The Packers of the 1960s were one of the most dominant NFL teams of all time. Coach Vince Lombardi took over a last-place team in 1959 with the worst record in their history before winning five league championships and two Super Bowls. Lombardi’s Packers would put five players in the Hall of Fame: Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke, Bart Starr, and Jim Taylor. Because of the Packers’ success, the Super Bowl’s winning team was named after Vince Lombardi.

Revelation 14 – Sealed

Revelation 14 introduces another triumphant team of men that emerged from the worst holocaust in history. The 144,000 survived Satan’s wrath and God’s judgments. Nothing could harm them because God had sealed them in chapter 7. When Christ returns and stands on Mount Zion, they will stand with him in triumph.

The 144,000 are the people living during the end-times tribulation. These Jews received special protection from God because they were “sealed.” During the post-rapture world, their goal is to evangelize the world, which will impact millions, “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9).

The 144,000 will stand during the tribulation because of their character. The worship of the Antichrist will be everywhere, with the world falling into darkness. This team is blameless and truth-telling, which doesn’t come from perfect obedience or absolute sinlessness, but blamelessness results from the gospel.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete endure difficult times because they are confident God has overcome! They trust God will rid the world of evil and complete the victory Jesus guaranteed on the cross. They believe in Jesus, repent of their sins, and trust in His death on the cross to pay the penalty for their sins.