The Heavenly Scene
Transcript Search
The Revelation of Jesus Christ Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 47:31
0 ratings
· 10 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
I would like you to recall John’s instructions recieved in Revelation 1:19 as he was directed to:
“write the things which you have seen,”
“and the things which are,”
“and the things which will take place after these things.”
Where we have been...
We have seen Christ in His glory in Chapter 1
We have seen Christ relate Himself to the churches and show His character along with His Love and desires for His bride
the church in Chapters 2-3
Where we are now…
There is a distinct transition that occurs here… we are moving from the earthly to the realm of Heaven
The church in John’s day and the church now would be comforted as one understands...
Things in this world are uncertain, unstable, and out of focus
However, in Heaven we see a perfect Holy God fully in control, focused and stable in His rule and authority
Where Revelation is going...
Revelation is going to describe “the things which will take place”
We will see Christ in full control, we will see His wrath poured out on mankind, we will see Him victorious!
As John begins Revelation 4 he begins… “after these things” please bow your heads as we hear these words from John and enter into the throne room of God!!!
John is on the island of Patmos, he has seen a vision, he has penned the love notes as dictated by Christ Himself to seven churches… NOW, as I read the verses of Revelation 4:1-11 please close your eyes and try to picture what John is describing to his readers…
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
An Interlude
An Interlude
As we go through this wonderful book of Revelation we will encounter several what many have labeled “INTERLUDES”.
A brief pause in the middle of a longer composition
A brief transition from the earthly to the Heavenly
In the first 3 chapters we see the church mentioned 19 times! However it is interesting that we do not see the church mentioned again until Chapter 22.
Many theologians along with myself and our church doctrine see this as due to the “Rapture of the church”
Rapture = Raptio in latin… “caught up” as we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:17
“After these things” (what is said to the churches) John is now going to see things that will be…
There is an “open door”
There is a powerful voice declaring “come”
As we “come” into the throne room we begin the Interlude… which we will look at today and it will continue through chapter 5.
At this time I would like to take my own personal “interlude”…
Bob Cutting
Bob Cutting
This past Monday our dear brother Bob Cutting passed from this life and into the arms of his Savior. The family desired no service be had but we just wanted to take a brief moment to honor him, here is a quick slideshow.
play video
When we grieve the passing of a brother or sister in Christ we are able to grieve differently… “to live is Christ, but to die is gain”… WHY??? Because Bob is in the presence of Jesus Christ…
The Throne Room!!!
The Throne Room!!!
Hollywood has painted pictures of heaven as… White fluffy clouds, cute angels with harps, everything white with the exception of gold paths or gold gate maybe…
Revelation 4 is a far cry from this… it is vivid, powerful, awe inspiring!!!
Notice in this chapter the word “like”… (9 times in 11 verses) there is imagery and description going on.
John is taken into the very throne room of GOD and then given the task of describing it with mere words confined by the language of man, and comparisons of what we know on earth!
There is a throne...
It is NOT empty waiting for a king to sit and to rule
Rather there is One who sits on it has always and is ruling, and will continue to always rule!
John uses precious stones (green and red) to describe the radiance of God as He sits on His throne
There is a Rainbow that encompasses the throne… its appearance once again “like” emerald (WOW what color and beauty!)
We also see lightning and the sounds of thunder… oh the POWER
“There was something like a sea of glass” peace and calm CONTROL in the midst of power
There is the Holy Spirit before the Throne (Seven indicates perfection, complete unity and Power with God)
There are 24 thrones and 24 elders sitting on them...
Who are they? many suggestions out there (angels, saints, 12 sons of Israel, 12 apostles… etc)
Probably redeemed individuals God has chosen to serve before GOD in His throne room
These individuals are not identified for our knowing… we can speculate, yet where scripture is silent one is wise to not speculate too much, rather focus on what scripture clearly teaches.
Then there are the 4 creatures...
Angelic beings… Most likely seraphim and cherubim (guardians) like we see in Isaiah 6:2-3 and Ezekiel 10:14
Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Notice here the term “like” once again.
All that John sees, he does his very best to explain, describe what it was “like” there… however there is something seen very clearly and John describes it beautifully…
Worthy Worship of the One Seated on the Throne!
Worthy Worship of the One Seated on the Throne!
We clearly see that the One seated on the throne is HOLY, is WORTHY, is WORSHIPED...
God is ruling… sitting on the throne. As He rules look at the worship that occurs:
Worship is ascribing “worth” to something or someone. We attribute value, honor, and devotion to our object of worship. When we truly worship God, we turn all of our attention, affection, and adoration toward Him.
This worship is continually occuring in GOD’s throne room!
Day and night, never ceasing
(HOLY HOLY HOLY=3) is (the LORD GOD=1)… (All three in One)
His eternal power (was , is, is to come) forever and ever!!!
This should incite worship
Glory and Honor are given Him… in this worship!
Casting of crowns by elders… all accomplishments, achievements, rewards… the glory and praise belongs to Him...
Do you feel this way, live this way, demonstrate this?
Is what you have, your gifts, abilities, blessings, rightly seen as belonging to Him?
Worship starts now!!!
Worthy… is He truly worthy of your worship in your eyes?
Remember our place as the created… He is creator and sustainer.
Worthy… what worth do you place in your worship of Him?
when you worship… does your mind wander or in worship does it take in the Wonder!?
In Closing...
In Closing...
As the churches heard what John was describing to them what a blessing for them and us to know and remember:
God IS AWARE of your current situations and life (Love Letters)
God IS SEATED on His Throne as ruler eternal (Intermission)
God IS IN CONTROL despite how life seems some days… (worthy and worshiped)
God WILL RULE on earth one day in the near future… we will see this clearer as we go through this amazing book of Revelation
