: "and blood came out of the winepress."
Now we all know that when you trample grapes you don't get blood, you get
grape juice. So this is parabolic language, and it portrays an unparalleled
truth. It is vintage stock that is thrown into the winepress. Stock that
has been reaped from the entire earth. That stock is then made up of people
from many cultures, tongues, and nations. In the winepress all of that
becomes pulp. All distinctions are no longer recognizable in that which
flows out of the winepress. The grapes juices flow from the winepress as
one unit. That flow is called blood: and it speaks of life. Life like the
world has never experienced before. We go into the winepress with individual
concerns, desires, goals and identity. We go in representing different
denominations, with unique doctrinal concerns. We go into the winepress
and each individual is identifiable. But the winepress changes all that:
For out of the winepress flows life! The individually identifiable features
remain in the winepress as pulp. But out of the winepress flows what the
world has been looking for and the Church can't do without: Life! Life
so potent and powerful that it is verifiable and identified by scientific
methods: It is measurable by depth and length.
Tribulation theology
has done an injustice to "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" by seeing this
passage as the proclamation of death. Let us get it clear in our heart
and mind. God doesn’t bring about good by doing evil. He vanquishes death
by giving life. He creates peace by bringing us into unity with Himself.
And in the winepress God brings His people into a unity that flows forth
from that winepress as unprecedented in history.
Revivals
of the past have clarified our theology. They have given us a better understanding
of our relationship with God. The winepress revival will do that like no
other revival has done. Jesus has chosen a winepress to bring His Church
into the place He provided for her. A winepress signifies an instrument
that brings pressure to bear on that which is placed in it, to change it,
so it becomes that which is desired. God’s will for His Church will
come into reality in the winepress of His wrath.
Here’s one thing
that I see as the life that flows from that winepress! Paul said: "Though
I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have
not charity, I am nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2) Have we as the
church shown the world Love? The person that really knows God; loves, for
God is Love!(1 John 4:8)
It is because
John so explicitly states: God is Love; that I have difficulty with theological
doctrine which insists that we must balance that love with God's justice.
By this theologians are really suggesting that for God to only love the
sinner is to be unbalanced. ‘God's justice must be satisfied, sin can't
go unpunished.’ So I ask: what did Jesus do on the cross? Did
He not meet the requirements of God's justice? (And if he didn't, will
seven years of tribulation do so?) Scripture says: "For He (God)
hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Jesus was the only
one that could meet the requirements of God’s justice! If Jesus didn't
take care of the problem of my sin, than what is the point of God loving
me? God can love me all He wants, but if He still holds me punishable
for my sin, what good does loving me do?
Yes, I know,
the Evangelical theologian assures me that I am not held accountable for
my sin, because I have acknowledged and accepted Jesus as my substitute.
Thereby we put words in God's mouth and claim that He holds all who have
not done so accountable for their sin. So in spite of His love for them,
He will punish them for their sin. Then what is the point of scriptures
like: 2 Corinthians 5:19 which states: " that God was in Christ reconciling
the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them."
or 1 John 2:2 which states: "He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Tell me; when scripture
states that Jesus reconciled the whole world to God and because of that
God does not impute their trespasses unto them, what is that saying?
What does it mean to say Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the
whole world? I suggest that you do some study and discussion on the
words reconcile; impute; and propitiation. Here are some suggestions to
get you started: Reconciliation focuses on the fact that God's displeasure
toward us has been removed. Because of this we are no longer alienated
from God, but we have been brought near to Him. Impute is to put
to ones account. Propitiation is a word that speaks of turning aside anger,
and therefore scripture states that Jesus draws to himself God's anger
against sin. I want you to pay particular attention to the meaning
of the word propitiation, for it deals with God's anger against sin.
One final question
for your consideration: In Romans 2:5 Paul tells us it is the goodness
of God that leads to repentance. That being true, why do we try to scare
people into repentance?
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