The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Rev. 14:1-3
Sunday after Christmas
1.The book of Revelation, chapters 4 -22, are highly figurative and
must always be explained in the light or the clear, non-fiqurative
books. In these chapters the writer alternates between scenes of
the terrible judgments of God on man and scenes from heaven. For
example, the chapter before our text describes the dragon, Satan,
and the beasts which arise out of the sea and the land, the
Antichrist. Satan uses the Antichrist to mislead people and to
cause then to blaspheme God. Lest the faithful Christians grow
weary, God gives them a picture of everlasting life. We have an
example of that in Rev. 14:1-5. Our text is an earthly picture of
everlasting life.
2. Hebr.12:2 says of Christ: "For the joy which was set before
Him, He endured the cross and despised the shame." The joy of life
in heaven lay before Him. Read the beautiful words about
everlasting life at Jn. 14:1-4 which Jesus spoke to His disciples
in the night when He was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We, too, need to be reminded of heaven, our home. We are citizens
of heaven. Php. 3:20.
3. Vs. 1 of our text, reads: "And I saw and behold the Lamb
standing on the hill of Zion." Zion was a part of Jerusalem.
Later the term was used of the true children of God. For example,
Ps. 48:11 says: "Let Mt. Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah
be glad, because of Your judgments." Or the prophecy of Zech.
9:9, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem: "Tell the daughter of Zion,
behold, your King is coming to you." See Mt. 21:5 for fulfillment.
Or the prophecy at Is. 28:16 concerning Christ, the chief
Cornerstone: "Behold I lay in Zion a chosen, precious
cornerstone, and whoever believes in Him, will not be ashamed."
See I Pet. 2:6. But here in our text in Rev. 14 it refers to
everlasting Life. And the Lamb standing on the hill of Zion can be
none other than Jesus. See Jn. 1:29, Also I Pet. 1:19.
4. What of the number 144,000? Read Rev. 7:1-17, another
beautiful passage about heaven. The Lamb is mentioned in vs. 17.
Vss. 5-8 tell us that each of the twelve tribes of Jacob have
12,000 in heaven, But this cannot be the literal tribes of Jacob
because the name "Dan" is missing. Furthermore, there vs. 9 says
that these 144,000 cannot be numbered and that they come from
every nation, tribe, people and language. If they cannot be
counted we cannot take the number 144,000 literally. Furthermore,
if they are from every nation, tribe, people and language, they
cannot be limited to the covenant people of the OT. Clearly the
number 144,000 represents the complete number of the elect. Rom.
11:25-26 reads: "Hardening has come to Israel in part until the
fullness of the Gentiles comes in and thus all Israel will be
saved." The first "Israel" denotes the Jews as opposed to the
Gentiles but the second time "Israel" means the full number of the
elect, both Jews and Gentiles. Rom. 9:6 reads: "Not all those who
are of Israel are Israel." Therefore, in our text the number
144,000 denotes the perfect number of God's elect.
5. We are told that these elect have Jesus' name and the Father's
name inscribed on their foreheads. Jesus says at Lk. 10:20:
"Rejoice because your names are inscribed in heaven." Our Lord
tells us at Is. 43:1: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by your name; you are mine." There you have it. All
of this means that "God is mine and I am His."
6. Vss. 2-3 of our text picture the music of heaven in human
language. It is a new song, a song of fulfillment and actual
experience in heaven, Only the 144,000 can learn this song. Paul
was snatched up to Paradise and heard unspeakable words which
human tongues cannot speak. II Cor. 12:4. The best is yet to
come. Last Sunday's text, Tit. 2:13 told us that we are "awaiting
the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ." Heaven is our home, Let us rejoice!
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of The Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Rev. 14:1-3
Sunday after Christmas
THEME: The Blessed Hope Of Everlasting Life in Heaven
INTRODUCTION
Rev. 13 describes the terrible griefs or this world under the
figure of two beasts and a dragon. They mislead many people with
their lies and place their mark on them. Vs. 10 reads: "Here is
the patience and faith of the saints." Christians can survive
these terrible conditions in this sinful world. They have patience
and faith.
I. Those who enjoy the blessed hope of heaven.
A. Our text describes them as the 144,000 who have the name
of the Lamb and of the Father written on their foreheads.
We learn about these l44,000 In Rev. 7:4-17. This number
plainly represents the perfect number of God's elect from
all nations, tribes, peoples and languages. They are a
vast number that cannot be counted. These are the ones
who have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb of God. They have come out of the
tribulation. God makes His dwelling with them. They don't
hunger or thirst anymore. They do not suffer from cold or
heat. Our text, Rev. 14:3, says that they have been
bought from the earth. That reminds us of passages such
as I Cor. 6:20 and 7:23
B. These are the elect of God described elsewhere in the
Bible. For example, Rom. 8:29-39. Because God chose them
by His grace in Christ Jesus, He called them by His
Gospel. They became believers They knew that God was for
them. They knew that God Who gave His Son for them could
supply all their needs. They knew that no one could
separate then from the love of God which was in Christ
Jesus. Though they suffered much they knew that they were
more than conquerors in all things. They could
confidently speak the words of Rom. 8:97-39. Jesus once
described these people thus "My sheep hear My voice and I
knew them and they follow Me and I give them eternal life
and they will never perish and no one ever take them out
of My hand." Jn. 10:27-28. Are you one of these who will
enjoy the blessed hope of heaven? Do you repent of your
sins and believe in Christ? If so, you are among those
144,000.
II. What they will do in everlasting life.
A. St. Paul tells us that he was once caught up into Paradise
and heard unspeakable words which it is not possible for
a human to speak. II Cor. 12:4. In other words, in our
present condition in this life we cannot possibly
understand what heaven is like. Not until we are
glorified can we really know what it is like. That is why
it is difficult to explain vss. 2-3 of our text. John
said he heard a sound coming out of heaven as the sound
of many waters and as the sound of loud thunder. He said
he heard the sound as of cither-players playing their
instruments. He says that he heard the 144,000 singing a
new song before God's throne and the inhabitants of
heaven. No one except the 144,000 could learn that song.
What is that song? Wait until you arrive there. Then you
will learn it.
B. Rev. 7 gives a picture of the activity
of the 144,000 in heaven. They sing: "Salvation to our
God Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." The holy
angels stood around the throne of God and sang: "Amen.
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
and Glory to our God forever and ever, Amen." Read Hebr.
1:22-24. It is another description of the heavenly Zion.
Just one more reference: At I Jn, 3:2 we read: "Beloved,
now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He
(Jesus) appears, we shall be like Him because we shall
see Him just as He is."
CONCLUSION
Meanwhile He says to us: "Be thou faithful unto death and I will
give you the crown or life." Rev. 2:10. Trust in your Lord with all
your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Debbie Harris and is in the public domain by permission
of Dr. Buls You may freely distribute, copy or print this text
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
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Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126
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