BaptistWay Bible Series for July 31: God’s strength is available to his children_71105

Posted: 7/20/05

BaptistWay Bible Series for July 31

God’s strength is available to his children

• Revelation 14:1-13

By Wayne Smith

First Baptist Church, Lamesa

Last week’s lesson examined Revelation 12 and 13. This passage detailed a vision of a woman giving birth to a child. A dragon (Satan) waited to devour the infant. God carried the infant away as soon as he was born. The dragon then pursued the woman who was protected by God. Later, two other beasts, symbolic of the powers of Rome, join the dragon. Together they seek to destroy the woman’s other offspring. This vision represents Rome’s attempt to destroy the church (symbolized by the woman) and her offspring, representative of early Christians.

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This week’s lesson, Revelation 14, presents a dramatically different picture. The entire body of the redeemed stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, pictured as the New Jerusalem. Seven angels appear as agents of God’s judgment. The angels announce the redemption of those who are God’s people and the judgment and punishment of those who oppose God.

Revelation 14:1-5

John saw Jesus standing on Mount Zion with all of the redeemed Christians. Each is sealed by a mark on his forehead. John heard a sound like rushing water from heaven, accompanied by a peal of thunder. It was the sound of harpists playing as they sang a new song before the throne of God. God is surrounded by 24 elders on thrones and by the four living creatures representing the created world. The song can only be learned and sung by those who have been faithful. The faithful are to be redeemed and will take their place in heaven. They are represented as first fruits (early followers of Jesus) and are offered to God and the Lamb.

Revelation 14:6-13

Three angels appear. The first proclaimed the gospel to every nation on earth. He urged the world to praise God, the creator of all things. Judgment is about to occur. A second angel announced the fall of Babylon (Rome), the evil empire representative of all who have opposed God. A third angel followed and announced the judgment of all who had formed an alliance with Rome.

A voice reassured those who had followed Jesus. Although they are suffering, they must endure. They will be redeemed and blessed with eternal life in heaven.

Revelation 14:14-20

In this passage, four angels appear to announce the final judgment, symbolized as harvest on the earth. Two of the angels are commanded by the other two to harvest the earth and vineyard. The harvest is probably symbolic of God’s judgment against his enemies. The grapes are cast into a wine press from which blood flows out over the world. This wave of blood symbolizes the completion of judgment from which no enemy of God is spared. At the final harvest, the redeemed will be taken away to eternal rest, while those who have opposed God will be placed in eternal torment.

The passage studied in this lesson presents a history of the early Christian church. The Roman Empire had been persecuting Christianity almost 70 years. When John was exiled to Patmos to receive the Revelation, the early church desperately needed a message of hope. Through the Revelation, God presented a picture of the future of the church. Rome would be defeated. God would triumph. The church would survive.

Although evil will eventually be defeated and punished, Revelation presents no time frame. Some prophecies will be fulfilled within a relatively short time after the Revelation. Others will not occur until the end times. In the meantime, Christians must persevere. John’s visions of heaven as the home of the redeemed presented a reassuring picture.

Christians were never admonished to actively oppose Rome with military force. Rebellion would have brought even more wrath directed against the early church. A force stronger than military might was available to Christians.

Christians relied upon their faith as a source of strength. God rewarded their faithfulness. He did not immediately deliver them from persecution and oppression. Instead, he rewarded them with the Revelation, a message from Almighty God. God knew each of them. He had sealed each one for redemption and eternal life in heaven.

Application

Everyone who has received Christ is filled with the same Holy Spirit which indwelled the early Christians. The courage to persevere in spite of overwhelming opposition is available to us, just as it was to them. We fail to utilize our resources because we don’t consider our Christian witness dangerous.

Yet our Christian witness may be every bit as dangerous as that of early Christians. The dangers are more subtle and less physical, but they exist. There may be danger to your job security if you refuse to engage in unethical business practices. Young people run the risk of being unpopular with classmates if they refuse to take part in some activities. Even active church members run the risk of being out of touch with the “real world” because they do not engage in the social use of alcohol.

God is just as real for us as he was to the early Christians. Perhaps our technological advancements keep us from relying on God. We rely more upon our own strength. We need to examine our relationship with God daily and allow him to strengthen us with his promises just as he did those early followers of Jesus.

Discussion question

• Do I take time each day to draw upon the strength of God to apply to my Christian lifestyle?