Nov 17
19

Sermon: Seven Angels With Seven Plagues, Which Are The Last: Revelation 15

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 15:1–18

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’ You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. The Lord will reign forever and ever.’” (Exodus 15:1–18, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 15

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’ After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” (Revelation 15, ESV)

Introduction

I’d like for you to notice three things about this text before we go on to make application from it to our lives.

First of all, notice again the presence of recapitulation. Secondly, notice how this passage prepares us for the judgment scenes to come. And thirdly, notice how this passage pauses to gives us a glimpse into the world of the redeemed.

Recapitulation

First of all, let us simply recognize the presence of recapitulation.

Recapitulation is the fancy word used by Bible scholars to describe the repetition that we encounter in the book of Revelation. The book is not ordered chronologically, as some suppose, so that what is said in chapter 15 will actually happen after what was said in chapter 14. No, the book moves in cycles, telling, and retelling the story of redemption, giving special attention to the time between Christ’s first coming and the time of the end. But we should recognize by now that the repetition that we encounter in Apocalypse is far from monotone. The book does not simply say the same thing over and over again, but with each cycle reveals something new. With each pass some aspect of the history of redemption is emphasized that was not emphasized before. Here is one of those places where the presence recapitulation is very obvious.

In verse one we read, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1, ESV).

For now simply notice that this new heavenly vision shown to John will describe to us the outpouring, or finishing, of the wrath of God at the end of time. And if you are paying careful attention to book of Revelation you should say, “but haven’t we already been told about the outpouring of God’s wrath?” And the answer would be, yes.

In fact the vision of Revelation chapter 14 concluded with a depiction of the outpouring of the wrath of God upon the ungodly. Look at 14:19:

“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. 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.” (Revelation 14:19–20, ESV)

The final judgment was also depicted back in Revelation 11:15-19 with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The song that the twenty-four elders sang in 11:17-18 proves the point. They sang,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” (Revelation 11:17–18, ESV)

The final judgment was also depicted with the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals back in Revelation 6:12-17 and 8:1-5. Listen to 6:12:

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Revelation 6:12–17, ESV)

What is this except a description of the last day when the wrath of God will be poured out upon the ungodly? In 8:1 the description of the final judgment is more subtle, but it is there. “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1, ESV). I argued that the silence in heaven was the kind of silence appropriate for those witnessing something as terrible and awesome as the final judgment. No celebrating, on the one hand. No objections on the other. But only solemn silence. 8:5 says, “Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5, ESV). This is a portrayal of the final judgment.

And so it is not hard to see that the book of Revelation does recapitulate, not only in its portrayals of the final judgment, but in other respects too, particularly its portrayals of the redemption of God’s elect. The book is constantly giving us different view points on the preservation and salvation of God people, and also the judgment, both partial and full, of those not in Christ who do stubbornly persist in their sins.

By this time you might be tempted to complain, saying, “Pastor, you also recapitulate often on the subject of recapitulation.” I do so because it is important. I would argue that most of the errors made in the interoperation of the book of Revelation are made because people fail to recognize this literary feature. Also, I do it because I believe it to be beautiful. God, in his grace, shows us what is true concerning the time between Christ’s first coming and the time of the end over and over again. And with each pass more texture and detail is added to the story. Truly, the book of Revelation is like a painting wherein the artist comes to the canvas time and time again, first to lay down a base, then to add detail, then to shade, and then to texture.

Preparation

Secondly, notice how this passage prepares us for the judgment scenes that are to come.

In verse one John describes “another sign in heaven”. This sign, he says, is “great and amazing”. And what does he see? “Seven angels with seven plagues”. These, he says, “are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1, ESV).

These seven plagues, as they are here called, will differ from the seven seals and the seven trumpets which we have already encountered in that some of those – the seals and trumpets – described, not the final judgment, but partial judgments – the kind of judgments that come upon men as they live in this world, but are not the final judgment. Indeed, the sixth and seventh seals did describe the final judgment, but seals one through five did not. Seal five provided us with a glimpse of the “souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne”, crying out for justice from beneath the heavily alter. Seals one through four described wars and famines and plagues. And these, we were told with the breaking of the fourth seal, were limited to 1/4 of the earth. And so while the judgments of God were indeed portrayed there in the breaking of the first four seals, it was not the final judgment that was portrayed.

The same can be said of the first six trumpets. The seventh trumpet did indeed take us to the time of the end, but the first six did not. The judgments of God described there were restrained by God to affect only one third of the earth. And so intensification is communicated, but trumpet judgments one through six were not about the full and final judgment to be poured out on the last day.

Not so with these seven plagues. These “are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1, ESV).

In verses five we read, “After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.” (Revelation 15:5–6, ESV)

These angels that John introduced in verse one are now described in verse five as coming out of “the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven” which was opened.

Remember that the tabernacle that Israel constructed in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses and after the exodus was constructed according to the heavenly realities shown to him on the mountain. Exodus 25:40 says so. Acts 7:44 and Hebrews 8:5 emphasize this. So the earthly tabernacle and temple were not the originals but were earthy copies which represented heavenly realities. Here John is seeing the heavenly reality.

These angels are seen proceeding from “the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven”. The tabernacle was called the “tent of witness”, or “tabernacle of testimony”, because it was there that Ten Commandments were kept, and these Ten Commandments did serve as a testimony or witness against the people of Israel concerning their sin. Indeed, they function as a light unto their path, but also as a witness against them. The tabernacle was, therefore, both the place where God’s people were to approach him in faith (it was also called “the tent of meeting”), but it was also the place from which the judgments of God did flow when the people were found living in perpetual and unrepentant disobedience to the commandments of God. And so this one place – the tabernacle – was both a place of worship and refuge for the faithful (a tent of meeting), and the place from which the judgments of God did flow (it was a tent of witness).

The same is true of the heavenly tabernacle. Better yet, the earthly tabernacle was simply a visible representation of that which is true in heaven. God is a place of refuge for his people. He does meet with and shelter those who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. But it is also from him that judgment flows.

And what will be the basis for his judgment? He will judge all who have transgressed his holy law. This law is contained within and summarized by the Ten Commandments, and it is also written upon the heart of man. The fact that these angels come out of “the sanctuary of the tent of witness” to pour forth “the seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished”, does show us that God will judge all who have transgressed his holy law.

God will judge all who have failed to give him the worship he so rightly deserves and have given to another instead. He will judge all idolaters. He will judge all who take his name in vain. He will judge all who violate his sabbath day. He will judge all who dishonor parents; all who murder and have hatred for others in their heart. He will judge the adulterer and the one who lusts. He will judge the thief and the one who is dishonest. He will judge the one who covets that which belongs to another. And he will send his angels before him as his ministers.

Notice that these seven angels who came forth from the sanctuary were “clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests” (Revelation 15:6, ESV). This is the way that Jesus was described as being dressed in Revelation 1:13. They are dressed like him because they represent him.

Verse seven: “And one of the four living creatures (do you remember them from earlier in the book of Revelation?) gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever….” (Revelation 15:7, ESV). The seven plagues are now described as “seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God”. We will witness these seven bowls being poured out, one at a time, in chapter sixteen.

Verse eight: “And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished” (Revelation 15:8, ESV). Clearly the outpouring of this final judgment will be very awesome and great.

Can you see, then, how all of chapter fifteen is preparatory. No judgement is actually poured our here, but preparations are certainly made. Literarily this serves to create a sense of anticipation leading up to this great and amazing event. Also, it seems to communicate something of the mercy of God. He, by his mercy, does not give us what our sins deserve now, but is patient and long-suffering.

A Pause

Thirdly, let us recognize how this passage pauses to gives us a glimpse into the world of the redeemed.

Verses two through four seem out of place, don’t they? But this is intentional. In verse one the seven angles with seven plagues are introduced. In verses five through eight they become the focus again, as they are prepared to pour out the wrath of God upon lawbreakers. But in verses two through four the focus is on the redeemed. There we read,

“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’” (Revelation 15:2–4, ESV)

You should be used to this kind of thing by now. Remember the interludes that we found inserted in between seals six and seven and trumpets six and seven? The focus in both the seal and trumpet cycles was mainly upon the ungodly and God dealings with them, but before the end of these cycles we encountered a pause where the focus of attention was shifted to the redeemed of God and their salvation in Christ Jesus.

Between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals we found, inserted in chapter seven, a vision of the 144,000 sealed by God, and then a vision of “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9, ESV), giving praise to God – the vision was of the redeemed in heaven. Between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets we found, inserted in chapter eleven, a vision of two faithful witnesses, preserved by God as they ministered on earth. These interludes, or pauses, served two purposes. One, they gave a sense of delay, as if to say, the end is not yet. Two, they gave an answer to the question, “what about the people of God? How will they fair in the midst of these trials, tribulations and judgments?” The answer is that God knows and is able to keep those who belong to him.

Something similar is happening here in 15:2-4. Preparations for the outpouring of God’s wrath are being made. We will see the outpouring of God’s wrath portrayed in chapter sixteen. But before we get there, God’s word does provide us with a picture of the redeemed. And where are they? They are safely home and at peace.

God’s people are “not destined…for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, ESV). As God’s people we will indeed experience tribulation in the world, but we will not come under his wrath. Why? Because Christ has stood in our place, has taken upon himself the punishment that we deserved, and we do trust in him! If you are in Christ – if you are sheltered by his wings – you will not come under the wrath of God.

This, I think, was the thing being symbolized in the previous passage too. In 14:14-16 we saw a depiction, first of all, of the harvest of the righteous unto salvation on the last day, and then we saw a depiction of the harvest of the wicked unto condemnation.

And here in this passage preparations are being made for the outpouring of the wrath of God by the “seven angels with seven plagues”, which are the “seven bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.” But before even one of these bowls of the full and final wrath of God is poured out, we see that God’s people are safely home.

These are seen standing beside (or upon) “a sea of glass mingled with fire… with harps of God in their hands.”

Think about the imagery here. It is really quite beautiful. And you must think about the imagery, not only with the rest of the book of Revelation in mind, but the whole of scripture. Where are these worshippers of God standing? They are standing beside (or upon) “a sea of glass mingled with fire”.

Remember that this sea of glass was first mentioned in Revelation 4:6 as being before the throne of God in heaven. On earth there is turmoil, but in heaven there is perfect tranquility. The turmoil of this world cannot effect heaven. God is not disturbed by his enemies. God is not affected from without. His heavenly kingdom and his heavenly purposes are never in danger.

Also, remember that not long ago in the Apocalypse John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Revelation 13:1, ESV). Again, the seas of this world are tumultuous. The beast rises from there, works for the dragon, and represents political powers that persecute the people of God. And so the people of God do suffer as they sojourn in this world. They are threatened constantly by tumultuous seas and the evil that rises from there.

But here the saints are seen, no longer battered by stormy seas, no longer at war with the beast who rises from there, but they are peace. The sea that they now stand upon is like glass. All is right. All is as it should be.

The sea is said to be “like glass mingled with fire.” Fire symbolizes judgment. The picture is that of a tumultuous sea made calm because the one who stirred up the sea by rising out of it has been judged by God and eternally condemned. And so there the people of God stand. They are peace. No longer are they threatened or persuade. They have harps in their hand to give worship to God. These are the ones “who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name.” These are the elect of God as seen in glory.

And they sing a song. Notice that it is said to be “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb…” (Revelation 15:3, ESV).

The original song of Moses was read at the beginning of this sermon from Exodus fifteen. But do you remember what happened in Exodus fourteen? It is there that we find the story of God’s parting of the Red Sea at the hand of Moses so that the people of Israel could pass through to escape Pharaoh who had pursued them into the wilderness with his army. The song of Moses was a celebration of God’s deliverance of his people through tumultuous waters and from Pharaoh, who, in Ezekiel 29:3, is referred to as “the great dragon”.

But the song sung here in Revelation fifteen is not exactly the same as the original song of Moses. For one, it is called “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3, ESV). This song is ultimately about Jesus. Secondly, this song is about the accomplishment of things far greater and far more universal than what was accomplished at the Exodus by the hand of Moses.

The ten plagues leveled against the Egyptians at the hand of Moses, as awesome as they were, were nothing at all compared to the seven plagues given by God and Christ to the seven angels, for they are the last, and with them the wrath of is finished.

Moses delivered Old Covenant Israel from Egypt. Christ delivered New Covenant Israel from sin and death.

Moses defeated Pharaoh. Christ has overcome the dragon himself, the beast and false prophet.

Moses led the people through the tumultuous waters of the Red Sea. Christ will still all waters at his return so that nothing will threaten his people at all for all eternity.

The deliverance brought about through Moses did cause the Egyptians to give glory to God as well as the sounding nations, but at the return of Christ all will bow the knee to confess that he is Lord, either willingly or by compulsion.

This is why we hear the redeemed sing: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:3–4, ESV).

The salvation provided for Old Covenant Israel by the hand Moses pales in comparison to the salvation provided for the elect by Christ. The first Exodus was but a precursor to the second. It served as a shadow of better things yet to come.

Application

How then should we apply these truths?

I wonder, how will you fair when the seven angels with the seven plagues of God come forth from the heavenly tent of witness to judge fully and finally on that last day? How will you fair when your life is compared with God’s holy law? Will you stand or will you fall?

If you are trusting in your own righteousness, you will not stand, but will fall, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one…Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:19–20, ESV). But if you are found believing in Christ you will stand. You will be made to stand by the grace of God, being justified in Christ, having been washed of yours sins and covered in his righteousness. Be sure that you are in Christ on that last day. Be sure that you are in Christ before you breath your last, for there is no room for repentance after death.

Friends, acknowledge your sin, turn from it, and look to Christ today for the forgiveness of your sins, and then remain in him. Your sins will be judged. The question is, who will take the judgment? The cup of God’s wrath will be poured out upon your sins. God’s wrath will either be poured out upon you, or it has been poured out upon Christ. The cup of God’s wrath will be drunk to the dregs. Will you drink it? Or has Christ absorbed it in your place? You must believe upon him, friends. You must turn from your sins and cry out to Christ, saying, “have mercy upon me!”

And for those of you who are in Christ I wonder, do you stand in awe of the salvation that has provided for you in Christ Jesus?

Imagine standing amongst the freshly redeemed Israelites under the Old Covenant. Imagine standing on the opposite side of the Red Sea, having just passed through, and having witnessed the waters fall in upon the mighty Egyptians. Imagine looking upon Moses by whom your deliverance was accomplished. Remember the plagues. Remember how you did plunder the Egyptians as you left. Indeed, you would have stood in awe of the salvation that the Lord had provided for you.

How much more should we stand in awe of the redemption accomplished by Christ, for it is far greater. Christ has redeemed us, not from Egypt, but from the domain of darkness. He has defeated, not Pharaoh, but the evil one himself. He has led us through, not the Red Sea, but the waters of God’s wrath. And he brought us, not into the promised land, but has guaranteed our place in the new heavens and the the new earth. How could we not stand in awe of the salvation our Lord has provided, and give thanks?

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Revelation 15, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Nov 17
12

Sermon: The Final Harvest: Revelation 14:14-20

Old Testament Reading: Joel 3:9–16

“Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:9–16, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 14:14-20

“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. 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.’ So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 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.’ 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. 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.” (Revelation 14:14–20, ESV)

Introduction

There are two interpretations of Revelation 14:14-20 that I find plausible. One interpretation is that these verses describe only the judgment of the ungodly on the last day. The other interpretation is that these verses describe two things: first, the ingathering of the godly, and then the judgment of the wicked on the last day. Read the rest of Sermon: The Final Harvest: Revelation 14:14-20 »

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Oct 17
29

Sermon: Let Love Be Genuine: Romans 12:3-21

New Testament Reading: Romans 12:1-21

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12, ESV)

Introduction

Last Sunday I preached on Romans 12:1-2. There we found Paul the Apostle pleading with us, by the mercy of God, and based upon all that he has said to us in the previous chapters of his letter concerning the glorious salvation that has come to us in Christ Jesus, to offer ourselves up to God, body and soul, as sacrifices, living, holy, and acceptable.

Evidently the Apostle was not interested in promoting any kind of “easy-believism” wherein a person comes to Christ to receive benefits from him only to turn away from Christ to go on living for himself and according to the sinful ways of the world. That, to Paul, would have been most repugnant. That, Paul would say, is not true faith. Instead Paul insists that to come to Christ, to believe upon him truly, and to benefit from his finished work, does also involve offering yourself to up to God through faith in Christ. To have Christ as Savior one must have him as Lord, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).

And so in verses 1 and 2 we do find the Apostle making this beautiful appeal to the Christian. Offer yourselves up to God as a living sacrifice, he says. Do not conform to the sinful patterns of this world, but be transformed to the core of your being by the renewal of your mind so that, over time and by testing, you do find yourself desiring that which God desires, approving of that which God approves, and willing that which God wills.

Truly, the passage is beautiful and very challenging. And it does apply most directly to individual Christians. We are individually to offer ourselves up to God. We are individually to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. The Christian, having considered all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus is to develop and maintain a proper attitude towards God as we live in this word. Our response to God’s amazing grace should be to “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart and…soul and… mind and… strength” (Mark 12:30, ESV).

The Apostle Pleads With Us To Develop And Maintain A Proper Attitude Towards One Another As We Live In This Fallen World

But do you see how quickly the Apostle turns to address the Christians attitude towards others? And would you also consider the amount of space that he devotes to this subject. In verse 1 and 2 of chapter 12 he does plead with us to offer ourselves up to God as sacrifices, living, holy and acceptable. And it is only right that he begins there, for that indeed is the first and greatest commandment, to love God with all that we are. If we do not get this right, then we will not have anything right. But look at how quickly he turns to the plead with us to love our neighbor as ourself. And look at how much space he devotes that subject. One only has to glance at the pericope headings from 12:3 on to the end of the book to see that the Apostle labors to exhort the Christian to develop and maintain a proper attitude towards others as we live in this fallen world. And his first concern is that we would love one another in Christ’s church.

I do wonder if we give this matter – our life together in Christ – the same attention that Paul has given to it. I do wonder if we value it enough. It would be hard to find a true Christian who would say, “I need not make much effort in my relationship with God”, but there are many in our day who seem to have little concern at all for cultivating and maintaining loving relationships within Christ’s church.

Some neglect the local church all together. I was driving my teenage daughter home from school the other day and she was agitated about a conversation she was having with some of her friends. They were claiming to be Christians and yet they were insisting that going to church is not necessary. What maters is that you have a personal relationship with God and that you pray to him at home, they said. It was a happy moment for me to see my daughter really bothered at the thought go this. “I love Jesus but I hate the church”, is a common sentiment today. We would replay, in agreement with brother Blackburn, no, Jesus loves the church, and so should you.

I am not so concerned to address that attitude this evening. I doubt any of you have it. If you do, I’m surprised, though very glad, that you are here. I’m more concerned to address the propensity that even we might have to neglect the cultivation of deep and loving relationships within the body of Christ. Even Christians who have a proper view of the local church may grow tired and negligent in this area, and must be stirred up.

Brothers and sisters, we are to enjoy fellowship with one another within Christ’s church. And let us not trivialize that word. Fellowship is more than engaging in casual conversation after the church service. To have fellowship is to have Christ in common. To have fellowship is to agree that God’s word is true. To have fellowship is to worship God together. Being united together in Christ Jesus, we are to care deeply for one another. Spiritually, we are to build one another up. Physically, we are to address one another’s needs. Friends, we cannot approach our fellowship with one another casually, but we must be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). The word “eager” means, “to do something with intense effort and motivation.”

God does care deeply about the our attitude toward one another within Christ’s church. Christ himself did say, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35, ESV).

“I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…”

In verses 3 through 8 of Romans 12 the Apostle urges us to love one another, and he does at first warn against pride. Pride will kill love within the church. Prideful people cannot love others, for they are consumed with loving themselves.

In verse 3 Paul writes, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3, ESV).

I’ve heard it said that pride is form of insanity. To be puffed up with pride is to loose touch with reality. The prideful person thinks too highly of himself. He lives being unaware of his frailty. He lives unaware of his tremendous need. He thinks that what he has, he has gotten by his own strength. He has forgotten that everything good that he does possess was given to him as a gift from God. His treasures are his because God has given them to him. The same is true of his abilities. The position that he might have is his because God has appointed him to it. The prideful person walks around oblivious to this reality. He thinks of himself, not with sober judgment, but foolishly. He lives according to a lie.

Paul, in another place warned against Christians being “puffed up in favor of one against another.” And to combat the sinful pride he asked them, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:6–7, ESV)

If we are to love one another as Christ has commanded we must keep pride in check. Never should we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. The earlier chapters of Romans certainly help with this, for it is there that we are told of our total depravity, our helpless condition apart from Christ, and our salvation being owed totally to the sovereign grace of God. In another place the Apostle reminds us that, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:28–31, ESV).

Where is there room for boasting, then, in the Christian life? There is no room at all! The more we know about God’s word, the more humble we should grow, for it is there in the scriptures that our smallness and God’s greatness is most clearly revealed. And the more gifts we have the more humble we should be – to think that God would be pleased to use frail and sinful creatures such as ourselves in his kingdom. “When [we] have done all that [we] were commanded” what can we say, except, ‘we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10, ESV).

Brothers and sisters, never should we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, and according to what God’s word does say about us

Secondly, Paul urges us to appreciate the diversity that exists within the church and to celebrate it, rejoicing in the unity we have in Christ Jesus.

Verse 4: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4–5, ESV).

Paul uses the human body to illustrate the principle that in the church there is both great diversity and substantial unity. The human body is made up of many parts. And, as it pertains to their function, those parts do differ greatly from one another. But those parts do make up one body. Paul develops this idea more fully in 1 Corinthians 12:12 and following, but in both places his desire is that we would recognize the diversity within the church, celebrate it, and to honor one another, giving thanks to God for his wisdom and grace.

There is a tendency within the church, I think, for some to, with pride in their heart, say why isn’t every one like me? Why doesn’t everyone have my temperament? Why doesn’t everyone have the passions that I have? Why doesn’t everyone do what I do? Brothers and sisters, we whole give thanks to God that not everyone is like us, but that God has blessed the church with diversity.

Some make the opposite error when they look down upon the gifts that God has given to them and envy the gifts of others, thinking, I have noting to offer, and I wish that I were as they are.

Both the attitude of pride and the attitude of envy as it pertains to our giftedness within Christ’s church are devastating to the body of Christ. Just as in a healthy human body all of the members, according to their design, do happily do their part for the good of the whole, so to it must be in the local church, for “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Thirdly, Paul urges us to use our gifts, whatever they may be, for the good of all.

Verse 6: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6–8, ESV)

It is our view that the gift of prophesy does not exist within the church today as did in the time of the Apostles. That said, Paul does divide spiritual gifts into two broad categories – those gifts which involve speaking, and those gifts which involve serving. These categories do also correspond to the two offices of the church – elder and deacon.

There is much that can be said about verses 6 through 8, but I would prefer to focus only upon the clear and main principle, that whatever our gift may be, that we use it for the building up of Christ’s church. Friends, church is not something that we attend, but it is something that we are a part of. We are members of the Christ’s body, and as members we all do have a service to preform, a function to fill. Let us love one another.

“Let love be genuine…”

Let us also look briefly at verses 9 through 21 where the Apostle delivers a series of exhortations to the Christian, urging us to maintain a proper attitude or heart towards one another in the church.

The section is a little difficult to preach because it lacks the structure and development that is typical of Paul. The exhortations are delivered in rapid fire succession. There is an intensity to the passage, in my opinion. You can almost hear the appeal in the Apostles voice as if he were pleading, please, brothers and sisters, love one another.

In verse 9 Paul says, “let love be genuine”. Our love for one another must be sincere and without pretense or show. It is easy to pretend to love, and many do. It is easy to talk as if we love, and many do. But to truly love – that is, to love from the heart and to lay your life down for the good of another – is difficult. The Christian’s love is to be sincere. Paul identifies love as the leading virtue, just as he does elsewhere. 1 Corinthians 13: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal… So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1,13, ESV). Our love for one another must be genuine.

“Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good”, he says. Leon Morris notes that “true love involves a deep hatred for all that is evil, for evil can never benefit the beloved.” You cannot love someone by approving of or celebrating their sin, for then you would be rooting for their destruction. You might appear to love the sinner as you validate their behavior, but truly you are hating them. To love others truly one must first love God and the things of God. We must hate with a holy hatred what is evil and stick like glue to what is good.

Verse 10: We are to “love one another with brotherly affection.” The bond that Christians enjoy is a familial bond. We have been adopted as sons of God in Christ Jesus. We are brothers and sisters, united together in Christ, with God as Father. This bond will last for all eternity. Our affection for one another should be great.

This love is more than an emotion, but it does manifest itself when we “outdo one another in showing honor.”

Verse 11: Never should we be “slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [serving] the Lord.” We should be eager to do things for one another when legitimate needs do arise.

Verse 12: We are to “rejoice in hope… be patient in tribulation… [and] constant in prayer.” When you belong to a local church where the members do know and love one another sincerely you will see your brothers and sisters, from time to time, go through very difficult circumstances. How important it is to love those who are suffering by reminding them of the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. This must be done with great care, but it is important for the one who is suffering to be encouraged to look to Jesus for comfort, to remember our salvation in him, and to lay up treasures in the world to come.

Paul does speak often of the power of hope in Christ in his writings. It is Peter who says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…” (1 Peter 1:3–6, ESV).

Christians are to be patient in tribulation. Patience here means to bear up under difficult circumstances; to endure through suffering. And we are to be constant in prayer. Brothers and sisters, do you endure with one another in the midst of difficulty? Do labor in prayer for one another?

Verse 13: We are to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Do see that our love must be demonstrated practically? “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10, ESV).

Verse 14: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them”, Paul says. It is not that Paul expects that Christians will persecute Christians. Without question persecution does come from outside the local church. But Paul is concerned for Christians that they keep their heart free from all bitterness even towards their persecutors. Bitterness within the heart, even if it is directed towards those outside the church, will certainly be a cancer to the church. A heart consumed with bitterness cannot love. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

Verse 15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” How important it is to empathize with those who are suffering and to celebrate with those who are experiencing success. Chrysostom recognized that it “requires more of a high Christian temper, to rejoice with them that do rejoice, than to weep with those who weep… there is none so hard-hearted as not to weep over him that is in calamity: the other requires a very nobel soul, so as not only to keep from envying, but even to feel pleasure with the person who is in esteem.” The only exception that I would take with this comment is that I think there are some who are so hard hearted who will not weep with those who weep. Perhaps it is not hardness of heart, but indifference that I see.

Verse 16: Christians are to “live in harmony with one another.” Never should we “be haughty, but associate with the lowly.” Never should we “be wise in [our] own sight.” Some think too highly of themselves and are unwilling to associate with lowly or hurting people, or to engage in lowly activities. Thankfully, this was not the attitude of our Lord, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:6–7, ESV). Brother and sisters, “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5, ESV).

Verse 17: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” If you have been in the church for any length of time you know that Christians do sometimes offend Christians. Certainly non-Christians do sometimes do evil to Christians. Never should we do evil in return, but what is honorable.

Verse 18: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” I appreciate that Paul does say, “if possible”, for there are some situations where doing what is right will lead to conflict. Paul knew this well. He often found himself at the center of conflict. Our Lord also knew this well. Many hated him, but it was because he was light and they were darkness. True as this may be, we are to do everything in our power to live at peace with others. Never should we unnecessarily offend. In the church we must be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV).

Verse 19: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” As it is with bitterness, so it is with a vengeful heart. The Christian should have nothing to do with either.

In my relatively short time in the ministry I have come to see that Christians are sometimes wronged very badly by others. The desire for vengeance can be very strong.There is nothing at all wrong with wanting justice to be served, or for wanting things to be set right. But this is God’s work, and not ours. And so we are to leave it to God. Never should we take revenge ourselves, and neither should have vengeful hearts.

Verse 20: “To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. With hearts free from all bitterness and wrath we are to do good even to our enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” But Christ says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43–45, ESV).

This is how evil is to be overcome – with good. And by responding to our enemy in this way the Apostle says “you will heap burning coals on his head.” I believe that Calvin’s interpretation of this phrase is the correct one. He understands the heaping of burning coals on the head our enemy to mean that when we respond to the evil that our enemy does with good and with kindness, “his mind shall be turned to one side or another; for doubtless our enemy shall either be softened by our benefits, or if he be so savage that nothing can tame him, he shall yet be burnt and tormented by the testimony of his own conscience, on finding himself overwhelmed with our kindness.”

Clearly, there are some exhortations in this string of exhortations that have a Christians attitude towards non-Christians in view. “Bless those who persecute you”, is one example. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him”, is another. But do you see that the Apostles aim is to urge the Christian to maintain a heart of love so that we might love one another in Christ’s church. It is our attitude towards one another that Paul is most concerned with. Our love for one another must be genuine, sincere, and without presence. And if we are to love one another in this way, our hearts must be kept pure. For “if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:14–16, ESV).

Conclusion

Doctrine does matter.

Right doctrine should produce right practice.

It should move us to love and to worship God supremely and with all that we are.

It should move us to love one another.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Romans 12:3-21, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Oct 17
22

Sermon: Present Your Bodies As A Living Sacrifice: Romans 12:1-8

Pre-Introduction

Brothers and sisters, would you please open with me to Psalm 51 and to Romans 12, which will be the sermon text for today.

Lindsay and I had a very nice time in Gilbert Arizona this past weekend. We stayed with Pastor John Giarrizzo and his wife Roberta, who were very kind and hospitable to us. I was blessed to preach at Grace Covenant Church in the morning and also the quarterly gathering of Confessional Baptists of the Southwest in the evening. I peached from Romans 12:1-8 in the morning and Romans 12:9-21 in the evening.

As I was writing these sermons I thought to myself, these would be good for the saints at Emmaus hear too. Also, it does feel like it would be a good time to take a little break from the book of Revelation. I will preach on Romans 12:1-8 this morning, 12:9-21 next Sunday, and then Pastor Steve Martin, who is the ARBCA coordinator, will be with us on November the 5 to teach in the Emmaus Essentials Sunday School hour and also to preach. Lord willing we’ll jump back into Revelation on November 12, and I do plan to pick up the pace a bit now that it seems as if we’ve gotten the hang of Revelation.

Romans chapter 12 is a famous passage, especially the first two verses of it. And as you know the danger with famous passages of scripture is that they can grow so familiar to us that, over time, we begin to handle them carelessly. We might recite them from memory, but we recite them sloppily and without carful consideration. But we should remember that famous passage like this one are famous for good reason. They tend to speak to matters of great importance. They tend to get to the heart of an issue. They tend to offer great and needful comfort or exhortation to the people of God. And so I pray that, although this text might be familiar to us, the Lord would help us to give careful attention to his word this morning so that we might understand it better, and having understood it, that we might believe what it says and live accordingly.

Let us now give our attention to the reading of God’s inspired, inerrant, clear and authoritative word.

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 51

“To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” (Psalm 51, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Romans 12:1-8

Introduction

I have three introductory observations:

One, it is important to recognize from the outset that in this passage the Apostle is making an “appeal” to us. To appeal is to to ask for something earnestly. To appeal to someone is “to plead” with them. What follows in this passage will indeed come to us with the force of a commandment, for Paul is here telling the Christian how he or she is to live in this world. But Paul does not merely deliver a command to us. He does more than that. He appeals to the Christian. He pleads with us, just as a parent might plead with their child to do what is right, out of love for them. So it is right that we hear urgency and concern in the Apostle’s voice, as if he were saying, “brothers and sisters it is out of my love for you and for God that I plead with you to now live in this way…” His earnest and sincere concern for us, should grab our attention from the outset.

Two, notice that the appeal he will make is one that can only be made “by the mercies of God”. Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God…” to do such and such. Indeed, the whole book of Romans up to this point has emphasized the necessity of God’s mercy and grace in the Christian life. We would not have faith at all in Christ, nor the forgiveness of sins that come through faith in him, were it not for the mercy of God. God, by his grace, has brought us to Christ Jesus. He has made us alive in him, and has given to us the gift of faith. And neither would we be able to obey Christ in this world were not for God’s mercy. Not only are we saved by the grace of God, but we are also sanctified by his grace. Paul knows this very well. He mentions it often in his letters. And so when he pleads with us to live in a particular way in this world he is careful to plead with us, “by the mercies of God.” The Christian life is lived, from beginning to end, dependent upon God’s grace. “Give me more grace, Lord!” is the Christian’s cry.

Three, notice that the appeal that Apostle will make is based upon something that he has said before. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God…”

I remember hearing this rule of interpretation when I was quite young. I suppose it was the first lesson in hermeneutics that I ever received. And it is a good rule: whenever you encounter the word “therefore” in a text you should stop to ask the question, what is the therefore there for?

The word “therefore” in Romans 12:1 indicates that what the Apostle is about to command is based upon something that he has said before. And a careful consideration of things reveals that the “therefore” refers back, not to some isolated statement or concept in chapter 11, but to the whole of the book of Romans up to this point. It’s as if Paul is saying, “now, based upon all that I have said to you concerning your salvation in Christ Jesus, I plead with you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to live in this way.”

Personally, I am thankful for the word “therefore” here in Romans 12:1. Imbedded within this one word is a tremendously important reminder that the Christian life is neither about doctrine alone, nor is it about moral living alone, but is one where, by the grace of God, the truths of God are used by the Spirit of God, to bring about obedience to will of God in the lives of his people. Right doctrine should lead us to right practice. The Apostle is concerned that we have right doctrine (the first eleven chapters of Romans prove this point). But he is also concerned that we live lives of holiness (chapters 12-16 do prove this). Evidently the two things – right doctrine and right living – are not contrary to one another, but they do work together, the one informing and enabling the other.

The word “therefore” points in two directions, then. It points backward into the first eleven chapters of this wonderful letter wherein Paul lays out for us in a most beautiful and systematic way the doctrine of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and by the grace of God alone. And is also points forward into the last five chapters wherein Paul labors to apply the truths he has set forth to the Christ follower.

The truths contained within God’s word (the doctrines) are to be applied. If they are rightly understood and truly believed, then they will, by the grace of God, and by the progressive working of his Holy Spirit, produce holiness within his children.

This is the thing that the Apostle is pleading for. He is pleading with us that we would not walk away from the truths of God’s word unchanged. But having considered all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus – having considered the forgiveness of our sins and the righteousness we now possess through faith in Christ – having considered our freedom from the curse of the law, and our new life in Christ – and having considered the certainty or our eternal inheritance (a certainty grounded, not in ourselves, but in Christ’s finished work) – Paul’s heartfelt plea is that we would go on from that consideration to live our lives properly towards God and towards one another in this world.

The Apostle Pleads With Us To Develop And Maintain A Proper Attitude Towards God As We Live In This Fallen World

First, the Apostle pleads with us that we would develop and maintain a proper attitude towards God as we live in this fallen world. This is the appeal that is made in verses one and two.

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”

Paul says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV)

After reading the first eleven chapters of Romans we might feel compelled to stop and say, Paul, if all of this true – if God has really been this kind to us – if he has really been so gracious to provide for us so richly in Christ Jesus, what should be our response to him? The answer he gives: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…to God.”

When we hear the word “sacrifice” certainly we are to think of the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant wherein the worshipper was to bring an animal to be slain on the alter to offer it up to the Lord as an act of worship before him. That sacrificial system was done away with when Christ died and rose again. One of the functions of that Old Covenant system was to point forward to the coming of the Christ who would be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Once the Christ came and did finish the work of making actual atonement for the sins of his people, that Old Covenant system was by God taken away.

But that is not to say that the New Covenant is without a sacrificial system. Indeed, it is only right that sacrifices be offered up to God under the New Covenant too, not to make atonement for sin, for Christ has done that in full – it is finished – we can add nothing to that work – but as an act of worship before God and out of gratitude for all that he has graciously provided. Under the New Covenant we are to offer up, not bulls and goats, but we are to present our own bodies to the Lord, Paul says.

To present your body to God is to surrender your whole self to him. To present your body to God is to say, Lord, I am yours. Everything that I am – body and soul – I present it to you. I am your humble servant. You are my Lord. Use me, Lord, to accomplish your purposes, and to bring honor to your most holy name. This is what it means to present your body as a sacrifice to God.

Notice that the New Covenant sacrifices differ from those of the Old in that these are to be living sacrifices. The animals under the Old Covenant would be brought alive to the alter, but once sacrificed, they were dead. But under the New Covenant the exact opposite is true. We who were dead in our trespasses and sins, God has made alive! And, having been made alive by the Spirit, we do then present our bodies to God as a sacrifice that is living. To offer your body as a living sacrifice is to die to self but to live for God with everything that you are.

Notice that these New Covenant sacrifices are similar to the Old in that they too are to be presented as “holy and acceptable to God…” It is well known that the animals brought to the alter under the Old Covenant had to be “without blemish”. Once brought, they would be consecrated by the priest, set apart, and made holy. Only then would the sacrifice be acceptable to God. And God desires the same from you and me, that we would offer ourselves up to God as sacrifices, holy and acceptable.

Brothers and sisters, we do all struggle with sin. No one among us is perfect. Truly, our hope is in Christ alone. He bore our sins in his body on that tree. And he has clothed us with his righteousness, if we have faith in him. We cannot in any way add to the perfection of Christ’s finished work. Indeed, all of our hope for the forgiveness of our sins rest in him. But do you hear the Apostle pleading with us to live holy in this world. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God…” (Romans 12:1, ESV). Our holiness does matter to God.

Earlier in Romans Paul offered up this exhortation: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:12–14, ESV). Brothers and sisters, if we truly understand Paul’s doctrine then we will, first of all, abandon all hope in self and trust in Christ alone for the forgives of our sins, but then we will immediately go on to pursue holy living with all that is in us, and by the grace of God.

Verse one concludes with the remark, “which is your spiritual worship.” This act of worship – the offering up of your bodies as a living sacrifice – is “spiritual”, Paul says. Actually, some English translations say, “reasonable” instead of “spiritual”. To “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God… is your reasonable service”, says the NKJV.

Obviously there is a complexity to the Greek word which makes finding the perfect English word a little difficult. The idea is that this worship or service that we are to offer up to God is to be from the heart. Calvin said, “This sentence [“which is your reasonable service”], I think, was added, that [Paul] might more clearly apply and confirm the preceding exhortation, as though he had said,—‘Offer yourselves a sacrifice to God, if ye have it in your heart to serve God: for this is the right way of serving God; from which, if any depart, they are but false worshippers.’” Hodge, in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans said, “The simplest interpretation is that which takes the word in its natural sense, [namely], pertaining to the mind; it is a mental or spiritual service, in opposition to ceremonial and external observations” (Hodge, 384).

To put it in the simplest of terms, it seems that Paul is saying, don’t go through the motions in this worship. Don’t go through the motions but offer yourselves up to God sincerely, from the heart, and with the mind truly believing that this is what ought to be done. Our minds must be truly convinced that it is only reasonable for God be worshipped by us in this way, given who he is and all that he has done for us in Christ Jesus. It is only reasonable that we offer up our whole selves to God as sacrifices that are living, holy, and acceptable.

Indeed, the Old Covenant worshippers were also to engage in their worship from the heart, and not just externally and ceremonially. Going through the motions was a problem for them, just as it is for us. And that is why David spoke to the Lord as he did in Psalm 51, saying, “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:16–17, ESV).

And so, brothers and sisters, given all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus, it is only reasonable that we offer our whole selves up to him, body and soul, as sacrifices that are living, holy, and acceptable. This we are to do from the heart and with the mind made up that it is only right. This we are to do, being ever dependent upon God and his mercies.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

You’ve probably noticed that this is easier said than done. The corruptions that remain in our flesh do war against us in our resolve to worship God in this way. The evil one does also war against us, tempting us to abandon the service of God, and to serve self instead. And the world in which we live pulls down upon us continuously to make us conform to its ways.

The Apostle knows that the battle is real and so does addresses it. He has urged us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, but now he tells us what must happen within us if we are to worship and serve God faithfully in this world.

He says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

First, the Apostle tells us what must not happen. “Do not be conformed to this world…”, he warns. This world – that is to say, this present evil age that is at enmity with God – has a way about it. Those who belong to it – those not in Christ – think in a worldly way and live in a worldly way. They live, not to the glory of God, but for themselves. They live, not for the world to come, but for the here and now only. And Paul warns the Christian, do not conform to the way of this world.

By no means is Paul saying that the Christian must disengage from the world completely – this was not Paul’s way, nor was it the way of Christ. And neither is Paul saying that the Christian must come across as strange in this world. No, I do believe that Christians ought to function quite well within society. But he is here warning against being pressed into the mold of the world so that we think as the world thinks, speak and the world speaks, and do as the world does. The Apostle is saying, do not conform to the sinful patterns of this world.

Instead the Christian is to be “be transformed by the renewal of [their] mind…” Transformation is what is needed if the Christian is to worship and serve God faithfully in this world. The Christ follower herself must be changed if she is to resist the gravitational pull of the world, to rise above to the service of God.

How important it is to remember what we once were. We “were dead in the trespasses and sins in which [we] once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1–3, ESV). This was our condition and our way prior to knowing Christ. Some of us lived in that condition and walked in that way longer than others. But then, “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (Ephesians 2:4–5, ESV). That new birth that is here described came to us in an instant. We were spiritually dead and then God made us alive! And our salvation also came in an instant. We were enemies of God, in bondage to sin like the rest of mankind, and God did save us out of that the moment we looked to Christ! But we should also remember that sanctification – this process of transformation that Paul speaks of – lasts for a lifetime. It is not instantaneous, but is progressive. It should not be overlooked that the Greek word translated “transformed” is in the perfect tense in the Greek indicating that this transformation will be an ongoing process.

I’ve noticed that some do experience a kind of rapid and radical transformation when they come to faith in Christ. Sometimes the Lord does change a person rather quickly, freeing them, it would seem, in an instant from the worldly and sinful habits they once had prior to their new life in Christ. But I have also witnessed some who’s transformation seems to come more slowly. Why God permits this, only he knows, but I trust that it is ultimately for his glory and our good.

Whatever your experience has been, notice that Paul does command us to be transformed. The word is in the imperative mood in the Greek. It is a command. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed…”, Paul says. There is to be a difference between the old worldly man and new man in Christ. The Christian is no longer to live according to the world or as the world lives, but is to pursue holy living, all to the glory of God. And in order for this to happen, a transformation must take place within us. We are to pursue it.

Notice that this transformation will come about only “by the renewal of the mind”. In order to be transformed the Christian must learn new things – things that he did know before. And he must also relearn things – there are some things that we think we know, but come to find out that there is error in the thinking.

Frequently I find myself in counseling situations asking the question, are you sure that that thought you have is true? Their response: well, I don’t know. My reply: well, where did it come from? And they say, I guess I’ve just always thought that way. And then we do go together to the word of God to renew the mind.

Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, that in Christ we must relearn things. Our view of the world must be changed. We must learn to think God’s thoughts after him, and to see the world as he sees it. If the transformation that God desires to see in us is to be real and lasting, there must be a renewal of the mind, a changing of the heart.

There are many in this world who try to transform themselves. They want to get their life right with God, they say. They want to straighten up. And so they set out to accomplish it and seek to do so by the power of their own will. But if they do not first submit to the word of God to truly learn its doctrine and believe what it says in the heart, and if the Spirit of God is not at work within them to renew their mind and change their heart, the transformation that they are seeking will not last – certainly it will not last to the glory of God.

It is important to recognize the word “transformed” is not only in the perfect tense, indicating that it is a process, and the imperative mood, indicating that it is a command, but is also in the passive voice, indicating that this transformation is something that must be done to us. The command is not, transform yourself, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. How important it is, brothers and sisters, that we seek transformation – we must pursue it! – but we are to seek it, not by the exertion of our will power alone, but by the renewal of our minds in submission to the word of God and in constant dependence upon the Spirit of God. The Christian must cry out to the Lord, saying, Lord, change me to the core. Enable me to know the truths of your word and to believe them sincerely. Engrave your law deeply upon my heart. And do help me to see the world as you see it, Lord. It is only then that the transformation will be genuine, lasting, and to the glory of God.

The end result of this renewal of the mind – this changing of the heart – is “that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Here the Apostle burrows down to the deepest objective in our sanctification, that our minds and hearts would be so renewed by the word of God that what God wills, we will – that what God desires for us is what we desire – that what God has commanded is what we are most happy to do. That can only take place by the renewal of the mind and heart. By nature our hearts are bent away from God and towards evil. Some of those corruptions do remain within the hearts of Christians. But over time, with much practice (by testing), and by the renewal of the mind, we do learn to approve that which God approves – that which “is good and acceptable and perfect.”

I’ve been asked, Pastor, how can I overcome this sin or that? And of course there are many practical things that can be said in response to a question like that – partake of the means of grace thoughtfully, ask for accountability, pray, do not put yourself in a situations where you will be tempted – but truthfully, we experience real victory over a particular sin only when there is developed within us a true distain for that sin, whatever it may be, and true love for that which God has commanded instead. Something needs to change within us. That transformation must come about by the renewal of the mind, and through testing, as the Spirit works.

And so we have the first answer to the question, what should we do since God has been so gracious to us? The Apostle does first of all plead with us to develop and maintain a proper attitude towards God as we live in this fallen world. We are to “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

The Apostle Pleads With Us To Develop And Maintain A Proper Attitude Towards One Another As We Live In This Fallen World

I will mention only briefly the second point because I do wish to pick up here on the next Lord’s Day to develop it further.

Notice that beginning with verse 3 the Apostle also pleads with us to develop and maintain a proper attitude towards one another as we live in this world.

The Christian life, friends, is not be lived in isolation as if all that matters to God is our personal walk with Christ and our personal worship of God, but God has redeemed a people for himself, and these are to enjoy communion with one another on the basis of their having been united together in Christ Jesus. The Christian life is to be lived in the context of the local church where Christians are to love one another.

It should come as no surprise to us that Paul makes these two points of application first, for they do follow after Christ’s summary of the law, do they not? “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Christ’s answer: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36–40, ESV)

Paul, what should we do in response to the glorious salvation you’ve just described to us? Keep God’s law, he says! Love God with all that you are, offering you whole self up to God as a living sacrifice. And love one another, laying yourselves down for the good of others within Christ’s church.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, my prayer us that you would agree with the Apostle, saying, yes it is true! It is only right and reasonable that I offer my whole self up to God as a living sacrifice, to worship and serve him in this world. And it is only right that, in offering up my self up to God, I do also lay my life down for the good of my brothers and sisters in Christ. This is only right given all that God has done for me in Christ Jesus. For he is my Creator. More than that, he is my Redeemer. How could I possibly respond to his love in any lesser way?

Let us pray.

Father in heaven, do help us, we pray. Enable us to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Lord, we know that is a summary of your law, and with our mouths, and from the heart, we do say that we want keep it, but we confess that we do struggle to keep it. Lord, our flesh wars against us. So too does the evil one, along with the world. Transform us, Lord, by the renewal of our minds and to the core of our being so that we might live holy before you in this world, keeping your will from the heart. These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Romans 12:1-8, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Oct 17
8

Sermon: Here Is A Call For The Endurance Of The Saints: Revelation 14:6-13

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 75

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. ‘At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’ For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.” (Psalm 75:1–10, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 14:6-13

“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 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, 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. 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.’ Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 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!’” (Revelation 14:6–13, ESV)

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, I hope that you see that the Christian life should be lived seriously. A serious person is one who is solemn and thoughtful in character and manner. A serious thought is one that is careful and profound. A serious discussion is one that demands careful consideration and application. And I am saying that Christ followers should be serious people. The thoughts, words, and actions of the Christian should be carefully considered, deep, and profound. Our worship should be serious, and so too should our way of life.

I do not want to be misunderstood. By no means am I suggesting that a Christian should never have fun or be playful and joyous. Indeed, the Christian should know how to have fun. The deep joy that we have in our hearts will undoubtably manifest itself in laughter and singing and play. The opposite of serious is not fun or playful. The opposite of serious is superficial. It is not a fun or playful disposition that I am calling you to avoid, but superficiality.

A Christian should know how to have fun. You should know how to laugh and play. You should know how to celebrate life. A Christian should know how to party, not by way of drunkenness which leads to debauchery, but soberly, sincerely and from the heart. It is the godless man who must drink to the point of drunkenness in order to celebrate. And why is this? It is because his sin sick soul will not allow him to celebrate naturally. His mind and heart must first be sedated and inebriated if he is to sing. But the Christian sings. The Christian should know how to celebrate in this life sincerely and from the heart. It almost seems contradictory, and it’s rather hard to put into words, but I think you can see how a serious person, if they are serious with the word of God and the Spirit of God in their heart, will also be very joyous. I’m calling you to be joyous, not superficially, but substantially and seriously so. I’m calling you to cultivate a seriousness in your life and in your faith, if you don’t already have it.

There are a number of things that God uses to develop seriousness in his people.

Some might be more predisposed to it than others, their personalities being naturally more serious and contemplative from birth.

But God also uses life experiences to deepen the seriousness of our faith. I think it is true that Christians tend to grow more serious over time. They grow more thoughtful, more careful, more solemn, and mature, as they experience the seriousness of life.

Children tend to be carefree. They are allowed to play. They are typically sheltered from many of the difficulties of life that we experience as adults. And indeed this is how it should be for a time. Being protected in this way they are able to develop in body and soul so that they might bear up under the pressures of life when they do come. But our children, progressively and over time, will have to experience for themselves the difficulties associated with living in this world. They will have to experience the seriousness of life. And we as Christians should not tremble at the thought of this, but we should rejoice in it knowing that these difficulties are used by God to deepen the seriousness and sincerity of our faith.

James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4, ESV). The way to maturity, says James, is by way of suffering. So we are to rejoice in the suffering, not because we enjoy the suffering itself, but because of what it produces in us as children of God. It is through the trials and tribulations of this life that our steadfastness and maturity is developed.

The past year or so has been quite difficult for us as a congregation. I wanted to simply acknowledge that fact today. In this past year or so we have had to deal with serious sin, sickness and death and the sorrows that accompany these things with much more intensity than in the first five years of our existence. Please understand that I’m speaking of our life together as a congregation. Indeed, there were real sorrows present in our first five years, but this past year or so did at times feel like a wave of sorrow had washed over us. I won’t mention any of the particulars, but will leave it to you to think about.

What are we to do about this?

First, we ought to acknowledge the suffering for what it is – it is suffering. This world is filled with difficulties. Those who maintain the appearance of happiness in this world by pretending that the world is other than what it is are not serious and substantial Christ followers, but fools who live according to a lie. And there are many who do live this way. They deceive themselves. They avoid suffering at all costs, and pretend it is not there. It is far better to face the fact of suffering.

And having faced the fact of suffering we must learn to live with one another well in the midst of it. Quoting from Romans 12:9-16: We must “love one another with brotherly affection.” We must “outdo one another in showing honor.” We must “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation… [and] constant in prayer.” We must “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” We are to “rejoice with those who rejoice, [and] weep with those who weep.” We are to “live in harmony with one another.” Never should we “be haughty, but associate with the lowly.” Never should we “be wise in [our] own sight.” (Romans 12:9–16, ESV). In the body of Christ when one members suffers, all suffer. And this is only right. We must learn to live with one another well in the midst of suffering. The human body function this way, doesn’t it? When you smash your finger with a hammer, it is not just the finger that hurts, you hurt! That pain radiates throughout the body, and the rest of the body goes to work to help alleviate the pain. We must learn to live with one another well in the midst of suffering.

Thirdly, we should learn to rejoice in the trials, just as God has commanded. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4, ESV). We are to “count [or consider] it all joy” not because we enjoy the suffering itself, but because of what we know it will produce within us – maturity and seriousness.

I’m not sure about you, but these sufferings that we have experienced as a body over that past year or so have produced a greater seriousness in me. Truth be told, I’ve always been rather serious. My wife calls me “briefcase boy”. I don’t know where she gets it. I’ve never owned a brief case in my life, but she says I’ve carried one since high school. This is her playful way of poking fun at me for being too serious or intense at times. So I guess I’ve always been on the serious side (I can be very playful too, though most of you haven’t witnessed that). But I do feel like the trials and tribulations that have washed over our congregation in the past year or so have made me much more serious.

The phrase that comes to mind is, the Christian life is no joke. Never did I think it was a joke, but I feel as if I know it now more deeply than before. The trials of this life are no joke. Sin is no joke. It’s terribly dangerous and deviating. Sickness and death are no joke. They are for real, and they do bring real sorrow to the people of God. Life is serious. How important it is, therefore, that the seriousness of our faith matches the seriousness of the world in which we live and all that threatens us therein.

I do fear for those who, though they might profess faith in Christ, they live with, what seems to be, such superficial doctrine and superficial faith. At some point they will have to face the seriousness of sin, sickness and death, and I do wonder if they will stand. If they truly belong to Christ God will make them stand – this I know! But they seem to be in such a precarious position as they live superficially.

These are the ones who Christ compares in the parable of sower to those seed which fell on rocky ground. Christ said, “Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away” (Matthew 13:5–6, ESV). How important it is for us to cultivate depth and seriousness in our faith before the scorching sun does appear.

I do not pretend to enjoy the trials and tribulations of this life. I do not actively pray for them to come. But I am learning to “count it all joy… when [we] meet trials of various kinds…” The older I get the more I see with greater clarity how it is that God does use the trials to produce steadfastness and maturity within his people.

The Spirit of God uses experiences – trials and tribulations – to mature our faith and to make us more serious. But he also uses his word. His word is serious. It speaks to serious things. And it is to be taken seriously. How important it is, therefore, that we give attention to God’s word and to the serious things contained within. How important it is that we prepare our hearts to receive it, and having received it, that we believe it and seek to live accordingly.

You’ve heard the expression that some people just have to learn the hard way. You can picture a child who’s been instructed well by his father concerning wise living, but he does not listen to his fathers words. He goes off to live like a fool in the world instead. Will he learn the lesson that his father tried to teach him long ago? He will learn it. But he will learn it the hard way.

Christians, let us give careful attention to the serious things that God has said to us in his word. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1–2, ESV)

Some passages of scripture are more serious than others. The one that is before us this morning is as serious as they come.

In Revelation 14:6-11 we encounter three warnings concerning the imminence and certainty of the final judgment. This is a serious subject that demands serious consideration.Three angels deliver these three warnings, and they deliver the warnings to all who dwell upon the earth. Included with the warnings is a call for the ungodly to repent and for the Saints on the earth to endure.

Let’s take passage one section at a time.

Verse 6: “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.” (Revelation 14:6, ESV)

We must remember where we are. We are in the book of Revelation which communicates truth via symbol. This passage does not mean that there will come a day when the gospel will literally be proclaimed by an angel who flies overhead. Instead, the truth being symbolized is that God will always have witnesses in the world even to the time of the end. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, ESV).

Verse 7: “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.’” (Revelation 14:7, ESV)

What do we have here except a warning and a call to repentance? The good news of Jesus Christ is not explicitly stated here, but it was implied verse 6 in the words, “eternal gospel”. What is the eternal gospel? It is the good news that God has been merciful to sinners and has provided a Savior for them so that their sins would be forgiven, should they trust in him. The gospel is the good news that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

All of that is not said here, but it was implied in the words “eternal gospel” in verse 6. What we have in verse 7 is a declaration of the bad new without which no one can truly understand the good news, along with a call to repentance. “The hour of [God’s] judgment has come”, the angel says. Clearly our minds are to go to the time of the end. “The hour of [God’s] judgment has come.” Repent, therefore. Turn from your sins and to God, coming to him through faith in Jesus Christ alone. “Fear God and give him glory… worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

The trouble with the non-believer is that they live as if this world is all there is. In the narrative of the book of Revelation they serve the beast the raises from the sea and the beast which rises from the earth, which symbolize earth political powers that persecute the people of God. They have taken the mark of the beast, which is the number of man. They love the world. They are the earth-dwellers who worship the creation, but not the Creator. Here they are called to “worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Verse 8: “Another angel, a second, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality’” (Revelation 14:8, ESV).

This is interesting because this is the first time Babylon has been mentioned in the book of Revelation, and yet it is announced that she is already fallen. Babylon will take a prominent place in the book of Revelation in chapters 16 through 18. What we have here is a foreshadowing. Here we have been told that Babylon is fallen, but we will learn more about Babylon later in the book and more will be said about her fall.

If you know your Old Testament you know that Judah was conquered by King Nebuchadnezar of Babylon and was taken away to live in captivity there for 70 years. The city of Babylon, therefore, symbolizes pagan powers that oppress God’s people and tempt them to turn from the worship of the one true God to idols. Babylon symbolizes worldliness and the seductiveness of the world. Later we will learn that, to the original recipients of the book of Revelation, Babylon was symbolic of Rome, but the symbolism was not exhausted with Rome. There are still “Babylons” in the world today, and there will be “Babylons” in the world when Christ returns.

“The reason for Babylon’s fall”, to quote Denise Johnson, “is her seduction of the nations, intoxicating them with her mixed brew of rage and sexual license.”

Verse 9: “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, 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. 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” (Revelation 14:9–11, ESV).

Notice how the warnings pronounced by these angels give an answer to what was said in chapters 12 and 13 about the dragon and the two beasts. The dragon and the two beasts seek to devour the people of God. The Christian will be tempted to abandon the true worship of God when pressured by them. Here, the pronouncement of the angels makes it clear that it would not be worth it.

All who “[worship] the beast and its image and [receive]” the mark of the beast (13:16-18), all who “drink the wine of the passion of [Babylon’s] sexual immorality” will also, “drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger…” And notice that their punishment will be eternal. They “will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 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.”

This is serious. This is a weighty subject, and one that cannot be taken lightly. God’s word is calling us to contemplate the end of the dragon, the beasts, and all who do follow after them. God is urging us to stop and reflect deeply upon the end of seductive Babylon and all who drink the wine of her passion and sexual immorality. Why would anyone neglect to give attention to God’s word on this subject?

For the one not in Christ this eternal gospel and the warnings pronounced within this text should bring about faith and repentance.

Do you see that there will be a judgment day? All who are not found in Christ will be judged for their sins, and none will stand, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV). “All… are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one’” (Romans 3:9–12, ESV). Certainly man judges himself differently than God judges him. Man thinks of himself as being basically good and deserving of God’s commendation. But God’s perspective is that all are indeed under sin.

It was interesting to listen to people on the radio talk about this killer who did so much harm a week ago in Las Vegas. It was interesting to hear even non-Christians comfort themselves with the thought that God will judge the wicked. There is something comforting about that, isn’t there, especially in situations like this. The act was so horrendous. In the end the man took his own life, which made it impossible for any justice to be served in this life. And so men comfort themselves with the thought that God will make it right. God will see to it that justice is served.

But in the same breath these people also comfort themselves with the thought that they will not face God’s wrath when they stand before him. And if you were to ask them, “why?” they would answer, “because I am good. I’m not like that monster who killed 58 and injured over 500.” Do you see how we, when we speak of someone who has done something particularly evil, a prone to speak of the person as if they were not human. They were “an animal”, we say They were, “a monster”. No, intact that man was a human. He was one of us, from upon among our species. And while I am glad that, by the grace of God, not all are as evil as that man, and that not all do such evil things, God’s opinion of us is not nearly as high as our option of ourselves. We think of ourselves as good when compared to others. God says, no you are sinners who walk “in the passions of [your] flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and [are] by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3, ESV), if you are not in Christ, being justified by him, regenerated, and clothed in his righteousness.

Our catechism gets it just right. After considering the ten commandments our catechism asks in question 87, “Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?” The answer: “No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but daily break them in thought, word, or deed.” Question 88: “Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?” Answer: “Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.” Question 89: “What doth every sin deserve?” Answer: “Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come.” Question 90: “What doth God require of us, that we may escape His wrath and curse, due to us for sin?” Answer: “To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.”

Friends, do not be puffed up with pride. Do “not to think of [yourself] more highly than [you] ought to think, but to think with sober judgment…” (Romans 12:3, ESV). Recognize your sin and see what it is that your sin deserves – God’s judgment. It is a serious matter, one that should not be taken lightly. Turn from it and believe upon Christ.

And that is the thing that matters. Will you be found in Christ? Can’t you see that that is the point of the text we are considering today? The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet have been introduced to us. Many belong to them. They have taken his mark and his name upon them. But we have also seen Christ. He stands upon the heavenly “Mount Zion” in victory, “and with him [the]144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1, ESV).

Do you want to escape God’s wrath? Do you want to avoid his judgment? Then your only hope is to be found in Christ. You must be found with him, believing upon him, having his name and his fathers name written upon you. There is no other way, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:23–26, ESV).

This judgment scene that we have conceded today should be seriously considered by the non-Christ. Our prayer is that the Spirit of God would use it to bring them the to faith and repentance. But it should also be seriously considered by the Christ follower, the end result being that we would walk carefully in this would being “all the more diligent to confirm [our] calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10, ESV).

Indeed, that is the stated purpose of this text. Verse 12: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, ESV). This serious scene is given to make the Christ follower more serious in his thoughts, words, and deeds.

Application

Brothers and sisters, I feel compelled to say to you, stop playing around. Stop with the superficial living. Stop neglecting the means of grace that God has ordained. Stop with the prayerlessness. Stop neglecting the fellowship. Stop with your superficial approach to the word of God. Stop coming to the Table carelessly and without thought. Stop playing around with sinful thoughts, words and deeds. Brothers and sisters, let us pray that the Lord would mature us and deepen our faith. Let us pray that we would take him at his word so that we need not learn the hard way.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Revelation 14:6-13, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Oct 17
1

Sermon: 144,000 Sealed in Heaven: Revelation 14:1-5

Pre-introduction

It has been my custom in this sermon series to, when we come to a new section in the book of Revelation, consider that section broadly before considering its individual parts. This I did, for example, with the letters to the seven churches. We first considered the entire section, and then we returned to consider each of the letters one at a time. The same can be said for the seal cycle, and also the trumpet cycle. And that is what I would like to do this morning. I will read Revelation chapters 14-15, for that all goes together. This section does bridge the gap between what we have just learned concerning the activity of the dragon and the two beasts of Revelation 12 and 13, and the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath, which is a description of the final judgment, which will encounter in chapter 16. After reading chapters 14-15, and after a few remarks are made about that section in general, we will return to verses 1-5 of chapter 14 to give special attention to them. The New Testament reading is Revelation 14 and 15. The sermon text is Revelation 14:1-5.

Hear now the reading of God’s inspired, inerrant, clear and authoritative word.

New Testament Reading: Revelation 14-15

“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. 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 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, 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. 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.’ Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 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!’ 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. 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.’ So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 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.’ 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. 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. Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’ After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” (Revelation 14–15, ESV)

Introduction

Notice a few things about chapters 14 and 15 in general.

One, notice that it does eventually take us to the time of the end when the wrath of God will be poured out upon the wicked. We certainly have a description of that in 14:17-19. Chapter 15 does also set the stage for the outpouring of the seven bowls of God’s wrath. These are the called “seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. (Revelation 15:1, ESV)”.

Two, notice that we are taken to the end, not abruptly, but progressively. By that I mean that in chapter 14 we have a description of some historical progress. Three angels appear and fly overhead. The first preaches the gospel to those dwelling on earth. Also he says, “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” (Revelation 14:7, ESV). The second angel announces the fall of Babylon. The third angel warns of the doom that will come upon all who worship “the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand” (Revelation 14:9, ESV). Indeed, the end will come suddenly from mans perspective, but this passage does make clear that even in the time of the end the gospel will be preached and warnings will be given to the ungodly. From the heavenly perspective there will be a process.

Three (and here is the most important observation for our text this morning), recognize that these two chapters are again set in heaven.

I say “again” because in chapters 12 and 13 the setting was earthly. It is true that we were, at the beginning of chapter 12, given a glimpse of the heavenly and spiritual battle that was won by Christ upon his resurrection and ascension. But Satan was quickly cast to the earth where he pursued the woman and her offspring to devour them. We then encountered a beast that rose from the sea and a beast that came up from the earth. These beasts, we discovered, work for the dragon. They do battle against the people of God. The scene, for some time now, has been earthly. The focus has been upon that which threatens the church as she sojourns upon the earth.

But in chapters 14 and 15 the scene is heavenly. The Lamb is seen standing on the heavenly Mount Zion. The 144,000 are there with him singing a new song to God as he is seated upon his heavenly throne. Angels fly overhead with heavenly messages to proclaim. In verse 13 a voice is heard 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!’” (Revelation 14:13, ESV). Verse 14: “Then… 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” (Revelation 14:14, ESV). Verse 17: “Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle” (Revelation 14:17, ESV). 15:1: “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1, ESV). 15:5: “After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests” (Revelation 15:5–6, ESV).

The setting has obviously shifted from earth to heaven as we have moved from chapters 12 and 13 to chapters 14 and 15. And here inlays the central purpose of the book of Revelation, to provide the Christ follower with God’s eternal, unlimited, and perfectly true perspective on how things have been, are, and will be in heaven and on earth so that the child of God might live according to truth.

You and I can see with our natural eyes how things are on earth. We have the ability to observe the natural world. We can know something of history, and of the state of affairs in the world today. But we should remember that things are not always as they might appear to us. There are two reasons for this that come to mind. One, we are very limited in our ability to rightly perceive. You and I do see the world but from a very limited vantage point. Our experience is really very small. You are but one individual looking at the world from one vantage point. You have lived on this planet for such a short time, this being true, not only of the young amongst us, but also the old. Our time on this earth is really very short, and our knowledge of the world is really very small. This we might call the problem of finitude. We are limited creatures, and not the Creator. And we have been created as finite beings. We are confined to live in one place at one time, our knowledge of the world being very limited indeed. And when we add to the problem of our creaturely limitations the problem of sin we do begin to understand just how needful we are of God’s revelation, even as it pertains to the right understanding of this world in which we live. We are very limited when it comes to knowledge and experience, but we should not forget that the world is also deceptive, and so too are our hearts. We are prone to misinterpret even those things that we do perceive with our natural senses. We are limited and sinful creatures living in a deceptive world.

If you are beginning to feel a sense of hopeless in regard to your ability to know what is true, then I have accomplished my objective. Indeed man, in his natural and sinful state, is very limited in regard to his ability to interpret the world aright. And this is why we so need God’s revelation. I am here speaking, not only of the book of Revelation, but of all of God’s special revelation, of which the book of Revelation is a part. We, given our creatureliness and given our sinfulness, do need God to reveal truth to us. This is so, not only as it pertains to the knowledge of God, and not only as it pertains to the future, but even as it pertains to a right understanding of the world in which we live now.

And if it is true that we need God’s revelation to rightly interpret the world in which we live – the world that we can experience with our natural senses – how much more do we need God’s revelation to understand the world that lies beyond our sense perception. The heavenly realm is truly veiled to us. We could know nothing of it unless the God who in the beginning created the heavens and the earth determined to reveal it to us.

Do you see, brothers and sisters, that God has provided both for us here in the book of Revelation? The book does constantly shift between heaven and earth. It is as if God is saying, “children, here is how you are to understand all that you experience in the world.” And then, “children, here is the reality of how things are in heaven.” And why has he revealed these things? It is so that we might order our lives according to how things really are in heaven and upon the earth. He has revealed it so that we might “know the truth, and the truth will set [us] free” (John 8:32, ESV).

Let us turn our attention now to verses 1-5 of Revelation 14, and as we give attention to this text three things will become clear. One, we must see know that the Lamb of God does stand upon the heavenly Mount Zion. Two, with him stand the 144,000 who have been sealed by God. And three, these do give glory to God who is seated upon his throne.

The Lamb of God Does Stand Upon The Heavenly Mount Zion

First of all, let us consider the Lamb whom John saw in verse 1 standing upon the heavenly Mount Zion.

There is no need for me to explain to you who this Lamb represents, for you know him well. Here we have a representation of Jesus the Christ, the one who, after being introduced as, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, [who] has conquered…” in Revelation 5:5, was then see by John as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6, ESV). Here John again sees the Lamb, and he is standing upon Mount Zion in victory.

This is significant especially when we consider what has dominated the visions shown to John as of late. In chapter 12 John saw “a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems” (Revelation 12:3, ESV). This dragon was cast to the earth where he is said to pursue God’s people with “great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12, ESV).” After that John “saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Revelation 13:1, ESV), and then he “saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11, ESV). These also war against the people of God, acting on behalf of the dragon. The visions have been earthly and have emphasized the church under attack.

I do grow concerned for the church when we linger in those sections of the book of Revelation that look at things from the earthly perspective, emphasizing all that threatens us in this world. How important it is that we hear these truths! How important it is for us to know our adversary so that we might be walk in a soberly and with vigilance in this world, being wise to the schemes of the evil one. But if we linger in these sections for too long we run the risk of loosing sight of the message of the book, which is that, though our adversary be great, our Lord is greater still. He has conquered, and he does stand in victory now! He will indeed bring his people safely home. This book, when rightly understood, should not lead the people of God to despair, but to confidence ad courage in Christ. How refreshing it is to turn from chapter 13 to chapter 14, and from a focus upon our detestable enemies to gaze upon our victorious Savior standing upon Mount Zion. Indeed, at just the right time the book of Revelation does direct our eyes heavenward, lest we be overrun with despair.

It is possible that this is a reference to the earthly Mount Zion, for that is the name of a mountain within the boarders of the city of Jerusalem. It is a very significant place, being mentioned often in the pages of Holy Scripture. Many important things did happen on that mountain. And indeed, there will come a day when the Lord will stand upon that earthy mountain with his redeemed in the new heavens and the new earth. The question is, does this passage describe that day?

In fact, everything in this passage does suggest that this is a reference to the heavenly Mount Zion. The entire scene is heavenly, as we will soon see. Indeed, this interpretation is perfectly in step with the rest of the book of Revelation where we have been shown visions of God’s throne in heaven, the heavenly temple, the heavenly alter, and those who worship there. The book does constantly shift from earth to heaven and then back again showing that heaven and earth do correspond to another.

This would also be in keeping with the rest of scripture which does make a distinction between the earthy Mount Zion and the heavenly one. Do you remember what the writer to the Hebrews said when he was developing the argument that the New Covenant and its forms of worship are better than the Old? He said to the New Covenant Christian,

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22–24, ESV).

The writer to the Hebrews is insistent that the New Covenant people of God have been brought, not to the earthly mount, nor to the earthly city, but to the heavenly one through the blood of Christ. We are seated there with him in the heavenly places where he has ascended.

Earthly Mount Zion does in the scriptures signify God’s presence with his people and the place from which deliverance comes and protection is given. It is the place where the remnant of Israel is preserved by God.

Now think of this imagery in light of all we have been considering in the book of Revelation as of late. We have observed the dragon and the two beasts as they war and rage against the people of God. The first beast, for example,

“…was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:5–10, ESV).

But then we are comforted at the sight of the Lamb standing upon the heavenly Mount Zion, the place from which our salvation does come, the place where we are kept by God, being preserved by him until we arrive safely home.

Psalm 121 does come to mind:

“A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121, ESV)

Our Lord, the Lamb of God, does stand upon the heavenly mount Zion.

With Him Stand The 144,000 Sealed By God

Secondly, notice that with him stand the 144,000 sealed by God.

This is the second time in the book of Revelation that the 144,000 have been mentioned. We heard of them for the first time in Revelation chapter 7 in the interlude between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals. John “heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4, ESV). After this John heard the numbering and the listing of each of the tribes, “12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad” (Revelation 7:5, ESV), and so on. The list made it clear that this is not a reference to ethnic and Old Covenant Israel, but to the multi-ethnic New Covenant Israel with Christ at the head.

In that text the 144,000 represent the totality of God’s people on earth who live in the midst of tribulation. They are numbered by God, signifying that he knows them personally. More than that they are sealed by him, signifying that they belong to him and that he will keep them. These are God’s people numbered for war, for that is what they will experience in this world, a holy war fought, not with sword and shield, but with the weapons of faith.

How wonderful it is to see the 144,000 again, but this time from the heavenly perspective. Notice a few things about them.

One, they are seen here standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion.

Again, there is some debate as to what this scene signifies. Do we have here a picture of all of God’s people standing with him after the consummation in the new heavens and new earth? I do not think so, for the scene is a heavenly one, and not earthly. Or is this a reference to those who have died in Christ, their souls being present with the Lord. In this case the vision would be similar to the one in 6:9-10, where, when the fifth seal was opened John “saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne “(Revelation 6:9–10, ESV). The difference here would be that the slain are portrayed as victorious in Christ, standing with him on Zion, and not as sacrificial victims under an alter. This is a possible interpretation – the 144,000 symbolize those who have died in Christ having gone to glory.

But it seems to me that the best interpretation is to see the 144,000 here in 14:1 as referring to the same group of people as in chapter 7, but from the heavenly perspective instead of the earthly one. The 144,000 represent all of God’s people living upon the earth. They are numbered for war and sealed by him so that they might be kept in the midst of tribulation. But the truth that must not be overlooked is that these, though they be engaged in holy war upon the earth, are truly present with Christ in the heavenly places.

Listen to what Paul said to the Christians living in Ephesus in Ephesians 2:4-7:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4–7, ESV).

These Christians, indeed all who have faith in Christ, are made alive in Christ, are raised with him, and are seated with him in the heavenly places. I do believe that this is the thing symbolized here in Revelation 14:1-5. Though we do live upon the earth, and though we do experience many difficulties in this place, being assaulted continuously by the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, our Savior does stand on Mount Zion, and do stand with him even now.

Two, notice that these are sealed having the Christ’s “name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1, ESV). In chapter 7 we were simply told that the 144,000 were sealed. Here it is revealed to us that they are sealed with the name of God and the name of Christ. These belong to God and Christ and they serve him day and night.

Clearly this is meant to stand in contrast with what we have just heard about the beast and his followers. All who belong to him are “marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666” (Revelation 13:16–18, ESV).

Here we are shown that all of humanity is divided into two camps. There are those who belong to the beast, and there are those who belong to God and his Christ. There is no third camp, but only theses two. Those who belong to the beast are marked on the forehead (their minds and souls do belong to him) or right hand (they use their strength to serve him). But those who belong to God and Christ have the name of God and Christ written upon them – they are God’s possession, and God will preserve and protect those who are his. Notice where those who have the mark of the beast dwell. They are earth dwellers. But where do those who have taken the name of God and of Christ dwell? Though they live upon the earth, they are standing with Christ on heavenly Mount Zion.

Three, notice how the 144,000 are described. In verse 4 we read, “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” (Revelation 14:4–5, ESV).

If taken literally then the 144,000 refer only to Christian men who have lived a celibate life, who have never lied, and are blameless in every way. But it is better to see verses 4 through 5 as a symbolic description of all who are faithful to Christ, who have not defiled themselves with the world by bowing to idols, but have remained true to their profession, Jesus is Lord!

One should remember that frequently in the Old Testament Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness is called adultery, the people being accused of whoredom. Later in the book of Revelation we will be introduced to another enemy of God’s people, the harlot. She will be seen riding upon the first beast to tempt the saints to abandon the faith through immorality, which is unfaithfulness to God. And remember that in Revelation 19:7 and 21:2 the church us described the bride of Christ, faithful and true. “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…” (Revelation 19:7, ESV). “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2, ESV).

The 144,000 are described in this way, not to indicate that they are celibate males only, to symbolize the churches unwavering devotion to Christ the Lord. The phrase, “it is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins”, indicates their spiritual faithfulness. These are the ones 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.” These are the ones who have been true to their profession of faith. They are ceremonially pure, having been made pure by the blood of the Lamb.

The message is clear. It far better to stand with Christ and to take his mark than to go the way of the world, taking the mark of the beast.

These Give Glory To God Who Is Seated Upon The Throne

Lastly, recognize that these give glory to God who is seated upon the throne.

In verse 2 John,

“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” (Revelation 14:2–3, ESV).

You should notice that worship is a central theme of the book of Revelation. God alone is to be worship. The angels worship him day and night. And the redeemed are to worship him.

Notice that the redeemed are here found singing a new song. This should remind us of Psalm 144:9-10 which says, “I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword” (Psalm 144:9–10, ESV).

And it is a song that only the 144,000 can sing. Not even the angels can sing it. Why would this be? Well, remember, the angels are not redeemed creatures. Some rebelled and were then eternally condemned. Others remained upright and were then confirmed in their righteousness. There is no redemption needed for the elect angels, never fell, there is none offered to the fallen ones. There is no angelic savior. But we humans have a redeemer, who is Christ the Lord. And so we may sing to him like no other in God’s creation. The angels might give glory to God concerning the salvation that he has provided, but we give him praise for having saved us, for having covered all of our sins, and for having clothed us with Christ’s righteousness.

Truly, all things are to the glory of God. We have been redeemed so that we might worship and serve our blessed Savior and the Father who, having loved us, did send him to accomplish our redemption.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, though I do pray that our study of Revelation chapters 12 and 13 did help to make you sober concerning our advisory the devil and the powers that he uses to war against us, I do also pray that the opening scene of Revelation 14 brings comfort to you as you fix your eyes upon our risen Lord. He stands upon the heavenly Mount Zion, and we stand with him, sealed with his name and his Fathers name written upon our foreheads, to follow him wherever he does lead.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Revelation 14:1-5, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Sep 17
24

Sermon: The Beast Rising From The Earth: Revelation 13:11-18

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 3:1–18

“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.’ Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’ Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?’ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” (Daniel 3:1–18, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 13:11-18

“Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Revelation 13:11–18, ESV)

Introduction

I think it would be beneficial for us to ask the same questions concerning this beast that John saw rising out of the earth that we asked last week concerning the beast that John saw rising from sea. Do you remember the questions? There were five of them, and they were these: One, when will this beast appear? Two, who does this beast symbolize? Three, where does this beast have authority? Four, what does this beast do? And five, why does this beast do what he does?

When Will This Beast Appear?

The first question is, when will this beast whom John saw rising out of the earth appear?

We need not devote much time to this question, for a good deal of time was devoted to answering it in the previous sermon concerning the first beast raising from the sea. Remember that that beast – the one that John saw raising from the sea – was active in the world even when John originally penned the book of Revelation. That same beast is active in the world now, and will be active in the world until the Lord returns. In other words the sea beast symbolizes powers and entities that have been, are, and will be present in the world until the end of time, and not just some future figure.

I will not take the time to repeat the arguments that I presented in support of this view, though they would all apply to this second beast as well, for the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth are contemporaries. The beast from the earth works for the beast from the sea. Verse 12 says that the second beast “exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12, ESV).

The powers symbolized by the first beast from the sea are present in the world during the whole church age (symbolized by the time frame of 42 months, or 1,260 days, or a time, times and half a time), and so too are the powers symbolized by the second beast from the earth. These two – the powers symbolized by the first beast and the powers symbolized by the second – work together in their assault against the people of God living in this world.

So, when will this beast whom John saw rising out of the earth appear? The beast from the earth was present and active in John’s day, has been active in the world, and will be until the end of time.

Who Does This Beast Symbolize?

Secondly, who does this beast from the earth symbolize?

It would be helpful to remember that the first beast – the beast from the sea – symbolizes political powers that persecute. This is clear from the obvious connection that exists between the sea beast of Revelation 13 and the four beasts described in Daniel 7. The sea beast of Revelation 13 is a combination of the four beasts of Daniel 7. Those four beasts symbolized successive kingdoms that would rise and fall and persecute the people of God along the way. The beast of Revelation 13, being a hybrid of all four signifies, therefore, not one particular kingdom, but all kingdoms that persecute through political power. This beast, remember, “was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7, ESV). The original readers of the book of Revelation would have thought of Rome and the persecutions endured by Christians there. You and I might think of North Korea or the Islamic State and our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer under those oppressive powers. The sea beast of Revelation 13 is as active in the world today as it was in the days of the early church. It symbolizes political powers that persecute the people of God.

And with that in mind it is important to recognize that the second beast – the one that John saw “rising out of the earth” – is closely connected to the first that rose from the sea. Not only are they contemporaries (active in the world at the same time), they are also colleagues (working towards the same goal).

We are told in verse 12 that the beast from the earth, “exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence” (Revelation 13:12, ESV). Some English Bibles say, “on its behalf” instead of “in its presence” – the beast from the earth, “exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf” – it seems to me that this is the better translation. The Greek word refers to a position in front of or before an entity, and so it is understandable that the translators of the ESV have chosen the phrase, “in its presence”. But the the word might also mean to do something “on behalf” of someone – to go in front of them, as it were, to act on their behalf. Notice that the translators of the ESV have rendered the phrase, “in it presence”, but the have also indicated in a footnote the possible translation, “on its behalf”. The meaning is that the second beast – the beast from the earth – carries out the authority of the first beast from the sea. The second beast works on behalf of the first. The beast from the earth is a kind of minister who serves the beast from the sea, carrying out it wishes.

If the first beast symbolizes political powers that persecute, the second beast symbolizes the political, religious, and economic entities that serve as agents who carry out the persecution of the church and the deception of the ungodly.

These two powers should not be hard for us to identify in the world. It really is quite simple to understand the way in which these two powers, though different from one another, do indeed correspond to one another and cooperate.

I want for you to imagine a situation where there is obvious, organized, and systematic persecution of Christ’s people taking place within a given society. Here I am not talking about isolated, random, and sporadic instances of persecution where an individual or small group decides to treat Christians badly for a time. But I am thinking of those instances where persecution is very deliberate being organized by those who have real political power. Think of the kind of persecution experienced by the Jews (and many Christians too) under Nazi Germany. Think of the kind of persecution experienced by Christians under Nero, Domitian and Trajan in Rome. And think of the kind of persecution endured by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego under Nebuchadnezzar. These are examples of obvious, organized, and systematic persecution motivated by those with real political power.

Now think of this, when persecution of this kind flares up within a society it is not Hitler or Nero or Nebuchadnezzar who carry out the acts of persecution, but their ministers go in front of them to do their bidding and to work on their behalf. These are the powers symbolized by the beast from the land. This second beast symbolizes the political, religious, and economic entities that serve as agents in the carrying out of the persecution of the church and the deception of the ungodly.

Do you see, then, how the first beast from the sea and the second beast from the land do correspond to one another. They are contemporaries and colleagues. The beast from the sea represents those political powers that persecute, but those powers typically remain at a distance from those they persecute. The beast from the earth represents those who get their hands dirty, if you will, who apply the political, religious, and economic pressure to the people of God who refuse to compromise and, through these pressures, deceive the non-elect, leading them away to false worship.

Where Does This Beast Have Authority?

Thirdly we ask, where does this beast have authority?

I do not wish to linger very long here either, but I think it is important to see that this beast from the land, just like the beast from the sea, exercises his authority in all the earth. Look again at verse 12: “It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12, ESV). Also in verse 14 we are told that this beast “deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived” (Revelation 13:14, ESV).

The beast from the land does not function as a precise symbol having as its referent one particular persecuting nation or one particular persecuting person, but to persecuting powers more generally and broadly. The authority of this beast can be observed throughout the earth.

What Does This Beast Do?

Fourthly we ask, what does this beast do?

We have already established that, in general, this second beast acts on behalf of the first. But here we ask, what in particular does he do? What are his methods? What is his objective?

First of all, we should recognize that this beast does try at first to deceive men and women to abandon the true worship of God and to commit idolatry.

Notice the appearance of this second beast. In verse 11 we are told that he looks like a lamb. Again, we have here an imitation of Christ. Do you remember how the first beast imitated Christ so as to function as a counterfeit? In 13:3 we were told that on of the heads of the first beast, “seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3, ESV). The first beast functions as a counterfeit imitating Christ in regards to death and resurrection. But this second beast also imitates Christ functioning as a counterfeit to him. This one looks like a lamb. Remember that Christ was described in chapter 5 as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…” (Revelation 5:6, ESV). Now, this second beast is described as a lamb. We should take note of this, for something of his method is revealed to us here. When this beast does his work he does not at first appear to be a beast at all, but a harmless lamb, gentle, meek and mild.

This beast has two horns. Once everything is considered I think it is best to see these two horns as corresponding to and countering the two faithful witness of Revelation 11. The two witnesses were faithful to proclaim gospel truth even in the face of intense persecution. This beast, as we will see, uses words, but he speaks lies and uses them as a weapon to deceive.

Notice that this beast “speaks like a dragon”. Remember that the dragon was identified in 12:9 as “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9, ESV). This second beast, who symbolizes political, religious, and economic entities that serve as agents who carry out the persecution of the church and the deception of the ungodly on behalf of the first beast, is, like the dragon, deceptive. These political, religious, and economic entities that persecute to after look nice on the surface. They have smooth speech. They seem to care. They claim to love. They offer hope. They appear to do good. But when examined closely they show themselves to be wholeheartedly opposed to God and to his people.

Notice that this second beast from the earth is able to preform “great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of [or “on behalf” of] the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived” (Revelation 13:13–14, ESV).

Here we begin to see clearly that this beast is a false prophet. In fact that is what this beast is called later in the book of Revelation. In 19:20 we read, “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence [or “on its behalf”] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” (Revelation 19:20, ESV). Here the second beast is called “the false prophet”. The same can be said of 16:13 and 20:10. Clearly, this beast from the land is the false prophet. He is not called by that name here, but his true nature is reviled via symbol.

Notice that this beast is allowed to preform “great signs”. He is a counterfeit of Christ. He is a counterfeit of the prophet Moses. Do you remember how when the prophet Moses preformed signs before Pharaoh, “Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts” (Exodus 7:11, ESV). Moses put down his staff and it became a snake, and then servants of Pharaoh did the same. How they did it, I do not know. I assume it was an allusion. The point is that they functioned as a counterfeit to the prophet Moses. Do you see that Pharaoh was a manifestation of the first beast and his servants a manifestation of the second They were false prophets who deceived the people.

This beast is even allowed to make “fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people” (Revelation 13:13, ESV). This should remind us of the contest between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal that is described for us in 1 Kings 18. Do you remember it? there stood the true prophet Elijah and there stood the 450 false prophets of Baal. An alter was erected by each and a bull was sacrificed upon the alter and the prophets were to call upon their God and the true God would send fire from heaven to consume the offering and the alter. The prophets of Baal danced around the alter for hours, cutting themselves, as was their custom, but nothing happened.

“And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, ‘The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.’” (1 Kings 18:36–39, ESV)

But here the beast is said to be allowed to make “fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people” (Revelation 13:13, ESV). The meaning is that false prophets will have success in the world in the time between Christ’s first and second comings.

What is symbolized here in the book of Revelation is said plainly elsewhere in the New Testament. Jesus himself told his followers, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15–16, ESV). In Matthew 24, which has been quoted very often in this sermons series because it is there that Jesus speaks of how things will be in the world between his ascension and his return, Jesus says, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11, ESV). In verse 24 he says, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24, ESV).

I want for you to recognize that it is those within the church who are threatened by the false prophets. They are active, not only out in the world. They deceive, not only those living in the world. But they threaten the church. They arise within Christ’s church, seeking to deceive even those who profess faith in Christ.

Listen to Peter’s words: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies…” (2 Peter 2:1, ESV).

And remember Christ’s rebuke delivered to the church in Thyatita in Revelation 2:18: “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20, ESV). This church had already been compromised by this beast from the land.

The same can be said of the church that was in Pergamum. Christ rebuked them, saying, “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:14–16, ESV). They too had been compromised by the beast from the land, in this instance, by the false teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Do you see that false prophets and false teachers have always threatened God’s people. They are able to lead people astray into false worship. They are able to deceive men and women to commit idolatry, that is, to false worship

To speak very bluntly, Christians today are very gullible and naive to the threat of false teaching within the church. They assume that if a man is called pastor, then he is to be trusted. If he reads a few words from the Bible in his sermon, then what he says must be “biblical”. If he is funny or eloquent or hip, then he is listened to. So many who claim to be Christ followers today do follow men who teach what is false, following them like dumb sheep going to the slaughter.

And how can we know whether a man be true or false? We have God’s word. He is to be tested by God’s word. Does he say what God has said? Does he teach God’s truth? Does he order the church and his ministry according to God’s directives? Does he himself meet God’s qualifications? Or has he gone his own way, having decided for himself what he ought to do and say?

Consider the task that God gave to the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel, the true prophet, was to confront the false prophets of his day. God called him, saying,

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!… ‘They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken? Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.’” (Ezekiel 13:6–8, ESV).

There are many in our day who say, “thus says the Lord” and then proceed to say what the Lord has not said, or fail to say what he has said. Brothers we must beware of the of this beast from the sea who at first comes to us as a wolf in sheep clothing, “to deceive those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived” (Revelation 13:14, ESV).

Secondly, we should recognize that when the beast is unable to, through deception, pursued men to abandon the true worship of God and commit idolatry, he does then persecute them. There are two forms of persecution mentioned in this text. The first is physical, and the second is economic.

Look at verse 15: “And it [the second beast] was allowed to give breath to the image of the [first] beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” (Revelation 13:15, ESV)

Clearly it is the story from Daniel 3 of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that stands behind this passage that we are considering to today.

What does the beast from the earth do? It compels the earth dwellers to make an image of the first beast – the beast from the sea who symbolizes political powers that persecute – so that men would bow down to it and worship it. And what did Nebuchadnezzar do? He set up an image of gold so that his subjects would come to bow before it to worship it.

Now please understand that when Daniel 3:1 says, “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold…” (Daniel 3:1, ESV), it does not mean that King Nebuchadnezzar made the image himself. No, his administrators certainly carried it out. And they also did not build the statue themselves, but compelled the people of that land to build it. Do you see that Nebuchadnezzar was a manifestation of the beast from the sea and his officials – “the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces” (Daniel 3:2, ESV) – were a manifestation of the beast that John saw rising from the earth? They were the ones who saw to it that the statue was built! And they would be the one to see to it that it was worshipped by all in Babylon.

Let us consider again the beast form the earth of Revelation 13. What does this beast do after the image is erected? “It was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain” (Revelation 13:15, ESV).

This also echoes the situation in Daniel 3.

“Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace’” (Daniel 3:3–6, ESV).

If the image were alive – if it were truly a god worthy to be worshipped – then it should speak for itself. But this was no god at all. It was merely the creation of man, and therefore it was dependent upon man, its creator, to speak for him. “The herald”, one of Nebuchadnezzar’s most trusted ministers, no doubt, “proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples… when you hear the sound of the… music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” And what was the threat? “Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

The beast from the earth in Revelation 13 symbolizes the kind of power. It symbolizes those political, religious, and economic entities that serve as agents who carry out the persecution of the church when the faithful refuse to enter into idolatry and abandon the true worship of God.

Notice that this beast uses, not only physical persecution, but also economic sanctions in its quest to nudge men and women towards idolatry.

Look at verse 16: “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name” (Revelation 13:16–18, ESV).

Friends, the mark on the right hand or the forehead is not to be taken literally. It is not a physical mark, but is symbolic. The mark on the right hand or the forehead indicates ownership and allegiance. For one to take the mark of the beast one must pledge allegiance to the beast, bow in worship before it, confessing it as lord.

Remember that those who pledge allegiance to Christ, bow in worship before him, confessing him as Lord, have been marked by him. They are the ones who are “sealed” from every tribe of the sons of Israel (Revelation 7:4). Turn over to 14:1. It is no accident that immediately after the mark of the beast is mentioned in 13:18 we read, “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” (Revelation 14:1, ESV). Certainly this is not to be taken literally either, but it a symbol ownership and allegiance. These who have God’s name written on their foreheads are those who belong to him, and he to them.

All who are of the world, who trust in the world, who bow before Caesar, saying, “Caesar is Lord” taken upon themselves the mark of the beast. All who are of Christ, who trust in Christ, who bow before Christ, saying, “Jesus is Lord!”, are “sealed” by him and have “his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads”.

Notice that it only those who have the mark of the beast who are allowed to buy and sell. The mark of the beast, though it is not a literal physical mark, but symbolic and spiritual, may from time to time manifest itself in physical and tangible ways.

There is evidence that during the reign of Decius (249 A.D.) and Diocletian (303 A.D.) that certificates were issue to those were loyal to the emperor and participated in the required rituals of the imperial religion. To have a certificate would mean that you could buy ad sell and enjoy life within the society. To lack it put you at risk. You would not be free to trade, and you may be in danger of imprisonment or even death. Here the mark of the beast took on a physical form, and so it might in the future too.

I remember a brother from Turkey telling me that the drivers licenses indicated your religion. If you were a Muslim it was easy to get a job. If your license said Christian, it was far more difficult. I’m not sure if this is still true today, but it is an example of a physical mark of the beast.

I do find it almost amusing to watch Christians who hold to the futuristic and literalistic interpretation of the book of Revelation freak out when there is talk of new payment method involving a chip implanted in the skin, or some such thing. Is that the mark of the beast? No! Not unless you are required to denounce Christ, or to bow in worship before Caesar, or to do or say some other thing that would amount to a denial of our Lord to get it! Then it would be a physical manifestation of the mark of the beast.

Verse 18 reveals to us the number of the beast. “This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

Last week I mentioned that this number might refer to the Emperor Nero, who was notorious for his mistreatment of Christians, who died in 68 A.D. This theory is based upon the method of assigning numerical value to the Hebrew letters of Nero’s name. When you add them up they equal 666.

I wish back away from this view a little. If the number 666 does indeed have reference to Nero I think it is probably of secondary significance. A much more straight forward interpretation of this number involves seeing it as then number of sinful and fallen man – a number that communicates total imperfection. The number which communicates completion or perfection in the scriptures is seven.The number of God and of his Christ would be 777. Here we have trinity of seven’s, if you will. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – 777. But the number of the beast is the number of man, or the number of imperfection, repeated three times over. We have here a trinity of sixes – a trinity of imperfection. It should be recognized that three figures have been introduced to us so far who oppose God and his people – the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. These three are a false trinity who seek to deceive men and women to worship them instead of God.

The number 666 is meant to impress upon the reader just how foolish it is to go the way of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. You’ll be sorely disappointed with what you find there. They are incomplete and imperfect. They are creatures of God, and not the Creator, who in six days made all things in heaven and on earth, and on the seventh day did enter into his holy rest.

Do not take this mark, friends, by turning from the worship of the one true to the worship of idols. Worship the Creator only, and not the creation. This calls for wisdom.

Why Does This Beast Do What He Does?

The fifth and last question is this: why does this beast from the earth do what he does? It is because he is Satanic. He is minister of the first beast, who is a minster of the dragon himself. Let us not be deceived.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Revelation 13:11-18, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Sep 17
17

Sermon: The Beast Rising From The Sea: Revelation 13:1-10

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7:1–14

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.’” (Daniel 7:1–12, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 13:1-10

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:1–10, ESV)

Introduction

Here we have a transition in the book of Revelation.

Chapter 12 focused upon “the great dragon…who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9, ESV). He was identified as the primary spiritual opponent of God, the Christ, and the people of God living upon the earth. His objective since the fall of man has been to devour God’s people so as to consume God’s Christ. This he attempted to do, and this he thought he accomplished when Christ was crucified. But Christ rose from the dead, ascended to the Father and was seated upon his heavenly throne. The dragon was then barred from heaven and confined to the earth. John heard a heavenly voice saying, “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12, ESV). What did the dragon do having be barred from heaven upon Christ’s session? He immediately resumed his pursuit and persecution of God’s people. “He pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child” (Revelation 12:13, ESV), and he made “war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17, ESV). God’s promise to his people is that he will nourish them and preserve them spiritually, though they will indeed experience warfare in this world..

Clearly the focus shifts in chapter 13 away from the dragon to two beasts. John sees a vision of the first beast rising from the sea in 13:1. And in 13:11 he describes a beast rising from the earth who does the bidding of the first beast. The shift in focus is obvious, but I would like to draw your attention to the way in which chapters 12 and 13 are connected.

Remember that chapter 12 concluded with the words, “And he [the dragon] stood on the sand of the sea” (Revelation 12:17, ESV). It is important that you visualize this. Imagine this ferocious and enraged dragon standing upon the seashore. And then immediately we read “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Revelation 13:1, ESV). When we come to 13:11 we will hear John say, “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11, ESV).

The meaning is this: The dragon, who symbolizes Satan himself, is devoted to the pursuit are persecution of God’s people – he is committed to making “war on the… offspring [of the woman], on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17, ESV) – but he will wage this war, not always in a direct way, but through these two beasts. And so there he stands on the seashore summoning the beast from the sea (who looks like him) and the beast from the land (who talks like him) so that they might do his bidding in the world, to war against all who belong to God and to Christ.

Today we will consider the first of the two beasts. As we consider Revelation 13:1-10 we will ask five questions. One, when will this beast appear? Two, who or what does this beast symbolize? Three, where does this beast have authority? Four, what does this beast do? And five, why does this beast do what he does? Having answered these questions we will be well prepared to ask, how should this passage of holy scripture affect my life today?

When Will This Beast Appear?

So when will this beast appear? Truthfully, it would be better to put the question this way: “when did this beast appear?” But if I put the question that way from the beginning it would have tipped you off to the answer prematurely. The answer is that this beast was active in the world even when John originally penned this letter to the seven churches in the first century A.D. This same beast is active in the world now, and will be active in the world until the Lord returns.

Again, I must briefly address the futurist view of the beast of Revelation 13, which is most popular today. The futurist, when asked, when will this beast appear?, says “in the future during the last three and a half years of human history before the Lord returns in judgment”. I’m almost tired of having to address the futurist position, but the view is so prominent within evangelicalism today that I must say something about it. I refer you to previous sermons and previous classes offered at Emmaus for a detailed explanation as to why I believe it is wrong to view the book of Revelation as being mainly about the future and not about the state of affairs in the world today. For now I will simply draw your attention to what this text says and also its relationship to the passages that have come before it.

Notice that in verse 5 we are specifically told that “the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5, ESV).

I’ve already established in previous sermons that this three and a half year period of time is not to to be taken literally, but is symbolic for the time between Christ’s first and second comings. This three and a half year period of time is sometimes called 42 months (3.5 years x 12 months). Sometimes it is referred to as 1,260 days (3.5 years x 360 days per year according to ancient custom of measuring a year). And sometimes it is referred to as a time, times and half a times (1 year + 2 years + 1/2 a year). This three and a half period is symbolic of the period of time where those who belong to Christ will suffer tribulation in the world. And when will the people of God suffer tribulation in the world? It is not in the future only, but in the past, present, and future. It is terrible myth to say that God’s people will not experience tribulation in the world. That contradicts the historical record, and it contradicts the scriptures. Christ himself spoke his disciples saying, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV)? Friends, this is the reality that has been symbolized over and over again in the book of Revelation, but in different ways. On the one hand, God’s people will have tribulation, but on the other hand, we are to take courage in Christ because he has overcome the world. This is the situation – preservation through tribulation – portrayed in each scene designated by the time frame of 42 months, or 1,260 days, or time, times, and half a time.

Look with me (one last time) at the five references to this three and a half year period found in Revelation chapters 11 through 13, and please notice the common theme.

It was in chapter 11 verses 1 through 2 that we were told of a heavenly temple that was measured and protected by God while the courtyard was left unmeasured and vulnerable on earth to the trampling of the nations. The church is the temple, remember. She is simultaneously perfectly secure and yet vulnerable to persecution in the world. How long will this situation of preservation through tribulation last? 42 months.

After this we immediately encountered two witnesses. These witness, who were also called “two lamp stands” and two “olive trees” symbolized the church in her witnessing role. After they fulfilled their task thy were killed and the nations rejoiced over them, but they were raised from the dead and caught up to God. How long did these witnesses witness? How long will this situation of preservation through tribulation last? They fulfilled their task while suffering persecution for 1,260 days, being ultimately preserved by God.

And then in chapter 12 we were introduced to the woman who gave birth to the male child. She too symbolized God’s people in every age. And after she gave birth we were told that she “fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished…” (Revelation 12:6, ESV). The wilderness would be a place of testing and tribulation, but also a place of preservation. How long will this situation of preservation through tribulation last? The texts says1,260 days.

Later in chapter 12 we were reintroduced to this woman being nourished in the wilderness to learn more about what she would endure there. She was pursued by the dragon who attempted to drown her in a flood of lies and deception, but she was preserved by God in that wilderness place. And how long will this situation of preservation through tribulation last? She was “nourished for a time, and times, and half a time” (Revelation 12:14, ESV).

And finally we come to the last reference to this symbolic three and a half year period here in 13:5 where we read, “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority… (Revelation 13:5, ESV). How long will the beast be permitted to do this? We are told that it will be for 42 months, which should take our minds back to the first mention of this three and a half year period where the temple was said to be measured and protected and yet trampled for 42 months.

The time in which the beast is active is the same time in which the women and her offspring will be pursued and preserved which is the same period of time in which the witnesses will witness which is the same time in which temple will be both measured and yet exposed to trampling.

I’ve presented you with reasons for viewing this period of time as symbolic in previous sermons. I’ve explained where these numbers come form (from the OT and also from historical events) and why they serve as effective symbols communicating the idea of a time of tribulation for the people of God and also preservation. I do not wish to repeat those arguments here but to simply draw your attention to fact that book of Revelation recapitulates. In chapters 11 through 13 alone we have looked upon the entire time between Christ’s first and second comings (the church age) from many different points of view.

So, when did this beast from the sea appear? Well, we know that it was present in John day. In the narrative of Revelation it arose from the sea after Satan was barred from heaven and thrown to the earth. This happened when Christ sat down upon his heavenly throne after his death, resurrection, and ascension. There is nothing at all in the text that would suggest that this beast will only be present sometime in our future.

More can be said, but for now let us simply recognize that this beast from the sea has been present and active in the world at least from the time of Christ’s ascension to his heavenly throne.

Who Or What Does This Beast Symbolize?

Secondly, we must answer the question, who or what does this beast symbolize? The answer is this: the sea beast of Revelation 13 symbolizes political powers that persecute.

Notice the description of the beast in verses 1 and 2. John writes,

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.” (Revelation 13:1–2, ESV)

Those familiar with the Old Testament scriptures will immediately recognize that this beast is a combination of the beasts of Daniel chapter 7 which was read at the beginning of this sermon. Remember that Daniel (who ministered from approximately 600 – 540 B.C.) saw a vision similar to that of John’s where “the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another” (Daniel 7:2–3, ESV). He then describes the beasts.

“The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings… a second one, like a bear…. and behold, another, like a leopard… After this [he] saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. [He] considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:4–8, ESV).

Later in Daniel 7 an interpretation is given concerning the symbolism of these creatures, and we are told in a most direct way that each beast represents a kingdom that would rise and fall in the future (from Daniel’s perspective). The fourth kingdom would be far greater and far more fierce than the first three. Though Daniel and his original audience did not know the names of all these kingdoms, we do now that this prophesy has been fulfilled.

The beasts of Daniel 7 symbolize the rise and fall of the Babylonians, the Medo-Persians, the Greeks, and lastly the Romans. These kingdoms would oppose God and the people of God, but God would have victory over them and judge them. More than that, it would be in the time of the fourth kingdom (the Roman Empire) that “one like a son of man” would appear. He would come “to the Ancient of Days” and be “presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13–14, ESV). What does this prophesy describe except the resurrection, ascension, and session of Christ at the Fathers right hand.

The meaning of the vision of Daniel 7, therefore, is that though powerful kingdoms will rise and fall, and though these kingdom will indeed war against God and persecute his people, God sits enthroned in heaven. He is Lord of all creation. He will judge these kingdoms in due time. And he will establish his kingdom beginning with the arrival of the Christ and culminating in his second coming.

This is not a sermon on Daniel 7. If it were we would spend much more time on that text. For now simply recognize, first of all, that the beasts of Daniel 7 symbolize political powers that persecute God’s people. Therefore, the beast of Revelation 13 represents something similar to what the beasts of Daniel 7 symbolized, namely kingdoms, or political powers that oppose God and persecute the people of God.

But we should also notice that the beast of Revelation 13 it is not exactly like any of the four beasts of Daniel 7, but is a combination of the four. This tips us off to the fact that this beast does not represent one particular kingdom, but all of the political powers used by Satan to persecute the saints throughout the church age. Remember that this beast will be active, not for a brief time, but for the whole time between Christ’s first and second comings. This beast will be active for 42 months, or, a times, time and half a time, that language also being drawn from Daniel to describe the last days which span from Christ’s first coming on to the consummation.

So when the seven churches who were living Asia Minor in 90A.D. received this letter from John and read of the sea beast of Revelation 13, what came to mind? Did they think, I wonder when this beast will arise sometime in the distant future? No, they thought of Rome! They remembered the persecutions of Nero some 30 years earlier. They thought of the persecutions of Domitian that were currently flaring up around them. They thought of the opposition that they faced even in their home towns from political powers. These persecutions were clearly alluded to in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

And the same can be said for the Christ followers living in every age after Christ’s ascension to the right hand of the Father. Indeed, from the time of the fall of man this has been a tactic of the evil one. He has used political powers to persecute the people of God for eons, and it will continue on to the time of the end.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been studying John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress. Lord willing, we will begin a study of that book in the Emmaus Essentials hour beginning on October the 22nd. I almost feel compelled to beg you to come to that class and to bring your children, especially your teens. The book is an allegory of the Christian life and it is filled with rich spiritual insights. John Bunyan lived in the seventeenth century. He was, to use terminology that is common today, a Reformed Baptist Pastor in a time and place when it was dangerous to be a Reformed Baptist Pastor. He wrote most of the Pilgrims Progress from prison. He spent 12 years in prison because he would not conform to the church of England, but continued to preach without a license as a non-conformist. At that time the church and state were not separate, and the church would often use the power of the state to persecute those who would not conform to their view. The Roman Catholic church did the same thing in the days following the Protestant Reformation.

Very many examples can be given from history where those with political power persecute the people of God. Ironically, sometimes it is even those who claim to be Christian who are guilty of such things. This has been true in the past, it is true of today, and it will be true on to consummation. One of the tactics of the evil one is to use political and worldly powers to put pressure on Christ’s church so that she might compromise in her faith.

Some say that the beast from the sea in Revelation 13 is to be identified with the person whom John calls the “Antichrist” in 1 and 2 John. Some have also made a connection between the sea beast and the person that Paul calls “the man of sin”. And actually, this view is not altogether wrong so long as we remember that John, while a spoke of the Antichrist who would arise at the end of time, also said that many antichrists would come and that they were even present in his day. He wrote, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18, ESV). The same “already, and not yet” principle can be seen in Paul’s teaching concerning the, so-called, “man of sin”. Paul wrote, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8, ESV). So in Paul’s words the lawless man of sin will come at the end of time and will be struck down by Jesus at his second coming, but even in his day the “mystery of lawlessness [was] already at work”. So in John’s day many antichrists had already come, but the Antichrist would not come until the end of time. Similarly the “mystery of lawlessness [was] already at work” in Paul’s day, the man of lawlessness would not appear util the end of time.

I think it is right that we view the beast of Revelation 13 in the same way. This beast was present in the world even as John wrote the book of Revelation. This beast is present in the world now. And this beast (representing political powers that persecute) will indeed be present until the Lord returns, at which time he will be fully and finally judged.

Revelation 19:17-21 describes this event:

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, ‘Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.’ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army [Christ and his people]. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh” (Revelation 19:17–21, ESV).

The beast of Revelation 13 symbolizes political powers that persecute, past, present and future.

We have a few questions remaining, and I will answer them quickly.

Where Does This Beast Have Authority?

The third question is this: where does this beast have authority? The answer is that this beast has authority over all the earth.

Look at verse 7:

“Also [the beast] was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:7–8, ESV).

What Does This Beast Do?

Fourthly, what does this beast do. We have already indicated that the beast represents political powers that persecute, but more is said than this. The beast also seeks to deceive people and to lead them to false worship as he blasphemes the name of God.

Look at verses 3-6:

“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.” (Revelation 13:3–6, ESV)

What does the text mean when it says, “One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.”

I will make three brief observations about this.

One, there seems to an imitation of Christ taking place here. Christ was described in 5:6 as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…” (Revelation 5:6, ESV). Here the beasts seems to have recovered from a mortal wound. Its as if the beast presents itself as an alternative to Christ, saying “trust me and not him!”

Two, it is interesting to note that though the Emperor Nero, who was a most wicked man, committed suicide in 68 A.D. there was even up to the time of the writing of the book of Revelation a wide spread rumor that Nero was really not dead but had fled to Parthia and that he would return leading the Parthian army to reconquer Rome and to reestablish his rule. It is possible that the Nero myth stands behind the image of the mortally wounded head which was healed. The argument for this view will be strengthened next week as we consider the number 666 which is probably symbolic of the Emperor Nero.

Three, I wonder if the reference to the mortally wounded but healed head has something to do with the way in which kings rise and then fall after which another king rises to take his place. The same can be said for kingdoms. Kingdoms rise and fall and then another rises again. There has been a kind of resurrection that happens throughout the history of the world as kingdoms come and go and come again. The Daniel 7 passages also seems to allude to this phenomenon.

It is no wonder that men and women are deceived to trust in these kingdoms and to worship the gods of these kingdoms instead of Christ. These seem to be so powerful and ultimately invincible, especially when compared to the kingdom of God in this world, which is so humble, small, and comparatively weak. Compare, for example, the church of God in America today to the power and might of United States of America. The church seems very weak and vulnerable, and the political power seems so strong. God’s word is here providing us with a different perspective on the matter.

But notice what the beast does. He leads men and woman to worship the dragon and not Christ. Verse 4: “And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Revelation 13:4, ESV). Indeed, even many in our day who call themselves Christians have been led astray to put their hope ultimately in political powers instead of in Christ and his kingdom.

And notice that the beast also blasphemes against God and against his dwelling. It is well known that the Roman Emperors by the time of Domitian made a habit of demanding that worship be offered up to them as if they were God’s. This is the hight of blasphemy. Political powers can tend in this direction.

Why Does The Beast Do What He Does?

Lastly we ask, why does the beast do what he does? The answer will be most brief: He does what he does being empowered by the dragon to do it. The beast from the sea and the beast from the earth are instruments and ministers of he dragon, who is “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.”

Application

So how should this affect us?

Actually, the text provides us with the application. Look at verses 9 and 10: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:9–10, ESV).

The meaning is this: God is sovereign over the kingdoms of this world. And he has decreed and will providentially permit even the suffering of his people. We are trust God in this world! We are to endure, which means to bear up under difficult circumstances. We are to persevere in the faith even in the face of extreme persecution.

I do believe that one of the reasons Christians today have such a difficult time properly interpreting the book of Revelation is that we have not experienced much in the way of persecution. It is largely foreign to us. We read about it sometimes. But to many Christians in our land it seems like something that belongs to a bygone era. I do believe that if we knew persecution (and also if we knew the Old Testament) the book of Revelation would make more sense to us. This ridiculous and idiotic teaching that God would never allow his saints to suffer tribulation really does make the book of Revelation hard to understand (if the teaching is believed), for that is what the book describes! It describes the bride of Christ under assault, and it calls the Christian to endure and to persevere in faith, trusting always in Christ.

Buy yourself a copy of Foxes Book of Martyrs and read it. Go to persecution.com, which is the website of Voice of the Martyrs and look around. Subscribe to Heart Cry Missionary Societies news letter so that you might be aware of what is going on in the world today, especially as it pertains to world missions. And simply grow in your understanding of church history! If you do these things you will not be so quick to believe that view which says that the beast from the sea will arrive only in the last three and a half years of human history and that the church will be raptured by then, for God would never allow his people to suffer tribulation. What a ridiculous idea that is.

Brothers and sisters, we should pray for the persecuted church around the world today. We should pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are threatened by political powers with economic sanctions, imprisonment, and even death, that they would indeed bear up under the sufferings and remain true to Christ, persevering in the faith. And we should do some soul searching of our own, asking, would I bear up under the pressure? Lord help us. Make us faithful servants of yours in this world.

Secondly, I would like to say a word about politics. It seems to me that there is a ditch on both sides of the road into which Christians may fall.

On left side there is the ditch is naïveté. Here the Christian has too high of a view of government and politics and assumes that men are basically good and trusts that when these basically good men gain power they will do what is good for all. Indeed, there are some “good men and women” (I speak in relative terms, of course), but we should forget that governments and rulers have historically tended towards self-service and oppression.

But the ditch on the right side of the road is the ditch of extreme pessimism and disengagement. Here the Christian assumes that every government and every political figure is a manifestation of the beast that arises out of the sea. Here the Christian assumes the worst always. This is an umbilical view. It is also a view that is inconsistent with history. Thanks be to God, not all government persecute God’s people. By the mercy of God some do facilitate peace and freedom to worship. When we find ourselves living in such a society – a society with a government like the one described in Romans 13 – we should rejoice and give thanks to God for it.

Brothers and sisters, we are commanded to pray for those who govern. “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV).

And we are to respect those who govern over us. “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:7, ESV).

But neither should we be naïve. If and when persecution does come “let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19, ESV).

Lastly, let us not live according to the appearance of things but according to the truth revealed for us in God’s word. If we walk according to sight – what we can perceive with our natural eyes – the surely we will abandon Christ and go the way of the world. The world seems so much more powerful, pleasant and even wise. But if we walk by faith, believing instead upon God’s word, then we will certainly forsake the world and follow hard after Christ.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26, ESV).

Brothers and sisters, let us walk by faith and not by sight.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Revelation 13:1-10, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

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