Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20010701.htm

REVELATION: CALL TO HOLINESS IN VIEW OF PROPHECY Part III: The Things Hereafter' "K. God's Encouraging HOPE For His People's Worst Persecution" (Revelation 14:1-20)
Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

When we view what Christians face for their faith today, from a human perspective, we might be tempted to wonder if its really worth taking the stand:

(1) Recently, a teen in our Church chose to heed what agreement he had made with his parents regarding an activity he was going to perform while with his peers. The peers had at first agreed to go along with the parents' decision, but, away from the parents, they tried to get this teen to disobey his parents and do what was ungodly.

The teen chose to heed his parents against excessive, vile name-calling and other pressure from many of his peers.

Was is really WORTH heeding Mom and Dad in this in view of the pressure faced from his peer group for doing so?

(2) A number of believers in our Church face this question all the time: "WHY go forward with a stand for the truth or the right when the PRICE seems at times to be so HIGH?! What possible BENEFIT is there in taking such a stand in view of the price?!"

(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

Need: "If God's people will witness history's WORST persecution era under antichrist, though they will be able to HANDLE the trial by faith in Scripture, what POINT will there be to their FACING this trial? WHY does a good God allow such persecution even for US?!"

As we discovered in Revelation 13, God's people will face history's WORST persecution for their faith under the antichrist.
Yet, such a TRIAL will offer a great opportunity for VICTORY and REWARD for such saints, providing a great HOPE for them!

Right after Revelation 13's description of Tribulation Period saints' enormous persecution, Christ gave John a preview of contrasting blessed triumph for Tribulation era saints, Revelation 14:1-5.

Christ predicted His 144,000 servants would stand in victory with Him at His Second Coming on the very Mount Zion spot where antichrist had ruled and blasphemed God, Rev. 14:1 (Mtt. 24:15)!
He showed how these dedicated servants who had stood for the truth through so much would be honored to praise God in a way no other group would be able to do, Revelation 14:2-3.
He stated how these would be honored for their spiritual purity (typified as "virgins," cf. Isa. 37:22-24) in standing against the threats and errant beliefs promoted by the antichrist, Rev. 14:4-5.

This ultimate triumph will be gained over time in God's plan to judge antichrist's [and Satan's] efforts as foreseen in Revelation 14:6-20:

God will announce by His mighty angels the gospel of hope for faith and damnation for unbelief in the Tribulation, Rev. 14:6-8.

On the one hand, the gospel will promote respect, glory and worship is to be given to the Creator God, Revelation 14:6-7.
On the other hand, the gospel will warn of the coming fall of the world's apostate religion [to be clarified in Rev. 17-18], 14:8.

This announcement details the eternal experiences either belief in God or rejection of Him will bring to all on earth, Rev. 14:9-11:

For those who yield to antichrist's errant beliefs and orders, they will experience God's eternal wrath in hell, Rev. 14:9-11.
For those who resist believing or heeding antichrist's orders, believers will suffer only 3 years in patient hope for a blessed eternal future and reward from God, Revelation 14:12-13.

Finally, God prefigures His earthly vengeance on the followers of antichrist in the crushing battle of Armageddon, Rev. 14:14-20.

John was shown the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of man with a golden crown and a sharp sickle of judgment, Rev. 14:14.
Upon being urged to reap the earth's overripe harvest by a godly angel, Jesus is pictured extending His sickle and reaping the earth of its harvest of persecutors, Revelation 14:15-16.
This picture is followed by a scene of angels carrying out the will of Christ, angels of judgment attacking the oppressors of Tribulation Period believers, Revelation 14:17-19.
What they accomplish is the judgment of the battle of Armageddon: this battle produces a slaughter so great that the blood is splattered as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 180 miles! (Bible Knowledge Commentary, N.T., p. 965)
Hence, the followers of antichrist who physically tormented God's believers in the Great Tribulation will themselves be slaughtered in judgment by Christ at the battle of Armageddon!

God's people will find great encouragement in this promised coming divine vengeance in Revelation 14 during their persecution time:

These saints will joy to read the 144,000 faithful will one day stand with Jesus Christ on the very temple spot where antichrist will then be blaspheming God, on Mt. Zion, Rev. 14:1; 11:1-2; Mtt. 24:15.
These saints will read of the contrast of their mere 3 years of torment under antichrist as compared to the eternal torment of their foes in hell, Rev. 14:9-12. This will encourage them to wait patiently in faith for God's coming deliverance.
These saints will read of God's promise that their standing for the truth in the troublesome Tribulation, though they are martyred en route, will be richly rewarded at Christ's return, Revelation 14:13.
They will read of God's pledge to crush their tormentors at the battle of Armageddon in retribution for afflicting them, 14:14-20!

Application: (1) To escape hell and receive God's gift of eternal life, trust in Christ for salvation from sin, John 3:16. (2) As a believer, VIEW the THREAT of persecution from the ungodly for HEEDING God and His Word as God's OPPORTUNITY for GREAT REWARD provided IN the trial, and heed the TRUTH in Jesus Christ, cf. Revelation 22:12; Matthew 5:10-12!

Lesson: From history's worst persecution of the godly, we learn this lesson: the GREATER the PERSECUTION, the greater the STAKES of CONTRASTING REWARD or its LOSS for heeding or not heeding God! >

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

God has provided great encouragements regarding our stands as a Church in recent days:

(1) This past week in Vacation Bible School, an event occurred that was very rewarding to us as a Church.

As a number of us know, this past year, we have taken strong stands as a body and as individuals regarding defending the beliefs of the Eternal Security of the believer's salvation and resisting tongues speaking as being for today. Several in our Church have extensive contacts with those who attend an area Charismatic Church who do not hold to these doctrines, and these contacts have elicited the need for such stands.

Well, for last week's VBS ministry, our director, Marge Kacir had picked out material that dealt with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. On Monday, the first day of VBS, as she was teaching the material, she looked out in the audience to see one of the children of a pastor at this same Charismatic Church listening intently to her every word! She was astounded that God had arranged for her provide CORRECT teaching on this delicate subject of tongues speaking to the very CHILD of a minister of the Charismatic Church involved in our doctrinal discussion issues!

This made me very glad that we have correct doctrinal stands so that little children like this can have hear the TRUTH about such doctrinal issues! It became an event of great encouragement for us!

(2) One of the ladies in our Church was in a recent conversation with a friend who does not go to Church. This friend is apparently disillusioned with so many "watered-down" stands Churches have taken for political reasons that her family has given up on trying to attend any. Our Church attender testified to this neighbor that at Nepaug we stand for the truth regardless of the political fallout. Apparently, the friend was positively impressed by this news!