November 23, 2002(3)
CHOSEN AND SEALED. A people chosen by the Lord. They had not chosen Him, the choice was His and His alone. Not only chosen but ordained, appointed to be fruitful. A chosen person or persons will always be fruit bearing and produce much fruit. John 15:16 Those who are in close proximity to the Lord Jesus have a certain character about them, they are called to be saints, they have been invited. They are chosen, selected. Favorite ones and faithful, believers and trustworthy. They are a group who will not be turned aside from following the Lord. Rev. 17:14 The one who is about to seal them is ASCENDING from the East or the sunrising. He comes from the rising light or the dawn. He is about to place the seal, the signet of God upon the one hundred forty-four thousand. Separating them, fencing them off as an act of security. Letting it be know that they are set apart and very special to the one whose seal they wear. Rev. 7:2 All judgments are suspended until these who are special servants are sealed unto the Lord. Rev. 7:3
THEY STAND WITH THE LAMB. They stand beside Him on Mount Sion. Rev. 14:1 They call on the name of the Lord, recognizing the worth and power of that name. For in His name, and in His name alone is to be found deliverance. They are His in a very unique way. Joel 2:32 Zion is the chosen of the Lord. It is that special place that He has chosen for His eternal dwelling place. This is the place of rest and tranquillity for Him. It is that which He has DESIRED. This is the place of His throne. Ps. 132:13-14
THIS IS HIS CITY. Here we find the true Holy City. His throne. His dwelling place. His bride, of which the one hundred forty-four thousand are members. This is the heavenly, the real Jerusalem, not that which is but a shadow, such as is that which is natural. This is His City, the City where the Lord has chosen to take up His abode forever. The value and importance of this City cannot be over emphasized. It is one of a kind. There never has been one that can compare to it, nor will there ever be. This is the city that Abraham was seeking when he first started out. It is the City where life lives and that life is imparted to all who dwell there. Heb. 12:22 How beautifully He identifies it by calling it < THE CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN >. All of whom have their names recorded in the Lambs book of life. They are the spiritual, the righteous, those who have reached the perfection that is in Christ. Heb. 12:23 They live by virtue of the New Covenant. They have been washed in the precious, sin cleansing blood of the Lamb. Their trust is fully based on the Lord Jesus. He is everything and all to them. Heb. 12:24 That which is a stumbling stone to the old order is the chief foundation to that which is new. While they trip up and fall, the church builds on Christ the true foundation. With great confidence that He does all things well we van place our utter trust in Christ, knowing that He is building that which is everlasting and eternal. That which will never cease nor grow old. Rom. 9:33