Amen, so Revelation chapter 14 keeps up in there and Revelation chapter 14
Will be coming back to that and go ahead and turn back to Revelation chapter 7
I want to talk this morning a little bit about the hundred and forty four thousand
The Bible sermon is the example of the hundred forty four thousand
I think there's some things that we can learn about these unique individuals in the book of Revelation
the hundred and forty four thousand that we can apply to our own lives and
I kind of so I just want to take a look at them this morning and see what we can get out of it
But whenever we deal with this
This group of people 144,000 you kind of have to you can't really touch on the subject without the spelling
This false doctrine that's out there. That's taught by Jehovah Witnesses in particular that
144,000 are this elite group of believers that they're the only people that get to go to heaven that's kind of teaching
That's out there
So I kind of have to touch on that beginning the sermon towards the end of the majority of the sermon
I just kind of want to spend making application about some of the attributes of these
140,000 men that we can apply to our own lives
But the first thing we have to get here is the timing or the context of where these men are in prophecy
What point do they show up now if we were to read the whole you know scripture and get it in context
You would see that they show up after the 60s after the sixth deal and prior to the seventh seal
So you have the first, you know, seven seals and then you have the Trump's and the vials. Those are two distinct
parts of the timeline in Revelation and
144,000 they show up here in Scripture in between that sixth and seventh seal just before God begins to pour out his wrath
So it says there in verse 3 of Revelation chapter 7 in verse 1
Well, let's just begin in verse 1 excuse me
It says and after these things I saw four angels standing in the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth
That the wind should not blow on the earth nor on any seed or on any tree
And I saw another angel ascending from the east
Having the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice the four angels
To whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea saying hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees
Till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads
I heard the number of them which were sealed that were sealed and hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children
of Israel
So we got to see there look there in verse 3 where it says saying
The angel tells them to hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God
In their foreheads now, this is what happens this hurting of the earth and of the trees and of the seas
That's what happens after the seventh seal is open and we know chapter 6 is you know the the opening of the sixth seal now
Here we are chapter 7 where he says don't hurt the earth don't hurt the seas don't hurt the trees which is what takes place
After the fact that when the seventh seal is open and the seven trumps of God begin to sound it says there in Revelation chapter 8
Verse 1 and when he opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour
And I saw the angel the seven angels which stood before God into them were given trumpets
Right. So we see the 144,000 and then we see that seventh seal being open and the seven angels giving the seven trumpets and the seven
vials of the wrath of God
now
We could further prove this if we look there in Revelation chapter 7 or excuse me level of Revelation chapter 8
Beginning of verse 6 and the seven angels which had up the seven trumpets prepared to sound the first angel sounded
And what happened there?
It says towards the end and the third part of the trees was burnt up and on the green grass
Look at verse 8 the second angel sounded look towards the end there the part of the sea became blood and
Then it says there in verse 10 and the third angel sounded and there at the end of verse 11 and the third part of the
Waters became work more wood and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter
So we see it's the perfect sequence there. They say don't hurt
The sea or the trees or the earth until we seal the seven of our servants the 144,000 the foreheads
They do that and then the vials get poured out
And what's the first things that get hurt the earth the sea and the trees so that's the timing of it right there
That's when they show up in scriptures between that six and seven seal
Now what we really want to deal with more than so than the timing is the identity of the 144,000
Who are these men? Who are these people that have such a unique?
place in Scripture and
It's Karen available. No, she can just have a give me some more. Yeah, perfect. He's a minor here
Those what I need before I even have something so
What's more important than that is the identity 144,000 who are they? Well, it's really clear who they are
I mean, there's really no mystery about it. It's you know, it's not God that's made a confusing subject
It's man that likes to you know
Muddy these waters and make this hard to understand and try to confuse people about this the Bible is really clear about who these people
are
And it's clear about who they are
Now we agree
Here that it is not as if it is not symbolic. You'll hear some people say well 144,000
It's just symbolic of all believers. It's just representative of the whole church and they're just taking a very figurative
interpretation of who the 144,000 are just like it's like to say that John in
Chapter 4 being called up into heaven is this is the is the picture of the church being rapture
He wants us he was caught up in the spirit, you know, and his body remained on the earth where the rapture is
You know the whole body and the spirit of the body being cut up it together
So that you know, that's kind of a lot of ways people interpret that is they'll say what's about it
But we don't we don't believe that we believe this is a literal
144,000 men and the Bible's real clear real clear about this
And you know real quick to make that point and but sort of the JW's the Jehovah Witnesses if you ever knock on their door
I know we knocked on the door
A month or two back and the lady she brought up 144,000 and without me even saying she's like and those are lit
That's a literal number
You know
She's they make up they're very quick to med let you know because they get criticized a lot for this doctrine and they should because they're
They're completely wrong about it
So we agree with the Jehovah Witnesses that this is a literal group. Okay, we'll give them that we'll throw them a bone
Okay, this is a literal group of men numbering
144,000 however, that's about that's all we agree with about them in regards to this
We strongly disagree with Jehovah Witnesses as to the identity of though who those literal 144,000 people are
so the Jehovah Witnesses what they teach erroneously is that
144,000 are an elite group of faithful believers and if you would turn over to keep something revelation
Turn over first Peter chapter 1 first Peter chapter 1
They think that they'll tell you that it is a big group of people elite group of believers who make it into heaven
Now I'm gonna read to you from their article I didn't print it off this time, you know
I don't want to you know waste the limited ink that I had anyway
but it says if you were to go to JW dot org and go to the and go to
The go to the article entitled who go to heaven
Now, you know, I sound like, you know kind of stupid saying it that way that's how it's written on there who go to heaven
So they didn't think I'm gonna say it like that because that's the title on their website
Goes to heaven, but it says who go to heaven
So if I want to get you to the right source on your article, you have to look up who go to heaven
Okay, not who goes to heaven. So
That's not a knock on them. You know, we all make typos
Hopefully we get it before we publish it on the web
But it says here in that article entitled who go to heaven on JW dot org
God selects a limited number of face faithful Christians who after their death will be resurrected to life in heaven
Once they have been chosen, so it's not enough to God just choose you first. You have to be chosen by God, right?
and once they have been chosen, they must continue to maintain a Christian standard of faith and
And conduct in order not to be disqualified from receiving their heavenly inheritance
So they're literally teaching here, you know according to their doctrine one must first be chosen by God
Then maintain a standard of faith and conduct in order to enter into heaven and they cite 1st Peter chapter 1
Where I had to turn this is their proof text. It says 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away
Reserved in heaven for you. So there you go. It's crystal clear that God chooses people right and that they must maintain the standard of
Faith and practice in order to be worthy of that calling now
You know anyone who just reads over that doesn't walk away with that interpretation. You know, someone has to tell you that
That's why they just put the reference there. They don't actually quote the scripture in it, you know expound upon it in these articles
They'll just make their statement whatever false doctrine they want to teach and then just quote they'll just put the reference in there
Hoping that you won't actually take the time to go and read it happen, you know and actually read for yourself what it's saying
Now we do want to break this down. If they did quote the scripture. Let's break it down a little bit
Let's break down 1st Peter chapter 1
First of all, it says there in verse 4 that we come to an inheritance in heaven
Okay that we are come to an inheritance in heaven now, how do we get to that inheritance in heaven?
It says that in verse 3 it says by having been begotten
Right born again. That's how you come to the inheritance not by having a standard of Christian conduct
That's not what the scriptures teaching here
That we come to the inheritance in heaven by having been begotten by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
That's how I'm going to heaven. That's how I'm going to get there is because I've been
Born again by putting my faith and the death girl resurrection of Jesus Christ and it's not because God chose me
It's not going to be because you know
I've lived a certain standard of Christian conduct in my life that I've been good enough in order to earn my way to heaven
That's not how I'm getting there and anybody who believes that they're going to work their way into heaven by their own good works
It's going to split hell wide open. Amen people that teach this doctrine are teaching a false gospel
They're teaching you they have to work your way in heaven
It says there furthermore in verse 4 that that inheritance is reserved in heaven for you. It's not burned
It's reserved now think about this, you know, have you ever reserved anything we ever reserved a seat somewhere
Here, you know you ever reserved call the head to a maybe a nicer restaurant say hey, I'm going to show up
At a certain time and I expect this many seats to be waiting for me and they'll say well, yeah
No problem. We'll just make sure you you know that when you get here
You've been you've been behaving and we'll see if we talk to somebody and if you've had a good day
Maybe we'll let you sit down. That's not how reservations work
Now you think about a guy who buys season tickets to some sporting event. I mean, he's guaranteed a seat. He's guaranteed
Expecting when he walks into that arena or stadium that he's going to be able to go to a section and find a seat because he
Paid money. It's reserved for him. You know, he doesn't show up there and they're they're asking the way. No, I haven't been paying your taxes
Really to work. You know, you've been reading your Bible, you know, have you been a good boy?
All right, then we'll let you have these seats that are reserved
That's how reservations work and the Bible says that these seats in heaven our place our inheritance in heaven is
Reserved for us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's not earned. It's not something that we have to wonder about
It's something that we know is there
In fact, if you would turn over Ephesians chapter 2 Ephesians chapter 2 our inheritance is reserved in him
In fact the Bible
Talks about our seat in heaven being so sure it speaks of it as if we're already there
It talks about as if we're already sitting in heaven
It's so it works
We can have such confidence and be so sure of the fact that our reservation is there in heaven
Our heavenly seat is there the Bible talks about as if we're already there look here in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 4
But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us
Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace
Are you saved and have raised us up together and made us sit that's past tense
He has already made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
So again, who is it? How do is it that we get to this inheritance?
Well, it's God who loves us when we when he had quickened us when we were dead in sins
He already quickened us. It wasn't what we did
It's what he did and had raised us up together. And what does he do? He makes us sit
He's the one that makes us sit
He doesn't just say well there might be a seat for you
He says he has made us to sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus
And why why does God make it so easy?
Why does God say make it so easy that he does all the work to get us there and reserves that seat in heaven for us
And makes us to sit in heavenly places. Why is it that he
Extends such mercy towards us. We'll look at verse 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
Rich of hit the riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ
I mean, that's the purpose of it that when we get to heaven and we're seated there
We will all know that the only reason we got there was because of the riches of his grace
Not our own merits not our own works. Not what we have done now because like the JW's
I think they're gonna you know earn their way in there that they're gonna somehow live a life
That's worthy enough and pleasing enough to God in order to go to heaven
We'll understand that it was by the resurrection of Christ that it was by the riches of his grace and that it was by his
Goodness that we're there and we'll know that how for how long through the through all the ages to come
That's what we'll be will be like God will be
Show and tell for God for the ages to come to say this is an example of my the riches of my mercy
My grace and my goodness. I have made these sinners these who were dead in their sins
I quicken them and set them together with me in heaven for all eternity
Would I should have had to keep something there first Peter chapter 1 it all day
But if you would go back to 1st Peter chapter 1 this article if you notice
They they reference 1st Peter 1 verses 3 & 4 they conveniently leave off verse 5
This verse 5 it's kind of a kind of
Throws it right back in their face
Lewis it says here. How do you get how is it that you okay? Okay, the reservations there
We have the the seat in heaven
We know how we are we sure that it's going to always be there for us
We'll look at verse 5 1st Peter 1 who are kept by the power of God through faith of the salvation
See, it's God that keeps us. We don't have to burn our way there
Yeah
We have to wonder whether or not we're ever gonna make it whether or not we're gonna be good up good enough to make it
The Bible says that we are kept by the power of God through faith
It's God that's going to keep us there, you know, and if this weren't the case if it somehow, you know
This promise weren't true. Then Jesus is a liar
If what the Jehovah's Witnesses are teaching here, then Jesus is a liar because Jesus said in John 14
Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God
I believe also in me in my father's house or many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I
Go to prepare a place for you
And if I go prepare a place for you
I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also and whether I go
You know in the way, you know, Jesus promised that he's going to come again and receive us that we might be where he is
That's the promise of God
So if with the Jehovah's Witnesses our teaching is true
Then we have to earn our way there then we're not sure that it's there that only a select group of people get to go
There the 144,000 will then Jesus is a liar and we know that God cannot lie
And we also know that Jesus is God another problem that the JW's you have is that doctrine there
Now who are again, what is the point of the server we're talking about 144,000
We're working our way through this kind of debunking this false doctrine of who they are who they aren't
And we do believe that they are a very particular group of people. There are a literal 144,000 men
Well, who are they they are a distinct group of Old Testament Israelites?
They are Old Testament Israelites who got saved in the Old Testament
The same way everybody else has ever gotten saved by faith through grace by putting their faith in God
By believing in the promise of God
That's how you get saved and not of their own righteousness just like it was said of Abraham that he believed up
God and was counted unto him for righteousness
The same way everyone's ever gotten saved throughout all of I we don't believe in dispensations here
All right
We don't believe that they had to work their way into heaven the Old Testament
That they are saved the way of mankind has always been saved and that's through faith
So we believe that these hundred point four thousand are actually I mean you have to think about it people are gay because we again
We don't believe in this doctrine that
You know that the Old Testament Saints went to a place called Abraham's bosom the nice side of hell
You know where it's a little cooler and in our whipping or holding cell until they are allowed into heaven
You know for that we don't believe that
We believe that they wouldn't be you know to be absent from the bodies to be present with the Lord that has always been the case
Yes
So think about it if all these Old Testament Israelites who are saved are dying like everyone, right?
They're gonna go to heaven too. So it really it makes perfect sense
You can see how this false doctrine of dispensationalism just throws off everything
I mean if you believe this false doctrine of dispensationalism you have a hard time maybe explaining these Old Testament
They'll they'll sit here and tell you that these
144,000 are Jews that are presently living on the earth and we're going to deal with that here in a minute
But we believe that the 144,000 are a distinct group of Old Testament Israelites who are saved by faith
And the Bible is real clear about that if you go back to Revelation chapter 7, I mean it's it's crystal clear
It's plain. It's right out there. That's the nose on your face. It's as plain as the nose on your face
It's right there on the surface
It says right here in verse 4 of Revelation 7 and I heard the number of them which were sealed and there were sealed
144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel
That's who it is. They're the children of the tribes of Israel. They're not they're not you know
Chris they wouldn't say that they're just Gentiles. You wouldn't say that they're believing Greeks or anything like that
It says that they are the children of the tribes of Israel
Now so the question then becomes do any of the tribe of these tribes exist today? The answer is no
No, you have to remember the people even make the argument. Well, there might be a few tribes that can still identify themselves
you know and and I highly skeptical of that that they're even then that that the the tribes have been so
Dispersed and so intermingled with the heathen and other nations that no one can say that they are of a pure bloodline
Going back, you know nearly seven thousand years
I mean
You know at least four thousand you're going back that far thousands of years and saying that they've kept this just pure bloodline all the way
down through the ages
Highly skeptical and especially when the fact the Bible tells us that God scattered them into all nations
And that God has you know, even in the Old Testament we see you know
The vast majority of those tribes the northern kingdoms just being intermingled with the heathen immediately and becoming what's known as the Samaritans
So, you know Judah Benjamin and the Levites
I mean those were really the only ones that you might be able to say maybe with a glimmer of possibility
Just a shred of possibility that maintained their identity. Just those three after the kingdom was divided
And that's where you get the term Jews, right just being fair from the southern kingdom of Judah
That's where you that's where that term comes from Jews does not apply to all 12 tribes
That's why I use the term Israelites. That is what refers to all 12 tribes the sons of Israel
And again versus we won't read it for sake of time at Revelation chapter 7 verses 5 through 8
Not only does it say that they're the children the tribes of Israel goes on and lists every tribe that they're from
It lists the 12 tribes
I mean could it be any clear that these are the Old Testament Saints from the tribe from the children of Israel?
So if the Bible is real clear about that, I don't think I really need to expound that
I don't you know
If you're struggling with that see me after the service and we'll read it a little slower for you and you can get that
But it's real clear the Bible is saying that the children of the tribes of Israel
now what I really the point of the sermon though is this this morning is as the title said the
Example of the old of the 144,000 the example 144,000 see I think there's certain attributes that we can we can
We can look at of these
144,000 and apply to our own lives because here's the thing with this 144,000
You know, I think sometimes and that's why these false doctrines kind of come up that that you know
It's it's really special and unique to be a part of them and it is you know
That's something to be coveted almost that it's something that we should you know as Jehovah's Witnesses would teach you
It's something you should strive after it should be something that you try to attain unto
but you know
So we can kind of get this attitude or this idea that the 144,000 are this elite group or that are you know?
That they're better than everybody else. Well, it's just that they're they have a unique purpose
You know in the end times and God has just used them in a unique way
I don't think he's trying to lift them up and exalt them and say that they're any better than anybody else
And we look at their attributes
In fact, we will see that we share many things in common with them already
And that there are things that we could learn from them that we should be have in common with them
Now one of the first things
You know if you would turn over to Revelation chapter 14 where we started
So, you know the point is you know, we will not be of this number, you know, if you mark it down
I don't care how good of a Christian you are. You will never be a part of the 144,000
You know, so give up on that dream, you know set a new goal it's not gonna happen
It's just not gonna happen
But but here's the thing we can have and already do in some ways the same attributes as this 144,000
I mean if you just have to be one of the few the proud
144,000 I got good news for you. Well, I got bad news and good news bad news is you can't you know?
I don't care how long you spend in the in the Jewish boot camp or whatever like that. It's not gonna happen
You're going to have to but the good news is is that you can have some of the attributes of them
Now it says here in Revelation chapter 14 verse 1. Let's kind of break this down here. It says I looked and behold a
Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him in hundred and forty four thousand
Having their father's throat a name written their foreheads. So again, what are some of the attributes of them?
One of the first things that we can see here in verse in verse 1 is that they stood with the lamb
They stood with the lamb when John looked up and saw these 144,000. Where were they?
They were standing with the lamb and who was the land when it was Jesus
He is the land that slain from the foundation of the world
So that's something that we should have in common with these people that we are willing to stand with Jesus
Who are willing to stand and be identified as a Christian that we'd be willing to stand and be identified
As one who believes in Jesus Christ and who believes the Bible and that's becoming more and more important today
and more and more difficult to do without suffering consequences because
As we live in a world that becomes more hostile to the towards the things of God more hostile the Christianity that we live
We're going to that making that stand is going to cost us more and more
I mean if you've read the book of Revelation, you know, it gets to a point where it actually starts to cost people their head
yeah, literally and
You know
So that's something that's an attribute that we should strive to have in our lives now that we would stand with Jesus
They would not be ashamed of him
Now I'm not going to say that's easy all the time. I'm not you know in America. We've got it pretty good so far
I mean we have people that get upset, you know
They call the church and they complain about us even knocking on their door and putting flyers and they're we're littering
You know
We ignore their no soliciting signs knock on their door and we upset them and disturb their perfect and peaceful life
You know in suburbia
Look, you know, I think I you know, that's not much of a stand to take quite frankly
I don't think that we're really you know, that's we're not going to go down in Fox's books
That were book of martyrs over that, you know, he ignored every no soliciting
He knocked on his knuckles
I bled from these knuckles for Christ, you know knocking on those doors, right?
This is not gonna happen. It's pretty but you know some people that that right that one
It's sad to say but something as simple as that can just be
You know, especially if they're newer to soul winning they'll go all the no soliciting sign. Oh, no, we're gonna do it
I know it was like that for me at first
I was actually nervous about it. Like how are they gonna react now? I look at him and I go
I can't wait to see how they react
I really can't and now and now they're even in some of the neighborhoods up in Phoenix now
They're getting the ones where it's not just like, you know, you have a little narrow ones as no
So now they have ones that they're it's like it's like a warning sign. It's like black and white
I'm surprised there isn't like a little like picture of a stick man like one yelling at the other
But it says, you know, no soliciting. This includes religious blah blah blah
It is like list everything that they don't want anything to do it
You know now they used to have the ones that are real decorative that kind of make a joke out of it
We found Jesus we on a vacuum unless you have cookies go away
Unless you're selling cookies, we're not interested. I'll knock those two now. It's just like a placard like don't feed the Bears
You know the Buffalo or heat don't get out of the car
And go to Yellowstone
It's like that no soliciting and I wouldn't I did I saw that the other day was and it was on a gate like wasn't
Even near the door. It's like zip ties around it
You can tell the guy went out there took the time to go down to Home Depot
It's hardware wherever get the zip ties get the sign pay for it. Come home put that thing on there
Then I come along
Oh, I'm gonna trigger this guy
I go through the door. Hey, we're from faith-born Baptist Church. I'm polite about it. He just looks at me. Did you see the sign?
Yes, sir, I thought
But I'm just saying you know
Like is that is that the consequences that we fear of having upset somebody with an else listening sign?
They might leave a they might leave a nasty voicemail on the church the church's Google voice
You know that
You know only one or two people might go through every once a week and actually listen to people
And once we see all the expletives in the text, we just delete it and don't listen anyway, so
anyway
There will be consequences for standing with Jesus though
I'm not saying that you know living for God and living for Christ is not without consequences
And that we shouldn't but we shouldn't allow that to stand up to stop us from living for Jesus
We should be willing to be like
144,000 and stand with Jesus no matter what whether it's easy or hard
Jesus said I also I say unto you whosoever shall confess me before men
Him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God
But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God
You know, I you know, you could say they that applies to salvation
I personally that he's actually talking about people who they're receiving rewards in heaven
You know, they're going to be denied others will be confessed others will be denied in heaven
You're not going to get that phrase. You're not going to get that reward
And here's the thing about standing with Jesus. There is no neutral ground some people will say well
You know, I really just don't want to get involved but Christians, you know, I'm just I'm not against Jesus
But you know, I'm not going to be seen standing with you. You know, I don't want to be I don't want to take that
Stand I just don't want to I want to I want to be part of that fight
But Jesus said in Luke 11 he that is not with me is against me
So if you're not standing with Jesus and I you know, I don't know how to explain it to you how that works
That's what Jesus said though, and he said that if you are not with him you are against him that there's no middle ground
You know, you can't it's not you know, if you're in a civil war
You can't put on the the blue coat and the gray pants and just stand in the middle
It's not even hope not to not get shot on the battlefield. You know, you have to choose a side
And he said goes on it says he that gather it not with me scatter it, you know
So if you're not gathering with them, you're actually it's not that you're not doing anything
You're actually scattering and I don't know how to explain that, you know
That's probably a another sermon could do we could write about that and expound that more but we should be willing to stand with Jesus
like these 144,000
And if we do that if you would keep some revelation
14 will be the rest of the morning to go back to revelation chapter 1 if we decide to stand for Jesus
Let me tell you something might be hard. It might be difficult. We might have to suffer some persecution
You know more and more than just the nasty phone call more than just the rude person in the door
We might actually have to cost us something, you know more than just family being upset with us more than just friends
You know looking at us cross-eyed because they can hope they think that we're weird now or something
Okay, it might actually cost us something
But if it does cost you something if it comes to the point where it cost you being in prison
It cost you being exiled it cost you something in your life. Well, you'll be in good company
You know if you stand with Jesus, you're in good company. Look here revelation chapter 1 verse 9
I John will also and your brother and companion in tribulation
John knew something about tribulation didn't he goes on it says in the kingdom of patience of Jesus Christ
Was in the aisle called Patmos now, he wasn't on vacation
He didn't go on a cruise and end up on Patmos inside to write a letter. He was exiled Patmos
It was a place where they would send people to go and die
He was the aisle that's called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
He was willing to stand on Jesus to the point where it cost him to be exiled to be cast out and to be
put away from everybody else
Maybe we would all want to be noticed as John John had that great title the disciple who Jesus loved
Yeah, now I'm not saying Jesus doesn't love love you
But I mean there's there's Jesus loves you and then there's like, you know, you're one of his close companions
I mean John at the Last Supper was leaning upon Jesus press that he was right there with Jesus. He was close to him and
We would all want we would all want that for ourselves
I would hope but I'll be willing to go as far as John did so
I'll be willing to stand to the point where it would cost us something. That's what it's going to take
We'll go ahead and move on here again. What are some of the attributes of the 144,000 that we can learn from?
It says here in verse 1
that they
Were they stood on the Mount Zion with the lamb in the 144,000 having their father's name written in their foreheads
So that's another
Great attribute that we should and could have in company in common with them
Having the father's name written their foreheads. Well, you know symbolically we could say that's kind of like having God on your mind
You know having God on your mind meditating upon the Word of God thinking
Letting them putting the Word of God and the things of God fill your mind
Does that let that be upon your mind? That's an attribute that we should have in our lives like these hundred forty four thousand
We should meditate upon the Word of God
I'll read for you from Psalms chapter 119 go to Colossians chapter 3 people in Revelation 14 go to Colossians 3 Bible says in Psalm 119
I have seen all the end of perfection, but that commandment is exceeding broad
Oh, how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day
I think we say that like the psalmist that we love God's Word that we love the law
We have a lot of Christians so-called today that they want to dismiss the law. Oh, that's the Old Testament. That's just the law
The law of God is perfect
A lot of good a lot of perfect converting the soul law of the Lord is good
And he said I love the law. That's an exclamation point in that verse. It is my meditation all the day
Can we say that that we meditate upon the law of God the words of God the commandments of God?
all the day
We should
Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me. We all want peace
But do we stay our mind on God?
Should we say like 144,000 that he is on our minds that we have his name written in our foreheads
Look at Colossians chapter 3 let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom
Teaching and admonishing one another in songs and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
So there again letting the Word of God dwell on the Word of Christ the Word of God
Dwell in you richly let it be on your mind and in your heart and on your tongue
That's the action that we can have now what's great about Colossians 3 is not only to show us that
attribute of having the Word of God in your mind, but also our next attribute which is
If you look there it towards the end it says
Verse chapter in Colossians 3 verse 16 let the Word of God Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom
Teaching and admonishing one another in songs and hymns and spiritual songs
So it's not just having the Word of God on you
But there's actually an outpouring there's something that comes out of you as well
That Word of God dwells in you stays in there
But there's also something that comes out of your mouth and your lips, and what is it?
Songs hymns spiritual songs singing with grace in your heart unto the Lord
And it says that we are to teach and admonish one another in Psalms
You know so it's not just you know in your heart, and it stays there
We're also to admonish one another with these songs
I mean isn't that a blessing to us when we you know I know there's certain
Times I like to go listen to people singing you know singing the the heads of the faith
Singing the songs sometimes when I'm in church up in Phoenix
You know I'll always try to participate but sometimes every now and then I like to just listen
I like just to listen to hear God's people and just listen to it it blesses my heart
But if we all just kept it in our heart the singing well, then I would have that
You know we wouldn't be able to admonish one another
But it leads us to our next attribute there in
Revelation 14 verse 3 it says and they saw as it were a new song before the throne
And before the four beasts of the elders so they were ones that sang these man-made these hundred forty four thousand
That's an attribute that we can and should have are being people that sing people that are willing to sing out
You know and that's that's a that's a commandment from God in fact
It is the number one command for God there is the one that's repeated the most out of all all the commandments of God to
Praise God to praise the Lord
The Bible says in Psalm 149 praise thee the Lord
Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of saints
It says in Psalm 149 again
It says a new song in the congregation of the Saints you know we should be singing through the congregation
It says here of these four hundred forty four thousand that they sang
Before the throne didn't it it says they sang before the beasts and the elders now
It doesn't mean that they were taking their turn
It means that they were in front of them seeing before them that they were able to see them singing
And that's the same attitude we should have when we should come into church
To be people that are willing to sing out before others and not just you know mumble through
You know him that's right. They say well. I'm due to the faith. I don't I don't know these songs
These are all new to me perfect. It says right there sing of the Lord a new song
Right so these are all new to you
So you can you can still keep that commandment you can sing under the Lord a new song in the congregation of saints
Now we have just as much reason to saying as they did don't they I mean they're standing with the lamb
They're up in heaven. I mean obviously they're singing because they want to it's in their heart
But let me tell you something we have just as much reason as the hundred forty four thousand to sing
The Bible says I will sing unto the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me
I mean can we not say that about ourselves that God has dealt publicly with us, and I couldn't help yesterday
I was on my way home, and it was I was in Arizona. It was a nice breezy 80 degrees. I had the window down
Everything was in bloom. You know there's all these beautiful flowers blooming around me. It smelled nice
I was going home to my beautiful wife and children
I walk in and there's there's a chicken homemade chicken pot pie in the oven the place smells great tastes great
I mean I had to stop and think we go man. God has been thoughtful of me
You know I'm not living in some you know shack with a dirt floor. You know flip it over rocks and even bugs
You know I'm not I'm not scrounging for my meal
I've got a felt very bountifully mean you know if you're living in the United States
You could probably say that about yourself, and that's a reason to sing isn't it I will sing of the Lord
Why because he had built down to flee with me?
Psalm 95 says oh come let us sing and Lord let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation
I mean if you've been saved today
That's a reason to sing we have just as much reason to sing as these men goes on and says there in
Revelation chapter 14 that they were it says in verse
2
No, no
Just started verse 2 and I heard a voice from heaven and voice of many waters and the voice of a great thunder
And I heard the voice of harpers
Harping with their hearts and they sung a new song as was the song before the throne and for the beasts the elders and no
Man can learn that song with 144,000 which were redeemed from the earth now
Are we don't we have that common with them are we not also redeemed from the earth?
The God not also redeemed us in Christ of course he did so here's another attribute that you know everyone wants them
They think this is some elite group that they would love you know the JW's want to go so far to teach false doctrine about
It you know, but we see here that we have so many that it's already in common with these people
And one of them is that we are redeemed in Christ
Bibles is in Galatians 3 that Christ half redeemed us from the curse of law being made a curse for us as it is written
So you know Christ has already redeemed us. We we could be just we are just the same as they redeem from the earth
I'm running out of time here, so I'm just going to move along here, but
What's another one of these attributes?
It says that they were deemed for the earth look at verse 4 these which were they are they which were not
Defiled women for they are virgins these are they which follow the lamb whithersoever they go they follow the land
I mean is that not something we should have in common with these people
And this is something that we should have in common with 144,000. This is an attribute
This is an example of them that from them that we need to learn you see following the lamb following Christ
That's what makes the disciple a disciple
That's really what it means to be a disciple to follow somebody to put yourself under their teaching and to learn from them
So that's something that we need to do now
I won't turn you back to Revelation 7, but it's it's interesting there
It says that they were not to hurt the earth and the sea of the trees
I'm telling they've sealed what what did they call 144,000 revelation 7 they call them the servants of our God
Yeah, so these these elite man these the special group of people these very unique people in Scripture
What are they well? They're servants it says that they are the servants of our God
That's what we need to be if we want to be
You know having actually have something in common with these men
We need to follow God we need to be his servants
Now let me say this if that was easy everyone would do it
If that was easy everybody would do it. I mean it's not exactly a packed house in here
You know we're not exactly busting at the seams
Because there's a lot of other places where you can go and someone will just tell you that you know God doesn't expect much from you
You know that that you know following Christ is just you know to be it to be a follower of Christ
Just means to have a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart and to go to church once a week
And you know you don't have to worry about read the book, or you know do anything else besides that just go
And you know let me lift your hands the errands way back and forth and enjoy the the fog and the purple lights
Just repeat you know holy holy holy holy holy just you know in new world to whatever it is they sing there
I can't remember
Emotional just get you going son, and that's it and you're a disciple. You're a follower of the land
You're just you're just one of God's servants
You know a servant is somebody who actually goes out and serves
I actually put some sweat into it put some effort and some toil into what they're doing
You know it requires something from you. It's not easy to always be a servant
The Bible says in Mark 10 and then Jesus beholding him loved you're talking about the rich young ruler
He said unto him one thing thou lackest go thy way
So what so what so ever thou has to give to the poor and thou shall have treasure in heaven and come
Take up that cross and follow me
Well that sounds like a little much to take up that cross and follow him that sounds like work
That sounds like following Christ it means being a servant
He said in Luke 9 he said to them all if any man any man will come after me let him deny himself
And take up his cross daily and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it
But whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it for my sake the same shall save it
See so it actually cost you something to follow Christ to be a follower of Lamb to be a servant of God
You know there's a cross that you have to bear. There's work. There's effort that goes into it
And people like to fool themselves into thinking they're following when in fact. They're not they want to say well
I'm a servant. I'm a disciple. I follow Christ they want to trick themselves
They want somebody to get up and tell them oh, yeah, sweet precious thing
You know you're doing everything that God wants you to do when in fact. They're not doing anything
They're not taking any stance. They're not living by the book. They don't have any standards in their life
They're not serving God. They're not going out and doing anything for Christ whatsoever and one way we can kind of
You know test this whether or not we are following God is we can ask ourselves one simple question are we winning souls
Are we trying to win souls be it the souls of our children the souls of the lost that are out in the world?
Our family our friends are we trying to get them to Christ because the Bible said Jesus said if you follow me
I will make you fishers of men
Then if you follow me you will be a fisher of men if you're following Christ
I mean that is the work of Christ that is what we are put here to do
To fish for the souls of men they go out and catch men not literally right, but to get them safe
Yeah, that's what it's talking about there
Jesus said if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples you know if we're if we're following the book
We're trying to live for God
For trying to do the things that the Bible tells us to do and we're winning souls
Then we know that we are the servants of God and that we are following the lamb just as these 144,000
Now what are the last
attributes I'm going to look at here is the fact that it says there
towards the end
It says here towards the end
Let me just get get to that spot there
Look at verse five
And in their mouth was found no dial
That's an attribute
We should definitely have and that's actually probably one that might take a little bit more work than the others
That might be one that we have to kind of watch and look out for
And you know guile isn't just you know
It's not just saying that you know they don't say dirty words. You know it's it's it's actually guile is a lot worse than that
guile is something
You know the first time we see it as an exodus. I'll just read to you
It says here in Exodus 21, and if a man lie not in wait
But God deliver God deliver him into his hand that I will appoint a place whether he shall flee
So he's talking about if a man kills another man right what happens when that happens
But if you get you know when another person kills another person he says and if a man lie not in wait meaning
He's not standing there. You know it's not premeditated. It's something that just happened. It's a crime of passion
It was an accident
Then he says I will appoint a place whether he shall flee so that the avenger of blood doesn't come and shed his blood
And goes on and says in verse 14, but if if a man come presumptuously
Premeditated presumptuous presuming to do this thing right
Upon his neighbor to slay him with what with guile it says to slay him with guile
Thou shalt take him from my altar that he may die
So guile is a pretty strong word and when it says that in his mouth was found no guile
I mean it's an element of premeditated murder. That's what the Bible is teaching us here. That's that's how how guile plays a part
The Bible says in Psalm 32
Blessed is the man unto the Lord of puteth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile
So guile is not something we want to have in our heart or in our in our in our minds or in our spirit
And what is guile guile is just cutting this it's being very sly. It's being trickery. You know very good. It's trickery
It's trying to trick somebody you know like hey come on over and here have a have a glass of this you know or
I'll tell you there's rat poison in it. You know it's premeditated murder
That's kind of thing they're tricking people and getting into a place where they can do harm to them
That's what the guile is he's saying that there's no guile in their mouth
They're not using their mouth to try and hurt people and to and to trick them
And really you know the being without guile
You know it's great that God praises these men for that, but it has its own merits here on the earth
You know it says in Psalm 34
What man is he that desireth life and loveth many days that he may say good
You know every man would go up right everyone would say yeah, I desire life. You know I love many. I love many days
And I want to see some good while I'm here
You know that that's that's what they would want
Well it says here keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile
You know if that's what you want for your life to see many days and to and to have that which is good in your life
Well, then you need to keep your tongue from evil and from speaking guile
It says to part from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it
See guile in Scripture is something that's often associated with speech
It's something that is often associated with the words that are coming out of people's mouths go ahead turn over to 1st
Peter chapter 3 1st Peter chapter 3
You're going to 1st Peter 3. I'm going to read to you from 1st Peter chapter 2 it says where for laying aside all malice
What is malice I mean, that's you know doing somebody harm. You know going out of your way. That's like maliciousness
You know you're not just it wasn't an accident. You're actually going out of your way to
inflict harm on somebody where for lay aside all malice and all guile and
Hypocrisies and enemies and eat and all evil speaking
And as newborn babes desire the silver for the word that you may grow thereby
So we see here again that guile something that's being associated with what's coming out of your mouth something
That's it's being spoken look at 1st. Peter chapter 3
verse 8
It says finally be of all of one mind having compassion one of another
Love as brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendering evil for evil or railing for a railing
But contrary wise blessing knowing that you are there unto calm
They should inherit a blessing for he that will love life and see good days
That's not familiar
Let him refrain his tongue from evil and that his lips speak no guile, and that's all 32 right there again
Let him askew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it
So we see that that's an attribute that we are command to have in Scripture
And it's one of the many attributes that the 144,000 have you know there's a lot of attributes that they have that we could have
Like them you know what were some of them you know that we were our lips would speak no guile
You know and that we would stand with the land that we'd be willing to stand with God
We'd be followers of the land and that we'd be willing to go out and serve God and be servants of his
And really the 144,000 they set the example how do they how did they get to such a special place?
You know how is it?
How is it that this morning that they are set as an example to us as something that we should be like?
That we should have these same attributes as them where they set the example by following the example
Which is Christ Christ is the ultimate example?
What does it say about him that in his mouth was found no guile, so it's an attribute
Not only that they have but it's one that Christ has so the 144,000
They aren't just this like elite superior group of people
That you know somehow are just separate from us and that we have nothing in common with and that
They're just going to get a special treatment and that they're better than us they're actually yes, they're a special group
They're a limited number of people literally, and they're a very unique group that in the fact that they come from the Old Testament
But they have the same attributes that we do already
That we are redeemed from the earth that our lips should speak no guile, and that we should you know
Have the have all these same attributes as them
So we should follow their example so that we can be like the ultimate example, which is Christ. Let's go ahead and pray