HOFC Sermon Archive: The Revelation of Christ – Part 32: The Lamb and the 144,000

Sunday, January 12, 2020

The Revelation of Christ – Part 32: The Lamb and the 144,000

The Revelation of Christ – Part 32:

The Lamb and the 144,000

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

Online Audio Files | HOF Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios. For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of Christ, is the most challenging book in the bible.

Because of this fact, many avoid it or ignore it altogether. Some fear lack of understanding; others afraid to misinterpret, which I guess it is better to avoid than dive in and get it completely wrong.

Many times, when a new believer comes to me for direction, they want to jump right into Revelation and find out what’s to come.

This is equivalent to deciding one day to learn Mandarin and sitting down to author a novel in Chinese that very same day.

Or, a kindergartener learning how to count, and then trying to calculate quantum mechanics calculations.

The words in Revelation have caused much debate on rapture, judgment, even some who claim John was writing about the events in his day in code rather than Jesus Christ revealing to him about the coming events and Judgment.

A special blessing is promised to those who read Revelation.

Although it may be a difficult book, we could all use a special blessing, reading this is good for us all, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will take the Revelation of Christ in small portions and gain understanding, little by little.

SERMON SERIES

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment

Part 10 – The Throne of God

Part 11 – The Scroll and Seven Seals

Part 12 – The Lamb is Worthy

Part 13 – The First Seal

Part 14 – The Second Seal

Part 15 – The Third Seal

Part 16 – The Fourth Seal

Part 17 – The Fifth Seal

Part 18 – The Sixth Seal

Part 19 – The 144,000 Sealed

Part 20 – The Great Multitude

Part 21 – The Seventh Seal

Part 22 – Trumpets 1-4

Part 23 – The 5^th Trumpet (1^st woe)

Part 24 – The 6^th Trumpet (2^nd woe)

Part 25 – The Mighty Angel

Part 26 – The Two Witnesses

Part 27 – The 7^th Trumpet and 3^rd Woe

Part 28 – The Woman and the Dragon I

Part 29 – The Woman and the Dragon II

Part 30 – The Beast out of the Sea

Part 31 – The Beast out of the Earth

TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment

Part 32 – The Lamb and the 144,000

SCRIPTURE READING

Revelation 14:1-5

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

We are about to reach the Seven Last Plagues. However, before we reach these bowls of wrath there are a few more events which take place.

This 14^th chapter of Revelation consists of six parts (Seven when including God’s conclusion), revealing the end of Tribulation and the introduction of the Kingdom.

Chapter 14, unlike other chapters of Revelation, is not intended to be a chronological description of events, but glimpses of various aspects and phases of the dealings of God in the latter-day crisis broke into Seven divisions.

Many scholars view this chapter of Revelation as a table of contents for the remainder of the book.

I. THEN I LOOKED AND SAW THE LAMB

a. The Lamb

i. Jesus Himself from Revelation 5:6

ii. The Lamb used to show the fact He is our Redemption (appearing as if slain) showing this was accomplished at the Cross

iii. Christ is referred to as the Lamb nearly 30 times in Revelation

iv. The ONLY one worthy to open the Seven Seals

v. The One from whom all creations was created

vi. The perfect and Holy One

vii. The ONLY one worthy to Judge His Creation

b. Standing upon Mount Zion

i. Remember the things of earth reflect a shadow of the Truth in Heaven

1. The Ark of the covenant

2. The Temple

3. The Holy of Holies, etc.

ii. This mention of Mount Zion is referring to the “real” Zion in heaven, not the representation of it on earth.

c. And with Him 144,000

i. This is the number who came to the Lord in the first half of the Great Tribulation and were sealed.

ii. The verse stating, “and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”

1. Some translations say “on”

2. Either way John is speaking spiritually, the “mark” we know they have been sealed with is the Holy Spirit

3. This is not a literal earthly mark that we can see on others forehead

4. The same goes for those with the mark of the beast on their heads and hands, meaning they have submitted to Satan’s spirit both in thought and deed.

iii. Doctrine of the Holy Trinity

1. We have been introduced in Revelation in the previous chapter to the “unholy trinity” of Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet

2. In Revelation 14:1 we are now introduced to the “real” Holy Trinity of God.

a. The Lamb Jesus Christ

b. The “mark” of the 144,000, the Holy Spirit

c. And that “mark” IS the Father’s name

3. Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one verse.

4. The Trinity is not hard to understand

a. Father God is Spirit (John 4:24)

b. The Word is God (John 1)

i. The Word Becoming flesh (Jesus) to dwell among us (John 1:14)

ii. Jesus was God before He took the form of Jesus

iii. He IS the Word

iv. The Word became Jesus when He (the Word) became Flesh to dwell AMONG us

c. The Holy Spirit is God (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 33:6)

i. God in a form that can dwell in us (John 3:5)

II. THERE WAS A NEW SONG

a. I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peel of thunder

i. Have you ever visited Niagara Falls?

ii. Their voices are doing this!

b. The sound, like harpists playing

i. The sound was “like that” of harpists playing harps

1. Their voices were creating musical tones no one else can sing, therefore no one else can learn the song. They are incapable.

c. They sang a new song that no one could learn

III. THESE ARE THOSE WHO DID NOT DEFILE THEMSELVES

a. They remained virgins

i. The description of the 144,000 is pretty specific

1. They are saved from Tribulation earth (no other dispensation)

2. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit (God’s name on their heads)

3. They are all from the tribes of the children of Israel (lit?)

4. They are male (did not defile themselves with women) Could refer to Spiritual Adultery with the Whore of Babylon

5. They remained virgins Could refer to Spiritual Adultery with the Whore of Babylon

ii. There are many different teachings about this, truth is, no one knows exactly if this is literal or symbolic.

iii. 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes using the number 12 which (like the number seven meaning perfection and completion), 12 signifies perfection of government rule

1. 3 representing the Holy Trinity and 4 representing earth

iv. 12 tribes, 12 disciples, Mary stayed at the temple for 12 years, Jesus was 12 when questioned by the scholars in the temple, New Jerusalem has 12 foundational stones and the names of the 12 apostles, the city measures 12,000 furlongs, the wall 144 cubits (12x12).

v. So, the 144,000 may be literal, or symbolic of those who remained loyal and obedient to God during the Great Tribulation.

b. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes

c. They were purchased from mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb

i. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

1. Referring to hypocrisy

2. They did not claim Christ, but live for the world

3. They were “doers” of the Word and obedient to God during the most difficult time on earth, the Great Tribulation.

ii. Some Christians cannot handle a trip to the store without being blameless, let alone remain without hypocrisy during the worst of times like the world has never seen.

iii. “They are blameless” writ as “unblemished are they before the Throne of God” in the Literal

1. As are we all who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord

2. We too shall be blameless before the Throne of God

3. Because of Christ Jesus and the Cross

CONCLUSION –

God the Father, who is Spirit, allowed Himself (The Word) to become flesh (Jesus) to dwell among us, so He could teach us the way that He could dwell IN us through His Holy Spirit.

We can belong to God through Christ Jesus, having God Himself dwell IN us by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to have the Fruits of God’s Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control) which IS the light that draws others to Christ.

The Holy Spirit gives us the Gifts of the Spirit, which enables us to serve each other, building, and strengthening the Body of Christ, which is the Church.

And because the battle we face here on earth is a Spiritual one, we also receive from God’s Spirit, the Whole Armor of God (Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes ready for sharing the gospel of peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which IS the word of God) so that we can withstand the devil’s schemes.

Standing firm in this dark world, standing firm against Spiritual forces of evil, for we know our battle is not against flesh and blood, but a spiritual one.

And we also know we CAN be strong in the Lord and His mighty power extinguishing all the flaming arrows of the evil one.