260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 252 - Revelation 14: The Lamb, 144,000 & Multiple Angels

In chapters 12 & 13 we see the suffering of believers. In this chapter, we see that their sacrifice is worth it! It begins with the Lamb, Jesus, standing on Mt Zion, as apposed to the dragon standing on the shifting sand. He had the 144,000 witnesses (ch 7) with Him and they were marked as His, sort of a forehead tattoo. “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.” The singing will only be by those who belong to God because He purchased them with Jesus’ blood. Then an amazing statement is given, “They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” Then we see four climactic announcements: The Eternal Gospel is offered “to every nation, tribe, language and people.” The motivation to fear Him is “because the hour of his judgment has come.” The Fall of Babylon is pronounced. This can refer to either an actual city on the Euphrates or to the world’s system of evil. Regardless, people did not accept the offer in 6-7 and are judged. This wil be discussed more in chapters 17-18. The Torment of the Beast Worshippers is clear. Those who take the mark and/or worship the beast, as discussed in the previous chapter, will receive from God their due punishment. Those Who Die in the Lord are blessed and “will rest from their labor.” In the end, living for Jesus is totally worth it! The chapter ends with an agricultural bent. Like a farmer harvesting his crops, there will be a separating of the faithful from the unfaithful. I believe the metaphors mentioned here point to a divine judgment that Jesus will bring and is put in terms of a harvest. SO WHAT?! *What response is stirred up within you to know that you are marked by God and are His? Worship is the answer in this chapter! What is your answer? What is mine? *It was said of these believes that they followed the Lamb wherever He went. How would this or does this look like in our lives? *Fear of eternal punishment, torment and hell is not a bad motivation for believing. It’s not the only one, but it’s not a bad one. The very reason I first believed in Jesus was because I didn’t want to be left behind when God returned. What motivates you the most to follow Jesus?