December 13, 2022

Mark of the . . . Savior

Revelation 14

Chris Landry
Tuesday's Devo

December 13, 2022

Tuesday's Devo

December 13, 2022

Central Truth

We live in a world that is increasingly opposed to Jesus. "You do you" and "just follow your heart" are popular theology lessons. So how we reflect our unchanging Savior matters. What marks us matters. This world is riddled with anxiety and is looking for hope, peace, and rest.

Key Verse | Revelation 14:12

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

The Messages of the Three Angels

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion 1 14:8 Or wrath of her sexual immorality.”

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 2 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The Harvest of the Earth

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia. 3 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

Footnotes

[1] 14:8 Or wrath
[2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus
[3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

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Dive Deeper | Revelation 14

When I first signed up for this passage, I was nervous. For me, a clear understanding of Revelation and all of its imagery has historically been quite daunting. So I grabbed my Bible, and I opened it up to Revelation 14. Then I prayed, "Jesus, please give me something that I can learn from this passage. Amen."

Not diving into the weeds of the imagery of this chapter allowed me to find four clear marks of God's people—those who have been redeemed:

1. God's people lead a life of purity (Revelation 14:4a). This reminded me of Paul's charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 about pursuing righteousness and fleeing youthful passions. This is an intentional act and takes much effort. 

2. God's people follow Jesus wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4b)—like when Jesus said, "Follow me," and His disciples dropped everything to do so (Matthew 4:19-20).

3. God's people speak truth and live blamelessly (Revelation 14:5). God has shown us what the life of His people will look like when we spend time with Him, a biblical example of "blameless" living: God says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

4. God's people reverently and rightfully fear Him and worship Him as the creator of heaven and earth (Revelation 14:7). Rightfully fearing God is trusting His character instead of our circumstances. Though we have different ideas about a situation, we trust God for the best outcome. He IS in control.

Here's the thing. For God's people, this world is not our home. This world will not satisfy us, complete us, save us, or grant us a sense of "rest" that we long for deep in our souls. That rest is promised by Jesus for you and me (Matthew 11:28).

So what now? Revelation 14:12 (NIV) says that God's people live this life with a "patient endurance" and with deliberate obedience to God's commands. God's people remain faithful to Jesus. Let's go, Church! What is marking YOU today?

Discussion Questions

1. Take a moment to reflect: Have you noticed some of these "marks" listed above in your own life? On those days or in those moments, did you feel closer to Jesus? Less anxious? Less worried? Less empty?

2. Reading about "the harvest of the earth" (Revelation 14:14-20), have you considered what Jesus did for you and me? There are those who reject Jesus and deal with torment, "and they have no rest, day or night" (Revelation 14:11a). Then there are those who accept Jesus and His saving grace. This is not by any effort of our own, but by His gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we can literally be blessed in death. (Revelation 14:13)

3. Thinking of the marks of a true Christian we discussed today, what has been more difficult for you lately? Make it a prayer request that God would grow you in this area. If you're comfortable, please share in the comments. We'd love to pray with you and for you!