Revelation 14:1-5 - Homiletics

Light gleams in the darkness. "Without fault!"

The apostle in this book never keeps us too long in the shade without a break. Just as, after the terrible convulsions depicted in the sixth chapter, we had the glorious vision of the blest in heaven in that which followed, so it is here. We have watched the working of three of the foes of God and of his Church. Now we are bidden to turn our eye upward, and behold again the hundred and forty-four thousand whose blessedness had been already portrayed. " And I saw"— the formula which introduces a separate vision. " Behold !"—indicating abruptness and surprise. The raging of the dragon and of the two wild beasts is exchanged for the sight of purity and calm. "A Lamb." The Lamb. The Lamb of God. " Standing on Mount Zion." Mount Zion was where the temple stood. The old Jewish figure sets forth new Christian realities. "Ye are come unto Mount Zion," etc. ( Hebrews 12:1-29 .). " The hundred and forty-four thousand." We have seen them before; we recognize them again. They are not only seen, but heard ( Revelation 14:2 , Revelation 14:3 ). " They sing," etc.—are singing. Their melody and harmony ring in the apostle's ear. " As it were a new song." Not actually new. It is the old, old song of redemption which is their theme. But their circumstances are so changed that it is sung with new joy, and through endless ages it will be ever new. Only those can learn this song who are redeemed from the earth. It befits only the Church of God; and not only is their position clearly defined, but their character is definitely given ( Revelation 14:4 ). There are "more to follow." For these whom the apostle saw are but the "firstfruits." In the fifth verse, however, there is one expression concerning them—a very short one, it is true—so significant, that it attracts us more than all the rest; it is one on which we love to linger. It is this: "They are without fault."

I. LET US STUDY THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN . We say, "in heaven," for there need be no fear as to whether we are right in doing so. They are "redeemed from the earth" ( Revelation 14:3 ): this points to what they were. They are with the Lamb on Mount Zion: this tells us where they are. They are the "redeemed:" this tells us how they came to be where and what they are. The assertion that they are "without fault" is much more striking than if it had been made by man. It is a phrase inbreathed by the Spirit of God, telling us that in the sight and light of heaven itself they are "faultless." Shall we try and see what a character without flaw would be? The expression must mean:

1 . That there is nothing wrong in them. Not a single sin do they commit. Every word, deed, and thought is pure. Nor is there even any sinfulness of nature out of which aught that is corrupt can arise. Not one inferior motive mars their actions; not one waste by thought intrudes into their devotion. Nor is there the least wish or thought but such as is perfectly in harmony with the will of him who sits upon the throne.

2 . There are no infirmities of nature. Those frailties which, though not sinful, yet may be the inlets of sin into a disordered constitution, and may make it more difficult to resist evil, are done away. Here the physiological accidents of our birth are perpetually telling on us, causing each of us to be surrounded by an easily besetting sin, and making it hard to withstand temptation. The eye, the ear, the hand, the foot, yea, any member of the body, may be an occasion or a vehicle of wrong. But in the redeemed on high, all this is forever done away. True, this is only the negative side of their character. Only the negative! Blessed would it be if we could present such a negation! In consequence of this, however—because there is nothing to repress the growth or manifestation of what is Divine—the image of God in them must needs be seen in its perfection. Not that each one will be equally developed. There will be many a flower whose opening has been retarded by chilly winds and adverse weather, and that has been waiting for eternity's sun to shine upon it ere it opened its petals at all. Besides, there must be different stages of growth, etc. "One star differeth," etc. Remembering this, let us glance also at the positive side of their character. Their judgment is sound. Their perceptions are clear. They see light in God's light. Every perception of truth is attended with corresponding emotion, and every recognition of duty is followed by corresponding action. Every determination of the will is "holiness unto the Lord." Their work for God is as perfect as their wills are pure. Their social life is all that it should be. Intense sympathy with each other's joys marks them all. Benevolence moves the heart to kindly willing, and beneficence prompts the hand to kindly action; while the sense of a common obligation to a redeeming Lord causes them to unite in the "new song" with rapturous and transcendent joy. But, ah! what pen can sketch the life of beings so perfectly Divine? All that we can say is poor. We can conceive more than we can say. But the one touch of our text suggests that which surpasses alike word and thought—they are without fault!

II. THE PASSAGE SHOWS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR PRESENT FAULTLESSNESS AND THEIR EARTHLY LIFE . This it does in two ways. It shows us:

1 . God's work for and on them.

(a) as God's own,

(b) as the object of God's care,

(c) as having forthwith on their forefront the badge of service.

Their constant motto is, "Whose I am, and whom I serve." There is also indicated:

2 . Their work for God.

(a) Satan;

(b) the first beast, or worldly pomp;

(c) the second beast, or ecclesiastical show;

(d) all filthiness of the flesh and spirit ( Revelation 15:4 ).

III. SUCH SCENES AS THESE SHOULD HAVE OVER US AN ELEVATING POWER .

1 . The very fact of such an issue being set before us as the rightful goal of the individual life is of itself an ennobling of human existence. There is, it may freely be confessed, something to inspire one in the thought of the race rising to any such greatness after evolution has had time enough to work out to such an issue. But when the deduction has to be made of the extinction of individuals in the race process, the heart is taken out of us the moment our hope sets to work. The redeeming grace of God rescues the individual, and gives him a living hope. And one of the most painful features of the day is to find many, trained and nurtured in, and even saturated with, the beautiful and consoling truths of the glorious gospel of the blessed God, casting away from them the only props on which such a hope can rest. The hope survives a while, but cannot long continue when its support is gone. The only alternative is supernaturalism or despair. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

2 . We may well admire the high standard of gospel morality. Some there are who accuse us of a low-toned morality in preaching, "Believe, and be saved." One would think that we stopped with the word "believe," and went no further. But; the fact is, no sinful man can start fairly for holiness until he has a firm standing and a new power. Faith in a living Saviour ensures both these, and faith in him alone.

3 . Let us be filled with thankfulness that we are permitted such a fore glance of those who once

"Wrestled hard, as we do now,

With sins, and doubts, and fears."

What they were, we are. What they are, by the grace of God we too may be.

4 . Be it ours to imitate those who have gone before. The victory they now enjoy was not won without many a hard struggle. Supposing we had before us now two men: one, a model of faultless social propriety, yet steeped in self complacency; the other, the worst of publicans and sinners. We would gather from the scenes reviewed in this chapter a word of equal appropriateness to both. To the open sinner we would say, "You may be separated from your sins, if you will. Christ will kill them and save you!" To the other we would say, "You must be separated from your pride; for you can no more enter heaven in your spirit of self righteousness than the most openly abandoned sinner." Mercy is free to all. The best need it. The worst may have it. Without it, we must all likewise perish.

5 . Let no Christian struggler despair. God is able to keep him from falling, and to present him faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.