eschatology, Vision of the 144,000 (Rev.14:1-5)

The vision below shows a scene with Jesus and the 144,000 who were sealed in order to make it through the Tribulation alive - in order to enter the Millennial kingdom.  We already know that all tribes of Israel are represented in this group - so they can see all their covenants fulfilled as promised.

In the verses below, we learn that:

- - - this group will have been set apart in order to closely follow Jesus (maybe almost like disciples) in order to serve in some over-and-above way.

- - - this group will have "kept themselves chaste" and will "not be defiled by women" so we can assume that they will all be men.  What we do not know is if they will be married.  Being "chaste" can mean either that they have abstained from sex completely, or it can mean that they have not committed fornication or adultery.

- - - we do know that this vision jumps ahead.  It is a scene which will take place either at the end of the Tribulation, or somewhere in the Millennium, or in heaven.  I say this because Mount Zion is in Jerusalem, but there will also be a "new Jerusalem" in heaven one day.

Being in heaven with glorified bodies would explain how the 144,000 could be considered "blameless" although as Christians, Jesus forgives all sins and God chooses to remember them no more.

I'm leaning towards this taking place on earth (either at the end of the Tribulation or the beginning of the Millennium) because John is "at the scene" with Jesus and the 144,000 - and then he hears a voice FROM heaven (not IN heaven).  And who says that once Jesus has the victory at the Battle of Armageddon that the people on earth will not be able to clearly hear God and the angels (etc.) from heaven???

I don't think we need to dissect this scripture all that much in order to understand the essence.  Jesus will protect the 144,000 until the end!  And there will be an extra reward and position for them.  And because of their unique experience/s they will have a song that only they can sing and relate to...

(Revelation 14:1-5)  Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

Today's takeaway:  we can hear "God's voice" even now.  He speaks to us through creation.  He speaks directly to us through His Word, the Bible.  He speaks to us through other Christians.  And God speaks to us as He answers our prayers!...

(Romans 1:18-20)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

(Psalm 19:1)  The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

(Jeremiah 33:2-3)  “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, 3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’..."

(John 10:27)  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me..."

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

eschatology, Story of the False Prophet (Rev.13:11-18)

During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will have a sidekick - another "beast" - called the False Prophet.  Satan will give him powers as well.  This forms a trinity-of-sorts:  Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet - another Satan-tactic to mock God.  These three will work together in order to lead the people astray...

(Revelation 13:11-15)  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

The False Prophet will be the one to come up with the grand marketing scheme that everyone will have to get the "mark of the beast" or they will not be able to buy or sell anything.

The current credit card methods or even the embedded credit card methods of today cannot be the mark of the beast.  The "mark" might be something LIKE an embedded credit card or it might simply be a tattoo to use as identification.  Somehow the number 666 will be important, although we do not know how.  But all of this will only happen about halfway through the Tribulation - and when it does happen - the people taking the mark will know full well the meaning behind it.

Now in the Church Age, if anyone would say "I refuse to use that payment method because it might be the mark of the beast" - people will just think they're nuts.  In the Tribulation - it will be obvious that you are taking a stand against the Antichrist.  This will make it extra difficult for believers.  Not only will they be in defiance of an evil government, but it will be almost impossible to make any sort of living or get any sort of resources to stay alive...

(Revelation 13:16-18)  And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Today's takeaway:  systems and things are not evil - it is all about how they are used.  Some things are clearly for God.  Other things are clearly against God and what He stands for.  And then there are other things that are amoral - they are harmlessly not standing for anything:  "Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man..."  "4 plus 4 equals 8."  "I like the color blue." 

Example questions we need to ask ourselves are:  How do we use the various methods of communication or social media?  What are the lyrics in that song saying?  What is the content and message in that book or movie?  How much alcohol am I drinking?...

(1 Corinthians 8:1-13)  Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

(1 Corinthians 9:19-23)  For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

(1 Corinthians 10:14-33)  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

eschatology, Story of the Anitchrist (Rev.13:1-10)

In this next chapter we are told how the Antichrist (the beast) rises to power.  There are many speculations about which country he will come from, but it doesn't much matter.  He will make himself known at the beginning of the Tribulation - and he will be empowered by Satan (the dragon)...

(Revelation 13:1-2)  And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

Although the Antichrist is empowered by Satan, he will look attractive to the world, and many of the things he says and does will seem to be good.  Halfway through the Tribulation, the abomination of desolation will take place, as Daniel chapter 9 prophesies...

The Antichrist will pretend to die and rise again which will establish himself in the temple as the only one to be worshiped.  (Again - a classic-Satan-like-tactic to mock Jesus and His work on the cross - in order to lead people astray.)  For the second half of the Tribulation, his power and reign on the earth will be practically unrestrained...

(Revelation 13:3-6)  I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

All unbelievers are going to worship the Antichrist.  And although, the Antichrist's power will be strong and he will pursue the believers, he will not be able to take their salvation away from them...

(Revelation 13:7-10)  It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Today's takeaway:  the world's wisdom can sound good, because the "world" tells us things that we WANT to hear - and not want we NEED to hear.  This is where people easily become confused, because the one who teaches truth is the one who actually loves and cares about you.  A loving parent would not say to their child, "Of course, if you believe you can fly like a bird - and it feels right - and you want to do it - you can!  Just go for it and jump!"...

(2 Corinthians 11:3-6)  But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

(2 Corinthians 11:12-15)  But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

(Galatians 6:7-10)  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.