The 144,000 and the Three Angels Messages

Transcription

1 Newsletter #39 The 144,000 and the Three Angels Messages Introduction Revelation 13 is mainly history even if some fulfillment of it may also occur in the future. It ends rather sadly with the description of the Mark of the Beast. The Mark is characterized by man-made traditions, doctrines, rules, and regulations. The Mark-of-the-Beast-story continues in the Third Angel s Message of Revelation 14 where we read about what awaits those who have this Mark. Remember that chapters, verses and punctuations are modern additions. Therefore, it seems that Revelation 13 and 14 really belong together. In contrast to the negative passage in Revelation 13, Jesus now gives us something positive to enjoy. Chapter 14 begins by describing those who do not follow man s number 666 but rather God s number, 777. These are God s faithful people, the 144,000. In Revelation Part I we saw them receive the Seal of God, the guarantee of their salvation, at the time of their resurrection during the Sixth Seal. Here in Revelation 14 we see them again, also this time in connection with the second coming. The 144,000 Revelation 13 describes those who have the Mark of the Beast written on their foreheads. This indicates that they, in their minds, have taken a stand against God and consequently worship the dragon (the devil). It is totally different with the 144,000. They have the name of His Father written on their foreheads. His Father indicates the Lamb s Father. Mount Sion refers to the earthly Jerusalem, Psalm 78:68, and also to the heavenly New Jerusalem, Hebrews 12:22. As we read the first verse of chapter 14 we find something interesting. Most Bible versions say that the Lamb was standing on Mount Sion, but Modern Young s Literal Translation (MYLT) correctly says, having stood. Yes, Jesus often stood on Mount Sion, representing Jerusalem, during His time of ministry on earth, Revelation 14:1: And I saw, and behold, a Lamb having stood upon the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousands, having the name of His Father written upon their foreheads. (MYLT) The Lamb stood on Mount Sion together with the 144,000, namely God s Old Covenant People. Again, we see harmony with Revelation 7. Furthermore, in Revelation 14:2 John hears a voice from heaven. He says it was like the voice of many waters, a typical description of God s voice. The next verse gives us the timing for this event. Revelation 14:3: And they sing, as it were, a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the hundred forty-four thousands, who have been bought from the earth. (MYLT) We see here that it refers to the second coming. (Its counterpart is the Sixth Seal in Revelation Part I) The 144,000 are before the throne, before the four living creatures, and before the elders, presumably 24 of them. We understand that they have already been separated from the wicked since it says they have been bought from the earth. They are, in other words, on their way to heaven. Further characteristics of the 144,000 are given in Revelation 14:4-5: 1

2 These are they who not defiled with women, for they are virgin; these are they who are following the Lamb wheresoever he may go; these were bought from among men a first-fruit to God and to the Lamb and in their mouth there was not found guile, for they are unblemished before the throne of God. (MYLT) These two verses have many Old Testament symbols. Unfaithfulness to God is likened to adultery in the Old Testament but the 144,000 remained faithful and therefore they are virgin. They followed the only True God. It further says that they are firstfruits to God. There is only one People in the Bible who has received this description, Jeremiah 2:3: Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest (NIV) Yes, Israel was set apart [holy] to the Lord, they were the firstfruits of His harvest. They are also God s first Covenant people. The description continues in verses 4-5 by saying that in their mouth there was not found guile. This supports that the 144,000 are unblemished. That reminds us of the unblemished or spotless lamb often mentioned in the Old Testament. These characteristics support that the 144,000 are the faithful of God s Old Testament People. They stand in stark contrast to that which man s number represents. The First Angel s Message The First Angel s Message is very powerful. It is spread out into the whole world. The Bible says that it goes to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. This message has been highly relevant since the cross and has been proclaimed in a loud voice since then. The fact that the Three Angels Messages are sandwiched between the 144,000 and the second coming indicates that there will be a stronger proclamation of these messages in the end-time. The study of the Three Angels Messages is well worth our time. Revelation 14:6: And I saw another messenger flying in mid-heaven, having good news age-during to proclaim to those dwelling upon the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, (MYLT) The Gospel or the Good News has no beginning or end. It has always been and will always remain. That is what age-during or everlasting means. Of course, it is God s plan that it will go out powerfully to the whole world. God wants to reach all those dwelling upon the earth. Before we read the next verse we need to be reminded when the Book of Revelation was written, namely around 95 A.D. Revelation 14:7: saying in a great voice, 'Fear you God, and give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment did come, and bow you before Him who did make the heaven, and the land, and sea, and fountains of waters. (MYLT) This verse tells us that the hour of His judgment did come just as clearly as He did make the heaven, and the land, and so on. That is exactly what we studied in Revelation 12. The judgment took place at the cross. When the war was over, the devil and his angels were cast out of heaven, down to this earth (Newsletter #37). So, when John wrote this book about sixty years after the cross, he could state that the judgment did come. In Revelation 5 we read that the Lamb was worthy because He was slain. The Four Living Creatures, the 24 Elders, all the angels, and the whole universe feared God and gave glory to Him because of His victory, Revelation 5:6-14. Praise God for what happened at Calvary and confirmed at Pentecost! At that time the whole universe bowed before Him. Today you and I also need to bow before Him as we powerfully proclaim the gospel to the world. If we don t do it now, we must to do it at the second coming but in shame. If we chose to not fear God, to not give Him glory, and to not bow before Him, we actually worship the dragon (the devil). That is what we learned in our study of Revelation 13. It is worth pondering. 2

3 The Second Angel s Message Interpretations of the Second Angel s Message have caused a lot of debate. This message would have been easier to understand, if we had studied Revelation 17 and 18 beforehand. We will however at this time give enough background to make the Second Angel s Message clear. Revelation 14:8: And another messenger did follow, saying, 'Fall, fall, did Babylon, the great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom she has given to all nations to drink.' (MYLT) Wow! That sounds complicated at first. What is Babylon? Well, the Bible is clear! Revelation 18 calls this city Babylon, or the great city or both (Revelation 18:2, 10, 16, 18, 19). Revelation 18:2 repeats the very same expression fall, fall did Babylon the great. The clue is, however, found in Revelation 11:8: And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (NKJV) Here John is very explicit and tells us that the great city is where our Lord was crucified. In other words, the great city or Babylon, the great city is Jerusalem! Since John compares Jerusalem with Sodom and Egypt, both representing sin, it therefore refers to the fallen or sinful Jerusalem. The same expression is found in Jeremiah 22:8. So, when did Babylon fall? It happened at the cross! That was the time when the leaders of the Jewish nation rejected both the Messiah and God the Father, saying, we have no king but Caesar! (John 19:15). Since then Jerusalem is fallen. Grace Why should this fall be proclaimed? Well, it is not proclaimed in a loud voice as the First Angel s Message is. It simply says that another messenger did follow, saying. It is like stating a fact! God never makes loud proclamations about someone s mistake. That would be contrary to His nature, but He for sure draws the line at the proper time. The best way to understand the Second Angel s Message is in light of Romans 11. Paul, a Jew, understood things correctly when he wrote the following about his fellow countrymen, Romans 11:7: Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (NKJV) And furthermore, Romans 11:11: But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. (NKJV) When Christ died on the cross, grace was equally available to the Jews and the Gentiles. Therefore, the Second Angel s Message states the fact that God s grace is obtainable for EVERYONE! Thus, not only the First but also the Second Angel s Message is strongly connected to Calvary. Both the First and the Second Angels Messages emphasize righteousness by faith. The Third Angel s Message If you talk to different groups of Christians, you will find that the interpretations of the Third Angel s Message vary significantly. Some believe it has the strongest argument for hell in the Bible, others that it concerns the end-time Mark of the Beast. Some people believe that it contains a message of righteousness by faith, just to mention a few. Just as the First, the Third Angel s message is proclaimed in a loud voice so we better listen. Let s hear the warning before we go into the consequences of having the Mark of the Beast, Revelation 14:9: 3

4 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand (NKJV) That which is proclaimed in this passage is very important to God. He warns against worship of the beast which ultimately is the same as worship of the dragon. Furthermore, God also warns about worshiping the image. In the previous newsletter (#38) we concluded that: Human traditions, man-made doctrines, rules, and regulations all belong to this image. Thus, the image is the same as rebellion against God. According to the Third Angel s Message the wrath of God will be poured out in full strength on those who worship the image. God definitely does not accept man s number or 666. Revelation 14:10: he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (NKJV) Torment Now we have come to the most prominent text for torment in hell. Or maybe not! Let s take a careful look at it! If we go to Thayer s Greek Lexicon and look up the Greek word for tormented, the first suggested translation is: properly, to test (metals) by the touchstone. The same concept is the first suggested translation in Vine s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. These two lexica refer to an ancient technique where the purity of metals was tested by a touchstone. With this technique the purity of gold and silver was assessed. Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament has another interesting aspect, also as its first suggestion: (an idiom, literally 'to be tormented in soul') to experience mental torment involving sorrow mixed with anger 'to experience anguish, to be tormented in one's heart.' Do you see that this dictionary literally refers to a state of mind; how someone has anguish, feels tormented in heart, feelings of anger, sorrow, etc. So what about verse eleven where it says: And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever? That for sure sounds like eternal-hell-fire, doesn t it? Well, smoke is the result of a fire, as long as the fire burns. Let s look at another passage in the Bible where this concept is found and also explained, Jude 1:7: In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (NIV) So, the fire that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah serves as an example or pattern of what will happen to those who will suffer the punishment of eternal fire. There is no fire or smoke going up from Sodom and Gomorrah today! The fact is that nobody today knows exactly where these cities were situated. If they were still burning, it would be easy to locate them. Thus, these expressions indicate that the consequences are eternal even if the fire and the smoke aren t. Back to Revelation 14:11. Let me paraphrase the sentence, and the consequences of their testing continue forever and ever. Thus, it is not possible to change God s judgment! What He has decided remains as the true fact, forever and ever. Testing at His Coming With these primary definitions from the three dictionaries, I dare to say that the Third Angel s Message has nothing to do with hell or eternal torment! It is a warning to those who have the Mark of the Beast. The text is 4

5 also very clear about when this testing or mental torment will happen. It will happen in the presence of holy angels, which refers to God s angels. Furthermore, it will take place in the presence of the Lamb, namely Jesus Christ! When will our lives be tested? At the time of His judgment! When will the judgment take place? At the second coming! Let s read from 2 Thessalonians 1:7: when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. (NKJV) This text describes the time when the ungodly will be in the presence of the Lord and His angels. At that time fire will punish those who do not obey the Gospel. This will happen when He is revealed from heaven, i.e. at the second coming! Thus they will not be able to stand when He comes. This is in full harmony with all the texts concerning the second coming and how the wicked react at that time, including the Sixth Seal, when they hide among the rocks and in caves as they see the Lamb on His throne, Revelation 6: But the best passage on this issue is probably 1 Corinthians 3:11-14: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. (NIV) Therefore, the Third Angel s Message is not a message about hell. No it reveals what will happen to the ungodly at the second coming. Those who have the Mark of the Beast will feel blotted out when their works are tested, because they do not have the robe of Christ s righteousness. Furthermore, we read that the ungodly shall experience fire and brimstone when He comes. That is exactly what 1 Corinthians 3:11-14, 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and the First Trumpet tell us. Thus, the Third Angel s Message is a clear warning to the ungodly. If you don t repent you will suffer the wrath of God: If you don t turn away from your human traditions, man-made rules and regulations, etc. you will NOT BE SAVED! After giving the warning Jesus gives the solution to the problem. It is found in the next verse of the Third Angel s Message, Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (NKJV) Did you notice! The same content as in Revelation 12:17! Now the circle is complete. The ungodly need to change and become just like the faithful. They need to keep the Ten Commandments of God, not only one, or nine but ten! Not to be saved, but because they are saved, 1 John 14:15: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (NRSV) Faith of Jesus Furthermore, to repent the wicked need the faith of Jesus. Well, you might say, Who can have the same faith that Jesus has? That seems insurmountable! This phrase could, however, also have been translated, to have faith in Jesus. With that wording the understanding becomes clear. We need to be steadfast in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to trust in Him and not in ourselves. In what area do we need to trust Him? Galatians 2:16: 5

6 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (NKJV) Our justification is firmly dependent on Him! Now we understand that to have faith in Jesus is the same as to have the testimony of Jesus. It makes sense that heaven s criteria for the ungodly to be saved are the same as the criteria that should characterize the faithful believers. Then the last verse in the Third Angel s Message becomes clear, Revelation 14:13: Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." (NKJV) Why are those who die in the Lord blessed from now on? Because, they no longer need to worry about their deeds, works, business, troubles and weariness. They rest from all these things. All these issues are left behind. They rest in the assurance that they are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Conclusion Again, the 144,000 refer to the faithful of the Old Covenant People. The First Angel s Message is the powerful proclamation of the everlasting Gospel, which has been powerfully proclaimed since Pentecost. The Second Angel s Message lifts up the fact that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by God s grace. The Third Angel s Message warns the unbelievers for the upcoming wrath of God. It will come upon them unless they repent by keeping the Ten Commandments of God and having faith in Jesus Christ. In the next newsletter we will study the second coming of Jesus in Part II of the Book of Revelation. Toby Joreteg MD, PhD 6