the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Revelation 14:1-13
Following on from a parenthesis which has shown us the trinity of evil – namely the dragon (ch. 12), the first and the second beast (ch. 13) – the seven visions in ch. 14 link up with the 7th trumpet which has not yet been fulfilled (Revelation 11:15). However, before intervening to deal with evil, God identifies and sets aside a new remnant of His people. These witnesses have stood up against the prevailing corruption. In contrast with the masses who bear the mark of the beast on their foreheads (Revelation 13:16) they have the name of the Lamb inscribed on theirs (v. 1). Are we in any way ashamed to bear our Saviour’s name? Can everybody round about us see to whom we belong?
These believers are "they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (v. 4; cf. John 1:36-37). Having followed Him through shame and suffering, they will also be His companions in the kingdom. Some will be put to death for their faithfulness to the Lord (cf. Revelation 12:11). V. 13 will be a comfort to them. Far from losing their share in the kingdom, they are called blessed. Furthermore, their works follow them (notice that their works do not precede them; nobody will ever get to heaven through their works). Dear friends, our privileges as Christians are even greater. Do we want to be found less faithful than these witnesses of the last days?
