The Greatest Harvest Known To Man Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 42, Revelation Part 19

The Greatest Harvest known to Man

Revelation 14:9-20

Introduction

- Been studying Revelation together, to understand God’s plan for creation

-- REM: Redemption of sin is granted through Jesus; and yes, we have a choice

- Last time, we explored the ministry of the 144,000 (Jews from the Tribulation)

-- We looked their primary purpose: To preach the gospel to all living souls

-- We also saw the instruction of angel for this time: Fear God and Worship God

- Today, we will unpack the reason for their instruction & see the APP for 2023

-- Please don’t nod off on this one … this is the reason we do what we do here!

- Read Revelation 14:9-20 / Pray for wisdom

-- TR: Truly, for the non-believer this is a terrible passage of scripture

-- It is a revelation of God’s anger and wrath for all of humanity’s sin

- Might think: This is an interesting piece of scripture for Pastor Apprec Sunday?

-- Well, let me just put this out there – and make no apologies about it …

-- I would not be a “pastor” if I didn’t tell you truth about a future without Jesus

Point 1 –The Wrath and Judgment of God

- God sends an angel to declare judgment for all those who worship the Antichrist

-- That is, all those in the Tribulation who have rejected Jesus Christ (v9)

- Since the beginning of time, man has believed he can control his own destiny

-- We (humanity) have sought to disprove God, and in turn earned His wrath

-- This is why Revelation is so pivotal: it truly is a warning to mankind

- The ungodly will drink the wrath and anger and fury of God

-- RE: God must keep Heaven perfect, without sin, even angels have been cast out

-- God has continually given man chance after chance to repent of their sin

-- Might ask: When? How about right now? If you haven’t accepted Jesus…

- Consider God’s judgment: there will be no (cannot be any) watering this down

- See this: It’s actually a double portion: anger AND wrath of God (v10)

-- Romans 1:18, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

- How? The ungodly will be tormented with fire and brimstone

-- This is a description / picture of the same material that flows from a volcano

-- Undoubtedly, this must have been a terrifying image for John to take in

- Yet, it is not the first time! RE: Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the same fate

-- But … God is clear that this latter judgment will be even worse than that was!

-- Matthew 10:15, “I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”

- See this (v10b) – they are tormented in front of the Lamb and Holy Angels

-- Every unbeliever will see Jesus Christ, He’ll be vindicated as the Messiah

-- Then, they shall suffer and be banished from His sight for denying Him

- The bible also gives us a picture that this torment will be never ending (v11)

-- GR: basanismos; torture (torment)

-- For all those who have willingly chosen to worship the Antichrist

-- It is for those who willingly reject Jesus - they will suffer for all eternity

-- They’ve chosen their wants over God’s ways, and this is their reward

- FACT: Hell will NOT be a party, nor a place filled with the “cool people”

-- Hell is a very real, very vivid reality – and one that you don’t have to go to

-- This is why John’s capturing is so pivotal: torment, no relief, no escape

- TR: It’s why the next verse gives us hope beyond anything we could imagine!

Point 2 – Faithfulness to Jesus produces Safety

- There is an escape for this torment, and a reason for us to have hope

-- Yes! Even during the worst moments of the Tribulation … there is still hope!

-- APP: Yes, believers will face terrible times during the Tribulation

-- They’ll be hunted, killed, forced to be martyred, and persecuted to death

- Why? The choice for those alive will be simple: worship the beast or die

-- It is those who endure for Christ who will be rescued from eternity

-- Though they may lose their life, the judgment of God will not be on them

- Someone who is faithful in this time (and even today) is described as (v12):

• A saint who endures (perseveres)

• One who keeps the commands of God (lives for God first)