Tucson Mountain Baptist Church

I’m talking about when life is really, really unfair? It affects everything about who you are. What do you do when life is at its deepest level unfair. These last chapters in Revelation may sound like life Is not fair?

There are four realities revealed to us that empower Hope in our Hearts

The final expression of God’s judgment upon the earth is the seven bowls..

Revelation isn’t just a book about the end. It’s a book about hope. God keeps reminding us to hold on, to keep having faith in Him.

1. We see the Great Hope – The Lamb of God leading worship. “Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb…” 14:1a What a Relief! What a Joy! What Strength!

As soon as He walked on into your life it changed everything.

“Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mt. Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. [not the mark of the beast but His seal.] And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” Rev. 14:1-3

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. Heb.12:22

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 first-fruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” Vs. 4-5 The literal translation is “for they are virgins.”

Would we be more spiritual if we were all celibate?

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf. The priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.” Leviticus 23:10-11

This isn’t about perfect people. This is about Redeemed people.

Romans 8.…….

2. Angels start announcing the Truth.

“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.” vs. 6-7

Sometimes we can become so book smart we miss the most obvious. That is God is Real.

“ A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” v. 8

Everything that is part of Satan’s principality, everything that’s a part of the way he rules in this world is all going to fall apart.

This news is Not good news but It’s true. It is not good news for mankind left on earth.

“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” v. 9-11

How does this bad news fit with the good news? This is the news that makes the good news so good.

We don't truly understand how desperate our situation really is without God, or how desperately we need God.

The word “too” is extremely important in this passage. It of course means (also) Hell was not prepared for people. It’s a place made for Satan and his demons.

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” v. 12

From when? From now on. From the very moment you accept God’s Gift. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” v.13

What an awesome picture – no rest for the wicked but Eternal Rest for the righteous who have accepted Christ offer of salvation. That’s the hope that God has for you today