Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb 144,000

1. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Sometimes we ask the wrong questions.

2. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 The right question is not: “Are you a disciple?” but “Whose disciple are you?” We all are disciples of someone.

3. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 It’s not “Are you a follower or not?” But “Who are you following?”

4. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Bob Dylan after he became a Christian wrote: “You’re gonna have to serve somebody. It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you gonna have to serve somebody.”

5. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 That captures the message of Revelation. There are 2 kingdoms. You either obey king Jesus or you obey the false king – Satan.

6. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 You either submit to the ways of the beast and bear his mark on your life. Or You submit to the ways of the lamb and bear the lamb’s mark on your life.

7. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 This morning we will focus in on the 144,000 who we read about in chapter 14 and 15. What are the characteristics of the followers of the Lamb?

8. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb 144,000 Scripture Reading Revelation 14:1-5; 15:1-4 This series follows the outline and material provided by Darrell Johnson in his book, Discipleship on the Edge

9. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 The Vision Team is working through all the various input the congregation has given and is writing out the goal or vision that we as a church believe God is calling us to work towards.

10. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Part of that process is to ask, “What does a disciple of Jesus look like?” “What core values or beliefs does she have?” “What core practices does he do regularly?”

11. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 This morning our scripture reading identifies 7 characteristics of the 144,000 who follow Jesus.

12. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Before we we explore those 7 there are a couple things we should clear up first.

13. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 First, is the number 144,000 used here numerically or symbolically? Symbolically! 12 Old Testament tribes of Israel x 12 apostles x 10 x 10 x10 = the people of God in their fullness

14. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Revelation is a book full of symbols and imagery that are meant to help us see that there is another kingdom other than the kingdoms of this world.

15. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Revelation is addressed to our imagination and invites us to ask “Of what kingdom am I a citizen?” Remember it is not “Will I live by the values of a kingdom?” but “Of all the kingdoms competing for my allegiance, by whose kingdom values will I live?” Johnson, p.267

16. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Let’s look at the 7 characteristics of those who are in the kingdom of the Lamb. As you hear these 7, this morning, ask yourself, “Does this describe me?”

17. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 They know that they are not their own. “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4

18. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Paul asks the Corinthians: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” I Cor 6:19-20 The people of the lamb answer, “Yes we know that we our not our own, but belong, body and soul, to our faithful saviour.” Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1

19. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 That is why the people of the Lamb have the name of the Lamb and God on their foreheads. Look at the person beside you. What do you see on their forehead? Do you see the name of Jesus?

20. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “Name of Jesus written on the foreheads” literal or symbolic? When you look at the life of the person next to you, do you see that they belong to Jesus? When they look at your outward actions do they see that in you?

21. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 They know that they are an offering to God. “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4

22. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “Firstfruits” in the Old Testament were given as an expression of the belief that everything belongs to God. You would sacrifice the firstfruits of the crop, in faith acknowledging that the whole crop belonged to God.

23. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 This guards against the ever present danger of “Compartmentalization.” - Dividing up our reality into God’s and mine. The Tithe - 10% wrongly seen as give God 10% and the rest is mine

24. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Look back at your giving to the church in 2009. Does it show that you are a firstfruits offering – acknowledging that everything belongs to God?

25. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1

26. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 3. They know that they are engaged to the Lamb. “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4

27. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure.” There are 3 main ways of interpreting this passage. Teaching celibacy - high value on marriage elsewhere Warriors in a holy war. Metaphorical interpretation

28. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 In the OT, “sexual intimacy is used as an analogy of our relationship with God.” Johnson, p. 272 Hosea 2:20: “I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.”

29. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Exodus 34:15: "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.” Idolatry called “adultery”

30. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 The people of the Lamb are the bride of Christ [Rev 19-21] They are those who are keeping themselves pure for their husband Jesus and are not messing around with Babylon the Harlot.

31. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “The redeemed know that they belong to one husband, and they do not want to be caught sleeping with another lover. They do not want to be caught in bed with the world. They want to be faithful lovers of the lover of our souls.” Johnson, p. 273

32. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Now its important to acknowledge that this was not always so. The 144000 had committed adultery with Babylon one way or another. But Jesus has come and they have forsaken former lovers.

33. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 4. They are followers of the Lamb. “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” Rev. 14:3-4

34. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 People of the Lamb obey Jesus’ call, “Follow me!” They give up wanting to go their own way, taking the lead, setting the direction for their lives. Like in ballroom dancing, the lady needs to learn to follow and give up the lead.

35. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Did they get it right away? No they tried to lead and got their feet stepped on. When they learned to follow then the dance of life became a thing of beauty.

36. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 They want to be like the Lamb. “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v.5 They want to like their lover

37. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v. 5 2 characteristics identified: People of Truth I Peter 2:21-22: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 
 "He committed no sin, 
      and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [quoting Is.53:9]

38. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 We are called to speak the truth in love. We are called to be people of truth, people of integrity, People who are true to our word.

39. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 “No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v. 5 2 characteristics identified: Blameless Perfect? No, Blameless. Sins confessed, covered by the blood of Jesus, forgiven. - Keep short accounts with God.

40. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 6. They win the victory over the Beast. “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:” Rev. 15:2-3

41. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. v. 2 Victorious? Many of them were killed! Remaining faithful to Jesus in the face of persecution was the victory.

42. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. v. 2 “We know from documents of he early church that the day of a person’s martyrdom was called the day of his victory. It was the victory because they did not succumb to the pressure to compromise.” Johnson, p.275

43. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Had they never compromised? At one time they had. Paul did. Peter did. You & I did. Now we seek to be faithful.

44. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 7. They sing a new song. “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:” Rev. 15:2-3

45. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 We are known by the song we sing. It is a song of deliverance out of the slavery of sin and death. Deliverance through the lamb, whose blood covers and delivers us.

46. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 The people of the Lamb 1. Know that they are not their own. 2. Know that they are an offering. 3. Know they are engaged to the lamb. 4. Follow the Lamb wherever he leads. 5. Want to be like the Lamb. 6. Win the victory by being faithful. 7. Sing of the song of salvation. Are you one of the people of the Lamb?

47. Things are Not as They Seem – People of the Lamb144,000 Remember the question is not “Are you a disciple?” but “Whose disciple are you?”