Mouths Without Deceit

Revelation 14:1  Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.

Revelation 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

Revelation 14:3  They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 14:4  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Revelation 14:5  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Things to note...

This is a definitive statement about those who will be in the first resurrection.

Obviously, “no deceit” isn’t enough, but it’s the banner phrase used to describe the saints. (all the commandments matter, but this phrase sums it all up)

Not just that they are NOT original deceivers, but they don’t even pass on deception.

The saints will be WITHOUT fault (not “some”, not “the least”; WITHOUT) because they do not communicate deceit.

What is deceit in this reference?

G1388   (Strong)

δόλος

dolos

dol'-os

From δέλλω dellō (an obsolete primary probably meaning to decoy; compare G1185); a trick (bait), that is, (figuratively) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.

So, the deceit referenced here is actually expressing intentional deceit. The deceit is intentional at its source. The person who passes this kind of deception on, being himself or herself without intent to deceive, is nevertheless carrying in their communication intentional deception.

Let’s reference another familiar scripture about deception...

2 Timothy 3:13  But evil [bad, grievous, harm(ful), lewd, malicious, wicked] men and impostors (wizards, seducers) will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Here, the word for deceiving is a different word...

G4105   (Strong)

πλανάω

planaō

plan-ah'-o

From G4106; to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way.

Unlike “dello”, “plan-ah-o” does not on its own necessarily reference intent to deceive. It just declares the error of the example or instruction. Nevertheless, Timothy is made aware that deception will grow worse and worse as time goes by.

So, from the vision we referenced in Revelation 14, the saints are found to be without any fault whatsoever, because no deceit was found in their mouths. Not only did they NOT originate dishonest behavior, they also did NOT pass on dishonest communication. This means that, even if a person does not have a heart toward deceiving others, they must also judge righteously what they see and hear so they know when to speak and when to remain silent.

<GRAPES story> In short, I prejudged a neighbor had stolen ripe grapes, but under the better scrutiny of the vine, I realized the berries had been removed by some animal. I drew a judgmental conclusion on the circumstantial evidence. I did not pass on the information, thankfully, but I learned a valuable lesson in judgment.

And remember why this is so important. In the communication of a deception (OF ANY KIND) comes the disqualification for being one of those who follows the Lamb wherever He goes. Some good passages to reference for righteous judgment can be found in Deuteronomy 19 and Matthew 18.

In Jesus’ day, those responsible for guarding the very law of God, as a group, appear to have been without righteous judgment, ready to accuse Jesus falsely and persuade others to believe them.

John 8:42  Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

John 8:43  Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

John 8:45  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

John 8:46  Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?

John 8:47  He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear because you are not of God."

You and I might readily defend us with a statement like, “I’m no Pharisee! I would never disbelieve and dishonor the words of Christ!” We can always pray this is so, but how are we in the realm of our fellow man, whether the brethren or strangers?” Remember, what we do to others, we do to Christ (Mat 25)

We are at the climax of the four-year election cycle, entering the last three months where a handful of people are vying for one of the most coveted positions on earth, that of the office of the President of the United States of America. Are you active on Facebook and other social media? If not, do you keep up with the news at all? If you keep up at all with what’s going on in our society, you have been exposed to countless claims and counterclaims accompanied by even more accusation.

To what degree do you give these things your judgment? Have you been tempted to draw conclusions on a candidate based on the claims made? Have you thoroughly vetted every accusation, and if not, were you still tempted to draw CONCLUSIONS on another person’s character? What have you communicated to others as a result of those conclusions?

I’ve said things. I’ve said things. I’ve said things. I am sorry I’ve said things, because the nature of the conclusions really needed a proper witness, and without that witness, I have made myself worthy of the same judgment against myself with the same expected punishment. (Ask forgiveness.)

<global warming> I've found myself drawing conclusions about the character of scientists and a former vice president in my disagreements about the global warming issue. I have my beliefs about the environmental issue, but I have no right to determine their intent based on the information currently available.

In our society are many arguments with contested conclusions; politics, social issues, environmental issues (like global warming). Everybody has their claimed proofs, denying the claimed proofs offered by the opponent. (Is what is defined as "proof" really just circumstantial evidence?)

In these things, how should we judge, and then are we careful to guard our tongues?

Jer 50:6  "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.

We must understand just how close to home this disease hits and just how high the stakes are for us.

This has happened in the Church of God in the past on a large scale, and, as a result, many have forgotten their resting place. In their mouth was deceit, and to this point, they have not repented.

Repentance is key to being found “without fault”, as the saints are described in Revelation 14.

Let’s witness a miracle that results from repentance. Turn to Psalm 103...

Psalms 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Psalms 103:9  He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

Psalms 103:10  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

Psalms 103:11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:13  As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), but through the blood of Christ, we are forgiven our trespasses upon true repentance. Revelation 14 does not describe a people who never spoke deceitful words but describes a people who, in desiring always to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, being careful to obey all of God’s commandments, including guarding their lips, REPENTED of those failings. With repentance comes a forgiveness that REMOVES our sins “as far as the east is from the west”. I don’t know if you have thought about that phrase much, but that distance is without end; it’s infinite.

Two or three weeks ago, I was going through Revelation, and when I came to...

Revelation 14:5  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

It hit me like a ton of bricks the clarity found in that scripture. It’s a scripture that sums up all of our obedience to God and love for God in the phrase “in their mouth was found no deceit”. As I believe we live in a generation that is bent on deceit, a deceit that is bombarded at each of us daily via our great technological advances in communication, this scripture hits home with a full effect.

Let’s not become complacent with self-soothing statements about our understanding of the law, whether about the Ten Commandments, food laws, Holy Days, and any of those other things we MUST believe in and do to be saints of the Most High. That’s just not ENOUGH! How do we use our communication with each other and in the world? In God’s view, it’s not a matter of who is hearing us, but what we are communicating. How careful are we with our words in EVERY word we speak?

We know that it’s not just a matter of intent but whether the words we communicate are true. This requires we be especially careful about the means we rely upon for drawing conclusions and THEN communicating those conclusions to others.

Am I secure enough in my conclusions on a matter, whether it be about doctrine or accusation, to communicate those beliefs, and feel confident about my approval before God?

Revelation leaves us no wiggle room. Either you and I will be saints without fault in God’s eyes, the only eyes that matter, or we are not saints of the Most High God.

God has power to help us be overcomers, to give us repentant hearts. God, through His Spirit, WILL guide us into all truth, communicating according to truth.

Final scripture...

Psalms 141:3  Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Let this Psalm be our prayer. Let us rely on God to give us the godly quality that declares, “...in their mouth was found no deceit.”