December 19, 2019
What does it say?
John saw a vision of those who will be redeemed singing praise to God. He saw a preview of the day Christ will return to the earth to bring final defeat to all of His enemies.
What does it mean?
The two groups of people in this passage are distinguished by the marks on their foreheads, displaying their allegiance to either Christ or the Antichrist. The ones standing with Jesus on Mount Zion are the 144,000 sealed saints of God that will come through the Great Tribulation and be presented to God as a righteous harvest, a special gift to God. But anyone with the mark of the beast will be ripe for harvest – under the full wrath of God for their rejection of truth and of Jesus Christ.
How should I respond?
We don’t hesitate to show our allegiance to our favorite sports teams by proudly displaying their logo on a shirt, hat, or bumper sticker. Yet we often shy away from things that would identify us to the world as Christians. As time goes on, those of us who profess faith in Jesus will pay a heavier price in this life for our allegiance to Christ. There will come a time when anyone who follows Jesus will be clearly identified from those who do not. The time of His return is drawing near. How willing are you to boldly proclaim your faith in Jesus Christ today?