Today you should read: Revelation 14:1-13
Revelation 14 tells us more about the 144,000 witnesses that we’ve already read about. Who are they? Revelation 7 reminds us that they are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes – witnesses for Jesus in the time of judgement. They are servants of the Lord that experience and endure suffering. They are honored here in chapter 14. They did not deny Jesus – but stood faithfully in persecution. They would not worship the beast like everyone else – so they sang a song that no one else could sing (v.3). They refused the mark of the beast on their forehead or hand. They refused to compromise – they remained loyal.
What about you and I? Are we faithful to stand for God no matter what – or do we compromise when we’re pushed? Compromise in our words – our actions – or thoughts?
The rest of today’s reading (v.6-13) tells us about three angels with three announcements from God.
Angel 1 – is proclaiming the sweet message of the Gospel for the whole earth.
And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. Revelation 14:6
God is not an American God! He loves people from every nation, every tribe, every language, and every people. The Gospel is for the world – and it’s our responsibility to take it there. Whether we go in person to the guy at work, the lady across the street, someone who sits by us in school, or someone in another part of the world. We can also get the Gospel to the world by who we send – assisting financially or in prayer. Remember – the Gospel is good news – but only if it gets there in time. It’s good news to those who hear it, receive it and obey it. It’s bad news for those who reject it.
Angel 2 – tells us that Babylon the great has fallen. This has been prophesied throughout much of the Old Testament. Babylon stood against God and polluted the world – now judgment has come.
Angel 3 – makes the declaration that anyone who worships the beast will drink of God’s wrath. What a vivid picture! The judgment will be so bad that it’s paralleled to the judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s an eternal punishment.
What can we learn from these verses?
- God’s promises of judgment are real. He always keeps His word.
- Understanding that hell is a real place with real torture for all of those who don’t receive Jesus should motivate us to get the Gospel to everyone.
- We must stand faithfully and loyally to God. The world around us must see Jesus in us and through us.
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
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