Lesson 41
Revelation
Chapter Fourteen
Snapshots of the Victory
of Christ
Review:
1. Proclamation of the Final victory of Christ!
14:1-5
- The focus in this
section! We'll look at it is this way!
1. Set the Scene 14:1
2. The Song 14:2-3
14:4-5 The Saints - an expansion of details
about the 144k
#1 Purity! (vs:4) #2 Character (vs:5)
- Is this speaking in a literal or a figurative
sense?
- First lets examine the
Literal view and see if it answers the context.
- What about the 2nd view that it speaks
figuratively of spiritual purity!
This is reinforced by the words used here, defile molu,nw to defile, to stain, to soil;
1 Cor 8:7; 2 Cor 7:1; Rev 3:4;
Even the word "chaste" parqe,noj 2 Cor 11:2 adds to
the spiritual purity emphasis although its primary use and meaning is of a
virgin.
What it says is that these 144k have
kept themselves pure from all defiling relationships with the pagan world;
resisted the strong seduction of the religious system; pictured in ch-17 as a
religious or spiritual harlot and were celibate.
If we look back historically at
The last phrase also points out something very
important about these 144K.
They are "firstfruits" avparch
Context says there will be survivors to realize the
Covenant promises to
Vs:5 Adds another
indication of the emphasis by their character!
- Or does a lie have special importance in the
Tribulation.
14:6-7
Proclamation of the Eternal Gospel
- Here we have a snapshot
of the last period of human history where man rules;
- This is a prophetic necessity also. Mt 24:14 Direct
teaching of Jesus
This is God's final call of Grace to a world that
persists in rejecting Him and that openly defies Him.
- The denials!
#1 That God has the right to be worshiped!
#2 That He is the creator
God!
- In this period the call
to worship God is a call to die! Either
worship the beast or die!
- The death imposed by
the Beast for failure to worship is what kind of death? Its physical death.
(primarily martyred believers)
What about the judgment of those who do worship the
beast, the NOW people, who choose the present advantage; its also death; but
what kind of death is it? Its Eternal!
* Notice what else they are to recognize in vs:7
That He is the creator God! Very basis of, foundation of worship of God;
that He is the creator God.