Pastor Marshall Ochs | October 16, 2022
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Revelation 14. This chapter shifts focus from the followers of the dragon to the followers of the lamb. The vision also includes three angelic declarations, and a picture of the end time harvest during the return of Jesus. The end of this chapter is very graphic. It is meant to create a sense of urgency for the mission of discipleship, and bring comfort to those who are suffering.
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As we have been studying Revelation, we are reminded that there are only two teams – team Lamb and team dragon. If you were asked today which team you are on, could you with certainty say that you are on team Lamb?
John tells us that he saw 144,000 people with Jesus on Mt. Zion. (see Revelation 7 for further explanation) These represent the entire family of God, who are worshipers of Jesus and are marked by God as His people. This is a group of people who are ready for their Christ – as a bride is ready for her husband. How are you preparing yourself for Christ and His return?
Those who belong to the Lord sing loudly the song of salvation, and they follow Him wherever He goes. They have kept themselves pure by not giving into the idols of this world (i.e., power, wealth, sexual immorality, etc.) Those who follow the dragon have made friends with this world and have a lifestyle that is filled with idols, and immorality. Does your lifestyle reflect team Lamb? Pray and ask the Lord to reveal any areas of your life that do not line up with His will.
In Revelation 14:6-13 we see three angels with very clear proclamations. The first is the invitation for all people to join the Lamb. The second is declaring that this world will fall. The third is that those who have chosen team dragon will suffer the full wrath of the Lamb – eternal torment. These three proclamations are followed with a call to endure in your faith. How does the gospel, the fall of Babylon and eternal punishment for wickedness encourage us to endure in the faith?
The Harvest is coming! For the followers of Christ this will be a great experience. Those who are on team dragon and refused to follow the Lamb will be destined for suffering. In the face of possibly dying for your faith, how certain are you that you would choose to stand firm and endure?
We’re not promised tomorrow, so we must decide today who we will follow and who we will stand for. We are called to be witnesses for Him to others. Not everyone will say yes to Jesus. This will be awful for them in the end times. Pray and ask the Lord who He is putting in your life to share the message of Jesus with. It is the message of life or death.