“THE 144,000”

INTRODUCTION:

1. In 1988 I met a member of the church who had some severe medical problems. He could barely

walk.

2. This brother could usually come to services if a ride was made available to him.

3. Since this man was somewhat homebound, I visited him on a fairly regular basis.

4. During one of these visits he said he used to play chess.

5. Though he had some physical limitations, he was very intelligent.

6. Since I, too, played chess I proposed we play from time to time.

7. After a while the two of us developed a pattern.

8. Unless there was a schedule problem, I saw him on Thursday afternoons.

9. We would visit and play some chess.

I. AFTER WE HAD PLAYED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND I HAD BEATEN HIM AGAIN AND

AGAIN (THOUGH NOT ALWAYS), ONE DAY I REMARKED THAT WHEN I PLAY A GAME, I

PLAY TO WIN. IN OUR THURSDAY AFTERNOON SESSIONS I SHOWED NO MERCY.

AFTER I SAID, “I PLAY TO WIN”, THE GOOD BROTHER RESPONDED, “WELL, I SURE

DON’T PLAY TO LOSE.”

A. If we have a strong desire to win; if being the victor is important to us, Revelation 14 will be

especially meaningful.

B. This chapter is dedicated to champions.

C. This chapter is for the fighters who want to win.

D. Before elaborating on this any further, let’s read the text. Rev. 14:1-5 – READ.

E. This chapter is connected to the previous two.

F. In Rev. 12 we learned that Satan could not defeat Christ.

G. From Christ’s coming to Christ’s ascension, Satan failed.

H. Though Satan failed, he could still stir up trouble.

I. Thus in Rev. 13 Satan picked out two “beasts” to help him.

J. The first beast was from the sea (Rome).

K. The second beast was from the earth (priests who enforced emperor worship).

L. Satan used force, deception, and religion to draw people away from God.

M. Not everyone followed Satan. Many did – many died in sin.

N. Many are suffering right now because they chose the wrong path.

O. Some other people took a different course.

P. These people are described in Rev. 14 as being the 144,000.

Q. Certain facts are given about these individuals.

1) First, the Lamb’s name and his Father’s name were written on their foreheads.

This is stated in verse 1. This tells us they belong to God.

2) Second, we have already been introduced to these people. They were mentioned back in

the 7th chapter.

a. In Rev. 7 this number represented the entire church.

b. In Rev. 7 the saved were on the earth enduring persecution.

R. In Rev. 14 the picture changes.

S. The saved are no longer suffering on the earth.

T. The persecution has ended. The 144,000 are on Mt. Zion.

U. The 144,000 have experienced a change in status.

V. They are in a new place and they have a new position.

1) John’s readers needed to hear this information.

2) Bear in mind what the previous chapters said.

3) There was a dragon (Satan) who was after God’s people.

4) There was a horrific sea monster attacking the children of God.

5) This beast could not be killed.

6) When it was attacked with a sword, it recovered.

7) A lamb-like beast with the voice of a dragon was also opposing.

8) The picture seemed dim for God’s people.

9) Where was the hope? Where was the end of the tunnel? What “good news” did John have to

offer?

10) The good news is in this chapter.

W. John first says that some would be saved – 144,000.

X. A description for the saved is found in our text.

Y. The 144,000 were “virgins”.

Z. The Jehovah Witnesses often teach about the 144,000.

1) If they come to your door, Rev. 14 is a good chapter to discuss.

2) The Jehovah Witnesses believe the number 144,000 is literal.

3) They believe in this “heavenly church” scene there will be exactly 144,000 people.

4) This is an interesting view because the Jehovah Witnesses refuse to take the rest of Rev. 14

literally.

5) For example, they do not affirm that the 144,000 will be literal virgins.

6) They do not affirm that all these people will be literal Israel.

7) Neither do they believe that the 144,000 will all be men.

A. John says that the 144,000 are:

1) Virgins who are Israelites and they have never been with women (men).

2) These facts are packaged together.

3) This package of material is either figurative or literal.

B. We have seen figurative language in this book again and again.

C. In this context, a figurative explanation makes a lot of sense.

D. 144,000 is a multiple of 12. There were 12 tribes; 12 apostles.

E. I am proposing that the 144,000 is a figurative designation for all the saved.

F. I further propose that the reference to virginity is not literal.

G. The word “virgin” does not always deal with human sexuality.

H. At times God used sexual terms to describe things that are spiritual.

1) For instance, the church is to be a pure (virgin) bride.

2) Spiritual unfaithfulness in the OT was called adultery.

3) Examples of these things are found in Hosea 4:12. Compare 2 Cor. 11:2

4) The people described by John were “virgins”.

5) That is, these saints were spiritually pure; refused to taint the church.

6) They refused to combine emperor worship with Christianity.

7) These brethren wanted to keep the church unspotted.

8) They would not join the head of the church (Christ) with the head of Rome (the emperors).

I. God wants a pure church and these Christians understood that.

J. What these brethren did needs to be taught and done today.

K. As many first century Christians refused to mix the church with Roman worship, so we must

avoid combining Christ’s church with something else.

L. If we take the church of Christ and mix it with a denomination; if we join Christ’s church with one

that has been built by man, the spiritual purity is gone.

M. The innocence (virginity) has been taken away.

N. The end result is impurity.

O. The body (church) built by Christ has been defiled.

P. These brethren refused to do that.

Q. In our day and time some NT Christians need to read Rev.

1) Within the brotherhood there is an interest in joining with denominations.

2) Some say, “We all love Jesus. We can do more by being together.”

3) “These people from denomination X are good people.”

4) “Differences do not matter.”

R. I do not doubt that many religious people are good.

S. No one disputes the fact that more people means more ability.

T. The question we need to ask is: What is the cost if we join with a religious group made by man?

1) According to Rev. 14, we do not get to stand with the winners.

2) The winners described by John had to stay spiritually pure.

3) God’s people refused to join with another religious cause.

4) This created some problems for first century saints.

5) Persecution resulted. Many died. Some went hungry.

6) When life was over, these people were the winners.

7) I refuse to join with denominations because this puts me with the losers.

8) I do not like to lose.

9) Losing my soul is unacceptable.

10) This was the view the first century brethren had.

11) One soul – one shot at heaven.

II. IF WE WANT TO BE ON THE WINNING TEAM, REV. 14 TELLS US THAT JOINING WITH A

DENOMINATION (A RELIGIOUS GROUP MADE BY MEN) IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST

REFUSE TO DO NO MATTER WHAT IS OFFERED.

A. If the seriousness of joining with another religious group is not clear, skip down with me to verses

9-11 – READ verse 9.

B. John indicates that some did side with Rome.

C. Some did follow the false religion that the empire offered.

D. What was the consequence for embracing manmade worship?

E. Verses 10-11 – READ.

1) Does our religion matter?

2) Is where we attend services important?

3) Does God care how man worships?

4) These people had a system of faith.

5) These individuals were religious.

F. John says that religion is not enough.

G. The religion used by these people made God “angry”.

1) Some think religion of any kind pleases God.

2) God not only says that this is false … God says that the wrong religion angers Him.

3) Following the wrong way brings about God’s wrath.

H. God’s wrath is compared to wine in a cup.

I. This wine was strong (text says it was “unmixed”).

J. God’s full wrath would come full force upon these people.

K. These people chose a religious way that led to torment.

L. They were not in the winner’s circle when they died.

M. In our country there is a casual attitude towards religion.

N. Most want to find a church that pleases them – a church they like.

O. In John’s day, people found a group they liked.

P. Revelation also shows how costly this choice was.

Q. The book of Revelation shows us the criteria for choosing a church.

1) The proper basis for choosing a religious group is not the programs, people our own age, or a

building close to where we live.

2) The only basis for choosing a church is this:

a. “Is this the one that Christ built?” Matt. 16:16

b. “Is this congregation of Christ’s church faithful?”

R. We may make many incorrect choices in life.

1) We may choose to move to the wrong place;

2) We may choose the wrong schools; the wrong occupation;

3) We can make wrong choices about children;

4) We can make wrong choices when buying homes and automobiles;

5) We may even choose the wrong spouse.

S. The one choice we must get right is the church.

T. The people in Rev. 14 were victorious because they were part of the right group.

U. The choice these people made was one that has eternal value.

CONCLUSION:

1. Once again, returning to verses 1 and 4, look at the winners of Rev. 14.

2. READ.

A. The saved will be allowed to stand with Christ.

B. Some desperately want to go to Israel and walk where Jesus walked.

C. The winners do not walk where Christ walked.

D. The winners are allowed to enter into the presence of Jesus.

E. The winners are also personally known by the Lord – they have a “mark written on their

foreheads”.

F. As a shepherd knows his sheep, Christ knows who belongs to Him.

3. As we gather here, we are in a special sense, a winner or a loser.

4. The consequences of winning and losing are in Rev. 14.

5. If we are not with the winners right now, we are on the wrong team.

6. Our time to change sides is running out.

7. If you know you are on the losing team, when the invitation song is sung, say to yourself:

“I am going to become a winner. I am going to be a champion. I refuse to be a loser.”

“The time for this decision is right now – I will delay no longer.”

8. If this is your choice, please come forward.