The passage we will be discussing is Revelation 14:1-5. In verse one, we see the Lamb of God standing on Mount Zion, and 144,000 men with him. The scene is joyous and triumphant, a beautiful picture of rejoicing.
In verses 1 to 5 the question "what will become of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast and are killed" is answered. The holy scriptures here reveal 144,000 Jewish men who were set apart to preach the gospel. Also revealed is the Lamb standing firmly on Mount Sion, in direct contrast to the beast who comes up from an unstable sea. In the article "The beast of Revelation" we saw that this sea most likely represents man-made systems which are used to organise society and the way we live. Yet any system that seeks to control man outside of God's plan will, of necessity, fail. Where Jesus Christ is missing, the plan fails, as only He can regenerate sinful people spiritually. We must rest every hope and truth in Him. It should be noted that, in this passage, He makes the 144,000 men stand with Him in triumph: they haven't fallen.
The Lord Jesus is our rock, the foundation on which all believers stand. As Matthew 7:24-27 teaches us, if we do what Jesus tells us, we will have a strong foundation and will remain standing at the end of our lives. Never forget: the key to all this is both hearing and doing His words. We should also realise that it is impossible to live out Jesus' sayings without being born again spiritually - sadly, most people in the world will never do this.
Matthew 7:28-29 shows us that Jesus had the authority to teach these sayings as He - being God - was the one who came up with them. He wasn't just teaching proverbs (ie. short statements of wisdom or advice that have passed into general use) but doctrine. So how important is doctrine in the teachings of the Bible? See the following scripture passages:
- 1 Timothy 4:13
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- 1 Timothy 5:17
- 2 Timothy 3:10
- 2 Timothy 4:2
- Titus 1:9
- Titus 2:1
- 2 John 1:9
- 2 John 1:10
As the above examples show, doctrine is the element in a person's walk with God that will determine whether they stand or fall spiritually.
However, 2 Timothy 4:3 is a warning: when you stand up for truth and doctrine, you don't become popular. A walk through the Word Bookstore here in Melbourne reveals, sadly, that this scripture passage is being fulfilled today. Some of the false doctrines being peddled include the doctrine of prosperity, which is explored in greater depth in the following article:
http://www.indefenceofthegospel.com/html/prosperity_doctrine.html
Yet Jesus prophesied that those who fall away from His words (the apostate church) will be destroyed by the devil (Matthew 7:27, Revelation 17:16). Those who throw out doctrine, throw out Christ Himself.
Revelation 6:16 gives us a frightening contrast between those who are standing on judgement day and those who cannot. The 144,000 on Mount Sion learned of Jesus and served Him faithfully until death. The stances they took - and that other people take in their lives - are a result of:
- decisions made
- counsel taken
- accepting certain truths.
All of the above lead a person to say: this is the position I'm taking and I'm going to defend it.
Once you begin taking someone's advice, and you begin living that out (road-testing it), and you have accepted it, you can take a stand. It becomes your truth.
The ungodly also take stands. As Psalm 1:1 shows us, one of the fruits of unbelief is that you become scornful of those who don't follow your "way." When you fear the truth, you have to mask it with prideful arrogance. Unfortunately, some of the biggest critics of biblical fundamentalists (or people who believe God's word) are apostate Christians. Yet we who believe should always speak with people who do not agree with us with utter gravity, as their souls are in peril.
As Revelation 14:1-5 reveals, those who follow the Lamb will be standing at the end of time. So trust more, risk more and remember that love hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). We stand by the grace of God through faith (Romans 5:1). God's grace gets you through terrible problems in life and more grace is bestowed upon you by trusting God (James 4:6). Romans 14:4 also reminds us that if a man is truly God's servant, God will make him stand:
Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Whatever God has started in us spiritually, He will finish.
However, if you stand for Jesus Christ in this world, you can expect to be attacked. This is why Ephesians 6:11 exhorts us to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
The believers shown in Revelation 14:2-4 overcame persecution and terrible suffering whilst on earth: they set their minds on heavenly things and were faithful in the midst of their afflictions. As a result, at the end of days we see them standing with the Lord in heavenly places (Revelation 14:3, Hebrews 12:22). This should be our hope too.
Will you stand with your King in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation? Doing so is not easy but it does bring much joy. Stand up for Jesus because He stood up for you, in your place, at the cross of Calvary. He deserves to be stood up for, as the 144,000 did. We don't want to be ashamed in front of Him on judgement day for, as it is written:
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
(Mark 8:38)
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