Spiritual Abstinence

Revelation 14:1-12
Chastity Versus Harlotry

Paul J. Bucknell

The word 'abstinence' has recently become popular replacing the unpopular words such as chastity and virgin. Abstinence refers to the choice to live free from fornication. Singles are called to hold back on any sexual play or thought before marriage. They purpose themselves to live wholly for their future partner. They are reserving themselves for that one special partner.

The way we deal with our sexual lives is closely tied up to our spiritual lives, but this concept of spiritual abstinence goes beyond physical chastity. Two key developments strongly shape our perspectives.

• The OT regularly speaks of God's people as adulterers. Although this might have involved sexual involvement, we see it was primarily a spiritual situation. They had many 'partners' scattered on the hilltops. The prophets were speaking of places of idol worship. They would have these 'just in case' altars. God might care for some needs, but these other ones were for other needed. Harlotry shows itself when God's people break God's commands and treat things moer important than the Creator.

How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers. Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe, And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them. (Isaiah 1:21-23).

• The other perspective that helps shape this concept of 'spiritual abstinence' is the way Babylon is figured as a sensual adulterous city. We keep looking out there at some distant city, when we don't realize that Babylon is a depiction of the so-called modern world that daily is flirting through our eyes and ears. We literally sit within seconds to blatant pornographic pictures. The world city has come of age. Its populants are seduced into a life mobilized by their lusts. She is a sensual city. Indeed we must not think that it is only immorality that operates in this city. Not at all. She has every kind of unclean spirit. Look at Revelation 18:1-3.
  

... Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. (Revelation 18:1-3).

The world is described as immoral because it calls us to be impure with it. As a prostitute she beckons us to take what we have and exchange it for her favors. She is full of sensuality indeed, but it is all the temptations of the world that allure God's people. Let's look at the two NT verses that call God's people to be chaste.

The word 'parthenos' is used 14 times in the NT. Twelve times it is used of being a virgin in a physical sense such as Mary the mother of Jesus at the time she bore Him. These other two times are used in a significantly different way.

Two times in the NT we are called to be spiritually chaste for the Lord. These two uses are clearly not speaking of physical virginity but spiritually chaste for the Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

The church is best understood as an engaged woman who reserves herself totally for Him whom she will soon wed when He comes to get her. We should notice that there was one husband, not two. The parents' responsibility is to present her as a 'pure virgin.' The church here then is compared to an engaged woman whose marriage will be consumed at the full appearing of Christ. The apostle like a spiritual father felt a great sense of responsibility to keep the bride pure.

Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

The 144,000 are called to keep themselves chaste. They have an eye for the Lamb of God. They are interested in no other. These alone will be presented as His bride to the Lord at Christ's return. One can be misled by the language in the first words 'not been defiled with women.' We might think they were in the body virgins. As we look a bit closer though, we see hints of spiritual abstinence. The two key perspectives properly determine such an interpretation. 2 Corinthians 11:2 also confirms this word usage. The Lord in other words is looking for His church to spotless and pure. He doesn't want a little sin. He doesn't want any impurity whatsoever. They are His chosen ones who have given their whole heart and body to Him. They might be married or single. The point is that they follow the Lamb in doing everything that pleases Him.

We must see that this is not speaking about ascetism. The church has got off track in many cases because of this. We see a tinge of this in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy where people wholly dedicate themselves to serving others. This is commendable if so–called but Paul himself says this is only for some. This is important because people will think that physical chastity becomes the way to please God. God, however, said that the marriage institution was good. Instead we need to think of the importance of heart chastity. Our hearts are pure and chaste because they only love and prioritize the Lord Himself.

Immediately following Revelation 14:4, we hear the angels and their messages. The first three in essence summarize what has been so far written here.

Angel #1 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." (Revelation 14:6,7).	God is calling us not to worship those things which are made (including man) but to God the glorious Creator. We are called to flee all idolatry especiall seen in humanism. Thisis the eternal gospel.
Angel #2 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." (Revelation 14:8).	The second angel passes judgment on the sensual world city. She has destroyed the cultures and conquered them by her secularism which lives as if there is not God. She is judged. We are to be aware that her judgment is sure. It has already been declared.
Angel #3 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:9-12).	We are called to spiritual abstinence which includes refraining from all immorality and impurity. The warning is that if we join ourselves with the harlot that seeks our affection, then we will be judged with her. We will note at the end that everything is at stake. Either we will be pure and persevere or we will default to worship of the beast. John also here defines spiritual abstinence as "saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." God is not asking for ascetic pledges but obedience and trust in Jesus. This is not mystical but it does take perseverance.

We are to be chaste people, a holy people. By being saints it means we are set apart for God. If we take these holy objects and treat them as unholy, then surely God's judgment will be upon us.

We have no time to spare. There is no saint that dare put down his diligence. The church in many cases is no longer much support for holy living. We must run from the "I can't help it mentality." This is not perseverance. We must instead be passionate about putting aside our hearts and time fully for the Lord. We need to get rid of all the impure things. I just cannot see why we watch that which is sensual, deceitful and violent. This is exposing ourselves to the claws of the world city. We have no justification to watch just one impure scene. If we are persevering, then we need to be wholehearted.

We have seen what happens to those who are not persevering. Let me ask you a question. Who does this person describe? What best describes your Sunday?

We might be tempted to say that they are godly worshipers, but we do not see this by the standards of God. If we can not set our flesh apart for one day, what do we do the rest of our days? If we merge holy with unholy without any shame, is this not proof that we have lost our spiritual chastity?

Perseverance will instead call us to getting up early to pray, public worship, caring for the needy, studying God's Word, special time praying and meditating on God's will for your life.

Perseverance of the saints is going to call for total obedience for those that give in a little, will fall a long way. Our religious Christian world is no longer protected. The world is reaching out for your soul and mine. We must say an absolute no to any participation in that harlotry and fully commit ourselves to obedience and love for the Lord whom we so greatly wait to return.