Day 236

144K. The exact identity of this group of people is tied back to chapter seven. They are the representatives of the tribes of Israel who were sealed for protection. Let’s talk about their character and witness. They had kept themselves totally dedicated to the Lord, and they represent a much larger group. In the Old Testament when people were serving is special positions, either as priests, or as warriors, they abstained for certain pleasures, including sexual relationships. These 144K remain true to this picture of purity and dedication.

We also know that they are called the firstfruits, which means they are an indication that many more will follow. They are just the first taste of God’s redemption. In an agrarian society, when harvest begins it brings great hope. They have averted starvation for one more year. There will be food, unless a disaster happens in the next few days and weeks. But even then, the majority of the grain crop could be salvaged.

So too, these firstfruits are just the beginning of the harvest of souls. Millions will eventually come and join in the celebration that will take place. These are the first to enjoy heaven’s full benefits.

The remaining people on earth a given one more chance to repent. But we don’t know if anyone responded. Such a sad state of affairs. The world is ending, and people still choose to defy God’s authority over their lives. But notice that even in torment, Jesus is present. No matter what is happening in life, Jesus is present. No circumstance can push Him away. He is right here with us.

Notice that verse twelve says that patient endurance is needed for God’s people and verse thirteen talks about their dying and the blessing that will follow. It looks as though there will be a period where even God’s people will get swept up in the death that is part of the judgment, but their death does not mean that they were judged. They became part of the harvest. Their death was simply a physical death, whereas the other’s deaths were the beginning of judgment.

The image of a winepress is a powerful image of God’s wrath. All the grapes are placed in a cloth in cylinder with a lid and corkscrew press on top. As the corkscrew is rotated it places ever increasing pressure on the contents of the cylinder. The operator continues to twist the corkscrew until every last drop of liquid has been extracted. Then the pulp is discarded. Often the discard is composted and used as fertilizer for next year’s crop.

So it is with the coming judgments. They place increasing pressure on the recipients. God wants repentance. He wants to offer mercy and grace. With each plague and iteration of God’s wrath the pressure is increased. And each time people refuse to repent.

Let us not be guilty of refusing to repent. God’s wrath is real and coming. Grace and mercy are available today. There is no need to experience God’s wrath.