Follow the beast or the Lamb?

 by David Long

A.     In Revelation 13 those who followed the beast received a mark, name or number (13:16-17). In chapter 14 those who followed the Lamb received a name (14:10).

B.    Both of these ideas refer to something that identified the followers. How does this play out in real life? What identifies those who follow the beast from those who follow the Lamb? Their character. Verses 4-5 describe the charter of those who follow the Lamb.

1.     Those who follow the Lamb live pure lives (not defiled with women). 1 Tim. 5:22 “keep thyself pure.” A Christian “keeps himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

2.     Those who follow the Lamb follow Him wherever He goes. Complete obedience (Jn. 14:15). They keep all that He has commanded (Matt. 28:20).

3.     They are the redeemed. They’ve been bought. 1 Cor. 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

4.     They are the first fruits. They are the best. They are the crème of the crop.

5.     They speak truth (in their mouth was found no guile). They are like the one they follow (1 Pet. 2:22).

6.     They are blameless (they are without fault). Phil. 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

C.    Who fits these characteristics? Christians. These are the ones standing with the Lamb (vs.1) and singing the new song. This is the picture of victory. This picture gave hope to the first century Christians. If we want to stand with the Lamb (Jesus) then we must live the kind of lives He wants. Otherwise we fall with the beast.