Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
I. The 144,000 With Jesus Vs. 1-5
A. The Setting-The Second Coming Of Jesus V. 1
1. V. 1 Lamb- Jesus. (Revelation 5; 6; 7)
2. V. 1 Mt. Zion- Jerusalem.
3. V. 1 144k- The sealed Jewish men who serve God during the Tribulation. (Rev. 7:1-8)
a. Revelation 7 says that these servants were sealed/protected.
b. Here we see that they survived the onslaught of the Antichrist.
4. This describes the physical return of Jesus to Earth.
a. This is not the Rapture, but the Second Coming of Jesus.
b. Rapture- Jesus comes for the saints. Second Coming- Jesus comes with His saints.
B. Sealed With The Father’s Name V. 1
1. V. 1 The seal of ownership and protection. Those who followed Antichrist took his mark.
2. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
C. They Sing A New Song Vs. 2-5
1.</p John heard the voice of Jesus (Rev. 1), and the music of harps (elders) (Rev. 5:8)
2. John sees Jesus standing triumphantly w/the 144k, and then he hears worship in Heaven.
3. Vs. 3-5 New song- unlike any song before it. New in quality.
a. 144k- This song was known only by this group.
4. Description of the 144,000
a. Holiness unto God. Virginity isn’t automatically holy, marital sex isn’t defiling.
i. But these men stayed pure in the midst of an Antichrist led world.
ii. It will be especially advantageous to be single during that time. (See 1 Cor. 7:26)
b. They followed Jesus. They were men of commitment & obedience.
c. There was no deceit; they were without fault. Not duplicitous; not hypocrites.
d. They were redeemed. They experienced the saving power of Jesus in the worst persecution in human history.
e. Firstfruits- Of the nation of Israel. From their ministry, more Jews would be saved.
5. Their worship to Jesus born out of relationship and experience with Jesus.
a. They sang a new song that was the result of their lives with Jesus.
b. Their worship of Jesus was from theory, but from experience.
c. Their worship happened in a world where there was still much evil.
d. They sang on Earth, but they were heard in Heaven.
II. An Eleventh Hour Proclamation Vs. 6-13
A. A First Angel Vs. 6, 7
1. Chapter 14 is a parenthesis, an insert, an out of chronology chapter. It speaks of the end.
2. Everlasting Gospel- That which has been and always will be.
3. We see this angel sent to preach the Gospel just prior to the final judgment of God.
4. Jesus said that this would happen. (Matthew 24:14)
5. This is an eleventh-hour plea to humanity to repent and be saved.
6. Those who will have not yet taken the mark of the Beast are invited to turn to Jesus.
B. A Second Angel V. 8
1. Babylon can mean a literal city or a religious or political system.
2. Probably the world religious system under Antichrist.
3. Her sin is that she led the world into spiritual fornication, the worship of other gods.
4. Certainly, this was the desire of the Antichrist, to be worshipped as God.
5. The first angel proclaims one last chance for the undecided to be saved.
6. The second angel that Babylon had fallen.
7. If any were still considering Babylon, the announcement was made that she was defeated.
C. A Third Angel Vs. 9-13
1. Vs. 9, 10 The third angel warns about not taking the mark of the Beast.
a. If they do that, they will suffer eternal punishment.
b. David Guzik- No one will casually or accidentally take the mark. The connection between worshipping the beast and taking the mark will be clear enough.
2. 1st century- Romans were required to pledge allegiance to Caesar by putting a pinch of incense on a hot coal and saying, “Caesar is Lord”. It probably seemed like a small civic duty to perform. In the Tribulation, it may seem like a small thing to take the mark.
3. V. 10- wrath- thumos- passionate anger. (11x’s in N.T., 10 x’s in Rev.)
a. Indignation-orge-a settled disposition. (More commonly used in N.T.)
b. Guzik- Usually, God’s anger towards sinners does not flash against them; it is simply His settled opposition against sin and unrighteousness. But in the Book of Revelation, which so clearly describes God’s ultimate judgment, the term for passionate anger is used much more often.
4. Vs. 12, 13 This is a huge contrast compared to the followers of Antichrist.
a. Followers of Antichrist never have rest from their punishment.
b. The followers of Jesus have eternal rest.
c. Guzik- The patient endurance and work of these saints is remembered in heaven. Our work for Jesus and His Kingdom goes with us into heaven, giving dignity and significance to all work here below.
III. The Final Harvest Vs. 14-20
A. The Reaping Of Humanity
1. Vs. 14-16 This seems to be Jesus.
2. V. 15 Ripe- dry or withered, literally, over ripe. Past time.
3. 2 Peter 3:8-13 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
B. The Winepress Of God’s Wrath Vs. 17-20
1. V. 18 Fully ripe- ready to burst.
a. An overly ripe grape can’t resist against the heel of a man who is trampling it.
b. The weight of the man bursts the grape, and the juice runs out easily.
c. Such is the image of final judgment of God against humanity who rejects Him.
2. Vs. 19, 20 This speaks of a 200 mile radius around Jerusalem.
a. It speaks of the Battle of Armageddon, which we will study in Revelation 16 & 19.
b. The Battle of Armageddon will be a terribly bloody event.
3. In Revelation 13, we saw the great but temporary power of Antichrist.
4. In Revelation 14, we see the unmatched and final power of Jesus Christ.