447, we're commencing with. 447, come ye that love the Lord, and let your joys be known. Join in a song with sweet accord, and thus surround the throne. 447, it's page 357. We're standing to sing these six verses, 447. ♪ And let your joys be known ♪ ♪ Join in a song of sweet accord ♪ ♪ Join in a song of sweet accord ♪ ♪ Our God so wonderful ♪ ♪ Our God so wonderful ♪ ♪ Hail, all hail, Josiah ♪ ♪ Who washed in the purgatory ♪ ♪ My beautiful city of gold ♪ ♪ And I will sing, and I will sing ♪ ♪ I'll never leave your honor ♪ ♪ Until and until heaven and heaven's end ♪ ♪ And over everything you'll see them ♪ ♪ Joys of love will sing their joys abroad ♪ ♪ Their heart is in desire, they will be your song forevermore ♪ And there's only one way we'll see the light And the face of God, the way we know it all ♪ The people proclaim, and the way grow ♪ ♪ Reaching to Zion ♪ ♪ We will be in Zion ♪ ♪ Marching onward to Zion ♪ ♪ And with the Song of Life ♪ ♪ God's own sacred spirit ♪ ♪ Before I wish the very things ♪ ♪ Before I wish the very things ♪ ♪ Of love, love, love is sweet ♪ ♪ Of love, love, love is sweet ♪ ♪ To Zion ♪ ♪ Live a faithful Zion ♪ ♪ Marching up to Zion ♪ ♪ A faithful state of mind ♪ ♪ We shall not leave, see his face ♪ ♪ And never, never see him again ♪ ♪ And from the rivers of His grace ♪ ♪ And from the rivers of His grace ♪ ♪ Remembrance pleasures in, remembrance pleasures in ♪ ♪ We're marching to Zion with a little song ♪ ♪ We walk the way of the Son of God ♪ ♪ We let our songs of love and every tear we cry ♪ ♪ We're marching through the night of strife ♪ ♪ We're marching through the night of strife ♪ ♪ And when the birds are gone ♪ ♪ We're watching the skyline ♪ ♪ Beautiful, beautiful skyline ♪ ♪ We're watching the birds of the skyline ♪ ♪ The beautiful sight of the skyline ♪ We'll bow together in prayer. Our Heavenly Father, our gracious God, we draw near to Thee this evening. We thank Thee for the great hope that is in the heart of the people of God, that we are marching to Zion. We are passing through this world. This world is not our home with all its sin and trouble. We thank Thee that we are going to a better place. a place prepared by the Savior for His people, a prepared place, and a prepared people to enter in and dwell in that place. And this evening we draw near into Thy presence rejoicing. That means that has been provided for us to make preparation through. For Lord, we cannot prepare ourselves by our own efforts and our own works, but we thank Thee for the work of another. And we have been remembering the work of Jesus Christ today, and we thank Thee for that sacrifice that He made, a once-for-all, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice. There is no need, O Lord, for that sacrifice to be repeated. We thank Thee that that one offering of Himself has satisfied divine justice and atones for sin and ever will do. It will never lose its value and worth and efficacy. And this night, O Lord, we depend upon what Jesus Christ has done. We acknowledge that we are poor sinners, bankrupt sinners, but we thank Thee there's one who provides us with the riches of salvation. And we come to give Thee praise tonight. We enter into Thy courts with a desire to worship, to magnify Thy name, to exalt Thee for all that Thou art and all that Thou hast done, forever having mercy upon our souls. Lord, it is our prayer that Thou wilt bring others to know Thee. We thank Thee that Thou dost tarry, and the purpose in tarrying is that the gospel would be preached and others would hear, others would press in to the kingdom. And we thank Thee that mercy's door is still open tonight, and sinners can press in to Jesus Christ. And Lord, there are some who are not far from the kingdom, And we desire for them to press in. There's others, Lord, who are further away with little thought, little regard. There's even those, Lord, who are in a distant from Thee, for they have set their heart against Thee and are determined to go in the very opposite direction and to defy Thee. But, Lord, we thank Thee the shepherd goes out upon the mountain to seek for those that are lost. And he finds the lost sheep, and he brings them to the fold. And Lord, we pray tonight that Thou indeed would be the Good Shepherd and gather in a people, save a people by Thy power for Thy glory and cause us to rejoice, O Lord, in what Thou will do. We pray Thou will bless Thy Word not only here amongst us, but wherever tonight it is being preached in faithfulness and in truth. We thank Thee that across our land, across our island, Across our nation, Lord, there is many a place where the gospel is being preached, and we ask the Lord to own it and use it, O Lord. Save a people, and we ask that Thou will bless beyond even the shores of our nation, Lord, to all the nations, to the far corners of the earth. Think of every missionary endeavor tonight as there is that desire to make Jesus Christ known. O Lord, we find it hard to understand and accept, but it is true that there are people who have never heard. They've never heard of Jesus Christ, never heard the gospel. Lord, we have heard it so many times, even growing up before we ever came to Christ, we'd heard the gospel so often. And yet, Lord, to think there's people in the world tonight and they've never heard once that there is a Savior from sin. And we pray that thou would be pleased to have mercy. and, Lord, take the gospel to them. And may we play a part in that, whether it's by our prayers or by our giving or even by going ourselves. We pray, Lord, that we would have a desire to reach out to the lost. There's those all around us, Lord. There's those in our families. There's those across the street, in our neighborhood. We pray for them, Lord. There's those further afield. And we pray that that would be pleased to take the gospel to the nations, and that many would be the saved of the Lord. So abide with us now tonight. We commit ourselves to Thee, every need that there is amongst us. Remember those that are unwell and laid aside, Lord. Some have had surgery. We pray You'll give them a healing touch and raise them up, Lord, and strengthen them. Some are going for surgery this week. We pray that that will be with them. Meet the need, Lord, those who have ongoing health problems. We just pray that they might know the Lord's hand upon them for good. Encourage Thy people, Lord. Meet them at the very point of their need, and may we know the sufficiency of Thy grace. We commit our way to Thee now, this night. Tarry amongst us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 224 is going to be our offering hymn In a moment, 224 have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power. And as you turn that up, we bid you welcome tonight in the Savior's name. We're glad to see each one who is here in the house of the Lord. Those who are tuning in online, we welcome you also. And thank you for joining with us in that way. And may your soul be blessed as well in joining with us. Afterwards, there is our youth meeting, quarter to nine. That is taking place, and I'm speaking at that. We're finishing out thinking about Christian contemporary music. We've been thinking about that now for a number of times, but we're going to finish that out, God willing, tonight. So that's immediately after this meeting, quarter to nine. That will commence. And then our midweek meeting, Wednesday, at 8 p.m. is a deputation for Brother Christopher, who is in college. So remember that. He'll be speaking at that meeting and giving a little bit of update on college life. And also, he's placed in Tandra Ghae now as student assistant. So we'll get him to speak a little bit about that as well and what's involved in that. So there will be an offering for him on Wednesday night. So please remember that. So that's Wednesday evening. And then Thursday evening, rather, in quarter to eight is our church committee meeting. So do remember that, please. We will seek to start a little bit earlier. I appreciate some maybe are seeking to get home from work, but we will commence and others can join. as we go along. Friday night there is the Bible Club, 7 p.m. that is taking place. There is the rota on the table. If you can help with that, that would be much appreciated. So remember that on Friday evening. And then next Lord's Day, Sabbath school at 10 o'clock. The service is 11, 30 and 7, preceded by the times of prayer God willing, I'll be preaching at those meetings. I did say this morning that next Lord's Day morning, we're going to think about God's Word to a royal house, and particularly thinking about our own royal house. And their departure from the Lord and the troubles that have come upon them as a result, that is inevitable. And the Lord has something to say about it in His Word. And there is a remedy. And we know what that remedy is. It's turning to the Lord and seeking Him. But we're going to think about that next Lord's Day morning, God willing. A word again of thanks to any who have supported that appeal for Jamaica. The Mission Board does appreciate that. There's over 11,000 pounds that have come in. I think it's 11,230 was the report on Friday night at Presbytery. So all who have contributed to that, if you want to, I did send out those details on WhatsApp, whereby you can do that. So if you're still wanting to contribute to the work and support those believers out there that work in Little London in Jamaica, where the Free Presbyterian Mission work is, then you can do that. There's Youth Council Outreach as well. at the Christmas Market down in Belfast. That's planned for two Saturdays, 15th of November and the 6th of December. And it's going to be at 3 p.m. in the afternoon on each of those Saturdays. And no doubt there'll be further information about that given as to where you go and where you meet up. But those are the Saturdays that are marked out for that outreach. I did say this morning as well that Some details were given at Presbytery about marking the 75th anniversary of our denomination, which is coming next year. So I'll maybe say a little bit about that some night in the prayer meeting, not this Wednesday night, because Christopher's taking the meeting, but maybe some other Wednesday night we'll sketch that out. There's been a committee set up now for a while, and they reported back. And they have some suggestions. Well, they're more than suggestions. They were adopted by the Presbytery. to mark the 75th anniversary of her denomination. So you can think about that as well and we'll mention that as time goes by. That's all the announcements, they're all in the will of the Lord. 224 then is going to be our offering hymn. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? We're going to think about the Lamb tonight, the Lamb of God. So 224, keeping our seats. ♪ I was in the blood of man ♪ ♪ I was in the blood of man ♪ ♪ The power of love. ♪ ♪ O come ye, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. ♪ ♪ O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. ♪ That's time for verses three and four. We're all to be one, we're one body in the blood of God. We're solely made for a mansion's pride, and we're washed in the blood of God. Are we washed in the blood? I am washed in the blood of the Lamb. rising, and we watch him, the God of love. Where's the flood, dear, flowing through his soul of greed? Now we watch him, the God of love. Revelation chapter 14 is where we're turning tonight. for our scripture reading, Revelation chapter 14. The Vision magazine is available there tonight, so if you haven't picked up your copy yet, then do look out for that on the table as you're leaving this evening. So those are available. The Let the Bible Speak calendars will be available as well, and the wall planner. That was something new that was brought out I think last year, or this time last year, but those will be available in due course as well. They'll be five pounds each. But if you're interested in that, they'll be there shortly for you to pick up. Revelation chapter 14 is where we want to read. We're going to read through this chapter this evening, beginning at the opening verse. Revelation chapter 14, verse 1, And I looked, and lo, a lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb, whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth. and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him. For the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the lamb. the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever. And they have no rest, day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, thrust in thy sickle, and reap, for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in, his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." Amen. We know the Lord will add His blessing to the reading of His Word this night to all of our hearts. We'll bow together in prayer and look to the Lord for His help as we come to His Word this evening. Our Father, we turn once again to Thee in all our need. We're thankful for the blood of the Lamb that was shed, shed for the redemption of sinners, for the cleansing away of those sins that we have committed that will hinder us, will be a millstone about our neck, If they are not cleansed, they will take us down to a lost eternity. But we thank Thee tonight, Lord, for the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. And as we come to consider the Lamb afresh and what is said here about Him in this portion that we have read tonight, we pray, O Lord, that Thou will come and speak, take of the things of Thyself, and apply them to all of our hearts this night. Speak to the unconverted. Draw them to thyself, O Lord. We desire, we pray for their salvation. As thy people, we pray that thou will encourage us to rejoice in the Lamb of God. So hear us now. Close us in with thyself for these moments. We humbly pray, we ask this night in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. The contents of this chapter, and certainly the opening verses of this 14th chapter, stand in stark contrast to what has been presented to us in the previous chapter, chapter 13. Because there we have been presented with what some have called the unholy trinity. We read about the dragon, who is the devil. We read about the beast, who is the Antichrist. And we read about the false prophet, Those three individuals are presented to us there in Revelation chapter 13. It's a dark chapter of the wickedness and the ungodliness and what those individuals will do and what plans they have for the earth. But what a contrast then when we come into this 14th chapter. Because though we have read about the beast rising up out of the sea, though we have read about that second beast as well that is mentioned from chapter 13 verse 11, how different it is when we come into chapter 14 here and we begin to read about the Lamb, the Lamb of God. What a difference in character, in person, between those individuals that are mentioned in chapter 13. And in a sense, you have the Holy Trinity here in chapter 14. Because we think about the Lamb, and in verse 1 there, you'll see the reference to the Father as well, who is mentioned, the Father's name. It's written on the heads of certain individuals. Who is it that does that but the Holy Spirit? So in a sense, at the very beginning here of chapter 14, you have the Holy Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. What is the purpose of this chapter? Well, in many ways, it's an overview. Many ways, it's an introduction to what follows on in the rest of this book. It's surveying what is coming in the following chapters. If I can point out some of those things, for example, if you look at verse 8, it tells you Babylon has fallen, has fallen. the full details of that are given to us in Revelation chapter 17, particularly Revelation chapter 18. And yet here it is introduced to us and as if an overview, as I say, is given to us of here's what's coming further down the line with regards to what is revealed in this book. The harvest of the earth is mentioned, the very coming of the Lord and the casting in of the sickle, and the description there of a harvest time for the world that is coming, and the grapes that are gathered in to the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God. Those are individuals gathered in for judgment that they may face that judgment that is coming upon them. So in many ways, this chapter is an introductory chapter for the rest of the book. In fact, we could maybe even narrow it down to the opening verses here of chapter 14 and say that they are very much introductory to what follows on, as well as being a contrast to what has gone before, particularly in the 13th chapter. And if you come back there to the opening verses, and particularly the opening verse, we find here the lamb that is mentioned, and we find those who are identified with the lamb. There is 144,000 that are mentioned. Verse 1, and I looked, and lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him 140,000 and 4,000 having his father's name written in their foreheads. And really tonight I want us to think about those who are identified here with the Lamb. Who are these 144,000? There's a number of things that we can say about them, but the first thing that we are going to spend a little time tonight thinking about is seeking to identify them. Who are they? Who are they? For example, are they connected with another 144,000 that are mentioned in Revelation chapter 7? If you go back there a few pages in the Word of God and you come back there to verse 4 of Revelation chapter 7, it says, I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. So there's another 144,000 that are mentioned in chapter 7. And now we come over to chapter 14, and we're introduced to the same number. And the obvious question is, well, are they the same individuals? And there are some people who do believe that and understand them to refer to the same group of individuals. Because over there in chapter 7, they're very much identified with the Jews. are those who are redeemed out from among the Jews, and there are some who say that's the same group of individuals that are mentioned here in chapter 14. There's others who take a different view. I'm among that group who take a different view that this is a separate group. The 144,000 is a representative number. The obvious total, is that all that's going to belong to the Lord at any one time from among the Jews in total, 144,000? We take that to be representative numbers over there in Revelation chapter 7. And here as well, when we come to chapter 14, again, this is a representative number. And there is a contrast, you see, with the number that you have at the end of chapter 13, because there's the number of the beast that is given. a number that is associated with the beast, that's infamously associated with the beast, the number 666. Well, the Lord has numbers associated with Himself, and twelve is a representative number in the Scriptures. There were twelve patriarchs. There were twelve apostles. There's 24 elders, which are taken to be the 12 patriarchs and the 12 apostles put together to represent the redeemed of God here in the book of the Revelation, the 4 and 20 elders that we read off. Here's that same representative number, 12, multiplied many, many times, and you get 144,000 here, 144,000. So here's a representative number. The reason why I'm among that group of individuals who take this to be different to what you have in chapter 7 is because of what is said about this group of individuals. And that's really what I want to point out to you tonight and to major on one particular point. Because if you go down the chapter a little bit there to verse 4, Revelation chapter 14, it says, these are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. So there's a number of identification markers that are given here in this fourth verse. We're going to start with the last one and work our way backwards. I want to start with that thought because I believe that here is how we clearly identify these individuals. They are described as those who are the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. So they are redeemed from among men. Well, we can understand that. if they're going to be identified with the Lamb, the very thought of the Lamb is His redeeming blood. That's the reason why He's given that title in the Scriptures, the Lamb of God. He's come to shed His blood. He's the fulfillment of all of those lambs that were slain in Old Testament worship. So we can understand the thought of redemption being connected with the Lamb. But then it says, these are they that are redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And that's the point that I want to dwell upon tonight for a little while, and ask you to consider some things that the Scripture highlights. Because that's all I'm endeavoring to do, is letting Scripture interpret Scripture. What does the Scripture say about the firstfruits How are we to understand this then, that they are the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb? Because the first thought that you will come upon when you think about the firstfruits is that the firstfruits are not the full harvest. It would be a contradiction in terms to take the word firstfruits and apply it to the full harvest. So this is not all the redeemed. This is a portion of the redeemed. because of that word firstfruits and how we understand it in the Word of God and how the Word of God uses it is how we're going to understand it here when we come to Revelation chapter 14. And nowhere in the Bible does it in any way suggest that it is the whole number of whatever the category is that you might be speaking about. The very concept of firstfruits would suggest to us that it is but the first part of an overall harvest, that there is a greater part still to come. And let me give you a few examples of that. If you think about the firstfruits in Old Testament times, there was a command by the Lord that of the firstfruits of the harvest, they were to bring them before the Lord. For example, in Exodus chapter 23 verse 19, it says, the first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. And there was a ceremony. in that. It happened during Passover week, and there was the weaving of the barley sheaf because the barley harvest began the harvest season, and there wouldn't be any harvest reaped until Passover time had come. And on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Passover was the fourteenth day of the first month. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was the fifteenth day, and it lasted for seven days. So, on the sixteenth day of the month, there was the waving of the barley sheaf before the Lord. But that wasn't the only time the firstfruits were waved before the Lord. Because that was repeated, not just for barley at the beginning of the harvest, but then they were told that they were to bring the first fruits of their wheat, and also of their wine, and also of their oil. And those were at different stages during the summertime. The wheat followed on some weeks after the barley harvest, because they couldn't reap everything at one time. It would be physically impossible because it took so much effort and human labor in order to reap the harvest, that the harvest did not come all at one time. The harvests were spread out over many months. And therefore, when the first fruits of the barley were reaped, they were to be taken before the Lord. Some weeks later, when the first fruits of the wheat were taken, they were to be brought before the Lord. And the same with the wine and the same with the olives and the oil that would come from the olives. All of those were to be brought into the Lord. For example, in Leviticus chapter 23, and verse 10, 17, and 20, if I just pick out some verses there, it says, Speak unto the children of Israel, say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then shall ye bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest. And ye shall bring out of your habitations two waved loaves of two-tenth deals. They shall be of fine flour. They shall be baken with leaven. They are the firstfruits unto the Lord. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the Lord. With the two lambs, they shall be holy to the Lord for the priests. And what those firstfruits were was a pledge of a greater harvest that was yet to come. The firstfruits weren't the harvest. That wasn't all that was coming. Whether it was the barley or the wheat or the oil or the grapes, the vines, that little token that was brought into the temple and offered before the Lord wasn't the sum total of the harvest. It was just the firstfruits. It was a pledge. Yes, this is harvest. This is what the Lord has given. This is what the Lord has done, but there's much more to follow. Are we to understand the Lord using the term here, firstfruits, in Revelation chapter 14 and verse 4 in that way, where it says, these are the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb, redeemed from among men. So here's a group of individuals who are looked upon as the firstfruits of the harvest. This great harvest of the Lord is going to gather in from across the earth of His people, redeemed by His blood, cleansed and washed from their sins, and they're going to be gathered in to the garner someday. And this representative group that you meet here in Revelation chapter 14, 144,000 are called the firstfruits. They're like a pledge. There's a fuller harvest that's going to follow on immediately afterwards. If you think about how that word is used as well in the New Testament, it is used by Paul, to refer to initial believers in a geographical area. For example, in Romans chapter 16 and verse 5, he says, likewise, greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Eponitis, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. there is a man who is mentioned there by name, and he is described as the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Now, Achaia is the region that Corinth, the church at Corinth was founded. Did Corinth have only one member that ever believed in the Lord? No, there were more than one, but Paul says this man is the firstfruits of Achaia, the first that was received through Paul's preaching as he labored among them. In 1 Corinthians 16, verse 5, he mentions another house here in the same context. I beseech you, brethren, ye know the house of Stephanus, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints. So there's two individuals that Paul mentions in reference to that region of Achaia, and in both of those verses, Romans 16.5, 1 Corinthians 16.15, in both of those verses Paul describes these believers as the firstfruits. But we understand the usage of that term. There were other believers that came on afterwards. They weren't the only ones that were saved in Achaia. So this word is used in the Scriptures to refer to the initial believers in a geographical area. This word is also used to refer to the beginning of gospel blessings in a person's life. In Romans chapter 8 and verse 23, it says, and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body. So the beginning of gospel blessings in your life and my life is described there as the firstfruits of the Spirit. And you and I tonight have only yet tasted the firstfruits. We have not yet tasted the full harvest of what it is to be redeemed. Because the point that Paul was particularly referencing there is the redemption of the body. The body being raised in a glorified state. And that has not yet taken place and will not take place until Jesus Christ comes. So in a sense, all of the redeemed of God have only partaken of the firstfruits. And what glorious blessings they are, the firstfruits to be in Christ and all the blessings that come to us now in Christ. Yes, there are blessings that are ahead and that we wait upon, and we will enjoy one day to come, but there's many blessings now, and they're called the firstfruits of the Spirit. And we know that whatever those blessings are now, there are still more, even greater blessings to come. That's how the word firstfruits is used in Romans chapter 8 and verse 23. Let's go a little bit further, and this time I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, because here it brings us a little closer now to what is in view in Revelation chapter 14. So turn back, please, to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and there is two verses here that I want you to notice where the word firstfruits appear. It's verse 20 and then verse 23. So 1 Corinthians 15, verse 20, but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. So here's this word used in connection with the resurrection of Jesus Christ and ultimately the resurrection of those who are in Christ. He is described having been raised from the dead as the firstfruits of them that slept. In another place, he's described in its Colossians chapter 118 as the firstborn from the dead. Now, it is true that there were others who were raised physically from the dead prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. can think of some individuals in the Old Testament in the ministry of Elijah and Elisha who were raised to life from the dead. You can think about those who were raised by the Savior during His earthly ministry, those three individuals who were raised by the Savior. So as to time, There certainly were some who were raised from death to life prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in what sense is Christ the firstfruits? In what sense is Christ the firstborn from the dead? He is the first to rise, never to die again. He is the first to rise with a glorified body. Those two things make Christ distinct and make Him to be the firstfruits of them that slept, because you and I one day are going to be raised never to die again, and we're going to be raised with a glorified body too. And Jesus Christ and His resurrection in that fashion, it says He lives in the power of an endless life. He's never going to taste of death again. And in that sense, He's the pledge of His people who are coming on behind. You and I are going to be raised never to die. Those who are in Christ, we're going to be raised with a glorified body. So, in that sense, Jesus Christ is most definitely the firstfruits of them that slept. If you come down to verse 23, 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 23, but every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. So, Christ has been raised And then Paul says, now, He's the pledge of these others, and when are they going to be raised? They're going to be raised at His coming. They're going to be raised like Christ. He is the pattern. He is the firstfruits. He is the pledge. He's going to be raised with never to die again, raised with a glorified body. And then at His coming, there are others who are going to be raised. Is that not who is in mind now if we turn over to Revelation chapter 14 and ask the question again, who are these 144,000 that are mentioned here at the beginning of this chapter? They're with the Lamb. It says they're redeemed from among men. Their number is given. I think, as I've said, we can take it to be a representative number, but it is those who are going to be raised out of death with a glorified body, never to die again. Raised with a glorified body, never to die again. And what you have, therefore, in Revelation chapter 14 are those who are going to partake of the first resurrection, the first resurrection. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 16, it says, the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. They shall rise first. Are these those who are going to rise first the firstfruits of God? Very quickly following on from that, there's going to be the raising up and changing of those who are alive on the earth, because the Lord indicates that though faith will be rare, yet nevertheless, there will be some on the earth who belong to the Lord when He comes. And they too, it says, 1 Thessalonians 4, 17, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord. Does that fit in alongside what we have just been reading here in Revelation chapter 14 this evening about this company of individuals who are going to stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion? They are the firstfruits, it tells us, unto God and to the Lamb. And what a glorious change is going to take place. Maybe we should go back to 1 Corinthians 15 there and just finish that thought out. What a glorious change is going to take place. The closing verses of 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul says, Behold, I show you a mystery, verse 51. We shall not all sleep. We shall all be changed. In the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. And this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. You see, there's being raised never to die again. And those individuals who were raised in Old Testament times during the ministry of Elijah and Elisha died again. Those individuals who died and were raised by the Lord during His earthly ministry, Lazarus and the widow of Nain's son and the little girl, Jairus' daughter, they died again. But those who will be raised with Christ, when He comes in power and great glory, are never going to die again. They're going to put on incorruption. Incorruption cannot die. Incorruption cannot die. And that glorious change is going to take place when He comes, and it's going to take place in a moment, not at any moment. It's important to notice what exactly it says there in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 52. It's telling us how quickly the change is going to take place. It's not referring to time. in the sense of, when's the Lord coming? As some people say, oh, at any moment. He's coming at any moment. That's not what this portion is about. This portion is about the change that's going to take place when you and I will put on incorruption tonight. We're going to be like those that stand with the Lamb. on Mount Zion. And it tells us there in verse 52 of 1 Corinthians 15, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. What a glorious, glorious change that is going to be. Now, would that suggest to us that this is who is set before us here in Revelation chapter 14? You see, I would suggest to you that there's a contrast between this group of individuals and those whom you read, for example, at the start of chapter 13. Because I've mentioned those three individuals that are there, the dragon, the beast, and the second beast, the false prophet, that are mentioned there. But there's a people that are mentioned there in the opening verses of chapter 13 as well. And there are the world, it says there in verse 3, Revelation 13 and verse 3. The world wanders after the beast. those who are going to wander after the beast. There's those who are going to be taken in. They're going to be taken in. They're going to follow the beast. They're going to worship the beast. They're going to wander after the beast. They're going to marvel at him. And here's another group of people. You know, they're the firstfruits redeemed out of the earth, redeemed from among men, going to stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, identified with Christ on that day of His coming, raised by Him, put on incorruption on the day of His coming, because this chapter does mention His coming, Revelation chapter 14. That's evident that it's a chapter that does bring us to think about His coming, and there are those who are going to be raised. So there's one of the identification markers. I want us to go right back up now to the start of the chapter and take a second one, and that's found there in verse 1 of the chapter. They have His Father's name written in their foreheads. It tells you that about this 144,000 in verse 1, having His Father's name written in their forehead. That's the Lamb's Father. identify the Lamb with the Son of God, the eternal Son of God. But those who are raised, those who are identified as being with the Lamb are those who are going to have the Father's name on their forehead. You see, there is something far more important that ought to concern us in this book of the revelation and the mark of the beast. And I said, there is a contrast here between these two chapters and what you find in the previous chapter to what you have now in chapter 14. And we've thought about the crowd, the world's crowd wandering after the beast, and then we've thought about the firstfruits redeemed out of the earth unto the Lord. Well, here's something else we can note by way of a contrast, because we all know about the mark of the beast. In fact, that's what brings many people to the book of the Revelation. more interested in the mark of the Antichrist than they are in Christ. And remember, this book is a revelation of Christ, not Antichrist. Yes, he's in the book. Obviously, Antichrist is in the book of the Revelation, but Jesus Christ is the most important individual to note in this book. And at the end of chapter 13, verse 16, we read there about the mark, that individuals will take upon their right hand or on their forehead. And what is said about those who take that mark, that there is no salvation for such individuals. That's repeated here in this chapter that we have read this evening. There's no salvation for those that take this mark. And we come in to chapter 14, and we find this group of individuals, 144,000, and they have the Father's name on their forehead. They have a mark, far more important mark, far more important mark. This is not the first time we read about this either. You read about it over in chapter 7. In verse 3 of chapter 7, it says, "'Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.'" Now, we can understand that thought about the name on a forehead if you think about the times in which John wrote the book of the Revelation, Roman times, times when slavery was common and where people were actually branded on their forehead with the name of a slave master. Sadly, that happened, as we know, in former times. not only back in Roman days, but all down through history for many centuries, and even places today where slavery is practiced. But it was a common practice among the Romans that somebody would have been branded, actually branded, as belonging to a slave master. And there's a thought here that was very common among those to whom John was writing in the end of the first century. that would be something that they were aware of. You couldn't have been otherwise growing up in those times, the first century, that there were men and women too, but certainly men who actually had a slave master's name branded into their forehead. And John is saying about a future day when people will take a mark They'll take it. They'll take it willingly. It'll not be forced on them. No, they'll take it willingly. And there's no salvation for such. They're doomed if they take that mark of the beast, either on their right hand or on their forehead. And then we come into Revelation, and we find about another people who've got a mark on their forehead. They're redeemed of God, the firstfruits unto the Lord. And they're going to have a mark And it's going to identify them as belonging to Christ. They belong to Christ. They have the Father's name in their forehead. Very clearly, very obviously, they're going to be stood out as those who belong to the Lord. There's a very interesting statement, and again, I would like you to turn over to this portion. It's in Mark's Gospel, chapter 9. almost down at the very end of that chapter. It's verse 41 of Mark's Gospel, chapter 9. So, we're thinking here about a people who've got a mark on their forehead that identifies them clearly to who they belong, And here's the words of the Lord Jesus, Mark's Gospel, chapter 9, verse 41, "'Whosoever shall give you a cup of cold water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.'" Now, set aside the thought here about the giving of the cup of cold water and the reward. I want you to take that little phrase there in the middle of that verse, "'Because ye belong to Christ.'" You see, the Lord, even there in His earthly ministry, we're identifying a people who belong to Him. He is ownership of them because He has redeemed them. The whole thought of redemption is buying somebody back, and the Lord is buying us back from the slavery of sin and subjugation under the devil in the prison house of sin. But in redemption, He's buying us back. He's bringing us back into ownership of His. And He's going to put a mark on us. He's going to put a blood mark on us, that we belong to the Lord. And the Lord Jesus says here about those who belong to Him, those who belong to Him. And tonight, that's the thought I want to conclude with, really. Do we belong to Christ? Are we going to be among this company that we read of here in Revelation chapter 14, who are going to stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb? They are those who belong to Christ. They have the blood mark upon them. And this idea of the Lord separating people out with a mark upon them is not new in the Scriptures. And again, if I can take you to one final portion, Ezekiel chapter 9, And with this, we will conclude. Ezekiel chapter 9. There is a chapter here that sets out this very thought about putting a mark on individuals and those individuals being spared when the judgment falls, because that's what we're going to read on into in Revelation 14, and certainly on into the further chapters. We're going to read about judgment that's going to fall Who's going to be spared that judgment? Those who have the mark upon them. Not the mark of the beast. They're certain for judgment. Those who are going to be spared are those who are going to have the blood mark. And in Ezekiel chapter 9, it's one of the shorter chapters in the book of Ezekiel, having only 11 verses, but it tells us there at the very beginning, there is a man who has got a destroying weapon in his hand. And if you read on through this chapter, if you know this chapter to any degree, there is a plea that is made that the man with the destroying weapon would pause for a moment, and that there would be another individual who would go through the city and who would put a mark upon the foreheads of those who sorrow over sin. For example, verses 3 and 4 of Ezekiel chapter 9, the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writers in corn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry, for all the abomination that be done in the midst thereof. And then to the others, verse 5, he said, in my hearing, go ye after him through the city, and smite. Let not your eyes spare, neither have ye pity. So this thought about a people having a mark and being spared because they have a mark upon them is something that was not new in the Scriptures. Ezekiel speaks about it. The man with the inkhorn is a picture of Christ. The man with the inkhorn is a picture of Christ. he puts a mark upon his own. And they are going to be spared. If you go down through the chapter there, those remaining few verses of Ezekiel chapter 9, you will find that those that had the mark were spared. Others were, they were said of them, spare not. Spare them not if they don't have this mark. That same thought is brought out in Revelation chapter 14, chapter 13 as well, that those who have the mark are destined for judgment. So, the obvious question tonight is, do we belong to the Lord? Do we have the mark that we are the Lord's? What is the mark? It's a blood mark, but It's the mark of those who've sorrowed over sin, who've repented of their sins. What is it to be redeemed? What is it to belong to Christ tonight? It's simply to sorrow over sin and come for cleansing, come for redemption to the Lamb, and be redeemed by His blood. And if we are redeemed, if we have the mark, we're going to escape the judgment that's coming upon the earth That day the Lord comes to cast in the sickle, reap the vines, and cast them into the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God, and He's going to trample them in His fury. We're going to escape that day if we have the mark of the blood upon us. May that be so for each and every one of us tonight without exception. Let's bow in prayer. Our Father, teach us the importance of having the mark of redemption upon us, that we belong to the Lord. We can't have that mark, Lord, unless we've sorrowed over sin and repented of it and come for cleansing to the Lamb. Oh, may we truly belong to Christ tonight, and that we would be found among that company, those firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Thy Word upon our hearts, we pray, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. We want to sing in closing 404, and it has this very thought in the the end of the verse and into the chorus, I belong to Jesus. 404, it is, Jesus, my Lord, will love me forever. From Him, no power of evil can sever. He gave His life to ransom my soul. Now I belong to Him. And the chorus says, now I belong to Jesus. Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity. 404, we're going to sing the three verses here. of the hymn standing as we do 404. That's done. ♪ Our love to Jesus, Jesus we offer thee ♪ ♪ Love for years of thy love, love for eternity ♪ ♪ The body of true Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus we long to be ♪ ♪ Joyful, joyful, all for eternity. Joyful, joyful, all for eternity. ♪ Now I belong to Him ♪ ♪ Now I belong to Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus who loves me ♪ O, our Father, we pray that we might be able to sing those words of a truth tonight, that we belong to Jesus for time and for eternity, that He has redeemed us. Tonight, Lord, we thank Thee for redeeming blood. Thank Thee for the Lamb that shed His blood to redeem us. May we have that mark upon us that we are His. that will spare us in that day when His wrath breaks forth upon this world. Part us with Thy blessing as Thy people. Grant us Thy abiding presence. Watch over us. Remember the youth meeting afterwards. Grant Thy blessing there. May we all know Thy goodness and Thy mercy. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. so so Oh.