Mastering the Book of Revelation, Part 2

We have given two sermons on the book of Revelation, and we have this Bible study today and probably one or two more sermons. Today, let us turn to Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3, the message is to the seven churches.

Some of the main questions in Revelation with regard to the message to the seven churches are there seven distinct church eras in which one condition mainly predominates to dogmatically say that an era, quote-unquote, ends at a certain time is very difficult to do. We know there are at least three things that you can learn from the messages to the seven churches with regard to what its intent is, but there are dozens of things that you can learn contained in the messages themselves.

Once again, there are three things. There were seven literal churches on a mail route in Asia Minor to whom these messages were sent. If you are at Revelation 3 or 2, the message to the seven churches, hold your place there. Look at what Paul says about reading a letter in Laodicea. Turn to Colossians chapter 4. In Revelation chapter 2 verse 1, it says, "...unto the angel of the church at Ephesus write." So did Paul write a letter to a spirit being.

When you are trying to communicate these letters to human beings, what would be the method for a spirit being delivering the message, especially an angel?

Probably, as you recall, the Greek word for angel or messenger is angelos.

It can refer to a human being or to a spirit being. In Colossians chapter 4 verse 15, "...salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and Nymphos and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause it to be read in the church of the Laodiceans.

And that it likewise read the epistle from Laodicea." So these letters that the apostles wrote were sent around and read by the pastors of the churches to the various congregations. Spirit beings didn't necessarily deliver a message to a church.

Now in Revelation 2, we go back there. So there were seven literal churches. These messages were read in the churches of that day. Some say that these messages depict seven distinct eras of the church. And then each message concludes with the admonition, "'He who hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" So the messages are relevant for the churches in all times. The messages to the seven churches essentially covers every trial that has come on the church through the ages. There are, I think I asked you to write these things down last time, but I'm not sure. But anyhow, I want to look at the messages here for just a moment. The messages start off, each one of them, with a characteristic of Jesus Christ. You want to learn more? You read the first couple of verses of each message to each church, and you have a characteristic of Jesus Christ. For example, in Revelation 2, verse 1, He holds the seven stars in His right hand, and in Revelation 1.20 it says the seven stars are the seven angels. He holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. And that's Jesus Christ, who walks among the seven golden candlesticks. He doesn't say that He just walks among one candlestick. He walks among seven candlesticks. Now, if you go to Zechariah, hold your place there in Revelation 2, you go to Zechariah chapter 4, and Zechariah is given a vision, and this deserves a sermon all of its own with, I've got a handout and a diagram, that we will do eventually on this. In Zechariah chapter 4, Zechariah is given a vision of seven candlesticks. Zechariah chapter 4, verse 1, And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me as a man that has waked out of his sleep, and said, What do you see? And I said, I've looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold. This is what we would call a candelabra. It was shaped like a bowl with a big stand at the bottom, a big bowl. You could draw a big bowl like that with a stand on your paper. So I see this candlestick with a bowl upon the top of it and seven lamps thereupon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof. So seven lamps are inside this bowl. They have pipes coming down in the bowl. The reason for the pipes coming down in the bowl is to take up the oil like you have in a lamp, so the lamp will be illuminated. And verse 3, And two olive trees buy it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side. So I answered and spoke unto the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said, Don't you know? It should be obvious. And I said, No, my Lord. Then he spoke to me and began to explain. Well, it appears that these lamps represent the candlesticks, same candlesticks that are found in Revelation 1 and also Revelation 2 and 3. Seven churches. Jesus Christ walks among the seven candlesticks. Now furthermore, you see in verse 12, And I answered again and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? So these two olive branches, of course from the olive tree we get the olive oil, and they are emptying oil into the bowl, and then there are pipes into the bowl that illuminates the lamp.

The answer said, Don't you know what these are? He said, No, my Lord. Then he said, These are the two anointed ones, or literally, sons of oil, that stand by the eternal of the whole earth. So in Revelation 11, the two olive trees are identified as the two witnesses.

So the two witnesses are spirit-filled ones who pour their very being into their messages to illuminate the Church at the end of the age during the time of the Great Tribulation period.

In my mind, there is no question that these, in Jesus Christ's, so let the Spirit, he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Church is. So we have at the beginning of each message a characteristic of Jesus Christ. Let's look at the second one here in Revelation 2, verse 8. And under the angel of the Church in Smyrna write these things, says the first and the last, which was dead and is alive. That was Jesus Christ who was crucified, and he was raised from the dead by the Father, first born among many brethren as a glorious, radiant Spirit being. So at the beginning of each message to the seven churches, a characteristic or a characteristic plural is given of Jesus Christ. Now we go back to the first part of Revelation 2. Also, there is a commendation given to the churches. In some cases, no commendation is given. But in Ephesus, there are quite a few commendations. Know your works, labor, patience, cannot bear them which are evil. You have tried them which say they are apostles and are not and found them liars. I don't think that trial is yet over.

We have had one who claimed to be an apostle, who changed the very bedrock doctrines of the Church of God, and some went right along with it, having given their lives, in some cases decades, sacrificed to service to God and believing.

In some cases, I know they knew, at least intellectually, the truth. We find out that what they say doesn't square with the Word of God. We have some today who say that they are apostles.

So you better be careful, and you better prove all things and hold fast that which is good. So, one of the commendations here for Ephesus, verse 2, I know your work, your labor, your patience, cannot bear them which are evil. You have tried them which say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars and have borne, have patience, for my namesake, you have labored and have not fainted.

So there is high commendation for Ephesus. But there is the commendation for each church era or each church, and then there is what is wrong. In the case of Ephesus, verse 4, nevertheless I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love. Now, some people just read that and give a sermon on it as if, well, it's this first flush, this real excitement, and that's a part of it, your first love of the truth, and you can't get enough of it. And I remember when that happened to me, and I had always thumbed over the radio dials from the time I was a child. I remember at age three years and seven or eight months, the announcement coming on the radio on a Sunday afternoon, December the 7th, 1941, that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. And I thumbed the radio dial from that day to when I ran across the World Tomorrow broadcast sometime in the late 50s and really began to study in earnest around 1960, and would get those booklets and stay up into the wee hours of the night, reading and studying. You probably went through that, too. So there's something about that first love, and I hope that first love never dies. Of course, I know there are peaks and valleys at times with regard to our study and our diligence with regard to that. But you know, Jesus Christ said the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. Man shall not live by red alone, but by everywhere that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Then verse 5, Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent and do the first works. So this first love is associated with repent and do the first works. Does that mean just begin to really study the Bible again and really work up excitement and so on? Or is there more to it than that? It says, Else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place. So if you were looking at this bowl, and however you're reading left to right, the first one given here, this is Ephesus. If they don't repent, it's taken out. It's removed. Jesus Christ walks among the seven golden candlesticks. I believe the first work has to do with doing the weightier matters of the law of judgment, mercy, and faith, as in Matthew 23, 23. And the failure to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith was one of the main reasons that Israel went into captivity, one of the main reasons that Judah went into captivity. It is one of the main and principal reasons why we have had so much trouble and difficulty in the Church of God from the days of the apostles to the present day. Even on the night when Jesus Christ instituted the symbols of the New Covenant Passover, the apostles got into an argument over which one was the greatest. And that has continued to the present time. Whereas if we would exercise judgment, mercy, and faith, which simply means walking in a reconciled position with God and Christ and each member of the body of Christ. How do you do it? You judge yourself, come before God, and ask forgiveness, and He's faithful and just, forgive us of all unrighteousness. How do you do it with your neighbor? Same way. The same way. Go to your neighbor, be reconciled, go walk in faith. In verse 6, another commendation, But this you have that you hate the deeds of the Nicolae Iatans, which I also hate. And not much is known about the Nicolae Iatans. Most who try to comment on this say it has to do with those who believe that, Go ahead and sin, God is merciful and just to forgive you, and the more sin, the more mercy you receive, the greater glory God receives.

So you glorify God by sinning. I think He would hate that. Hold your place right there, and you might see Paul addressing this in Romans chapter 3. Romans chapter 3, verse 1, And that's one of the main things that has caused so much problems as well with regard to people remaining faithful.

For what if some did not believe the truth, or some that did believe the truth, left the Church, or did all kinds of different things? Does that make the word of God of non-effect? Does that change the word of God? Does that change the character and being of God?

Somehow, the link up at the very beginning of coming to understand and know the truth, internalizing the truth, and understanding that you're making a covenant with God and Christ and entering into a covenant relationship with them, and baptism signifying that you're willing to lay down your life to remain faithful to that covenant.

It doesn't matter what I do when all is said and done. Now, that may matter. It may influence. And I may have to be penalized for it. But when it comes to each one of us standing before the judgment seat of Christ, it's going to be between you and God. What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? No way. God forbid. Yes, let God be true, but every man a liar as it is written, that you might be justified in your sayings and might overcome when you are judged.

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, see, that's what it's talking about in the Nicolae Islands. What shall we say then? Is God unrighteous? Who takes vengeance, I speak as a man. God forbid. For then, how shall God judge the world? I mean, if you can go ahead and sin, then what basis does God have for judging the world? God cannot judge the world if the law is not in effect. He has no basis for judging the world. And sin is the transgression of the law. Okay, we go back to Revelation 3. They hate the deeds of the Nicolae Islands.

Verse 7, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. So that message is at the end of that admonition, that command. To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. So the reward is there.

When I will come to you quickly and remove the candlestick, unless you repent, the reward he who overcomes will be given to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. So in every one of these messages, you have characteristics of Jesus, the commendation, what is wrong, and the type of punishment. For example, in Smyrna, there's nothing said about what is wrong nor the type of punishment, but there's a lot said about what they need to do.

And their reward, faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life, which brings into view the fact that every one of the rewards in the spiritual sense is given to everybody. In other words, the reward of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philodepa, Eleusia, whatever that reward is at the end is given to everybody.

If you don't get a crown of life, you're not there. So you will get the reward of those in Smyrna. But there is, in Revelation chapter 3, there is something said about Philadelphia with regard to the reasons why so many people have talked about the church of God. Now a lot of people say, well, we're in the late of Siomira.

Just look how lukewarm everybody is. Well, I don't think everybody is lukewarm. Not by a long shot. But just because you hang your hat in the hallway or in the living room doesn't make you a saint one way or the other. In Revelation chapter 3 verse 8, This is a great tribulation. So those who are of the Philadelphian, whatever constitutes all of that, says that they're kept from the hour of tribulation. And it's almost the opposite with the late of Sia.

Verse 14, And of the angel the church of late of the Sihan's right, these things, says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, see the characteristics of Jesus, the beginning of the creation of God. And some people take that the beginning of the creation of God in the wrong way to try to make Jesus Christ into a created being, which he is not. But I'm not going to pursue that. Take quite a while. I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot. I would that you were cold or hot.

So then because you are lukewarm, neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of my mouth because you say I'm rich and increase with goods, have need of nothing. This is speaking principally spiritually. There's an analogy being drawn here. Laodicea was a very rich city in that day. It was known for its gold. It was known for a black wool. It was known for an isav. And all of these things were played off of in the spiritual sense in the message.

In addition to that, Laodicea had one great weakness. Laodicea did not have a fresh water supply. Water had to be piped in through a conduit over quite a distance. And by the time it got to Laodicea, it was lukewarm. So all of those physical elements of Laodicea are then typifying a spiritual kind of condition. Because you are lukewarm, neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich and increase with goods, have need of nothing, and know not that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. All of this depicting a wretched spiritual condition.

I counsel you to buy of me gold trite in the fire that you may be rich and white raiment. That's rich in the spiritual sense. White raiment that you may be clothed.

White raiment represents the righteousness of the saints, that the shame of your nakedness represents sin, does not appear, and anoints your eyes with eyesave that you may see. They had an eyesave, or there was a famous medical school that was located there, or a treating of various eye problems. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him, will set with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. So, Passover will be coming up in a few weeks, and if you want to begin an examination of yourself, do a careful study of the message to the seven churches. Now, what about the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 144,000 of Revelation 14? Let's go to Revelation 7.

He says, In the spirit not the earth, neither the sea nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of God in our foreheads. And then it begins to go through and list 12 tribes of Israel. Dan and Ephraim are left out. Joseph takes Ephraim's place. So there were sealed 144,000 in verse 4 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Now, different people try to make different things out of this. I believe what the Bible says is the best rule to go by. Some say that this 144,000 represents the entire church. The number 12 is representative of governmental perfection. There were 12 tribes of Israel. There were 12 apostles.

In the New Jerusalem, the names of the 12 tribes will be there. The foundation has 12 foundations with the names of the 12 apostles on the foundations. That's in Revelation 21. So the number 12 is a very important number. And if you get 12,000 times 12,000, or 12 times 12, you get 144,000. And it says that these are servants of our God, sealed as servants of our God in their foreheads.

I think if you search the Old Literature, the Worldwide Church of God, it will basically say that these are literal physical beings. Obviously, they're physical here and will show for sure in just a moment that they are. But it says they are servants of our God. Now, one time, and people like to quote Mr. Armstrong, and I don't think that this was ever found in writing, but it did say, well, he thought maybe this pictures the completed church in the symbolic sense. Now, you look at Revelation 9.

We're coming right back here. Revelation 9 and verse 4. When the trumpet plagues began to be poured out, of course, they're sealed. So those first four trumpet plagues that are recorded in chapter 8 do not hurt this 144,000. And neither do the other trumpet plagues hurt the 144,000 as we read in Revelation 9.4.

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass or the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. So if you have the seal of God in their foreheads, we have the 144,000 sealed here. The 144,000 have gone through the first six seals. They've gone through the white horse. They've gone through the red horse, the white horse, one who goes forth conquering and to conquer the false messiah, the red horse, war, the black horse, famine, scarcity of food, the pale horse, death, the fifth seal, the martyrs under the throne of God, the sixth seal, the heavenly signs which introduce the seven trumpet plagues.

And before these seven trumpet plagues are given, these 144,000 are sealed. So the 144,000 here, they have gone through the first six seals. Now at present, one would be hard-pressed to find 12,000 servants of God from each of the twelve tribes. Now we have thought we've been able to identify, and this is not a... you can't turn to Scripture, but in our tracing of people, we have said, you know, like Finland and Zissikar and Zebulund, the Dutch and that kind of thing, France, Reuben, UK and US, Ephraim and Manasseh and so on.

But you would be hard-pressed to find 12,000 from each of the tribes. At the present time, we would say they're servants of God. So, but these go through the first six seals before they are sealed. Now one of the main reasons that I believe that these are physical beings... of course, we read Revelation 9 and 4. They're obviously physical beings when they're sealed. There has to be seed saved alive to live over into the millennium. If you want to hold your place, we'll be coming back to Revelation 7. Now we're going to Matthew 24. Matthew 24. In Matthew 24, the Olivet prophecy, a lot of the signs that precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 24, verse 15, the placing of the abomination of desolation, that is the sign, the benchmark, for the start of the Great Tribulation. So you read verse 21, verses 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 talk about various activities that take place after the abomination of desolation is placed. Then verse 21, for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since beginning of the world, to this time known or ever shall be. Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days should be shortened. What we're going to see here is the elect and the very elect. In speculation, I would say the elect are probably the physical seed that lives over into the millennium.

When the millennium begins, when Jesus Christ comes with the saints, first resurrection, and began their work here on earth, beginning of the millennium, think what the earth will look like. All of these seals and trumpet plagues and vials of wrath will be an absolute wretched situation and mess. They will have quite a job before them. But one of the main things—what is this all about?

What is the Bible all about? It's about God bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family. Yes, the earth is going to be restored, and the desert blossoms like a rose. And all of those things you read about concerning the millennium, you hear about during the Feast of Tabernacles. But what God wants to bring all peoples into relationship with him that they might be in the Israel of God. So when the millennium begins, will there be a single converted person living on the earth in the flesh, or will everybody that's alive be unconverted? I'm talking about in the flesh.

Well, if the nations are restored, obviously there are people who live over into the millennium. And I believe some of them would be converted. But let's see. But for the elect's sake, those days should be shortened. Now, if these people are converted and they are killed, what's a big deal? They'd be resurrected in the first resurrection as spirit beings. So why just shorten it for the elect's sake in that sense? Of course, on the other hand, if you're there in tribulation and suffering and all of that, you would want it cut short. But for the elect's sake, in the sense of, there should no flesh be saved alive.

But for the elect's sake, those days should be shortened. Verse 23, Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo hearest Christ, are there, believe it not, for there shall arise false Christ and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. So we have the elect and we have the very elect. Now let's go to Zephaniah chapter 3. The basic theme of Zephaniah is the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord. That's the first two chapters. Chapter 3 is basically devoted to the restoration.

The first several verses of chapter 3 describe some of the awful behaviors of the people who are in leadership positions. You look at Zephaniah 3.8, Therefore, wait you upon me, says the Eternal, unto the day that I rise up to the prey. For my determination is to gather the nations that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them my indignation. This is probably referring to Revelation 16 verses 12, 13, 14, where the nations are gathered at a place called Armageddon for the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Now, the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, this is Revelation 16, 12, they go out and prepare the way for the kings of the East, and all the nations are gathered to fight against God and Christ. The false Messiah, the beast system, and of course we see it happening even now with all of this stuff about space and aliens, and is there life on Mars? And recently this week, oh, for sure, this proves there's life on Mars, and there has been life on Mars, and there must be superior intelligence out there somewhere. It's like condition for an invasion from outer space. Well, there's going to be an invasion from outer space, but it won't be the Star Wars variety. It won't be a part of some of those things even Disney's putting out now. I just read where they're about to do a new episode of Star Wars. I don't see how it's possible, but that's what they say. So, the symbol that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour out my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then, when I turn to the people, a pure language, that does not mean everybody's going to speak Hebrew. It means ceremonially clean. They're going to clean their lips. When Isaiah was called on to go forth and prophesy, he said, Oh, my Lord, I am a man of unclean lips, and God said, I have cleansed your lips. You can read in Zechariah 8 about, they take hold of the skirt. The nations of all the languages of the earth take hold of the skirt of a Jew and say, Lead me to your God. I know that your God is with you, and so on. For then will I turn to the people, a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my supplyance, even the daughter of my disperse, shall bring mine offering. Now, this is somewhat veiled and obscure as compared to what we read in Isaiah 66. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my supplyance, even the daughter of my disperse, shall bring mine offering in that day. These are people that have lived over in the millennium, that you shall not be ashamed for all the doings wherein you have transgressed against me, for then I will take away out of the midst of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shall no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the terminal. Here we go. The remnant of Israel. The remnant of Israel. So we have seen in Revelation 7, 144,000 that were sealed, the servants of God. In Revelation 9, 4, we've seen that that fifth trumpet plague, which is terrible beyond belief, where men seek death for five months cannot find it. We have seen that some were sealed. The remnant of Israel, Zephaniah 3, 13, the remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Seeing, O daughter of Zion, shall O Israel be glad and rejoiced with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord has taken away the judgment. He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the eternal, is in the midst of you. You shall not see evil anymore, for in that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack. The eternally your God in the midst of you is mighty. He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you, and I will save her that halts and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time I will bring you again, even in that time that I gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says the eternal. Now you look at Zechariah chapter 2, over a few pages forward, a few pages. Zechariah chapter 2 and verse 10. Zechariah 2 verse 10, Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the eternal. Many nations shall be joined to the eternal in that day, and shall be my people. I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am the eternal host that has sent me to you. And the eternal shall inherit Judah, his portion, in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again, be silent all flesh, or all all flesh, before the eternal, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation, his dwelling place. Now, you look in Isaiah, back several pages now, to Isaiah 66, with regard to those who live over into the millennium in Isaiah chapter 66.

The representatives of nations who live over into the millennium will have a great mission. As I said, what's the Bible all about? It's bringing sons and daughters to glory in the family of God, in the kingdom of God. Now, there are a lot of other wonderful things that go with it, but if you're not in the kingdom of God, then that's a different story.

In Isaiah 66 verse 15, So once again, it's this judgment at the end of the age, For I know their works, their thoughts, it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come to see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them, I will send those that escape of them, Of course, there will be representatives probably from all nations, I will send those that escape of them under the nations to Tarshish, Pol, Lud, the Isles of Faroth, That have not heard of my fame, neither have seen my glory.

They shall declare my glory among the nations, And they shall bring all your children for an offspring, or an offering unto the Eternal, Out of all nations, upon horses and chariots, litters upon mules upon swift beasts. To my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Eternal, As the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel, in the house of the Eternal. So here are these that live over into the millennium. They go out as emissaries across the face of the earth, to all the nations of the earth, And their goal is to bring them into relationship with God.

Verse 21, And I will also take of them four priests and for Levites, says the Eternal. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the Eternal, Show shall your seed and your name remain, and it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, From one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me, says the Eternal.

So there is no question that they are flesh and blood living in the millennium. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me. So this is the Valley of Hinnom. For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Of course, the speculation that people talk about well in the millennium, when you die, Are you resurrected immediately into the kingdom of God? And when you die during the millennium, if you are a sinner dying a curse, is he thrown in the lake of fire right there? Seems to indicate yes. But in Revelation 7, back there again, we have the Great Multitude. Now, if the Bible is literal, with the saving of twelve tribes, with twelve thousand from each tribe, saved in the flesh, live over in the millennium, We see clearly a description of the remnant of Israel and Zephaniah.

We read that. We read in Isaiah 66 of the emissaries going out to all the nations to bring peoples into relationship with God. Now, let's look at this Great Multitude. Now, this account here of the Great Multitude begins in Revelation 7-9. After this, I beheld in Loa a Great Multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothes of white robes and palms in their hands. Now, you can stand before the throne of God in a figurative sense.

We'll look at Hebrews 4. Hebrews 4. We're coming right back there. But in Hebrews 4, we see that we can come boldly before the throne of God. We're not literally in the Third Heaven and literally standing before the throne of God as it were in that sense, but in the symbolic and spiritual sense, we can live in the Holy of Holies and come before the throne of God. In Hebrews 4, verse 15, For we have not in high preach, which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin, let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

There are other places we could turn to, but you can come before the throne of God in that sense, in the symbolic sense. But it seems to me that this appearance here, with a great multitude, is in the literal sense. This vision is an inset. We're back in Revelation 7, verse 9.

This vision is an inset. It does not necessarily advance the narrative. And the sequence of events, it doesn't advance the sequence of events chronologically. This shows, you see, in the first eight verses, we have people sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel. Well, some might get the idea, well, is God a respecter of persons? We have these twelve thousand sealed from the tribes of Israel. What about everybody else? So, we continue in verse 9.

And all the angels stood around about the throne. Of course, when we go before the throne in the symbolic sense, we don't see the angels. We don't really see God Himself. But we know He's there. And all the angels stood around about the throne, about the elders and the four beasts, and fell down before the throne on their faces and worshiped God. So, God is there, and they fall down. It's similar to, you hold your place, you look back there, chapter 4, and chapter 4, verse 10. The four and twenty-four elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne and worship Him, that lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne. Now, verse 11. And all the angels stood around the throne and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell down before the throne on their faces and worshiped God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be unto our God forever and ever, Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are a raid in white robes, and where do they come from? What's this all about? And I said unto them, Here's the identity of these people, great multitude. Sir, don't you know? And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, which have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. See this great multitude? They are from all nations. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light upon them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, shall lead them unto living waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Now, there are some parallel verses with regard to that that we need to note. So we look at verse 15, Therefore they before the throne of God serve him day and night in the temple. Now we go to Revelation 3 verse 12. Revelation 3 verse 12, In Revelation 3 verse 12, Will I make a pillar in the temple of my God? And he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. So verse 15, Therefore they before the throne of God serve him day and night in the temple. So it's the same kind of reward that is mentioned for Philadelphia, is mentioned for this great multitude. They are before the throne of God. They are in the temple of God. They serve him day and night. Now this appears, and of course when you begin to talk about this in dogmatic terms, it's very difficult to do because they're just, people could always say, and perhaps these are just a vision of what's going to happen with regard to them. And it is future. It is future. That they have come out of great tribulation, and it shows what their reward is. You go back to verse 9.

After this I beheld, so after the twelve thousand from each tribe of Israel are sealed in the flesh, after this I beheld a loa great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands.

So this shows that God is not a respecter of persons, that there are representatives from all the nations, and that these, having come out of great tribulation and washed their robes, will be in the kingdom of God.

Now we go to Galatians 6, verse 16. In Galatians 6, 16, the goal of every person who has ever lived, regardless of their national or ethnic origin, I shall repeat that. Regardless, the goal of every person who has ever lived is alive today or ever will live, once again, is to become a part of the Israel of God, spiritual Israel.

God had intended from the beginning that Israel would be the model nation. He called them out of Egypt for that purpose. They failed. They went whoring after other gods. And of course, now God is given the great commission to the church to take the gospel to the whole world.

And to whatever extent they can do that, it will be done. But in the millennium, the big harvest, the big evangelistic work takes place. Galatians 6, verse 15, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, so those that are Jews, nor uncircumcision, those that are Gentiles, but a new creation. And of course, Romans 2, 28, and 29 say that circumcision is of the heart and not of the flesh, and he is a Jew, which is one inwardly.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be unto them, and mercy in upon the Israel of God.

So everybody who is entered into the covenant relationship with God and Christ and have been begotten by the Spirit of God, they constitute the Israel of God.

Now it is possible to fall away. It is possible to have your name blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life.

But if your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life, you are the Israel of God, regardless of national or ethnic origin.

Now we go to Revelation 14.

In Revelation 14, these verses describe the harvest of the first fruits to God and the Lamb.

The great question, there are two or three great questions here in Revelation 14.

Is this the same 144,000 that are sealed in Revelation 7?

Now you could make an argument either way in saying, well, it's a vision.

And you look at Zephaniah 3, and we read parts from verse 8 to the end of the chapter, that those that remnant of Israel living over in the Millennium, that no guile is found in their mouth, and they are without fault, and so on, and viewed as blameless. I believe that this 144,000 represents, this 144,000 probably represents the whole Israel of God in the first resurrection.

The 12 times, 12 times the number of governmental perfection. So it seems clear, if we take the Bible literally, from what it says in Revelation chapter 7, about the sealing of the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel, and that there has to be flesh saved alive to live over in the Millennium.

So why would I say that I tend to believe that 144,000 in Revelation chapter 14 is different.

Emphasis is placed on not harming those who have the seal of God in the foreheads in Revelation 9, verse 4, we've already talked about. Now the second question is, 144,000 of Revelation 14, is that the total number of saints that will be in the first resurrection, as far as a literal number? Well, if you have the innumerable multitude in chapter 7 that we've talked about, of all nations, kindreds, and tongues, then it seems that there would be more than a literal 144,000.

So that's why I would tend to believe that this number, 144,000, represents the total church and resurrection. It may be, I don't know, millions.

Because the first resurrection you'll have the first century saints, and you'll have everybody from that point on.

How many of that will be? I don't know. But I surely think it'd be more than 144,000 literal.

And especially considering the great multitude of Revelation 7.

Now, the way the Jehovah's Witnesses deal with this is that they have different layers of reward for the kingdom of God.

The 144,000 there at the very top, they are spirit beings. They live forever as a spirit being, whereas they're lesser, and some live forever in the flesh, and so on.

How can that be? It would take a miracle for any of us to live forever in the flesh.

By the time we get to 50, we're going downhill. It's downhill all the way. But it seems I'd rather go uphill than downhill, but anyhow. So let's read here Revelation 14 verse 1.

Sort of southwest of that, Mount Zion, the city of David, where David pitched to Tabernacle.

So Mount Zion has great symbolism. It's a literal place, but it's also a representative of the church.

Now we go to Psalm 78. Psalm 78. We're going to quit at 4.30, Lord willing.

In Psalm 78 verse 66, one of the great summary chapters of the Bible, and he smote the enemies in their hinders parts. He put them to a perpetual reproach. This is talking about the history of Israel, and God would deliver them from time to time.

Moreover, he refused the Tabernacle of Joseph, or Ephraim. Ephraim was the leading tribe. Next clause. This is written in parallelism. He chose not the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion, which he loved. And it was on Mount Zion that David pitched his Tabernacle. David is a type of Christ. And Mount Zion, in the spiritual sense, represents the church.

We go to Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12.

So these 144,000, they're standing on Mount Zion.

In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 22, So Mount Zion is acquainted with the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, acquainted with the heavenly Jerusalem, to the innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. So we see very clearly that Mount Zion is identified with the church.

So I looked, and Loa Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him 144,000, having his father's name written in their foreheads.

I don't know of any other place that say that the Father's name were written in their foreheads before resurrection.

Now, with regard to... I was reading from one of the splinter groups this morning, which talks about in Revelation chapter 7, it says in verse 3, We have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Now, we have received a seal of sorts. We have sealed with the Holy Spirit. We have received the earnest, the down payment on eternal life.

But we don't have the name of God written on our foreheads.

It seems to me that his Father's name written in their foreheads occurs after resurrection.

And I heard a voice from heaven as a voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their hearts. And they sing, as it were, a new song before the throne.

Notice they are before the throne. And no man could learn that song but the 144,000, which were redeemed from the earth.

Now, the 144,000 in Revelation 7, the sealing of 12 literal tribes of Israel, and if you try to make that into the whole church, then you've got a different kind of thing, and a whole different scenario in which you could equate these as being the same people.

But these were redeemed or purchased from the earth.

So, redeemed from the earth, meaning that they represent peoples from any part of the earth, whereas 144,000 in Revelation 7 are physical Israelites who are sealed.

Now in Revelation 14.4, These are they which are not defiled with women, for they are virgins.

This is speaking in the spiritual sense. This is in contrast to the great horror of Revelation 17.

These are not guilty of spiritual adultery.

These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

Now that word, to follow the Lamb, can denote to follow as a disciple. We are all followers of God and Jesus Christ right now. And this Greek word that is translated goes, is hupago, H-U-P-A-G-O, hupago, and it can mean to lead.

I don't think that there's a trail that here goes Christ off to the throne of the Father.

There's a trail of 144,000 behind Him.

I don't think it means that.

But they are dedicated to the Lamb.

They are led by the Lamb.

These were redeemed from among men being the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.

Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.

Now we notice, and we'll be coming back there, go to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, we'll see that Jesus Christ is identified as the first of the firstfruits.

1 Corinthians 15 and verse 20, But now has Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But every man in his own order Christ the firstfruits afterward they that are Christ at his coming.

So there are firstfruits to God and the Lamb, and Christ is the first of the firstfruits. Continuing here in Revelation 14, Revelation 14 and verse 5, They are virgins, they have not defiled themselves with men, they are spiritually clean and pure and whole, in contrast to the harlot of Revelation 17. For in their mouth was found no guile, and they are without fault before the throne of God.

Now the same thing basically is said of the remnant of Israel, and we read Zephaniah 3, 11, 13, that they are viewed as sinless as well, or blameless.

But if you live in the flesh, you have, obviously as long as you live in the flesh, you have potential for sin.

So that these first five verses indicate the harvest of the firstfruits.

Now, without getting into a long, I'll quote these scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15 verses 50 through 54 says, At the last trump, the dead in Christ shall rise.

1 Thessalonians 4, 15, 16, 17 says that So the dead in Christ shall be caught up, and we will be caught up after them, and so shall we be with the Lord evermore.

Revelation 10, 7 says, When the seventh angel begins to sound, the mystery of God be finished.

Revelation 11, 15 says, After this seventh trumpet, that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of God and His Christ. So that this great harvest, the firstfruits. Now, we look at verses in Revelation 14, we look at verses 6, 7, 8, and 9, the famous three angels' messages. What are these messages about?

Well, it's warning the world of the impending judgment and the harvest of the wicked.

First we see here the harvest of the firstfruits, and now we're going to see the harvest of the wicked.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters. We talked two weeks ago about the great question in Revelation, Who are you going to worship? And there, following another angel's saying, this is the second angel's message, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink in the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

So this angel announces that Babylon is fallen. The third angel comes and says with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast in the image, receive his mark in the forehead or in his hand.

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out.

And then, verse 12, Here is the patience of the saints, here they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Verse 13, I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Right, blessed are the dead, which died the Lord from henceforth. Yes, it says to the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works, through follow them.

And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, And upon the cloud one sat like the Son of Man, having in his hand a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

You use the sharp sickle, that's how the wheat is harvested in the Middle East.

And so, this picture is the harvest of the wicked.

The harvest of the first fruits has taken place, the three angels warned, and so here is the harvest of the wicked.

The angel came out of his temple in heaven, well, I've got to get a...

Verse 15, another angel came out of the temple, saying with a loud voice to him, That sat on the cloud, thrust in the sickle, and reaped. For the time has come for you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

And he that sat on the cloud, thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather, harvest the clusters of the vine of the earth, and her grapes are fully ripe.

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it in the great winepress of the wrath of God.

And then, of course, the wicked are then harvested.

In chapter 19, the last part, it talks about inviting the fowls of the air and the beast and so on to come and have a great feast off of this carnage that is left when this sickle is cast into the earth and the wicked are harvested.

Then in chapter 15, you see this.

They're getting ready to pour out the seven vials of wrath.

I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for them is filled up, the wrath of God.

And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass, Mingo with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

And we talked about them singing the victory song of Moses.

And so, we see this inset chapter showing that God is ready to pour out the seven last vials of wrath. But we also see these who are sitting on the sea of glass, singing the victory song of Moses. They have gotten the victory over the beast and his mark and death system.

In Revelation 19, well, let's make a quick stop there in 16.

In Revelation 16, verse 17, 16-17, the seventh angel poured out the vial. Verse 19, the great city was divided, and Babylon came into remembrance. So Babylon and the city is fall. Then you go to Revelation 19. Revelation 17-18 is a picture of the beast system and its destruction. You go to Revelation 19, verse 1, And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, Alleluia, salvation, glory, honor, and power unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments, for he has judged the great whore. Revelation 17 and 18, also Revelation 16-17, 18-19, the great whore which did corrupt the earth in her fornication and avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

And so we see the triumph of the saints. And all of those rewards that are mentioned, all of those rewards that are mentioned in the messages to the seven churches, that's what the saints, that's what you and I are going to inherit if we remain faithful. We are going to inherit all of the things that are mentioned there. We're going to be made kings and priests on the earth and rule and reign with God and Christ forevermore.

So I look forward to standing on Mount Zion with the name of God written in my forehead, singing the new song which no man could learn except the 144,000, standing before the throne of God and serving him forever and ever.