Turn with me to Revelation 14. Revelation 14, as we continue our study through the book of Revelation. Today we look at the vision of the Lamb and the 144,000, which May sound a bit familiar. We looked at a vision of the 144,000 already in chapter 7. And this group of people is revisited later on in the book of Revelation here in chapter 14. We'll read the first five verses of Revelation 14, and Lord willing, we'll make it all the way through them. Revelation 14, beginning in verse number one, Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him 144,000, who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the roar of many waters, and like the sound of loud thunder, The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb. And in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Let's pray this morning. Heavenly Father, as we come to your word on the Lord's day, I pray that you would help me to faithfully, accurately interpret your word. and apply it appropriately. Father, I pray that you'd help us to understand what this vision means that John saw. This vision of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name, your name, on their foreheads. and everything else that's said about them in this passage. I pray that you'd help us to understand it, and not merely to understand it, but may we take the truth that we see from your Word today, may we apply it to our lives, because it is practical, it does apply to us, and it should challenge us. And I pray that it would do just that, Father, by your grace. And I pray that it would cause us to persevere as we look in this vision at other saints of the past who persevered. I pray that we would be challenged and encouraged to persevere by your grace. And Father, we pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. Well, if you remember in Revelation 7, the 144,000 are mentioned, and this group of people is mentioned right before the coming wrath of the Lamb. If you remember the question at the end of Revelation 6, who can stand before the Lamb in His wrath? And then we're introduced to this group of people who are sealed before coming destruction. And this same group is revisited here in Revelation 14. But if you remember in Revelation chapters 12 and 13, those passages contain visions about the dragon, the sea beast, and the land beast. This is what we've been looking at in the last few weeks as we come into Revelation 14. In Revelation 12, we have the vision of the dragon, who is clearly identified as Satan. And we see how he attacks a woman, a woman who would give birth to the one who would rule the nations with a rod of iron, clearly referring to Jesus. And so this woman is from where Jesus would come from. It's Israel that's being referred to here. And we see that the dragon attempts to take out the Messiah and fails, and then seeks to extinguish the infant Jewish church of the first century and fails. and then turns its wrath upon the woman's offspring, which most likely is a reference to Gentile believers, the Gentile church. And then in chapter 13 we see a vision of the sea beast, which I won't re-preach the entire passage. If you missed it, get on YouTube or Sermon Audio and listen to those sermons. But we've identified the sea beast as being the Roman Empire. And the land beast, which causes those who have not been sealed, those who receive the mark of the beast, those whose names have not been written in the book of life, it causes them to worship the first beast. And we identify the second beast, the land beast, for several reasons, as Jerusalem. as unfaithful, unbelieving, covenant-breaking Jerusalem and its leadership. And then we come to chapter 14 here. We see a vision of the lamb and the 144,000 look at verse 1 again with me says John says then I looked so we see a transition here We're we're still with the backdrop of the vision of the dragon and the land beast and the sea beasts in view He turns his attention to something else. Then I looked and behold on Mount Zion stood the lamb Behold on Mount Zion stood the lamb. So with the first thing we see in this vision in this passage is the lamb Which we know is Jesus standing on Mount Zion Now, this has Old Testament significance, which should come as no surprise. There's a lot of Old Testament reference in the book of Revelation, and this is also one instance. There's Old Testament significance to the fact that in this vision, the Lamb is standing on Mount Zion. Now, think for just a moment before we look at some Old Testament scripture. Think of what has just transpired, what John has just seen, and what he has just recorded. In the last vision, the dragon, which is Satan, and his two beasts, Rome and Jerusalem, fought to destroy Christ and his people, but their efforts were in vain. Now in this vision John sees Christ and his people standing on Mount Zion Not only can they not be conquered they are the ones who are about to do the conquering Jesus is on Mount Zion with his people and he's about to come down and crack some skulls He's about to defeat his enemies and He's about to defeat this dragon, this land beast, this sea beast. He is the one who will do the conquering we see Jesus on Mount Zion Which is significant because it shows His kingship it shows his reign it shows his authority that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who conquers all of his enemies and his enemies have two options they either repent and submit to his lordship or they face his wrath and Keep your finger in Revelation and turn with me to Psalm 110. It's a passage that we've referenced many times in the study of Revelation, in our study of Matthew 24, and we usually reference the first verse. It's the most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament. Verse 1 the Lord says to my lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. This is a messianic psalm It's referring to the lordship of christ his reign He's ascended to the right hand and it says the lord says to my lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool But look at what it says next in verse 2 the lord sends forth from zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies. Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garments. There will be those who do repent, who submit to the lordship of the one who sits at the right hand of the throne of God. But there are those who will not. Look at verse 5. The Lord is at your right hand. He will shatter kings on the day of His wrath. He will execute judgment upon the nations, filling them with corpses. He will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way. Therefore, He will lift up His head. There will be those who submit themselves to His Lordship, and there will be those who face His wrath. But the bottom line is he conquers his enemies. He rules and reigns and conquers. And his scepter comes forth from Zion. This lamb who stands upon Mount Zion is reigning, ruling, conquering. One other Psalm I'd like you to look at, Psalm 2. This passage in Revelation is very much reminiscent of what we see in Psalm 2. In Psalm 2, this is once again a messianic Psalm, and we see from it that Jesus is the King that God has set up. Look at verse 1. Why do the nations rage in the people's plot and vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointing, saying, Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords. Once again, we could parallel this with what we see in Revelation. Rome and Jerusalem conspiring against the Lord and His people. Fighting against the Lord and his people What is the result verse number four of Psalm 2 he who sits in the heavens laughs The Lord holds them in derision Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury saying as for me. I have set my king on Zion my holy hill Jesus, in this vision, there's no reason for us to think that this is detailing a time when Jesus would literally stand on Mount Zion. Think of this, it's a vision, it's apocalyptic literature. The dragon is not a literal dragon. The sea beast is not a literal sea beast. The lamb beast is not a literal lamb beast. The mark of the beast is not a literal mark. The 144,000 is not a literal number of people, it's symbolic. The lamb is not a literal lamb. And Mount Zion that he stands upon is not the literal Mount Zion. It's symbolizing his authority, his power, his reign. In fact, we could even say that it's referring to spiritual Mount Mount Zion. You say you're making stuff up now brother Kyle There's no such thing as spiritual Mount Zion. Hold on a second. I will show it to you. Hold on just a second Jesus is fulfilling Psalm 2 in Revelation 14 He stands upon Mount Zion. He is the Lord's anointed. He is the one of Whom it is said as for me. I have set my king on Zion my holy hill Jesus is that King And we see in the rest of Psalm 2 that the enemies of Christ share the same fate as Rome and Jerusalem and Look at verse 7. I will tell of the decree the Lord said to me you are my son today I've begotten you ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel What happened to Jerusalem? by the year 70 AD Shattered like a potter's vessel What happened to the Roman Empire in just a couple of centuries. Shattered like a potter's vessel. Go to Rome now. Do you expect to see the mighty Roman Empire now when you go to Rome? No, it's a quaint little vacation spot. That's what it is. It's a quaint little vacation spot. It's not even a shadow of its former glory. Why? Because it stood against the king that was set on Zion and it was shattered to pieces like a potter's vessel. We see that Kings and rulers of the earth have been given a solemn warning psalm 2 look at verse 8 I'm sorry verse 10 now therefore Oh kings be wise be warned Oh rulers of the earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. And we could say to all the kings and rulers of the earth, learn a lesson from Rome and Jerusalem or you're going to share their fate. Spend a lot of time on this but we're a little squeaky squeamish even about talking about governments and politics and church But the Bible talks about governments and politics Who is who is warned in Psalm 2 and who is told to submit to the king on Zion or else Therefore, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear. The kings and the rulers of the earth are commanded to serve the Lord. Who's going to tell them what their job is? Who's going to tell them who they're accountable to? if not the pillar and ground of the truth?" Anyway, that's a side note, but it was there and it needed to be said. The Lamb standing on Mount Zion. He destroys all those who stand against Him. He is the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Turn back to Revelation 14. Oh, I'm sorry. I told you I would show you spiritual Mount Zion. I almost forgot. Turn to Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12 We have a comparison between Old Covenant and New Covenant in this passage Hebrews 12 verse 18 For you have not come he's making a comparison here now in the Old Covenant to the New Covenant for you have not come to what may be touched a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them for they could not endure the order that was given even a Even if even a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned Indeed so terrifying was the sight that Moses said I tremble with fear by the way. Let's pause for a second Story time all the kids who have heard the story from Exodus What what is happening here? What mountain is being referred to here? Does anyone remember the mountain that had cloud and darkness and no one could touch it or they would die? I Know I saw a hand out there what mountain Sinai and the law was given there the old covenant is is Reinstituted there reinforced there reaffirmed and He says that's that he's talking to his new covenant readers here the writer of the Hebrews is writing to New Testament Jewish Christians, and he's saying you haven't come to the mountain that can't be touched You haven't come to Mount Sinai What have they come to verse 22, but you have come to Mount Zion Did they literally go to Mount Zion Do Christians under the New Covenant go to Mount Zion? I mean, have you been to Mount Zion? Maybe some of you have gone on vacation and gone out there, but I haven't been to Mount Zion, and yet Hebrews 12 says I've been to Mount Zion. But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in feastful gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the Spirit of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Under the New Covenant, you have come to Mount Zion. You have come to Jerusalem, but not earthly Jerusalem. Heavenly Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem. The City of the Living God. We see this comparison here. So we see it said even that symbolically, under the New Covenant, we come to Mount Zion. We come to the New Jerusalem, the Heavenly Jerusalem. Turn back to Revelation 14. Sorry, I forgot we had to make that detour. So, Revelation 14. There's no reason exegetically for us to think that this is talking about the Lamb literally standing on Mount Zion one day. This is, once again, a vision, and in that vision, the Lamb is standing upon Mount Zion, and what is that communicating? His kingship, His authority, His reign, His rule, His conquering of His enemies. That's what it's communicating. So we see the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and then notice what else we see in this passage. Verse 1 and with him 144,000 So we see not only the lamb standing on Mount Zion, but we see the 144,000 standing with him Now, the first thing I'd like you to notice is their identity, which we lean upon what's already been said about them and what will, in a moment, be said about them to understand who this 144,000 is. And I would say, in a very strict sense, that it's referring to first-century Jewish Christians. Now, there are those who will say it refers to the elect of all ages, and I see where they can get that from Revelation 7. That may also be possible, but I think in a very strict sense, it is referring to the first century Jewish Christians, the infant church of the first century, which was primarily Jewish. There's a couple of reasons for that. First of all, if you turn with me to Revelation 6, We see the sixth seal here in verse number 12 revelation 6 verse number 12 When he opened the sixth seal I looked and behold there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black as sackcloth the full moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale the sky vanished like a stroll that is being rolled up and every mountain and island Was removed from its place Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful and everyone slave and free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains Calling to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand and I'm not going to reteach the Matthew 24 series, but we see a lot of Parallels here with what we see in Matthew 24 and the coming destruction upon Jerusalem and in this warning of the coming destruction We have this question who can stand? Then the answer is given in chapter 7 after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back The four winds of the earth that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun with the seal of the living God and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea saying do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of the sealed 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. So we see this group of people. The destruction is promised. It's foretold. It's on its way. But before this destruction comes, as the angels are holding back the destruction, they're told not to harm anything until this group of people is sealed. And they're identified with Israel, of course. We have the mention of the 12 tribes, although in different orders and with different names mentioned. And I think that's ultimately because it's not a reference to merely physical Israel, but also spiritual Israel. We see this number 144,000, which I don't think is a literal number. I believe it's a symbolic number. Of course, 12 times 12. and then times 1,000, which indicates a large number, would be symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel and also of a great number of people. But I want you to turn back with me to Revelation 14, and there's something also mentioned here that I think gives us a clue as to who this 144,000 are. We obviously identify them with Israel based on the mention of the tribes and the number. And there are many who read this text and they think it's talking about people, Israel in the future. 144,000 from Israel in the future. But look at what's said about this 144,000. Revelation 14 Verse number four It is these who have not defiled themselves with women for they are from for they are virgins It is these who follow the lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb first fruits in other words an indicator of what is yet to come. The beginning of the harvest, not the end of the harvest. If this is 144,000 Jews in the future, they wouldn't be called firstfruits, they'd be called lastfruits. If you're a dispensationalist, they can't be firstfruits, they have to be lastfruits for it to work. It's not what it says. I mean it's I can't change what it says. It's there in the text first fruits James in James chapter 1 refers to the early Jewish community the early Jewish Church as first fruits He says of his own will he begat us to be a kind of first fruits of his creatures so we see the early infant Jewish Church being referred to as first fruits and And we see this identification in Revelation 14, that they are first fruits. In other words, this is not referring to 144,000 Jews in the future, it's referring to the infant Jewish church, the first century Jewish Christians before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This is, in a very strict sense, who is being referenced here. They're in this vision. They're standing on Mount Zion with the lamb And notice something else about them. Once again, we've already mentioned it. They've been they they are Recorded in Revelation 7 they're brought up again here in Revelation 14 and notice something that I think is is right there It's obvious and yet it needs to be said because it's significant their number remained undiminished Their number remained undiminished. Think for just a moment. There's been a lot that's been recorded since Revelation 7. Revelation 7, we have the 144,000 sealed. Then we have visions about a dragon trying to take them out. Sea beast trying to take him out a land beast trying to take him out and we get to Revelation 14 and we look at Mount Zion with the lamb standing there and with him same number 144,000 the lamb has not lost those who were sealed He's not lost them their number is undiminished and They were sealed in Revelation 7, which shows the power of God's grace. And yet, I want you to also remember something. Not only were they sealed and kept by God's grace, but many times between Revelation 7 and Revelation 14, they're told to persevere. They're told to persevere. There's an application here. There's an application here. God brings about our perseverance by His grace. He does. The Bible tells us He does. God brings about our perseverance by His grace, and yet God calls us to persevere as a means of grace. What means of grace does God use to bring about that perseverance? He tells His followers to persevere, to follow, to be faithful. He writes about what happens if you don't persevere and if you fall away from the faith. He talks about what does happen if you do persevere. What is that? A means of grace. This group of people are sealed and yet they're told to persevere. And we get to Revelation 14 and they're still there, 144,000. We're told to persevere. We're told that by God's grace, we will persevere, that we will be presented blameless. And yet we're also commanded to be faithful and to persevere. We see that by God's grace, their number remained undiminished. But notice also, in verse number one, notice their allegiance. The names that they have written on their foreheads. Verse number one then I looked and behold on Mount Zion stood the lamb and with him 144,000 who had his name and his father's name written on their foreheads and once again with the with the old vision of the beast still in the backdrop This is in comparison to that How does revelation 13 close? It closes by mentioning that the land beast causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. We have those in Revelation 13 who receive the mark of the beast. They pledge allegiance to the beast. And yet, as we come into Revelation 14, we see a group of people standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb who have His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads. This is symbolic of their allegiance, that they have submitted themselves to the Lordship of Christ over against and in comparison to those who have submitted their lives and given their allegiance to the beast and ultimately to the dragon. We see that there are those who do not follow the dragon. They do not follow the beast. They do not take their mark. Those have the name of the Lamb and the Father on their foreheads. Such a simple and yet profound statement Doug Wilson makes in his commentary on Revelation. Everyone has the name of someone on their forehead. Everyone has the name of someone on their forehead. In Revelation 13, it's either the name of the beast or it's the name of Jesus, Revelation 14. And we know what ultimately what was behind the power of the land beast and the sea beast is the dragon, Satan. And so you have someone's name on your forehead. And I think the question we ought to ask as we think of this, as we look at those who had the name of the beast on their foreheads, we have those who had the name of the lamb and of the father on their foreheads, the question we need to ask ourselves, is whose name do we bear? Whose name do we bear? Or we could ask it more practically, who do we worship and serve? Who do we worship and serve? And we tend to think, you know, well, I don't worship Baal, I'm not bowing down to an idol, and yet We're tempted to bow down to things like worldly possessions, luxury, comfort, money. Those things aren't evil, but they can be idols. We can be trapped into bowing down to them. We have someone's name on our forehead. Whose name do we bear? Who do we worship and serve? The same dragon who is behind the Roman Empire and Jerusalem, is behind any other evil empire since then and in the future. Whose name do we bear? Who do we worship and serve? Notice their song in verses 2 and 3. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. It's an interesting paradox there, isn't it? He heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters, and like the sound of loud thunder, but also like the sound of harps playing. How's that work? Look at verse 3 again. They were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth They have a song that they sing and it's about redemption They have a song that they sing And it's about redemption. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. I believe this indicates that whatever song they're singing in this vision has to do with the fact that they've been redeemed. It's unique to them. And we could extend it to even say into the saints of all nations and ages. Keep your finger in Revelation, but we see a hint of this even in 1 Peter. Turn with me there for just a moment, 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1, at the beginning of Peter's letter, he's writing about salvation. He says in verse number 10 concerning this salvation the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours Searched and inquired carefully Inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ in the subsequent glories In other words, he's saying the Old Testament prophets knew That the Christ would come And they wanted to know what person or time, what person it would be and what time it would be that the Messiah came. And it says, verse 12, it was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you. In other words, new covenant believers. The things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit Sent from heaven and just notice the last phrase things into which angels long to look You know that angels know about redemption But they've never experienced it Angels have a knowledge of redemption, but it's not an experiential one and It says, concerning the salvation, the angels long to look into it. They see it happening. They know about it. But they've never experientially had any knowledge of redemption. There's a song that those of us redeemed by the blood of the Lamb can sing that's unique to us because we've experienced redemption. We've experienced redemption. This 144,000 are the only ones in this vision who know this song, who can sing this song, because they've been redeemed from the earth. Notice their purity. Verse number four. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. Now I want to pause for just a moment because this may seem like an insignificant or even a random statement. Why mention that they haven't been defiled by women and that they're virgins? Does that mean that all of us who are married and have experienced the joys of marriage and have had children are hopeless? That's not at all what it's referring to. So I want to pause for a moment because it seems a little weird, a little, or maybe insignificant, or just random and out of place. But, I want to say this, I believe it is referring to one of the key themes of Revelation. I believe it's referring to one of the key themes of Revelation, a theme that will be unpacked even more in the coming chapters of Revelation in our study. This is not referring to their physical virginity, but instead, to their refusal to associate with the great prostitute. Their refusal to associate with the great prostitute. And I'll explain what I mean by that. Alright, so let's just pause a moment, get a big picture here about Revelation. In the book of Revelation, there are two women. Primarily, there are two key figures who are women in the Book of Revelation. One is the great prostitute. The other is the Lamb's Bride. I'll say that again. There are two key female characters in the Book of Revelation. One is the great prostitute. The other is the Lamb's Bride. And I would submit to you, and we'll probably unpack this in the coming weeks and months, but I would submit to you that the great prostitute, which is also referred to later on in the book of Revelation as Babylon, is unbelieving, unfaithful, covenant-breaking Jerusalem. Once again, I would submit to you that the great prostitute, also referred to as Babylon, is unbelieving, unfaithful, covenant-breaking Jerusalem. Keep your finger on Revelation 14, but turn to Revelation 18. Revelation 18 we have here Babylon has already been introduced and we have here detailed for us in this vision the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 look at verse number 19 and And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, Alas, alas for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth, for in a single hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints," notice who's mentioned here, you saints and apostles, and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her. Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more. And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more. a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more and The light of a lamp will shine in you no more and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more For your merchants were the great ones of the earth and all nations were deceived by your sorcery in her Babylon the great prostitute don't miss this in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who've been slain on earth." Now pause for just a second, because it wasn't that long ago. Think back to our study on Matthew 24. What city was condemned for spilling the blood of the prophets? Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that stones the prophets and kills those who are sent to it. What is the condemnation that Jesus pronounces upon Jerusalem? That on you, all the righteous blood shed, from Abel to, I forget the last name, son of Berechiah. You it will fall. He says upon this generation That first century generation of Jerusalem Would face judgment For the bloodshed of the prophets from the very first to the very last Old Testament Saint mentioned We have here in Revelation 18 that Babylon is being wiped out It's being destroyed because of the blood of the Saints the Apostles and the prophets and you say brother Kyle that I don't know if I Why would why would? Israel be called Babylon. Well, why was Israel called Sodom and Egypt in Revelation 11 and It was Why in fact, let's turn there just in case you don't remember revelation 11 Verse number 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically Symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt. Well, what city is that where their Lord was? crucified That's Jerusalem friends That's Jerusalem being called Sodom and Egypt and I would submit to you later on in Revelation being called Babylon. What is happening? Israel is being identified with her ancient enemies. She is just as unfaithful and pagan as the nations of the Old Testament who faced the wrath of God. They were delivered out of Sodom out of Egypt out of Babylon these nations are wiped out in the Old Testament because of their pagan worship and Israel is identified in the book of Revelation right along with them because they have rejected their Lord and It's in the New Testament folks Jesus condemns Jerusalem in Matthew 23 and says their house will be left to them desolate because they've rejected him and they've killed the messengers of God in the crucifixion narrative Pilate says will you have me crucify your king? What do they say? We have no king but Caesar Israel has all but abandoned God They are unfaithful unbelieving unbelieving and they have broken their covenant and They are identified right along with pagan Sodom pagan Egypt and pagan Babylon And so we see that Babylon The great prostitute is unbelieving, unfaithful, covenant-breaking Jerusalem. That's the first woman. What about the second one? Well, the second one is the Lamb's Bride. I don't think we need to take the time to go to 2 Corinthians 11 or Ephesians 5 for you to know that the Bride is explicitly referred to as the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ. But if you want to write down in your notes and look at it later, 2 Corinthians 11, Ephesians 5, we have the Church identified as the Bride of Christ. Unlike unbelieving, unfaithful, covenant-breaking, earthly Jerusalem, the Church, or the Bride of Christ, is number one, clothed in fine linen, Revelation 19. Turn there with me, Revelation 19. So we already have in our image the great prostitute this unfaithful woman who has broken her covenant with God Now we see the Bride of Christ Revelation 19 Look at verse number six Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters, like the sound of mighty peals of thunder crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exalt and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure. So we see here, first of all, in comparison to the great prostitute who is judged in Revelation 18. We see the great marriage supper of the Lamb, the Bride of Christ, has made herself ready. How is she clothed? It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure. What is this fine linen? For the fine linen, verse number 8, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. In contrast to unfaithful, unbelieving, covenant-breaking Israel, Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ is faithful, is obedient, is clothed with righteous deeds. Not only this, but the Bride of Christ, in comparison to unbelieving, unfaithful, covenant-breaking, earthly Jerusalem, The Bride of Christ is called the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem. Look at Revelation 21. Revelation 21. Say, I thought the New Jerusalem was an actual city that comes down out of the sky. Nope. It's a group of people. It's the church It's the bride of Christ it's right there in the text revelation 21 Verse number 2 and I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Once again We have the mention of a bride adorned for her husband in reference to the holy city, New Jerusalem. You say, well, that's not quite clear enough. Then let's just move a couple verses down. Verse number 9. Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. Now, who is that? The church the bride the wife of the lamb is the church Verse number 10. He says he says he's going to show John the bride the wife of the lamb So what does he show John? verse number 10 He carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem. I Thought he said he was gonna show him the bride. He is and The bride is the holy city Jerusalem. The angel says I'm gonna show you the bride. What does he show him the city? He carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem Coming down out of heaven from God having the glory of God its radiance like a most rare jewel like Jasper clear as crystal The Church, the Bride of Christ, is clothed with righteous deeds. She is called the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, and she's described as being pure. Unlike the great prostitute who is anything but pure, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, the Church, is pure. Look at the same chapter, chapter 21, but look at verse 22. I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty by the way first Corinthians you are the temple of the Living God that language is used in reference to the church and I saw no temple in the city for that for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine in it for the glory of God gives its light and its lamp is the Lamb by its light will the nations walk and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it and its gate will never be shut by day and there will be no night there they will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations but nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." This city is composed of those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And nothing unclean will ever enter it. So I would submit to you, again, Revelation 14, the fact that this 144,000 are referred to as virgins who have not been defiled by women doesn't mean that they were literally physical virgins who weren't defiled by women. But it's referring to their refusal to associate with the great prostitute or covenant-breaking Jerusalem. This is the remnant of Israel. This is the believing Jews who came out of Israel, who avoided the destruction of AD 70. They are not associated with the great prostitute. Instead, they are part of the church, the chaste bride. So, two women. One's unfaithful and breaks her covenant. She's destroyed. The other, is clothed in fine linen. She's the new Jerusalem. She's pure. She's faithful. She takes that place. She is the new Jerusalem. Notice verse number four of chapter 14, their submission to the Lordship of Christ. It is these who follow the lamb wherever he goes such a simple statement, isn't it? It is these who follow the lamb wherever they go. They are submitted to the lordship of Christ We see their redemption in verse number four these have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the lamb They are redeemed from mankind by God's grace and their redemption indicates the coming of a much greater harvest. They're the firstfruits. There's more to come. The firstfruits was just a representation of the rest of the crop. The early infant Jewish church was just a firstfruits of redemption. A firstfruits of what would come. Look around you. I don't think there are any Jewish Christians in here. Pretty sure we're all Gentiles in here. They were the first fruits. They were symbolizing what would yet come. The gospel would grow, would expand all over the world. Now we're on a different continent, worshiping the same Lord. We're on a different continent. two millennia later Worshipping the same Lord that they worshipped Why because they were firstfruits they were firstfruits there was more to come We are part of that more to come Notice their conduct or summer five and in their mouth no lie was found for they are blameless They were honest, they were blameless. Their conduct in the world, blameless. In conclusion, just to think upon some of the things we've looked at, I think one of the overall things we should confront ourselves with and one of the overall things we ought to ask ourselves is, whose name do we bear? Do we have the name of the Lamb and of the Father on our foreheads? Do we belong to Jesus? Have we been defiled by idolatry? Do we follow the Lamb wherever He goes? Are we blameless? This is what characterizes those who have His name upon their foreheads. Have we submitted ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Let's pray this morning. Father, I pray that as we think of this, Father, as we think of the truth that everyone has someone's name on their foreheads, Father, I pray that we would be challenged to persevere, to be faithful and obedient to Jesus, to obey His commandments, to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, to be blameless in this world. I pray that by Your grace we would be obedient, that we'd be faithful, that we would persevere. Father, we pray that by your grace you would hold us fast, and that by your grace we would persevere to the end in faithful obedience to Jesus. Father, we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. As we come to partake of the Lord's Supper this morning,