things are not as they seem – people of the lamb 144,000 sometimes we ask the wrong questions

Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb 144,000

Sometimes we ask the wrong questions.


The right question is not:

“Are you a disciple?”but

“Whose disciple are you?”

We all are disciples of someone.


It’s not

“Are you a follower or not?”But

“Who are you following?”


Bob Dylan after he became a Christian wrote:

“You’re gonna have to serve somebody.

It may be the devil or it may be the Lord,

But you gonna have to serve somebody.”


That captures the message of Revelation.

There are 2 kingdoms.

You either obey king Jesus or you obey the false king – Satan.


You either submit to the ways of the beast and bear his mark on

your life.Or

You submit to the ways of the lamb and bear the lamb’s mark

on your life.


This morning we will focus in on the 144,000 who we read about

in chapter 14 and 15.

What are the characteristics of the followers of the Lamb?


Scripture Reading

Revelation 14:1-5; 15:1-4

This series follows the outline and material provided by Darrell Johnson in his book,

Discipleship on the Edge


The Vision Team is working through all the various input the

congregation has given and is writing out the goal or vision

that we as a church believe God is calling us to work towards.


Part of that process is to ask,

“What does a disciple of Jesus look like?”

“What core values or beliefs does she have?”

“What core practices does he do regularly?”


This morning our scripture reading identifies 7

characteristics of the 144,000 who follow Jesus.


Before we we explore those 7 there are a couple things we

should clear up first.


First, is the number 144,000 used here numerically or

symbolically?

Symbolically!12 Old Testament tribes of Israel

x 12 apostles x 10 x 10 x10= the people of God in their

fullness


Revelation is a book full of symbols and imagery that are

meant to help us see that there is another kingdom other than

the kingdoms of this world.


Revelation is addressed to our imagination and invites us to ask

“Of what kingdom am I a citizen?”

Remember it is not “Will I live by the values of a kingdom?” but

“Of all the kingdoms competing for my allegiance, by whose kingdom values will I live?”

Johnson, p.267


Let’s look at the 7 characteristics of those who are in the kingdom

of the Lamb.

As you hear these 7, this morning, ask yourself,

“Does this describe me?”


1. They know that they are not their own.

“No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been

redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile

themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God

and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4


Paul asks the Corinthians:“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” I Cor 6:19-20

The people of the lamb answer, “Yes we know that we our not our own,

but belong, body and soul, to our faithful saviour.” Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1


That is why the people of the Lamb have the name of the Lamb

and God on their foreheads.

Look at the person beside you.What do you see on their

forehead?Do you see the name of Jesus?


“Name of Jesus written on the foreheads” literal or symbolic?

When you look at the life of the person next to you, do you see

that they belong to Jesus?

When they look at your outward actions do they see that in you?


2. They know that they are an offering to God.

“No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed

from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with

women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits

to God and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4


“Firstfruits” in the Old Testament were given as an expression of the belief that everything belongs to God.

You would sacrifice the firstfruits of the crop, in faith

acknowledging that the whole crop belonged to God.


This guards against the ever present danger of

“Compartmentalization.” - Dividing up our reality into

God’s and mine.The Tithe - 10% wrongly seen as

give God 10% and the rest is mine


Look back at your giving to the church in 2009.

Does it show that you are a firstfruits offering –

acknowledging that everything belongs to God?


“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Romans 12:1


3. They know that they are engaged to the Lamb.






“These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure.”

There are 3 main ways of interpreting this passage.

1.Teaching celibacy - high value on marriage elsewhere

2. Warriors in a holy war.3. Metaphorical interpretation


In the OT, “sexual intimacy is used as an analogy of our

relationship with God.” Johnson, p. 272

Hosea 2:20: “I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.”


Exodus 34:15: "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their

gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat

their sacrifices.”Idolatry called “adultery”


The people of the Lamb are the bride of Christ [Rev 19-21]

They are those who are keeping themselves pure for their husband Jesus and are not

messing around with Babylon the Harlot.


“The redeemed know that they belong to one husband, and they

do not want to be caught sleeping with another lover.

They do not want to be caught in bed with the world. They want to be faithful lovers of the lover

of our souls.” Johnson, p. 273


Now its important to acknowledge that this was not

always so.

The 144000 had committed adultery with Babylon one way

or another.

But Jesus has come and they have forsaken former lovers.


4. They are followers of the Lamb.






People of the Lamb obey Jesus’ call, “Follow me!”

They give up wanting to go their own way, taking the lead, setting

the direction for their lives.

Like in ballroom dancing, the lady needs to learn to follow and

give up the lead.


Did they get it right away?No they tried to lead and got

their feet stepped on.

When they learned to follow then the dance of life became a thing

of beauty.


5. They want to be like the Lamb.

“No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.”

v.5

They want to like their lover


“No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v. 5

2 characteristics identified:People of Truth

I Peter 2:21-22:“To this you were called, because

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his

mouth.” [quoting Is.53:9]


We are called to speak the truth in love.

We are called to be people of truth,

people of integrity,People who are true to our word.


“No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v. 5

2 characteristics identified:Blameless

Perfect?No, Blameless.

Sins confessed, covered by the blood of Jesus, forgiven.

- Keep short accounts with God.


6. They win the victory over the Beast.

“And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and,

standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held

harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:”

Rev. 15:2-3


those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. v. 2

Victorious?Many of them were killed!

Remaining faithful to Jesus in the face of persecution was the

victory.


those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. v. 2

“We know from documents of he early church that the day of a

person’s martyrdom was called the day of his victory. It was the

victory because they did not succumb to the pressure to

compromise.” Johnson, p.275


Had they never compromised?

At one time they had.Paul did.Peter did.

You & I did.

Now we seek to be faithful.


7. They sing a new song.

“And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and,

standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held

harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:”

Rev. 15:2-3


We are known by the song we sing.

It is a song of deliverance out of the slavery of sin and death.

Deliverance through the lamb, whose blood covers and delivers us.


The people of the Lamb1. Know that they are not their own.2. Know that they are an offering.3. Know they are engaged to the lamb.4. Follow the Lamb wherever he leads.5. Want to be like the Lamb.6. Win the victory by being faithful.7. Sing of the song of salvation.

Are you one of the people of the Lamb?


Remember the question is not

“Are you a disciple?”

but

“Whose disciple are you?”

things are not as they seem – people of the lamb 144,000 sometimes we ask the wrong questions

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