Revelation
4- part 1 The Throne Room June 7, 2015
SLIDE 1-What do you miss
when you miss church? When I return to Riverside after
being out of town, you know what I missed the most? Of course the fellowship of
Christian believers, but even more the joint Worship with piano and guitars and
raising holy hands in our sanctuary. At home I listened to Praise CD's but to
join with others and harmonize the hymns of old was such a joy to me. It was
compelling to read of the continuous worship going on in heaven right now.
SLIDE 2 Revelation 4 Worshipping in the
Throne Room of Heaven
·
Colors of the Throne
·
24 Elders
Why do you want to
go to heaven? Is it to avoid going to hell or be united with loved ones gone
before? Or do you long to worship the One who sits on the Throne? Unbelievers
will share their comments about how boring it would be to sit on clouds and
play harps all day. Ladies we are going to be so overwhelmed with the visions
and the glory of God in heaven that we will spend all our time singing and praising
the one who sits on the throne. 0h, to join the heavenly choir worshiping our
LORD, the Creator, Redeemer and King.
John shares Revelation 4:1-2 After this l looked
and behold a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had
heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said "Come up here and I will show
you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit
and behold a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne.
SLIDE 3 In Acts Stephan, known as the
first Christian martyr, as he was being stoned looked up into heaven. Imagine
an invitation from Jesus Christ himself calling you up to visit Heaven, the
dwelling place of Almighty God. The open door was a revealing of the continuous
celebration by those in the throne room. Be aware of words like immediately or at once as we read scripture.
Acts 7:55-56 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56And
he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at
the right hand of God."
John 4:24 God
is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
SLIDE 4 Now let’s turn our attention to the throne. What do you think of when we talk about a throne? Kings, monarchies in other countries sit upon thrones usually raised above their subjects in their regal robes and brilliant crowns.
SLIDE 4 Now let’s turn our attention to the throne. What do you think of when we talk about a throne? Kings, monarchies in other countries sit upon thrones usually raised above their subjects in their regal robes and brilliant crowns.
Rev 4:3 And
he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the
throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Ninety Minutes in Heaven
is one pastor's account of his time in heaven.
SLIDE 5 Ladies it will be so glorious and bright, we
will have to shield our eyes when we first arrive. Remember when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai after
talking to the Lord. His face was glowing.
Since no one has
seen God, John describes him as things he has knowledge of on the earth. God is divine and cannot be described in shape
or dimensions. John alludes to His countenance and glory-radiant and holy.
SLIDE 6 The Priest was the only ones
who could offer sacrifices for repentance or enter into the Holy of Holies.
Each piece of the Priests garments was described for Moses and is written in
the book of Exodus chapter 28. The
colors of earthly stones used on the priests' breastplate: 12 stones for each
of the Tribes of Israel. Jasper described as a clear stone such as a diamond,
pure without blemish and Carnelian is red reminding of Jesus precious blood
shed for us on Calvary.
SLIDE 7 The Rainbow is a reminder of the God’s covenant with Noah. He promised
that He would never destroy the whole world by flood. God is sovereign and
omnipotent and as such could do whatever He desires. His covenant promise
reveals He is righteous and always keeps his promise. The rainbow symbolizes
grace and the covenant of mercy. Emerald green represents new life. In heaven's
glory there will be colors we have never seen and it defies description.
Ladies remember that
no matter who has disappointed you or hurt you or lied to you in this life; God
is not a man and He is faithful and always keeps His promises.
Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) “God is not
a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He
said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
SLIDE 8 Are you ready to enter the
throne room of heaven?
Revelation
4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four
thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns
on their heads.
Digital art by Pat
Marvenko Smith, purchased from her site Revelation illustrated.com. This artist
rendition gives us her interpretation of the throne room. To me it is highly
likely. From chapter 4 the four creatures and the 24 elders spend all their
time worshipping the LORD. We will tackle the creatures and crowns next week
but let’s look at the 24 Elders. Why 24? Who do you think they could be? Could
they be angels? Can you think of anyone in the Bible who might have earned the
right to sit around the throne of God?
From commentaries I have studied, I do not believe these 24 elders could be angels. No Scripture supports that angels ever sit in the presence of God. From Daniel we know angels are God's holy messengers. They do not wear crowns.
From commentaries I have studied, I do not believe these 24 elders could be angels. No Scripture supports that angels ever sit in the presence of God. From Daniel we know angels are God's holy messengers. They do not wear crowns.
Last week chapter 3 God made a promise. Read
verse 21 “ The
one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Psalm 8 says
God is mindful of man and v.5 For
Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with
glory and honor.
Sister, we have
wonderful promises in God's WORD. Read with me.
Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the
great love with which he loved us,5even when we were dead in our
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ---by grace you have been
saved---6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7so that in the coming ages he might
show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.
Ladies that is worth shouting about! Our choir sings, “It's
shouting time in Heaven another sinner once lost is found.” We truly have much to shout about.
SLIDE 9 Looking again at another artist's interpretation here's my thoughts the 24 Elders.
SLIDE 9 Looking again at another artist's interpretation here's my thoughts the 24 Elders.
1-The number "twenty-four" is significant. In 1 Chronicles 24 King David divided the Levitical
priesthood into 24 orders. Each order rotated priestly functions at the
tabernacle and at the temple, from Sabbath to Sabbath. In so doing, each order
represented the entire priestly tribe and the nation of Israel before God.
Thus, the number "twenty-four" came to be representative of a larger, complete group. Thus, the
"twenty-four elders" could be a phrase which denotes more than two
dozen specific persons.
2- The elders had "crowns" (ste-pha-nous) on their heads. These are crowns gained by achievement and victory. Looking back at our lessons in Revelation believers in the churches were promised crowns.
2- The elders had "crowns" (ste-pha-nous) on their heads. These are crowns gained by achievement and victory. Looking back at our lessons in Revelation believers in the churches were promised crowns.
3. The
term "elder" (presbuteros) is never used of angels in the Bible. The
word itself denotes maturity and growth. Since angels do not age. In the
epistles, believers in this church age are promised crowns for specific
accomplishments: Holy angels do not wear crowns, but believers can and
will wear them. We will return to this on my last point.
4. One commentary suggests the 24 stands
for the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles; The Old Testament and the New
Testament saints or martyrs ruling together.
What do you think?
SLIDE 10 Revelation
4:5-6aFrom the
throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder,
How do you feel when you hear thunder and the crack of lightning?
Fearful, excited,in awe? Remember the thunder and lightning throughout the
Bible represents God showing his power. Exodus when Moses was on the Mountain. Job,
Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Nahum, Psalms. Some would say the lightning and thunder is
caused by angelic messengers flying with such speed to and from the throne of
God.
There are so
many sevens in this book the seven churches (seven lamps) with their
accompanying spirits, now in heaven before the throne of God. The symbolism of
seven is a reference to “completion and fulfillment.”
SLIDE 11 In the first chapter we learned “12b. I saw seven golden lampstands,13and
in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe
and with a golden sash around his chest.” And v. 20
the seven lampstands are the seven
churches.
· The Rapture has now taken place and
the Church is therefore in heaven.
The seven “blazing
torches” Temple upon earth in Judaism where the seven-branched menorah burned
before the ark in the tabernacle.
·
before the
throne were burning seven torches of
fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
·
One author says the seven
spirits from the Throne: the Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Wisdom, Spirit of
Understanding, Spirit of Revelation or Counsel, Spirit of Power or Might,
Spirit of Knowledge of the Lord, and Spirit of the Fear of the Lord!
SLIDE 12Revelation 4:6a and before
the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
No waves on
this sea of glass; it communicates tranquility in the midst of the activity. It
also symbolizes purity and life. A few ladies said maybe it is clear so they
can watch the happenings on earth. Here the 24 elders are casting their crowns
at the feet of Jesus.
The laver in
Solomon’s temple is made of solid brass polished like mirrors do each time the
Priests wash in the laver they must look at their reflection. One commentator
(Gaebelein) believes the laver is now like crystal, therefore “solidified
because no more water is needed for the cleaning of the Saints”
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
2) When the Lord finished with His letters to the churches, what did John see? (1)
3) What did John hear? What was he told he will see? (1)
4) What was the first thing he noticed? (2)
5) How does John describe the appearance of the One on the throne? (3)
6) What is the color of the rainbow around the throne? (3)
7) What is around the throne? (4)
8) What proceeds from the throne? (5)
9) What stands before the throne? (5)
10) What lies before the throne? (6)
11) What is seen in the midst and around the throne? How are they described? (6-8)
12) What do they proclaim without rest, day and night? (8)
13) When the creatures offer glory, honor, and thanks to God, what happens? (9-10)
2) When the Lord finished with His letters to the churches, what did John see? (1)
3) What did John hear? What was he told he will see? (1)
4) What was the first thing he noticed? (2)
5) How does John describe the appearance of the One on the throne? (3)
6) What is the color of the rainbow around the throne? (3)
7) What is around the throne? (4)
8) What proceeds from the throne? (5)
9) What stands before the throne? (5)
10) What lies before the throne? (6)
11) What is seen in the midst and around the throne? How are they described? (6-8)
12) What do they proclaim without rest, day and night? (8)
13) When the creatures offer glory, honor, and thanks to God, what happens? (9-10)
14) Why do the twenty-four elders deem God worthy of glory, honor, and power? (11)
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