Sermon Devotional: The Final Harvest
Sermon Title: The Final Harvest
Scripture: Revelation 14 (ESV)
Scholars sometimes call Revelation 12 through 15 “The Seven Histories.” A lot is going on in these chapters and much of it is difficult to wrap our minds and our hearts around. Chapter 12 tells us of the woman and the baby and the dragon who tries to devour the child and of a mighty battle between Michael and his angels and the “great dragon” (12:9). Chapter 13 reveals more of the dragon’s desperate actions alongside the two beasts who “utter haughty and blasphemous words” (13:5-6) against God and heaven and those who dwell in heaven. They “make war on the saints” (13:7), they deceive the people (13:14), and they declare themselves to be gods so that many on the earth “worship the beast” (13:12). Chapter 14 is in the middle of these seven histories, and it provides us relief from the inexplicable action that is unfolding and from the sobering “final harvest” that is coming soon.
The Apostle John opens Revelation 14 with the words, “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb” (14:1). We are grateful for this relief. As the tensions rise in chapters 12 and 13, as the dragon and his beasts bring evil and destruction to the earth, it is good for our hearts to see the Lamb.
Chapter 14 presents us with a scene of contrasts. The Lamb who stands on Mount Zion contrasts with the Dragon and the Beasts who rage in chapter 13. Let’s notice some of these contrasts and take courage in each one.
At the end of Revelation 13, we learn the sign of the Beast is “the number of a man, and his number is 666” (13:18). This number is written on the foreheads of those who worship the beast. Scholars say that the meaning of the number remains a mystery, but what is clear is that those who worship the beast are enemies of God and are marked by their allegiance. In contrast, standing with the Lamb are those “who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (14:1). We belong to Him. We are identified as the Father’s own people purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Secure. Eternally reconciled to God through Christ.
The sounds and the images in these chapters are deafeningly loud and chaotic. “War broke out in heaven” (12:7). “The great dragon was hurled down to the earth, and his angels with him” (12:9) and “the dragon was enraged” (12:17). The second beast “made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast” (13:12) . . . “and it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth” (13:13). The people of the earth “worshiped the dragon. . . , and they also worshiped the beast” (13:4). These are the sounds and sights of evil ravaging the earth and the inhabitants of the earth.
The sights and sounds in chapter 14 are perhaps no less loud and all-encompassing, but they are the sounds of heaven’s throne room. Harpists are playing celestial music while the redeemed of the Lord sing “a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders” (14:2). It is a song that no one on earth can learn. Only the rescued and reconciled people of God who have arrived at their eternal home, sealed with His name on their foreheads, can sing this glorious song. The sound of this harp-accompanied singing is “like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder” (14:2). We’ve heard these descriptions before. In John’s opening chapter, he describes his first vision of the “son of man” (1:12). John heard “a loud voice like a trumpet” and saw the Lord whose “eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters” (1:14-15). Jeremiah saw it clearly long before John. “The Lord made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar” (Jer 10:12-13).
The God of heaven and the Son of Man created the heavens and the earth and they reign with power and authority throughout all eternity. The dragon and the beasts are false gods who rage and roil with anger because God’s judgment is sure and their time is short.
But once more before the final harvest in 14:14-20, the Gospel of God’s mercy is declared. An angel brings “the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters” (14:6-7).
Judgment and justice are coming soon. Pray fervently for those who refuse the mercy and grace of God.
Consider—
╬ When we name Jesus as Lord, we belong to Him. We are identified as the Father’s own people purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Secure. Eternally reconciled to God through Christ. Ask God the Spirit to remind you continually. As you remember what Jesus has done, stand firm in His love and righteousness.
╬ Judgment and justice are coming soon. Pray fervently for those who refuse the mercy and grace of God.
╬ Almighty God, thank you for John’s vision of Christ Jesus standing on Mount Zion. Thank you for the roar of many waters that declares the reign and the authority of our God. Thank you for the new song that we will all sing in the new heavens and the new earth. In your mercy, enable our hearts and minds to stand firm in Christ and prepare us to sing the new song in your glorious presence. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 14 (ESV)
And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:7
Scholars sometimes call Revelation 12 through 15 “The Seven Histories.” A lot is going on in these chapters and much of it is difficult to wrap our minds and our hearts around. Chapter 12 tells us of the woman and the baby and the dragon who tries to devour the child and of a mighty battle between Michael and his angels and the “great dragon” (12:9). Chapter 13 reveals more of the dragon’s desperate actions alongside the two beasts who “utter haughty and blasphemous words” (13:5-6) against God and heaven and those who dwell in heaven. They “make war on the saints” (13:7), they deceive the people (13:14), and they declare themselves to be gods so that many on the earth “worship the beast” (13:12). Chapter 14 is in the middle of these seven histories, and it provides us relief from the inexplicable action that is unfolding and from the sobering “final harvest” that is coming soon.
The Apostle John opens Revelation 14 with the words, “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb” (14:1). We are grateful for this relief. As the tensions rise in chapters 12 and 13, as the dragon and his beasts bring evil and destruction to the earth, it is good for our hearts to see the Lamb.
Chapter 14 presents us with a scene of contrasts. The Lamb who stands on Mount Zion contrasts with the Dragon and the Beasts who rage in chapter 13. Let’s notice some of these contrasts and take courage in each one.
At the end of Revelation 13, we learn the sign of the Beast is “the number of a man, and his number is 666” (13:18). This number is written on the foreheads of those who worship the beast. Scholars say that the meaning of the number remains a mystery, but what is clear is that those who worship the beast are enemies of God and are marked by their allegiance. In contrast, standing with the Lamb are those “who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (14:1). We belong to Him. We are identified as the Father’s own people purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Secure. Eternally reconciled to God through Christ.
The sounds and the images in these chapters are deafeningly loud and chaotic. “War broke out in heaven” (12:7). “The great dragon was hurled down to the earth, and his angels with him” (12:9) and “the dragon was enraged” (12:17). The second beast “made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast” (13:12) . . . “and it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth” (13:13). The people of the earth “worshiped the dragon. . . , and they also worshiped the beast” (13:4). These are the sounds and sights of evil ravaging the earth and the inhabitants of the earth.
The sights and sounds in chapter 14 are perhaps no less loud and all-encompassing, but they are the sounds of heaven’s throne room. Harpists are playing celestial music while the redeemed of the Lord sing “a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders” (14:2). It is a song that no one on earth can learn. Only the rescued and reconciled people of God who have arrived at their eternal home, sealed with His name on their foreheads, can sing this glorious song. The sound of this harp-accompanied singing is “like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder” (14:2). We’ve heard these descriptions before. In John’s opening chapter, he describes his first vision of the “son of man” (1:12). John heard “a loud voice like a trumpet” and saw the Lord whose “eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters” (1:14-15). Jeremiah saw it clearly long before John. “The Lord made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar” (Jer 10:12-13).
The God of heaven and the Son of Man created the heavens and the earth and they reign with power and authority throughout all eternity. The dragon and the beasts are false gods who rage and roil with anger because God’s judgment is sure and their time is short.
But once more before the final harvest in 14:14-20, the Gospel of God’s mercy is declared. An angel brings “the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters” (14:6-7).
Judgment and justice are coming soon. Pray fervently for those who refuse the mercy and grace of God.
Consider—
╬ When we name Jesus as Lord, we belong to Him. We are identified as the Father’s own people purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Secure. Eternally reconciled to God through Christ. Ask God the Spirit to remind you continually. As you remember what Jesus has done, stand firm in His love and righteousness.
╬ Judgment and justice are coming soon. Pray fervently for those who refuse the mercy and grace of God.
╬ Almighty God, thank you for John’s vision of Christ Jesus standing on Mount Zion. Thank you for the roar of many waters that declares the reign and the authority of our God. Thank you for the new song that we will all sing in the new heavens and the new earth. In your mercy, enable our hearts and minds to stand firm in Christ and prepare us to sing the new song in your glorious presence. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.