Series: The Radical Call of Jesus
Message: Radical Discipleship
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Daily Walk: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 105:1–7.​

Read: Revelation 11:19–15:4 (ESV). As you re-read the text for the final time this week in the English Standard Version, what new insights did you discover about God’s character?

Reflect: By the time you get to Revelation 14, you get to see the response Jesus has lined up. Calling everyone to leave the false city (Babylon) and make a choice to worship the one and only true God. The message comes with a “loud voice” each time, which the Greek implies means with deep urgency. 

What are these three messages?

MESSAGE 1—Revelation 14:6-7. Jesus—Submit to Him. He is our Creator and worthy of our worship.

MESSAGE 2— Revelation 14:8. The entire counterfeit league will crumble. Do not put your trust in it. . . . Jesus is coming through, so choose your side. 

MESSAGE 3—Revelation 14:9-11. This is the strongest vivid covenantal reminder that our choice will bring us either eternal connection with Jesus or eternal separation. As Jesus shared in the Gospel of Matthew:

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28, ESV). 

So what are the radical discipleship characteristics that pull us through all of this? Revelation 14:12–13; and 12:11–17 describe radical disciples as those who keep the commandments and place all their trust in Jesus. The result is that they have an overwhelming desire to worship God. The results are pretty simple. 

In our classic Adventist Hymnal, hymn #590 is by J. H. Sammis (1846-1919). The refrain from that hymn, sung in many services and in many family worships during my childhood, goes like this: 

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

It would be worthwhile for us today to reflect on the Three Angels’ Messages and ask what is it that we need to become radical disciples of Jesus.

Recalibrate: ​ Why does “trust and obey” sound so easy, yet end up being so complex in practice?

Respond: Pray for endurance. 

Research: Read one of the suggested commentaries on the chapters from this week.