Matthew
16:16-19 KJV And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the
keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
We started this morning with the above set of two revelations.
The Father showed Peter that Jesus was Son of the living God
- The Son then proceeded to
show Peter that the church unites to Jesus like a house on a rock, and
the resurrection power of Jesus is shared by the church so that the
grave cannot lock down anyone in that church.
- The church has resurrection
power on her.
But while Peter received the first revelation, He had problems getting
the second.
Matthew
16:24-28 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
(26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul? (27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory
of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man
according to his works. (28) Verily I say unto you, There
be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see
the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
We follow after Him and take up our crosses just as He took up His
cross, for the Gospel is His death becomes our deaths.
Romans
6:3-4 KJV Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we
are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Romans
6:6 KJV Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin.
Romans 6:13 KJV Neither yield
ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield
yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
We are united to Jesus as a bride is to her husband when we unite in
these elements.
Then He intimately KNOWS us.
Philippians
3:10 KJV That I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Knowing the Lord is using a term of intimacy.
Genesis
4:1 KJV And Adam knew Eve his wife;
and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man
from the LORD.
So when we FOLLOW THE LORD, since He took a cross and walked up to be
crucified, we take up our crosses and deny ourselves.
This is spiritually illustrated in Revelation.
Revelation
14:1-8 KJV And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on
the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand,
having his Father's
name written in their foreheads. (2) And I heard a
voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a
great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their
harps: (3) And they sung as it were a new song before the
throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could
learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were
redeemed from the earth. (4) These are they which were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow
the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men,
being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (5) And in
their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the
throne of God. (6) And I saw another angel fly in the midst
of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, (7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters. (8) And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Jesus said the disciples had to FOLLOW HIM in order for the church to
be on the Rock so that gates of death cannot hold them down.
- They receive the resurrection
power from their union to Jesus, the Rock.
- Jesus died and resurrected.
This is the reason we read of Jesus LIKE A LAMB.
- He was sacrificed as a LAMB
on the cross.
- And that LAMB stood on A ROCK
called MOUNT ZION.
- And believers STOOD WITH HIM.
Do not miss the point in Rev 14.
- Everything we read about the
144,000 is found in the New Testament and refers to the church.
Notice The Lamb's Father's name is written on their foreheads.
Matthew
7:15-24 KJV Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them. (21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
THE FOREHEAD represents the WILL OF A PERSON.
Ezekiel
3:8-9 KJV Behold, I have made thy face strong against their
faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. (9)
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them
not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious
house.
What better way to symbolize willingness to do the will of the Father
than to have the Father's NAME on their FOREHEADS?
And as those who do the Father's will -- which is what Jesus said was
obedience to HIS WORDS -- build their house on rock, these 144,000
STAND ON THE ROCK MOUNT ZION.
And just as there are those who do not do the Father's will and build
on sand so their houses FALL, we read:
Rev
14:(8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is
fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Notice these traits:
Rev
14: (4) These are they which were not defiled with women; for
they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto
God and to the Lamb.
VIRGINS:
2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present
you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
FOLLOW HIM:
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
FIRSTFRUITS:
James 1:18 KJV Of his own
will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
firstfruits of his creatures.
Revelation 7 shows them as being 12,000 from each tribe of Israel.
But JOHN HEARD that number:
Revelation
7:4 KJV And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and
there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel.
But after He HEARD THIS, look what HE SAW:
Revelation
7:9-10 KJV After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And cried with
a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb.
Just before this, JOHN HEARD SOMETHING and when he looked to see what
HE HEARD about, HE SAW SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT:
Revelation
5:5-6 KJV And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold,
the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to
open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (6)
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been
slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits
of God sent forth into all the earth.
HE HEARD about a LION. but when he looked, HE SAW A LAMB RISEN FROM THE
DEAD.
- This is the same pattern as
Rev 7.
- The reason the LAMB was
called a LION was because THE BOLDEST AND MOST LION-LIKE act Jesus ever
did was BE OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH of the cross!
- Sacrificing Himself like a
LAMB dumb to the slaughter was done with the BOLDNESS OF A LION!
What you HEAR is the SPIRITUAL REALITY of what may look like the most
opposite physical picture.
That same pattern is found in Rev 7, two chapters later.
- John HEARD about 12,000 from
each tribe of Israel, making 144,000.
- But when he actually SAW the
people just described, they were the CHURCH from every nation, and were
without number.
- 144,000 is 12 times 12 times
1000
The church is the ISRAEL OF GOD!
Galatians
6:16 KJV And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on
them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
The CHURCH is the NEW ISRAEL!
Revelation 14 shows the people who take up their crosses and FOLLOW THE
LAMB, indicating they follow Him with a CROSS.
- And they stand on a ROCK.
- Just like Jesus indicated in
Matthew 16.
MOUNT ZION is where He rules.
Psalms
110:1-2 KJV A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit
thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
(2) The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule
thou in the midst of thine enemies.
HIS STRENGTH IS OUT OF ZION.
Hebrews
12:22 KJV But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of
the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of angels,
David ruled from ZION.
- Some feel Jesus is not on the
throne of David yet because David had a throne physically on earth.
- But Psalm 110 connects the
place where Jesus is presently at the right hand of the Father with
ZION!
- David's earthly ZION was a
foreshadow of the REAL MOUNT ZION!
- They get the wrong connection.
- It's not the EARTH, but IT IS
ZION and there was an earthly ZION and there is a SPIRITUAL ZION.
- Like and earthly Jerusalem
and a heavenly Jerusalem.
Jesus is on the throne of David now!
Acts
2:29-33 KJV Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the
patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is
with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of
his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on
his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his
flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised
up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33) Therefore being by
the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see
and hear.
THE CHURCH IS ON THIS ROCK!
- The 144,000 STAND on ZION.
- Power over death and the
grave is resurrection power, and THIS IS THE STRENGTH OUT OF ZION!
They are WITH THE LAMB!
- They followed the lamb
wherever He went.
Ephesians
1:18-23 KJV The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And
what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he
wrought in Christ, when he raised him
from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but
also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things
under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that
filleth all in all.
Notice the CHURCH is called HIS BODY, like the fifth chapter says Eve
was bone of Adam's bone and flesh of His flesh.
- And this idea of UNION to the
church is involved in how the POWER that resurrected Jesus and put Him
on the throne is TOWARDS US!
Ephesians
2:5-6 KJV Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus:
The power that raised Jesus is TOWARDS US.
- That is why the gates of the
grave cannot prevail against the Church.
- The rock's resurrection power
to which we are united is UPON US.
In the same chapter where we read:
2
Timothy 2:19 KJV Nevertheless the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
We also read:
2
Timothy 2:8-13 KJV Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of
David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (9)
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the
word of God is not bound. (10) Therefore I endure all
things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (11) It is a
faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with
him: (12) If we suffer,
we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny
us: (13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he
cannot deny himself.
IF WE SUFFER WITH HIM WE SHALL REIGN WITH HIM.
And these 144,000 FOLLOWED Him through the death of the cross and self
denial, and therefore suffered SO THEY CAN REIGN -- they stand on the
MOUNTAIN OF THE KINGDOM -- MOUNT ZION!
Revelation
1:5-6 KJV And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and
his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We are kings and priests with Jesus Christ.
- ON THE ROCK OF MOUNT ZION!
- Where a RESURRECTED LAMB CAME
FROM THE DEAD AND STANDS while destruction comes to those in the
BABYLON of disobedience to the Word of the Lord.