Today, Tuesday June 07
“And Having Done All, To Stand”
Revelation 14:1-5 “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Today we are studying Revelation 14. In the first verses of this chapter, we are talking about the 144,000 Jewish men who were marked by God and had a special protection so that during the entire course of the Seven Year Tribulation they could preach the Gospel to every tribe, kindred and nation. We have already talked about how these 144,000 were standing with Lamb, they were singing a new song before the throne, and they were separated from the corruption of the world during this ungodly, wicked and evil time that the Antichrist and false prophet are ruling the world.
It is obvious that the 144,000 are in direct conflict with evil forces of the Tribulation. Literally hell has been let loose on the earth. It is a time of violence and debauchery like the world has never seen before. The Antichrist and his evil followers are now openly rebelling against God! They are boldly and loudly blaspheming the God of heaven! It will be a time of open spiritual conflict that the 144,000 must stand against!
As I was meditating on this aspect of the Tribulation this morning, I couldn’t help but think of the Book of Ephesians and thought I would share those thoughts with you. The last chapter of Ephesians ends the book with an admonition for believers to understand that even now we are in spiritual conflict with invisible evil forces of the Satanic host. I want you to read the following passage from Ephesians 6:10-18 and notice how many times we are told to stand: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
Today we should be reminded in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, that if we are going to be able to stand like the 144,000, we must first know our position in Christ. We are seated together with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We must live out our faith in our daily walk (Eph. 4&5). And then we need to realize that we are not striving with “flesh and blood”, (people that are around us), but with invisible spiritual forces of evil around us.
We are not told to fight back, because we already have the victory through the cross and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. But we are told to “stand” as we “withstand in the evil day” of our conflict. We stand as we put on God’s armor of His truth and His righteousness and share His Gospel. We stand as we take up the shield of faith and hold the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”! And we stand as we pray and remain watchful!
And by God’s grace, like the 144,000, we can keep ourselves “undefiled” and “without fault before God.”
God bless!
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