Revelation 14:1-15 — The redeemed and the unrighteous must appear before the judgment seat of Jesus. We have no choice in the matter.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). What a simple way to distinguish between the redeemed and the unrightous! Keep the commandments of God. Keep the faith of Jesus.
Having the Patient Endurance to Obey, Like This…
Righteousness is godliness and rightness. Righteousness is integrity, virtue, and purity of life. Righteousness is correctness of thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting. Righteousness is the pursuit of the Holy. Righteousness is the way of knowledge and wisdom. Righteousness is The Way of the Kingdom.
The realization that we live in the end times should raise our sights even more to righteousness and faithfulness. Iniquity abounds. Apostasy is everywhere. Moral confusion and corruption multiply at an increasing rate. The devil wants everyone, including you.
The closer we get to eternity, the less material things should matter. The closer we get to eternity, the less our own fleshly comfort and satisfaction should matter. Alas, not many of us are aware of the closeness of eternity. Few of us think of a remaining life span of two or three years, or even of fifteen. Number your days (and don’t be too generous!) and give your heart to wisdom. Thirst for righteousness. Do not swerve from The Way. Be obedient. Be faithful.
Hang in there and continue in the faith and its works. Do not quit or even slack off in your obedience. Persevere and receive the blessing: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
(Most of the above I excerpted and adapted from this which I wrote over 15 years ago: Judgment of Babylon and Antichrist Worshipers.)
A question for The Redeemed and the Unrighteous: Where All Is Your Name Written?
Jesus gave seventy of His disciples special power and authority and sent them out to proclaim His message. They came back with joy, particularly focused on something truly amazing: even the demons obeyed them. Wow! Then Jesus reminded them what should bring them even greater joy.
“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
So I look back at yesterday and wonder that I didn’t rejoice in that. At least I don’t recall doing so consciously and purposefully. Every day, I need to remember that I have been redeemed, that my name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Excerpted from My Name, Written There
Can We Be Too Obedient?
Many have the mentality that obedience has certain limits. After all, this life view goes, once a person has obeyed “a whole bunch” without fussing, surely he is entitled to not obey a bit here or there. This way of living uses a balance — once enough obedience accumulates on the one side, a little disobedience is tolerable on the other. You know, just a little, just so the scales doesn’t tip too much on that side. How easy it is to look for all kinds of loopholes and excuses and justifications for passing over God’s will!
The rich young ruler had such a terrific track record. And yet he must have sensed something was lacking, or else he simply wanted the Lord’s confirmation that he lacked nothing. In any event, after hearing Jesus’ answer it appears he concluded he had already obeyed enough and he wasn’t going to overdo it. Presumably he wasn’t in the audience when Jesus declared, “When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10).
(These two paragraphs and their title also come from my fifteen-year-old piece, Judgment of Babylon and Antichrist Worshipers.)
The Redeemed and the Unrighteous Before the Judgment Seat
Someday I must appear before the judgment seat of Jesus. Doing so is not optional; I have no choice in the matter. I must appear there.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, where it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
I will be rewarded good or evil according to the good or evil I have done with my body. In that I do have a choice!
Excerpted from I Must Appear for the Reward
"The Redeemed and the Unrighteous" is the CLP Sunday School lesson for January 20, 2019, and uses Revelation 14:1-15 as the Scripture passage.
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Unless noted otherwise, the material above is copyrighted by CLP and/or Mark Roth.
Mark's first ebook: Panting (Faith Works 1) (available on Amazon via this affiliate link)
