Can You Live However You Want, And Still End Up With Jesus? (Revelation 14:6-20) Series

Can you live however you want, once saved? (Revelation 14:1-20)

One of the main themes in the book of Revelation that we've seen, especially in the last few weeks, is that the church will suffer on earth. Revelation has described this suffering using a number of different images, and symbols. In chapter 11, we saw the two witnesses, symbolizing the church, murdered on a city street by a satanic beast (Revelation 11:7). In chapter 12, we saw the dragon wage war with the woman's children-- the ones who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:7). In chapter 13, we saw satan summon two beasts. Beast #1 was summoned from the sea, wages war on the holy ones, and conquers them, for the entire 42 months of the church's existence (Revelation 13:5-7). Beast #2 forces people to bow down to Beast #1, or suffer financial harm (Revelation 13:6).

We've lots of pictures describing the church being attached by satan, and suffering. And how does God want his people to respond to all of this? [put this in outline?]

(1) By recognizing that no human empire is ultimately safe. All human empires can turn into satan's beast. He has the ability to give his authority, and throne, and power, to any nation (Revelation 13:1-2). So don't be surprised when a new government rises up, or a new head emerges, and the government turns on you.

(2) By steadfastly enduring the suffering (Revelation 13:10).

(3) By continuing to give clear testimony about Jesus, regardless of the cost (Revelation 12:11, 17).

(4) By refusing to bow down to human empires, or to the emperor.

(5) By accepting your fate, without resorting to violence (Revelation 13:10).

(6) By obeying God, rather than human empire (Revelation 12:17).

Hearing Revelation teach this-- "seeing it"-- has been painful in several ways. It's forced us to rethink our alliances, and our allegiance, to the state. Can churches really have a U.S. flag in one corner, and the Christian flag in the other? It's forced us to reflect on how satan has manipulated us into waving the flag of this country, rather that of Jesus. Above all else, it's forced us to make a decision:

Will we choose obedience to God, and the Lamb, or to satan? Will we bow down to the Creator of the all things, or will we bow down to his weak, loser rival? Will we continue to be steadfast, and faithful, regardless of the cost?

The last few chapters have forced us to slow down, wrestle with uncomfortable truths, and think hard about what's coming our way-- or, what might be coming our way (just like Revelation's first audience, some Christians do quite well under the beast, in parts of the empire, while others suffer). Revelation gives us a chance to think about all of this now, to help us embrace a warrior's mentality. It's designed to help us make the right choice-- we will follow Jesus wherever he goes, regardless of the cost.

But it's also fair to ask, is the cost worth it? Now, this maybe strikes you as a cowardly, fleshly, carnal question.

But it's a fair question, especially given the way that churches today tend to talk about eternal life.

Twice in my life, I've been a part of a church where the pastor preached for several weeks in a row on eternal security. They both argued that once you're saved, that you can live however you want, sin however you want, and you will still go to be with Jesus when you die. They both argued that no sin was worse than any others, and that this somehow meant that no sin was actually that bad-- because we are all sinners. So the bottom line, is that you can sin however big you want, for as long as you want, and God will still give you eternal life.

I pressed both of them on this, using specific examples. Could I abuse my wife until the day I die, and still receive eternal life? Could I be an abortion doctor? Could I set up an idol in my living room, worshipping it, and also worship Jesus? Can I do all these things, and still receive eternal life with Jesus?

Both of the pastors got tired of the "game" pretty quickly, but the answer from both of them was "yes." Once you are saved, you can live however you want, and God will still give you eternal life in the end. I mean, you shouldn't live however you want, but there is nothing you can do that puts you at any kind of risk of facing God's wrath, rather than his love.

[Neither church appreciated the difference between "perseverance of the saints," and "eternal security." Perseverance of the saints people would say, "You will, AND you must, persevere. Eternal security people say, "Jesus did it all, so you "must" do nothing except believe in Jesus. There's a reason Calvinists historically have taught perseverance of the saints, and not eternal security]