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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 57

TITLE: THE BLESSED AND THE CURSED

TEXT: REVELATION 14:12-16

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE NEW TESTAMENT HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED OR BLESSEDNESS, OR GENUINE HAPPINESS.

* IN FACT THE GREEK ADJECTIVE USED IN THE N.T. TO DESCRIBE THIS INNER JOY IS MAKARIOS WHICH IS USED 50 TIMES IN THE N.T.

** THIS WORD REFERS TO REAL SATISFACTION, SPIRITUAL JOY AND COMES FROM A ROOT MAKAR, WHICH MEANS TO BE HAPPY OR BLISSFUL, BUT NOT IN THE USUAL IDEA OF HAPPINESS WHICH IS BASED ON THINGS GOING OUR WAY OR POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES.

*** MAKARIOS HAPPINESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HAPPENSTANCE OR CIRCUMSTANCE BUT OBEDIENCE, TRUST IN A SOVEREIGN GOD AND CONTENTMENT WITH HIS PROVIDENTIAL WORK IN OUR LIVES.

**** N.T. BLESSEDNESS OR HAPPINESS DESCRIBES AN INNER JOY THAT COMES FROM OUR WALK WITH JESUS – WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

(2) IT IS AN INNER JOY THAT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF HOLY LONGING, A SERENE, UNTOUCHABLE, CONTENTMENT AND PEACE THAT IS NOT VULNERABLE TO ASSAULTS BY QUOTE NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES.

* IT IS A TRUST IN GOD’S HIGHER WAYS WHEN THINGS DON’T MAKE SENSE, BUT OUR TRUST IN OUR GREAT GOD’S PROVIDENCE LEADS TO PEACE AND CONTENTMENT, TRUE JOY OR HAPPINESS.

** NOW THIS GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF WHAT OUR WORLD TELLS US WE NEED TO MAKE US HAPPY.

*** LET ME ILLUSTRATE. THE WORLD TELLS US HAPPY ARE THE RICH. HAPPY ARE THE FAMOUS, HAPPY ARE THE POPULAR. HAPPY ARE THE PROUD.

**** HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE FULL, HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO DON’T TAKE ANY GUFF OR ANYONE PUTTING THEM DOWN VERBALLY.

(3) AND THEN HAPPY ARE THE SINFUL, HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT GET PUSHED AROUND, AND HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

* YET IN CHRIST’S KINGDOM, UNDER THE RULES OF LIFE THAT HE HAS LAID OUT FOR US TO LIVE HERE AND NOW, IN CONTRAST TO WHAT THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD SAYS, EVERYTHING IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

** FOR THE WAY TO GET IS TO GIVE, READ LUKE 6:38.

*** THE WAY UP IS DOWN, READ MATTHEW 23:12 AND JAMES 4:6.

**** THE WAY TO SAVE YOUR LIFE IS TO LOSE IT, READ MATTHEW 16:24&25.

***** AND THEN WHEN YOU MOVE TO THE BEATITUDES WHERE WE READ TO BEGIN WITH TODAY, WHERE THE WORD BLESSED, MAKARIOS IS USED NINE TIMES, THINGS ARE REALLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

(4) FOR GET THIS, IN MATTHEW 5:3 BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT…OR HAPPY ARE THE NOBODIES.

* IN MATTHEW 5:4, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN…OR HAPPY ARE THE SAD.

** IN MATTHEW 5:5, BLESSED ARE THE GENTLE…OR HAPPY ARE THE MEEK.

*** IN MATTHEW 5:6, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST…OR HAPPY ARE THE HUNGRY.

**** IN MATTHEW 5:7, BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL…OR HAPPY ARE THE MERCIFUL.

(5) IN MATTHEW 5:8, BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART…OR HAPPY ARE THE HOLY.

* IN MATTHEW 5:9, BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS…OR HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.

** AND THEN IN MATTHEW 5:10-12 BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE…OR HAPPY ARE THE HARASSED.

*** NOW YOU CAN SEE THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED, TRULY HAPPY DO NOT FOLLOW THE PATH THAT OUR WORLD PRESCRIBES FOR HAPPINESS.

**** EVERYTHING IS TURNED, THE TABLES ARE TURNED AND WHAT THE WORLD TELLS YOU TO DO, TO BE HAPPY, IS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE MANY TIMES FROM WHAT GOD TELLS US TO DO.

(6) NOW LET ME GIVE YOU ONE MORE EXAMPLE THAT LEADS US TO OUR STUDY TODAY WHICH WILL ROCK OUR WORLDS.

* AND THAT IS THE WORLD SAYS, DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO STAY ALIVE, BUT IN REVELATION 14:13 IN OUR TEXT TODAY IT SAYS: (READ IT)

** AND HERE’S THE BEATITUDE OF REVELATION 14:13, HAPPY ARE THE DEAD FOR THEY REST FROM THE LABORS.

**** NOW KEEP IN MIND THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO THOSE IN CONTEXT OF REVELATION 14:10 WHO FOLLOW ANTICHRIST, WHO WILL HAVE NO REST DAY OR NIGHT, BUT WILL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE FOREVER AND EVER.

***** AND WHAT WE WILL SEE IN OUR STUDY TODAY IS A CONTRAST FROM SAINTS TO SINNERS AND THEIR END.

(7) FOR THE SAINTS WILL BE BLESSED AND SINNERS WITHOUT CHRIST WILL BE CURSED, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR STUDY TODAY.

* AND TODAY THAT CONTRAST WILL BE VERY CLEAR. FOR THE SAINTS PERSEVERE, THE SAINTS HAVE PEACE, BUT THOSE WHO FOLLOW ANTICHRIST IN THE SETTING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD WILL BE JUDGED.

** AND WE’LL SEE THAT IN REVELATION 14:12-16 BY LOOKING AT 3 POINTS.

*** NO. 1 THE RESOLVE OF TRUE SAINTS, V. 12; NO. 2 THE RELIEF OF SAINTS WHO DIE IN THE LORD, V. 13; AND NO. 3 THE REAPING OF JUDGMENT FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW AND WORSHIP THE BEAST – ANTICHRIST, VV. 14-16.

**** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR MAP TO HELP US UNDERSTAND OUR TEXT TODAY, LET’S BEGIN OUR STUDY BY LOOKING AT OUR FIRST POINT, THE RESOLVE. LOOK AT REVELATION 14:12 PLEASE.

I. THE RESOLVE, (READ V. 12)

A. NOW BEGINNING IN V. 12 AND CONTINUING IN V. 13, WE HAVE SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS TO THE SAINTS, TO BELIEVERS, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE JUDGMENT TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND AFTER THESE VERSES TO THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS.

* IN OTHER WORDS, THE ENCOURAGING WORDS OF VERSES 12 & 13 FORMS A BRIEF INTERVAL OF RELIEF, A BRIEF REMINDER TO PERSEVERE FOR THE SAINTS, TO HANG IN THERE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE ASSAULTS FROM THE ANTICHRIST AND THEN ALL OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS AROUND THEM.

** AND HERE’S THE TRUTH: SINCE THE FATE OF THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS IS SO DREADFUL, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS TO ENDURE AND KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS.

*** FOR IT IS BETTER TO BE PERSECUTED AND EVEN KILLED BY THE BEAST THAN TO SUFFER ETERNAL TORMENT WITH HIM.

**** BELOVED, A CONSIDERATION OF ETERNAL REALITIES AND DESTINIES SUSTAIN THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

1. AND YES DURING THIS FUTURE TIME OF JUDGMENT, GOD SUSTAINS HIS PEOPLE AND THEY WILL PERSEVERE, THEY WILL ENDURE.

* THE FIRST PHRASE OF V. 12, “HERE IS THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS”, “HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS”, “HERE IS A CALL FOR THE ENDURANCE OF THE SAINTS”, “THIS CALLS FOR PATIENT ENDURANCE”, DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE.

** THE POINT BEING, ENDURANCE, PERSEVERANCE, SPIRITUAL RESOLVE IS THE KEY TO ENABLEMENT FOR SUSTAINED AND PERSISTENT FAITHFULNESS UNDER PERSECUTION.

*** AND REMEMBER, THE TRIBULATION BELIEVERS WILL ENDURE THE MOST INTENSE PERSECUTION IN HUMAN HISTORY.

**** AND THERE IS NO STRONGER EVIDENCE THAT SAVING FAITH PERSEVERES THAN THE REALITY THAT THE MOST TESTED BELIEVERS IN HISTORY WILL MAINTAIN THEIR SAVING FAITH UNTIL THE END.

2. NOW KEEP IN MIND, THEIR FAITH WILL ENDURE, BECAUSE FOR THOSE WHOM GOD HAS ELECTED, CALLED AND JUSTIFIED WILL NEVER LOSE THEIR FAITH, BUT WILL PERSEVERE. READ II TIMOTHY 4:18, I PETER 1:4&5 AND PHILIPPIANS 1:6.

* AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS GREAT DOCTRINE, THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS OR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO SO I’M NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON IT.

** BUT REMEMBER, WE PERSEVERE BECAUSE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN WORK OF GRACE IN US AS THE FIRST CAUSE OF OUR FAITH.

*** AND WE WANT TO OBEY AND OUR FAITH ENDURES BECAUSE OF THAT WORK.

**** WHICH TAKES US TO THE END OF V. 12, “WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THEIR FAITH IN JESUS.”

3. AND WHAT DOES A TRUE BELIEVER OR SAINT DO IN THE MIDST OF GREAT TRIAL? THEY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THEIR FAITH PERSEVERES, THEY DON’T LEAVE THE FAITH OR DENY THE FAITH OR GIVE UP ON THE FAITH OR SAY I TRIED IT BUT IT DIDN’T WORK.

* NO, THEY PERSEVERE. YES THERE ARE DOUBTS AND FEARS AND QUESTIONS, BUT A TRUE BELIEVER PERSEVERES, ENDURES BY GOD’S GRACE.

** AND THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE TRIBULATION WILL BE MANIFEST OR EVIDENT BECAUSE THEY WILL KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

*** AND THEIR OBEDIENCE IS NOT WHAT SAVES THEM, BUT GIVES EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE SAVED.

**** THE SAINTS OF THIS TIME HAVE A REAL LIVING FAITH IN CHRIST AND THEY WILL REMAIN LOYAL TO CHRIST, EVEN UNDER THE TERRIBLE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST.

4. AND EVEN THE THREAT OF EXECUTION WILL NOT CAUSE THEM TO ABANDON THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST. THERE WILL BE A RESOLVE TO OBEY AND THEIR FAITH WILL ENDURE.

* AND MANY OF THEM WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF THEIR PERSEVERANCE, BUT IT WILL BE A BLESSING FOR THEM, IT WILL BE RELIEF, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE RELIEF. LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE.

II. THE RELIEF, (READ V. 13)

A. NOW PERSEVERANCE AND RESOLVE AND LOYALTY TO CHRIST UNDER ANTICHRIST’S REIGN WILL MEAN INEVITABLE DEATH FOR MANY.

* IN LIGHT OF THAT, JOHN MOVES FROM HIS EXHORTATION TO RESOLVE TO SPEAK OF THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE A MARTYR’S DEATH.

** AND HE HEARS A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, WHICH IS NOT IDENTIFIED, BUT HE HEARS A VOICE FROM HEAVEN THAT TELLS HIM TO WRITE DOWN WHAT IS SAID.

*** NOW THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THAT JOHN HEARS A VOICE FROM HEAVEN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, AND HE WILL HEAR SUCH A VOICE 3 MORE TIMES IN REVELATION.

**** BUT AS HE HEARS THIS VOICE, PROBABLY GOD’S NOT AN ANGEL, HE IS COMMANDED TO WRITE, WHICH HAPPENS 11 OTHER TIMES IN REVELATION GIVING US A TOTAL OF 12. TWELVE TIMES IN REVELATION JOHN IS TOLD TO WRITE.

1. AND SPECIFICALLY IN THIS SETTING JOHN IS TOLD TO WRITE, “BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD.”

* AND THE WORD “BLESSED” THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN MY INTRODUCTION IS USED FOR THE 2’D TIME IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THE FIRST BEATITUDE IN REVELATION WAS IN REVELATION 1:3 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).

** NOW GOING BACK TO OUR TEXT IN REVELATION 14:13 WE HAVE THE 2’D OF 7 BEATITUDES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION AS FIVE MORE BLESSEDS WILL FOLLOW.

*** AND THE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION FROM THIS POINT ON.

**** FOR THE MARTYRED BELIEVERS FROM THAT POINT ON UNTIL THE END OF THE TRIBULATION WILL HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.

2. THEIR DEATHS, LIKE ALL WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LORD WILL BE SPECIAL.

* AND ANYONE WHO DIES IN THE LORD OR DIES FOR THE LORD IS BLESSED, FOR PSALM 116:15 SAYS: (READ IT). ALSO READ II CORINTHIANS 5:8 AND PHILIPPIANS 1:21&23.

** BUT ALTHOUGH ALL BELIEVERS ARE BLESSED, TRULY HAPPY WHO DIE IN THE LORD, THESE TRIBULATION MARTYRS ARE SPECIALLY BLESSED.

*** FOR ONE THING, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS QUOTING DIRECTLY IN REVELATION ONCE HERE AND IN REVELATION 22:17 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).

**** NOW TECHNICALLY THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVED ALL THE BIBLICAL WRITERS TO WRITE WHAT THEY WROTE AS THEY WERE INSPIRED TO WRITE EXACTLY WHAT GOD BREATHED OUT TO THEM, READ II PETER 1:20&21 AND II TIMOTHY 3:16.

3. BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A SPECIAL “YES” FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, A STRONG AFFIRMATION THAT SHOWS HE AGREES WITH THE HEAVENLY VOICE THAT THE DEAD ARE BLESSED.

* IN OTHER WORDS, HE IN A SPECIAL WAY AT THIS SPECIAL TIME IN HISTORY GIVES SPECIAL AFFIRMATION TO THESE WORDS BEYOND HIS NORMAL AFFIRMATION OF ALL THE WORD OF GOD THAT HE INSPIRED.

** AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A DIVINE YES TO THESE TRUTHS!

*** YES THEY ARE BLESSED! YES THEY WILL REST FROM THEIR LABORS, YES THERE IS A REWARD FOR THEM!

**** AND THIS IS RATHER UNIQUE, BUT IT JUST ADDS EMPHASIS OF AFFIRMATION.

4. NOW HOW ARE THESE TRIBULATION SAINTS WHO ARE MARTYRED SPECIALLY BLESSED?

* WELL, NO. 1 “THEY REST FROM THEIR LABORS.” AND THIS IS IN DIRECT CONTRAST TO THE LOST WHO HAVE NO REST DAY OR NIGHT.

** FOR IN OUR STUDY LAST WEEK IN REVELATION 14:9-11 WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRUTH OF ETERNAL DAMNATION AND JUDGMENT.

*** FOR REVELATION 14:9-11 SAYS:

V. 9 – THEN ANOTHER ANGEL, A THIRD ONE, FOLLOWED THEM, SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, “IF ANYONE WORSHIPS THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVES A MARK ON HIS FOREHEAD OR ON HIS HAND,

V. 10 – HE ALSO WILL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, WHICH IS MIXED IN FULL STRENGTH IN THE CUP OF HIS ANGER; AND HE WILL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY ANGELS AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB.

V. 11 – AND THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT GOES UP FOREVER AND EVER; THEY HAVE NO REST DAY AND NIGHT, THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND WHOEVER RECEIVES THE MARK OF HIS NAME.”

**** NOW IN CONTRAST TO THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS WHO HAVE NO REST DAY OR NIGHT FOR ETERNITY, TRUE BELIEVERS WILL “REST FROM THEIR LABORS.”

5. AND DEATH FOR THEM WILL GRANT REST FROM ALL THE SORROW AND DIFFICULTIES OF THEIR LIVES, AND DEATH WILL BE A WELCOME RELIEF.

* BELOVED, THE SAINTS WILL REST FROM THEIR PERSECUTION, THEIR HARSH TREATMENT AND THEIR TROUBLES AT DEATH.

** BUT IN CONTRAST, AT DEATH, THE BEAST’S WORSHIPPERS TROUBLES BEGIN AND NEVER END.

*** AND THE OLD ADAGE IS TRUE HERE IN A SENSE, “NO REST FOR THE WICKED” BUT THERE WILL BE REST FOR THE WEARY.

**** BUT NOT ONLY REST FOR THE SAINTS, BUT ALSO THEIR WORKS OR DEEDS FOLLOW THEM.

6. AND THE WORDS DEEDS OR WORKS REFER TO THEIR SERVICE, THEIR WORKS FOR CHRIST, AND THE IMPLICATION IS THEY WILL BE REWARDED IN HEAVEN.

* THEIR LABOR, THEIR WORKS WERE NOT IN VAIN FOR THE LORD. CHRIST WILL NOT FORGET THEIR WORKS FOR HIM, THERE WILL BE REST AND REWARD!

** THE BLESSING OF REST AND REWARD WILL FOLLOW THESE SPECIAL BELIEVERS AS IT WILL FOR ALL THAT HAVE GONE ON BEFORE US WHO HAVE SHOWN THEIR FAITH BY THEIR WORKS, WORKING NOT TO BE SAVED, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE SAVED.

*** AND WHAT A BLESSING! WHAT A GREAT BEATITUDE WE HAVE HERE, AND WHAT RELIEF FOR THESE SUFFERING SAINTS AS THEY ARE MARTYRED IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

**** SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE RESOLVE OF THE SAINTS, THE RELIEF OF THE SAINTS, AND LASTLY IN CONTRAST, THE REAPING BY CHRIST IN JUDGMENT OF THE LOST.

7. LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE REAPING.

III. THE REAPING, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW WITH THE FAMILIAR PHRASE “AND I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD” THAT JOHN USES FREQUENTLY IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, JOHN SETS THE SCENE IN CONTRAST TO WHAT WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT IN VV. 12&13.

* AND JOHN WILL START TO WRITE ABOUT WHAT HE SEES IN JUDGMENT FOR THE CURSED IN COMPARISON TO THE BLESSED.

** AND JOHN IMMEDIATELY SEES A WHITE CLOUD AND SITTING ON THE CLOUD WAS ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN.

*** NOW THIS PERSON SITTING ON THE CLOUD, LIKE A SON OF MAN IS A REAPER, ONE WHO WILL DO SOME HARVESTING FOR HE HAS A SHARP SICKLE IN HIS HAND.

*** AND A SICKLE WAS A LONG, CURVED, RAZOR-SHARP IRON BLADE ATTACHED TO A LONG, BROOMSTICK-LIKE WOODEN HANDLE.

**** AND SICKLES WERE USED TO HARVEST GRAIN.

1. NOW THIS PERSON WHO HAS THIS SICKLE HAS A GOLDEN CROWN ON HIS HEAD, WHICH IN THE GREEK IS NOT INDICATING A DIADEM, BUT A VICTOR’S CROWN, A CROWN OF TRIUMPH, WHICH GIVES US A PICTURE OF A TRIUMPHANT CONQUEROR.

* AND THIS REAPER I BELIEVE IS CHRIST, ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN, A TITLE USED FOR CHRIST MANY TIMES IN THE GOSPELS. IN FACT, IT WAS THE TITLE THAT JESUS USED MORE TO TALK ABOUT HIMSELF IN HIS FIRST ADVENT, HIS INCARNATION, MORE THAN ANY OTHER.

** SO HERE IN V. 14 WE SEE CHRIST AS A REAPER SITTING ON A WHITE CLOUD POSSIBLY STRESSING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PURITY WITH THE WORD WHITE, AND THE WORD WHITE IN TWO OTHER PLACES IN REVELATION STRESSING JUDGMENT.

*** SPECIFICALLY, CHRIST RETURNS TO THE EARTH IN REVELATION 19:11 ON A WHITE HORSE TO JUDGE HIS ENEMIES AND IN REVELATION 20:11 WE SEE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE WHICH IS A THRONE OF JUDGMENT.

**** SO IN V. 14 WE SEE A REAPER – CHRIST THE LORD. NOW IN V. 15, WE WILL SEE RIPENESS. LOOK AT V. 15 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 15. NOW ANOTHER ANGEL COMES ON THE SCENE HERE IN V. 15, THE FOURTH OF SIX ANGELS TALKED ABOUT IN THIS CHAPTER, AND THIS ANGEL COMES OUT OF THE TEMPLE MOST LIKELY IN HEAVEN, FOR THE ANGEL IN V. 17 “CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”

* AND IT APPEARS WE HAVE A HEAVENLY SCENE WITH A CLOUD AND THIS ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE IN HEAVEN, WITH JUDGMENT DIRECTED TO THE EARTH.

** NOW THIS ANGEL CRIES OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, WHICH MOST LIKELY CONVEYS AND COMMUNICATES THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MOMENT, AND HE CRIES OUT WITH AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO HIM FROM GOD THE FATHER.

*** FOR THIS ANGEL COMES OUT OF THE TEMPLE, THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD IN HEAVEN, AND MOST LIKELY GOD THE FATHER IS DIRECTING AND ORCHESTRATING THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THE SON CARRYING OUT HIS ORDERS.

**** BECAUSE OF THAT, I DON’T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE ANGEL TELLING CHRIST HERE, THE ONE WHO SAT ON THE CLOUD TO DO WHAT HE WILL DO.

1. FOR THIS ANGEL JUST DELIVERS THE MESSAGE FROM GOD THE FATHER TO GOD THE SON, THE ANGEL IS THE DELEGATE GOD HAS CHOSEN TO EXECUTE HIS WILL.

* SO THIS ANGEL IS ACTING WITH THE AUTHORITY OF ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE, THE LORD GOD.

** NOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS CHRIST TO DO?

*** HE IS TO PUT IN HIS SICKLE AND REAP, FOR THE HOUR, THE TIME TO REAP HAS ARRIVED, WHY? BECAUSE THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE.

*** BELOVED, THE EARTH IS RIPE FOR MORE JUDGMENT.

**** AND THE VERB TRANSLATED RIPE HAS THE MEANING OF WITHERED, OVER RIPE, ROTTEN OR EVEN DRIED UP.

2. AND IT MAY BE THAT THE GRAIN, WHICH IS THE EARTH PICTURED HERE, HAS PASSED THE POINT OF ANY USEFULNESS AND IS FIT ONLY TO BE GATHERED UP AND BURNED WITH FIRE.

* THE ANALOGY USED IN THE PARABLE OF THE TARES WHICH IS EXPLAINED IN MATTHEW 13:36-43 AND IN PARTICULAR MATTHEW 13:40 SAYS:

V. 40 – SO JUST AS THE TARES ARE GATHERED UP AND BURNED WITH FIRE, SO SHALL IT BE AT THE END OF THE AGE.

** AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE SEE IN V. 15 OF REVELATION 14 IS RIPENESS AND THE MANDATE TO REAP; THE REAPER BEING THE SON OF MAN AND IN V. 16, WE’LL SEE THE ACTUAL REAPING, LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 16. NOW RESPONDING TO THE ANGEL’S SIGNAL IN TIMING TO REAP, THE SON OF MAN CAST HIS SICKLE INTO THE EARTH AND REAPED IT.

* AND THE BREVITY OF THE STATEMENT DRAMATIZES THE SUDDENNESS OF THE JUDGMENT.

** I MEAN WE HAVE ONE SIMPLE STATEMENT AND THIS WHOLE PERIOD OF THE JUDGMENT IS COVERED: “AND THE EARTH WAS REAPED.”

*** AND NO MORE EXPLANATION IS GIVEN. THE WORD EARTH IS USED TWICE IN V. 16 EMPHASIZES WHERE THE JUDGMENT WILL TAKE PLACE DEALING WITH THE EARTH DWELLERS, THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE BEAST.

**** NOW SPECIFICALLY IN VV. 14-16 WE SEE A GREAT HARVEST OF THE EARTH, WHICH APPEARS TO ME TO LOOK PROPHETICALLY FORWARD TO THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN CHAPTERS 15-18 WITH THE BOWL JUDGMENTS AND THE JUDGMENT OF BABYLON – THE WORLDWIDE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS EMPIRE OF ANTICHRIST.

1. SO IN V. 16 WE HAVE A PROPHETIC OR PROLEPTIC USE POINTING FORWARD TO WHAT WILL YET TRANSPIRE IN THE BOOK’S SEQUENTIAL UNFOLDING IN CHAPTERS 15-18.

* AND THEN IN THE REST OF REVELATION CHAPTER 14, IN VERSES 17-20, LORD WILLING WE’LL BE STUDYING NEXT WEEK, WE WILL SEE THE GRAPE HARVEST WHICH POINTS TO CHRIST’S RETURN TO JUDGE AND DESTROY HIS ENEMIES IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

IN WRAP UP: (1) AS WE’VE LOOKED AT THE BLESSED AND THE CURSED IN THIS FUTURE TIME, AS WE’VE SEEN THE RESCUE AND THE RELIEF OF THE SAVED AND THE REAPING OF THE UNSAVED.

* I’M REMINDED AND CHALLENGED IN HOW MUCH MORE I NEED TO HAVE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

** I MEAN RELIEF AND REST AND REWARD ARE AHEAD, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO WORK FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING.

*** AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS BELIEVERS TODAY IS THINKING RIGHT, THINKING BIBLICALLY, THINKING ETERNALLY.

**** AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE ARE PURSUING THE BROKEN CISTERNS OF THIS WORLD WHEN WE CAN BE ENJOYING THE LIVING WATER OF CHRIST THAT SATISFIES AS SEAN TALKED ABOUT IN OUR REFORMATION CONFERENCE.

(2) I MEAN WE TOO EASILY GET “CAUGHT UP” IN THINGS THAT ARE GOOD, BUT NOT BEST, AND FOR SOME GOOD AND EVIL.

* FOR BELOVED, IT’S EASY TO ALLOW OUR AFFECTIONS TO BE SO EARTH BASED, SO TEMPORAL BASED, THAT WE GET DISTRACTED AND TAKEN AWAY FROM WHAT LASTS AND BRINGS TRUE JOY, CONTENTMENT AND BLESSEDNESS.

** AND WE LIVE SOMETIMES LIKE THIS EARTH IS OUR HOME BUT IT’S NOT. HEAVEN IS AHEAD, REST, AND REWARD ARE AHEAD SO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

*** AND WE ARE LIVING WITH A PEACETIME EVEN HEDONISTIC APPROACH TO LIFE WHEN WE NEED TO HAVE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE, A WARTIME MENTALITY.

**** AND FOR YOU THAT ARE LABORING HARD AND EVEN SUFFERING FOR THE LORD, REST AND REWARD IS AHEAD. KEEP WORKING HARD. READ I CORINTHIANS 15:58, GALATIANS 6:9 AND II CORINTHIANS 4:1/

(3) DEAR ONES, DON’T QUIT – THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

* BUT FOR SOME OF YOU, YOU REALLY NEED A WAKE UP CALL, YOU’RE ACTING LIKE PLEASURE IS FOCUSED ON THE EARTH.

** BUT THE TREE OF HAPPINESS, OF BLESSEDNESS DOESN’T GROW IN THE CURSED EARTH.

*** AND MY ADMONITION TO YOU TODAY IS GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND START THINKING RIGHT ABOUT TRUE PLEASURE AND REST AND BE A CHRISTIAN HEDONIST WHO LIVES FOR THE PLEASURE OF GOD.

**** READ MATTHEW 6:33, REVELATION 2:4 AND COLOSSIANS 1:18.

(4) ALSO THINK ABOUT THE ADMONITION OF HEBREWS 10:24&25 WHICH SAYS:

V. 24 – “AND LET US CONSIDER HOW TO STIMULATE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS,

V. 25 – NOT FORSAKING OUR OWN ASSEMBLING TOGETHER, AS IS THE HABIT OF SOME, BUT ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER; AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY DRAWING NEAR.”

* CHRISTIAN, WE NEED EACH OTHER, WE MUST PUT ASSEMBLING AND SERVING AS A PRIORITY AND MAY WE REALIZE THIS:

** ONLY ONE LIFE, SOON WILL BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

*** READ REVELATION 14:13 AND PRAY.