Patience & Faith of the Saints-Part 2

      So far the supplemental visions of the same events seen in the overview have reminded us how both the Old and New Covenants are all part of God’s prophetic plan of redemption. Rev. 12 showed us how the peculiar births link us as saints set apart unto God. Rev. 13 reminded us how Satan is determined that his plan will work instead, but neither the Church nor the revived saints need to fear. God’s Word  and plan are true and cannot be changed (Is. 55:8-11).
        So it should not surprise us that the next supplemental vision in Revelation 14 gives us insight into the rapture of the Church and its seating as part of the immortal government of heaven. Once again John sees the innumerable company of the 144,000s (plural). Once again we see the raptured Church in heaven, the Head and the Body united as one new Man that shall execute judgment by virtue of having overcome death—resurrection (Acts 17:31).
        We know this is another view of the rapture because we see the same participants present in the throne room as in Rev. 7. We see God on the throne. We see the same four living creatures and the elders. We see Jesus, the Lamb of God. We see the same multitude who have not defiled themselves and have remained true to her Bridegroom. To make sure there is no doubt that this multitude represents the raptured Church, in this view we are told that the multitude were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Rev. 14:1-5, emphasis added).
        This phrasing comes from the Feast of Firstfruits, one of the three spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits) that were fulfilled with Christ’s first coming. It marks the day that Christ arose as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20). This feast specifically speaks of overcoming death.
          The “first” part  of the firstfruits speaks of the first reaping of the first harvest that was dedicated to God. Rev. 1:5 describes Jesus as the faithful witness and the firstborn from among the dead—resurrection. This is why the rapture of the Church at the start of the last Day is a firstfruits resurrection.
         Here we see the “rest of the brethren” who were likewise born from the dead. That is the resurrection of His Body, the Church (Rom. 8:29). Washed in the blood of Jesus, forgiven, and clothed in His righteousness, we are without fault before the throne of God.
          The last Day is also called the Day of Judgment. As Christ’s Body, we are judged at the start of the final 1,000 year Day as being “in Christ.” Unlike this firstfruits harvest at the start of the Day, the rest of the saints who accept Jesus as a result of seeing the rapture or hearing the Gospel preached by the revived Jewish saints shall be judged at the end of the Day, as part of the final harvest.
          End-Time Lesson: You may recall that whenever we see another view of the same event in the Revelation, we should ask what we are meant to see this time around. Here the answer comes in the form of three angelic proclamations. The first angel releases the power to preach the Gospel to the world at this time—after the rapture of the Church. The message: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (v. 7). We shall see shortly who actually does the preaching.
           The second angel declares, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (v. 8). More on this in the next blog. The third angel warns the people not to take the mark of the beast. This warning confirms that not everyone takes the mark. Otherwise, what would be the point of issuing a warning?
          Then John repeats the same timely explanation. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (v. 12) on behalf of the revived Jewish saints and any others who accept Jesus as the Savior during the wrath of this last Day.
          Why is this so important? Because of the next voice that is heard. “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (v. 13). Any new believers from this point on (after the rapture) shall likewise be resurrected at the appointed time (the final harvest) to live eternally with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They will not be part of the Church, for that is a time-sensitive offer. But they will be part of the redeemed family of God.