Talk

The Fulcrum of Heaven

Louie Giglio

June, 30, 2024

Through Revelation 14, Louie Giglio helps us see Jesus is the lamb at the center of Heaven and His grace is the fulcrum. We don’t get to decide how our eternity plays out but His plan and heart for us is to be with Him forever.

Key Takeaway

Fear God and give Him glory.

In Revelation 14, we see the Lamb. Not "a lamb," but the singular Lamb. This encompasses how grace is the fulcrum of heaven.

Fulcrum is defined as 'the thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation.'

Even though in Revelation 13 and Psalm 2:1-2 we saw how the beast was trying to plot against the Lamb (the Son), we can trust God and His plans, because they will prevail. Revelation 14:1 and Psalm 2:4-6 displays this through Mt Zion (the mountain of God), reminding us how the Son reigns.

The point of Revelation is to endure, be patient, and be faithful to Jesus.

There are differing opinions about the rapture and the symbolism of the 144,000. Some believe they are people who came to faith during tribulation, while others believe that it's a figurative number which represents all believers.

Revelation 14:1 clearly identifies the 144,000 with His name and His Father’s name; not a denominational name, church name, or Christian leader’s name, but the Name of Jesus.

Heaven is loud and bold. We this in Revelation 14:2-3 through the roar of the harps, and the song of the redeemed, who were known for their song.

They are not perfect, yet they remained true and pure to Jesus by living like they are redeemed. Grace is the fulcrum of Revelation.

Worship is things we say AND the way we live, because it's more than a song - it's a lifestyle.

The characteristics of the three angels are different from one another:

The first angel proclaimed the gospel.

The second angel proclaimed the fall of the Beast and the system opposed to Messiah.

The third angel proclaimed the consequence of choosing the Beast over the Messiah.

You may be wondering, "How can a good God send anyone to hell?"

When He created you, His intention would be that you would be with Him forever.

However, God will give you the choice of how you spend eternity—with or without Him. If you don't choose Him, it will not be an eternity you decide. It will ultimately be a state of eternal suffering, aware that you are devoid of the highest beauty and greatest love.

One of the scariest realties in life is that, if you insist, God will let you do it your way.

Is this a harsh reality? Possibly the most harsh reality of all.

If you are a follower of Christ, you can "rest in peace" because all you have done for God is coming with you. In Revelation 14:13 we read, "Yes says the Spirit. Rest from labor. Your deeds will follow you."

Do you see the full picture of the Gospel? He took the wrath in our place, and He offers salvation to everyone who has faith in Him.

We don't get to choose anyone else's story; we are just the messengers.

In Revelation 14:7, we see the takeaway: "Fear God and give Him glory."

Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

“

"We are a part of God's continuum, and His plan all along for you and me is that we would be with Him forever."

”

Louie Giglio

Discussion Questions

Knowing how the story ends (with the Lamb triumphant on Mt. Zion), how are you encouraged to live on mission for Jesus today?
What are tangible ways you are giving glory to God in your life now?
How do the reminders from the message today increase your urgency to pray for opportunities to share the gospel with the people in your life that don't know Jesus?
Read John 14:1-4. How are you encouraged knowing that God has prepared a place for you?
What stirs your affection for God (admiring His creation, spending time with His people, serving, etc.)?
Louie states that worship is a lifestyle. Reflect on how your daily habits and actions are examples of worship.
What has been one new thing you learned today from Revelation?
Would you say that God is at the center of your life at the moment?

Scripture References

The Lamb and the 144,000

1Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

The Three Angels

6Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

9A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

13Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.