Sermon No.28 – Book of Revelation – Kathryn Kuhlman

SERMON NO. 28

Revelation 14:1 to 11.

I am going to answer a question that came in: “If a person is born again and still attends the same church that is not spiritual and not preaching the Gospel and they know the preacher is not preaching the Word and they still support that church, would they go up in the Rapture?” This is a dandy!

The answer to this question is – Yes, they will go up in the Rapture, if they are born again and if they are living a victorious Christian life. But I do not see how in the world, every Lord’s Day, one who is alive spiritually, born again, filled with the Spirit, literally can enter a dead place and sit there for one hour and enjoy it.

Now, our support, our tithes and our offerings are not to be given where the Gospel does not go forth. Our tithes and our offerings, The Word of Cod says, are to be brought into the storehouse; and a storehouse is where there is food. A thing can’t be a storehouse if it is just a building and there is nothing in it. That is an empty storehouse. You would look kind of silly bringing something into it when it is an empty building and nothing in it. The storehouse is the place where you get your spiritual food and your reward.

I still contend that this whole thing is an investment. When you see it like that, it is the greatest thing in the world. You are investing in the preaching of the Gospel. You are investing in lost souls. It is a mighty bad investment when you support something where you are not getting any interest or any dividends on your money. When you realize the millions and billions of dollars that man invests just for scientific discoveries when it comes to the healing of a body, the investments in modern science to give health to physical bodies – think what an investment you have made when you give to the preaching of the Word, where literally thousands are saved and healings are taking place. You share in the reward of every soul that is saved in that ministry; of every sick body that is healed; and of the good that is being done. So wouldn’t you be a wise person to support something that is alive rather than support something where you get no interest, no dividend whatsoever.

So to this question there are three points. This woman can attend a dead church, she can support that church, and if she is born again at the time of the Rapture and living a victorious Christian life, she will be a part of the Body of Christ. But I cannot see how one who is ready for the great catching up, one who is a part of His Body – and His Body is something that is alive – I cannot see how that one can enjoy something that is not spiritual. I would think that one would be wise enough to go where there are the results of the Spirit.

Before we leave the 13th chapter of the Book of the Revelation I want you to know that I do not believe that any man or any woman at this time has any spiritual revelation as to exactly what the mark of the beast is. I do not believe that it is time yet for that spiritual revelation. When God’s time for it is ready, they will know. Up until now, we know it is a definite mark. It will be the very acme of sin. It will be the mark of Satan.

Now then, as we begin this 14th chapter of the Book of the Revelation, pause just a minute as I refresh your memory on something. Go back to the 7th chapter of the Book of the Revelation, verses 2 and 3:

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

Revelation 7:2-3

Now watch.

“… till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Watch that word “servants.” One word can be a key. Just one word! One word can open up an entire meaning. One word can give a complete revelation.

What happens next? Verse 4:

“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.”

Revelation 7:4

He is talking about sealing and servants. Who were sealed? The 144,000. Who were they? They were Jews. What was the work? What was the purpose?

God had a definite purpose. He tells. They were to be His servants. We must get this through our heads now before we begin with the 14th chapter of the Book of the Revelation, because their purpose is found in the 7th chapter.

Now the question as to who the 144,000 were. Some get the idea – and that is where many a preacher will take issue with me on the Word of Prophecy. You would be amazed how many questions I have gotten since I have been giving some of the Prophetic Word over the radio, especially from those who have written books and sermons on the Book of the Revelation. They are sort of on the spot now, because much of this is contrary to that which they have written. You would be amazed how many different interpretations there are when it comes to the 144,000. There have been those who have contended, lo, these many years, that there will only be 114,000 Jews saved during the great tribulation; 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Beloved, Paul clearly teaches – and we see all through the Word of Prophecy, that the day is coming – we find it in Joel, in Ezekiel, and in at least 5 or 6 different books of the Bible, including Daniel, that verify the fact that the day is coming during the last three and a half years of the tribulation that ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED. Therefore, it almost seems as though it is a contradiction when one portion of the Word of God says “all Israel shall be saved,” and here in the 7th chapter of the Book of the Revelation it talks about the 144,000; 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. It seems as though it is a contradiction. It would be except for the one little word “SERVANTS.”

Who are these 114,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel? They are to be sealed. “… till we have sealed the servants of our God…” That is so plain, a child can understand it. These 144,000 Jews are to be servants.

I do not know whether the Jewish people can feel my love for them. Knowing the Word of God as I do, I feel they have one of the greatest futures. So much so, that I think I made a remark yesterday that I would be willing to go through the tribulation if I could be left to preach to them. But God doesn’t want me to miss the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Sure! He has made provision so that I can enjoy it up there with Papa and Mama and Eve, and all of you. So He says – Child, I have made provision where you won’t have to miss the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. There is going to be a great revival, He says. All of Israel will be saved. I am going to call out 144,000, a choice 144,000, who will be My servants. They will be the first.

I believe the 144,000 will be very prominent Orthodox Jews who will be the first to have their eyes opened and these will be used as servants to preach the Gospel to the rest of Israel.

I tell you I have never – and you can read any book on the Book of the Revelation, you will never find anyone else giving that interpretation. And yet, it is as plain as can be. It could not be plainer because, you see, in this 7th chapter of the Book of the Revelation it starts out with the salvation of the 144,000; then in that same chapter we have the vision of the Gentiles who will be saved during the great tribulation. It is all there. Therefore, we know that these 144,000 have something to do with the salvation of souls, the preaching of the Word, for they are used as servants. It never says any place that all of Israel will be servants. No. Only these select – the 144,000. They will be given a special work to do. Sure! Somebody says – I thought Elijah and Moses. Beloved, there is going to be so much to do, that it will take many more than just Elijah and Moses. Don’t you see that? These 144,000 are servants with a special ministry.

Go back now to the 14th chapter of the Book of the Revelation. And here, my word! what happens? We see the same 144,000 appear again. Therefore, we know there must be something very special. After 7 chapters they appear again – the same 144,000; 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. John recognized them.

Revelation 14:1: “And I looked, …” You know something? What should I say? This to me is one of the most glorious sights that will ever be viewed. Watch the wording of this: “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.”

“… a Lamb stood on the mount Sion.” Sure! Jerusalem. A Lamb. You will remember that a Lamb is mentioned rising out of the earth in the 13th chapter, verse 11: “… and he had two horns like a lamb.” Immediately I know it is counterfeit. The enemy has a counterfeit for Jesus Christ, because always when it comes to a lamb, from Genesis to the very last word of God’s last book, God’s last word to man, the lamb always represents Jesus. Always! No matter how it is spoken of, no matter what its usage may be, from Genesis to the last word of God to man, the lamb always represents Jesus. Therefore, we know that when John saw this thing coming up out of the earth “like unto a lamb,” it wasn’t; it was the dragon. It was a counterfeit for the genuine. But this time in this 14th chapter, the Lamb that he saw was not “like unto a Lamb;” it was THE LAMB OF GOD. Where was He? He stood on Mount Sion. Is there anything more glorious than that? John saw it: a Lamb. Who? Jesus, the very Son of the living God, the True Messiah. Who was with Him? “… and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Sure! The Father’s name was never mitten in their foreheads until they accepted the Lamb of God as the True Messiah.

I don’t care, beloved, whether you are Jew or Gentile, there is still the Lamb that has to be dealt with. THE LAMB! You are never born again without the Blood of the Lamb. IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL. The mark of the Father could not be on their foreheads, for He does not become your Father until you accept His only begotten Son; until you accept the Lamb. The 144,000, everyone of them, to the very last man, had the mark of the Father on their foreheads. They were set apart for a definite work, for a definite purpose. That purpose was not fulfilled, their work could not be accomplished, unless in their midst STOOD THE LAMB – the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of both Jew and Gentile. This is the first time now that John saw the Lamb in the presence, overshadowing, in the midst of Israel. They had accepted the Lamb for the atonement of their souls. Sure! Oh, this is glorious!

Now, what do you think follows? I have never heard a sermon on this. What would instinctively follow? From here on down through the 11th verse, we see the work of these 144,000 Jews who have accepted the Lamb as their Messiah. Watch as we read it very carefully.

Revelation 14:1:

“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.”

Revelation 14:1

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:2

Oh, the rejoicing in both heaven and earth! Such description is beyond human comprehension. This is what the Master had been waiting for so long. This is what the angels had been waiting for so long. And I believe when the eyes of the Jewish people are opened, they will appreciate salvation as few Gentiles have ever appreciated their born again experience. In this one verse we have one of the most beautiful descriptions ever given in the Word of God. Think of the rejoicing in heaven! “… and I heard the voice of harpers with their harps.” Angels; the cherabims, the seraphims; the redeemed.

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:3

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, …” Who are “they?” The 144,000; the Jews. To them it will be a new song. It is not a new song. It is the same song that you and I are singing today. It is still the SONG OF THE BLOOD. But they are not singing – there isn’t an unconverted Jew who is singing the song of the blood today. They are still waiting for that One to come in the future. It doesn’t say they sang a new song. Their song will be the same song the redeemed of all ages have sung. To them it will be a new song, for the songs of the blood are never sung in our Jewish synagogues; they are never sung by the Orthodox Jew. Watch the wording: “And they sung AS IT WERE a new song.” New to them. If you don’t think this is glorious – and it is so easily understood.

“… and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” In other words, they were BORN AGAIN. They are the first of the Jews to be born again, because they are to be servants and are to preach to the rest of Israel. They began singing first.

Can’t you see what this will do to Jesus! Because the last time as they cursed Him and mocked Him and said: “Let Thy blood be upon us, and our children, ” He pronounced judgment upon them; and their eyes have been closed for, lo, these many, many years. Sin had to be dealt with; judgment had to be meted out. Now for the very first time the Master knows, even the very angels of heaven know, the Father Himself is pleased to know that He has come now to the end when again His mercy will be turned to the Jewish people, and He sees the first among them, the 144,000, accepting His Only Begotten Son, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. So great the rejoicing! It must have been tremendous or John never could have described it.

“… and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, …” They couldn’t learn it, because they had not yet been converted. They were still unconverted.

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:4

“These are they which were not defiled with women; …” In other words, they had kept themselves clean; undefiled. They had not yielded to Antichrist.

I believe that these 144,000 Jews will be – this is my own personal belief – I believe that they will be taken out from the Orthodox Jews. You will never find a people more deeply religious. Now, I mean that just as I say it. If you are here and you have had some contact with an honest-to-goodness, sincere Orthodox Jew, you know what I am talking about. I am not talking about the average. There is a reverence there that no Gentile has ever had. You don’t begin to know what I am talking about, unless you have had personal contact with an honest-to-goodness Orthodox Jew. Paul was one. He would no more – even before his conversion – have allowed himself to be defiled than anything in the world. Today, there are thousands of Orthodox Jews who are so sincerely religious and so true to the God of their Fathers that they would not become defiled with anything they felt was of the flesh or wrong than anything in the world. And believe me, when Antichrist appears, they are not going to have anything to do with him. No, ma’am! That is what he is talking about.

“These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” They are the first fruits. This is so plain. There is nothing mysterious about this. He is still talking about the 144,000. “These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”

Verse 5:

“And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

Revelation 14:5

“… for they are without fault before the throne of God.” But, beloved, they were not without fault before the throne of God, until they accepted the Lamb as their True Messiah. They were found without fault when “they began to sing as it were a new song.” What was it? THE SONG OF THE BLOOD! THE BLOOD! Watch something. Don’t stop, for this continues. It is talking about the same thing. The subject – the 144,000. What happens now?

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:6

Now we are entering into that part which is the purpose of God in using these 144,000 servants to preach the Gospel. These are those who will preach the Gospel. But the amazing thing, it is an “everlasting” Gospel. The Gospel has not changed. It is EVERLASTING. I think that word “everlasting” is marvelous. It is from eternity to eternity. Even though we come to the end of the times of the Gentiles and begin now this new dispensation to the Jews, it is still the SAME GOSPEL. It is an everlasting Gospel. He wants it to be made very clear that is the same Gospel. But watch it!

This Gospel as you and I know it today is a Gospel of Grace. When it will be preached by the 144,000, it will be the same Gospel but it will be a Gospel of Judgment. How can I say it? For instance, the Gospel that I bring to you, I say to you tonight – because remember, when it is preached by the 144,000, they cannot preach it as I preach it tonight. I say to you, when you are born again you become a member of His Body; you become a member of His Church. You are born into it. When the 144,000 preach it, they cannot take all the promises of the New Testament and those promises that Paul gave to the Church, because those promises will not be to them. Most of the promises of the New Testament are to the Church. Sure! Therefore, I would not be a very good preacher. Don’t you understand ! I couldn’t be left to preach the Gospel after the great Catching Up. I would have to change my preaching because the Church wouldn’t be left here. The Body of Christ is gone. The sermons that I preach now wouldn’t fit them.

Today I preach a Gospel of Grace. Today I tell you that when you are born again, you become a member of the Body of Christ. “BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED… NOT OF WORKS, … I say to you – oh, beloved, you and I are looking forward to the great catching up. I say to you, one day the Trump of the Lord shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise. That won’t be the Gospel – that part of the Gospel – that the 144,000 will be preaching. Sure! Therefore, the Gospel that they preach will still be the everlasting Gospel, one of salvation: “Ye must repent; ye must be born again.” But it tells you exactly what it is that they will preach.

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:7

It is not a Gospel of Grace. It is a Gospel of Judgment.

Verse 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.”

Revelation 14:8

It is an angel messenger announcing the fall of Babylon. Somebody asks: “What does it mean ‘Babylon is fallen?'” I can only give you my own personal opinion. Don’t hold me to it. It is my opinion that Babylon here is Rome. This, of course, will be future because Babylon is not destroyed until after the pouring out of the vials; and the vials of God’s wrath are yet future. That is the reason these 144,000 Jews preach judgment. They warn the rest of Israel and the people of the earth of the judgment of God that is yet to come to pass in the last three and a half years. “… that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Verse 9:

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

Revelation 14:9

Verse 10:

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Revelation 14:10

Verse 11:

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14:11

Remember, this is the everlasting Gospel, but this is what the everlasting Gospel will mean to them. Who will proclaim all of these things? Who will warn all the rest of Israel? Who will be the preacher to the Jews? And who will preach the everlasting Gospel during the last three and a half years of the great tribulation? Who will be the servants unto them that dwell on the earth, every nation and every kindred? The 144,000 Jews that God will set apart for that purpose, for we are coming into a Jewish dispensation. The times of the Gentiles is quickly coming to an end. It will not be the Gentiles preaching during the dispensation of the Jews. It will be the Jews preaching during their own dispensation.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!