December 20, 2024 - Revelation 14

John saw standing on Mt. Zion the 144,000 (see 7:1), and in their midst was the Lamb who stands in glory on God’s holy hill (Remember Psalm 2:6?  “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”  Events proceed with a heavenly choir singing praises to God, the announcement of judgment, and a series of harvests.  Wow, interesting times.  Well, times are always interesting, aren’t they?  And they are interesting in different ways.  But one truth remains as encapsulated in another of John’s vision:  “I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.  And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water’” (14:6-7).  Even in the worst of times, the gospel calls out to turn to God.  In him is found deliverance from all evil.  To him be glory, indeed.

Through the love of God our Saviour,

all will be well.

Free and changeless is his favour,

all, all is well.

Precious is the blood that healed us,

perfect is the grace that sealed us,

strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,

all must be well.

Though we pass through tribulation,

all will be well.

Ours is such a full salvation,

all, all is well.

Happy, still in God confiding,

fruitful, if in Christ abiding,

holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,

all must be well.   --Mary Peters (1847)