Yesterday we saw how the dragon (Satan) is ravaging against God’s people. He’s mad because he’s been defeated by Jesus, and so he is now taking out his wrath on followers of Jesus.
He seems so powerful—what’s the point in resisting? (Revelation 13:4) Why not just go with the flow, go with what makes life easiest? What’s the point in going God’s way?
Revelation 14 shows us the reason to keep going—God will rescue His people and judge His enemies.
We see those who are rescued by God at the beginning of chapter 14. There is a huge crowd, the number is symbolic to mean all those who belong to Jesus (12 tribes of Israel x 12 apostles x1000 for completeness). These people are those who were not ashamed to belong to Jesus, it might have looked like they missed out in this lifetime, but they will enjoy an eternity worshiping God, safe forever. These people have been faithful to Jesus (v4), they haven’t run after other gods, or if they have, they have returned to Jesus – they have been redeemed. Jesus’ righteousness has been credited to them so that they are blameless. Is that you? Three warnings are announced to urge you to turn to Jesus and stick with Jesus.
The first message is that judgment is coming, so glorify God (v7). Glorify God because His judgment is good. If you have ever been wronged, you will know what it is to long for justice. The angel says, God is going to punish evil! He’s going to punish sin. So don’t worship the dragon, worship God, for He is the creator of everything, He is the one who alone is worthy of our worship.
The second messenger has a threat for Babylon (v8). Babylon was the ancient city that oppressed God’s people and led them astray. She used pleasure, sex, luxury, wealth to seduce people away from God. She looked so great, but this messenger reminds us she won’t last. When John was writing, Babylon had fallen hundreds of years earlier, but she’s a picture for any city or state that leads people away from God. Whether through the emperor worship and sexual immorality in 1st C Rome, or the pornography and prostitution and other sexual immorality of the 21st C. It might be so seductive, so tempting, but it is so destructive and damaging. And what happens if you just go with the flow?
The third messenger tells us, and it is a very hard message (v9-10). The mark of beast, is thinking and acting the world’s way rather than God’s way. Here is someone who decided to go their own way and not God’s way. What will God do about that?
God is incredibly patient, merciful and loving. He has done everything so that we can be forgiven, but if people refuse to turn to Jesus, He will punish them forever in hell (v11). Those who are at peace with the world now because they live and act the world’s way, will have no peace eternally—no rest day or night (v11).
But if you don’t have peace now because you’re constantly fighting the world’s temptations, and whenever you fail you turn to Jesus for forgiveness. You know the daily struggle of resisting the devil, how hard it can be to follow Jesus. But John says—it’s worth it! Keep going—it’s only for a lifetime (v12)! There is the most wonderful rest ahead (v13). As I write this I am reminded of a friend who emailed me to apologise for not being in contact for a while, he explained that he had stage 4 cancer, he asked for prayer but ended the email with these words “I have a total peace as I rest in the Lord
Jesus for the future knowing that my eternal future is secure.” He knew the truth of v13, he had the right perspective.
The chapter ends with a strong warning of how awful it will be face God unforgiven. Please use this chapter to reflect on the seriousness of sin, rejoice in your saviour who took your sin and get a right perspective on life. Keep going, God will rescue His people and judge His enemies.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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