Midweek Bible Study | Revelation 4-5 | Gary Hamrick

[Applause] [Music] so [Music] [Music] we're in chapter four is where we left off a few weeks ago and so we're gonna pick up right where we left off at the beginning of chapter four i'm gonna do a real brief review so that we can orient ourselves to uh where we were it is raining cats and dogs out there right now i hope you rolled up your windows did everybody roll up your windows if not it's too late all right all right let's pray father thank you for the opportunity to gather here in your house we don't want to take it for granted the freedom that we have to freely assemble and to worship you we pray lord that you would guide us through this book um we we obviously need your wisdom through the book of revelation we need you to help us understand as we unpack this together what you would have us to know concerning the things that are to come and so thank you lord that you've given us a preview of these things you've you've recorded in your word these prophetic events that we might be ready that we might be prepared that we might be right with you and we we think about the opportunity that we have to lead others to christ we pray in these last days that you would give us a heart for those who don't know you and that we would be good witnesses lord to help others come to know the same saving grace that we do and so give us a passion for the unsaved and help us lord to live in such a way that we are eagerly awaiting your blessed return we thank you together in jesus name and the heavens said amen wow all right so let's go to the timeline let's visit what's happening here across our timeline of events that uh start with the resurrection can everybody hear me over the rain wow that is that's coming down hard it starts with the resurrection of jesus christ he then ascends into heaven after 40 days revelation 1 2 and 3 talks about the church age we've gone through that and where we left off was chapter 4 and verse 1 which is a picture of jesus rapturing the church now what exactly is the rapture so here's just kind of a working definition there will be a sudden return of christ in the clouds to physically snatch only the christians from the earth who are still alive sometime prior to the start of the great tribulation so that believers will not experience the devastating things that are coming upon the earth so starting in revelation chapter 6 there's a detail of events that are going to be happening across the globe orchestrated by god as his final wake-up call to a christ rejecting god forsaking world so it is it is my belief and i'm not alone in this that the church will be rescued will be raptured will be taken christians will be snatched from the earth prior to all that devastation that comes upon the globe and that is what chapter 4 is all about because chapter 4 verse 1 says this after these things i looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which i heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and i will show you things which must take place after this and so john inspired by the holy spirit is writing that verse and in this verse are different um phrases and words that are a parallel of other scripture verses that remind us of this doctrine of the rapture the idea that god will snatch will take from the earth christians as jesus comes just in the clouds to rescue us before the tribulation comes upon the earth and so in revelation 4 1 john is a type he's a figure he's a picture of the church raptured prior to the tribulation period which begins in chapter six and if you because of you know several weeks that have gone by i'm just going to do a quick rapid fire you won't have time to write these down you can go back and watch on the archives on our teaching library but here are the reasons why john is a picture of the church that's going to be taken from the earth because in revelation 4 1 it begins to express to us in different language this idea that the church is going to be taken and so the absence of the of the word church the word church is mentioned 19 times in revelation 1 2 and 3 but not again until revelation 22 16 after the tribulation is over that's one reason number two the open door in heaven that is mentioned there in chapter four verse one the door is standing open because the church is going up the only other time heaven is standing open is revelation 19 11 when jesus is coming down number three the sound like a trumpet and like horse's hooves on the roof of the building it mentions in chapter four verse one john said i heard the sound like a trumpet well the voice of god is like a trumpet a sound associated with the rapture of the church in first corinthians chapter 15 also first thessalonians chapter four number four the invitation to come up here as god says to john there in chapter 4 1 come up here the only other time in revelation that god calls from heaven come up here concerns the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses in revelation 11 12. we'll talk about that more when we get to revelation 11 and then the last point number five is the return of the saints with christ we must be in heaven during the tribulation in order to return with christ after the tribulation which is what revelation 19 jude verses 14 and 15 and first thessalonians 3 tell us so those are the different reasons why when we look here in chapter 4 verse 1 that john is this picture he's a type of the church again look at your bibles there at chapter 4 1. he says after these things i looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which i heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and i will show you things which must take place after this so again john is an old man on the island of patmos when he's inspired by the holy spirit to write these things and he has visions of things concerning the future and at this juncture here in revelation chapter 4 the lord takes john and and this can be you know in in a spiritual sense but he takes him right up into heaven where in chapters four and five we are now going to see a description of things going on in heaven when we get to chapter six it's going to be a description of things events happening on earth but for now in chapters four and five what we're about to read as john's uh the sights that he see that he sees the sounds that he hears of events and things happening in heaven so if you'll pick it up there with me in verse 2 he says immediately i was in the spirit and so by by the spirit he is transported he said i was in the spirit and behold a throne set in heaven and one sat on the throne and so the word throne is going to be a repeated word now 15 times just between chapters 4 and 5. so we are now having access through john to the throne room of god in heaven and and he's going to tell us different things relative to the throne and you're going to notice with me different prepositions there are actually five where he talks about on the throne around the throne from the throne before the throne so we're going to get a grand vision and perspective of things happening in heaven around the throne of god and what i'm going to do with you is i'm going to go through we're just by check mark we're going to look at these different prepositional phrases that describe the throne of god so the first thing that he says here is immediately i was in the spirit and behold a throne said in heaven and one sat on the throne so the one who is sitting on the throne it's not jesus this is god almighty because we're gonna see jesus introduced to us in chapter six uh verses five and six uh sorry chapter five verses five and six is when jesus appears uh so this is not jesus yet this is god almighty this is god seated on the throne and he's mentioned as god almighty down in verse uh eight if you if you just want to underline that holy holy holy lord god almighty who was and is and is to come these these four living creatures which we will talk about in a moment are ascribing this honor and worship that is due to the one who is on the throne well it's the lord god almighty in hebrew it is el shaddai he is the one who is seated on the throne and so that's the first thing that john notes with us he said i i saw one who sat on the throne he says in verse three and he who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald so back there in verse three he who sat on the throne was like a jasper that's a reddish stone sardius is also a reddish stone and so god almighty just in this spiritual form has a a presence of this beautiful brilliant red like ruby this is what john is describing here and he also mentions that there is this uh rainbow that's this is the next prepositional phrase around the throne there in verse in verse three a rainbow around the throne uh and in appearance like an emerald so you know try to envision this different artists have tried to render it but you know it doesn't really do it justice until we actually are there to see this but but this glow of god in this beautiful jasper sardius red like thing with a an emerald rainbow that is around the throne and he says in verse 4 around the throne were 24 thrones and on the thrones i saw 24 elders sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their head now who are these 24 elders well this is where there's debate and speculation some say it represents the 12 apostles plus maybe the 12 patriarchs of the faith which would represent the 12 tribes of israel that would make up the 24. that's probably unlikely because john would have been one of those and he's not mentioning himself cd around the throne so he sees 24 different individuals here and they are unnamed and we really don't know who they are but probably the best guess is this in first chronicles chapters 24 and 25 when when god divided the um the levites in in the worship in the temple they were divided into divisions of 24. so in first chronicles 24 and 25 it says that the priests were in divisions of 24 and it says that the musicians were in divisions of 24. and so 24 is a significant number in in the way that the priests and the musicians were divided during the the times of the priesthood and the and the order of the levites and so some say that 24 represents the nation of israel in general um others say and this is this is where i lean which would include israel insofar as any jews might believe in jesus is that the 24 elders represent the saints old testament new testament those who have put their faith in christ they are represented by these 24 elders who are seated there and notice they're all wearing crowns they're crowns of gold but it's interesting to note the word crowns here in the greek is stefanos which is a like a laurel wreath kind of a crown but when we see jesus mention in chapter 19 verse 12 when he appears in chapter 19 for a second coming he's wearing a crown but it's a different greek word it is diadem it is a royal crown so these guys who are wearing crowns it's an inferior crown it's a stephanos it's like what olympic athletes would get when they would be victorious in in competition they would get a laurel wreath of a crown that's stefanos that's the word that is used here so when you look at things like that in the original language it helps us to understand these 24 elders these aren't angels these aren't these aren't superior beings this is a representation here they're wearing inferior crowns on their heads and the 24 elders probably represents the church the completed church uh seated around the throne uh there with with the lord god almighty and it says in verse five and here's another prepositional phrase and from the throne so here's the next one and from the throne proceeded lightnings thunderings and voices kind of like what we had going on here a minute ago so from the throne that's the next phrase here that he talks about where there's lightnings and thunderings and voices so again this is you know john's senses are being bombarded here with sights and sounds he's seeing colors he's seeing you know the presence of god illuminating heaven he is he is hearing the sound of like thunder and voices and um and he's you know seeing lightning and so this is coming from the throne so you know just try to imagine this again it's a very colorful you know scene it's a it's it's spectacular with with lightning and the sound of thunder and voices just all of this happening here and in addition the rest of verse 5 says seven lamps of fire we're burning and here's the next phrase before the throne which are the seven spirits of god so that's the next phrase before the throne before the throne we see seven lamps burning and this is probably a reference to the fullness of god's spirit the number seven is a number in scripture for completion or perfection and and uh and he also adds in verse six before the throne same prepositional phrase there was a sea of glass like crystal a sea of glass like crystal now in the book of revelation when you see the word sea it almost never means a body of water but it means it in a figurative sense and here's how we will sometimes use it in a figurative sense we will talk about the ocean of humanity the sea of humanity that's what he sees here and why is it like like crystal like glass because it is a picture of believers of humanity at rest in the presence of the lord it's very still there's this calmness in heaven you know our world is so chaotic and there's so much noise and busyness and we're rushing here and rushing there won't it be good to finally get to heaven and just be at peace like you're not hurried or worried you're just like ah we can finally just be at rest in the presence of the lord so that's probably what he sees here and it's not a literal body of water this is a sea of glass this is a this is the ocean of humanity that he sees here at rest in the presence of the lord and in addition rest of verse 6 and in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures now these are kind of odd creatures here look at the description full of eyes in front and in back you know how your mom always had like eyes in the back of her head well they really did eyes in the front eyes in the back verse seven the first living creature was like the lion wasn't really a lion like a lion the second living creature like a calf the third living creature had a face like a man and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle the four living creatures each having six wings were full of eyes around and within and they do not rest day or night saying holy holy holy lord god almighty who was and is and is to come by the way the word holy is the only word used in triplet to describe god in the bible he is many things he is just he is loving he is pure he is righteous but holy is the only word used in triplets to describe god it is an emphasis on his holiness holy holy holy is el shaddai the lord god almighty who was and is and is to come he has no beginning he has no ending he is the self-existent one the eternally existing one and so who are or what are these four living creatures when you look in the book of ezekiel and will not turn there but in the book of ezekiel ezekiel also sees around the throne of god four creatures and in the book of ezekiel he describes these creatures as as having the form of a man having the feet of a calf having the hands of a man and each uh creature having four faces so you know we have one face going one direction but try to imagine a creature with a face on the north south east and west of your head and that's what these creatures had and the and in ezekiel he describes these four faces of each creature as the face of a man on one side the face of a lion on the on the other side the face of an ox and the face of an eagle so it's very similar language to what john is writing here about these creatures uh john says the face of a lion the face of a calf the face of a man and the face of an of an eagle and that can actually be identical to what ezekiel sees if in fact calf calf can mean a a a baby oxen and so if if that's the case calf meaning oxen rather than caffeine cow this is identical these creatures that john sees to the creatures that ezekiel sees when ezekiel writes about them in his book in chapter 10 and the only difference is that in ezekiel's vision of these creatures they have four wings but in um in in this um description of these living creatures verse 8 says that they have six wings now it's interesting that ezekiel's description of these creatures are a reference to cherubim to cherubim angelic beings and although ezekiel describes those angelic beings as having four wings otherwise they're very similar to what john says in the book of isaiah we are introduced to another order of angelic beings called seraphim in isaiah chapter 11. and in isaiah 11 the seraphim that order of angels they do have six wings and isaiah says that when when he sees the throne of god and he sees these creatures uh he sees seraphim with six wings two they covered their eyes two they covered their feet and the other two they flew with so when you take together ezekiel's vision and version of cherubim isaiah's vision and version of seraphim and john's version of these creatures these creatures here in revelation chapter 4 are probably either cherubim or seraphim these are angelic beings and they seem a little strange to us but but when you when you put all that together the similarity indicates that these are probably these four particular angelic beings who are around the throne and in the midst of the throne and they're constantly moving and they're constantly declaring holy holy holy is the lord god almighty who was and is and is to come that's their job that's what they do for eternity they just go around declaring this and worshiping god almighty seated on the throne and it says in verse 9 that whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne who lives forever and ever that's that's god almighty here's what happens verse 10 the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying you are worthy o lord to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created so it's a spectacular scene of worship exaltation of the lord god almighty seated on the throne it's a vision of sights and and sounds and uh these 24 elders falling down representing the church bowing at the at the at the foot of the throne and casting their crowns their stephanos crowns and so you know when people start talking about how there will be rewards in heaven and yes there will be the bible talks about how jesus will reward us for our works works don't save us but works will be rewarded and that we will receive a crown there are different crowns the bible talks about don't think you're going to be walking around comparing your crown to the crown of somebody else because at the end of the day we're throwing them down you know we're going to be undone there's not going to be anybody in heaven who is more concerned about themselves because we're going to be in the presence of the living god and we're going to be undone and we're just going to be you know brought to our knees and we're going to fall on our face and we're going to cast whatever crown we have at his feet and and worship him so that's the senior that john is seeing now again i believe that this is an indication of how the church is going to be kept safe and this is what we're going to be seeing in heaven while god unleashes tribulation upon the earth and so john is giving this as preview this is what heaven looks like this is this is what i saw this is what i heard all these creatures and thrones and all of this and then and then let's let's tackle chapter five tonight as well and he says in chapter five and i saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll so now now listen even though god is spirit there's there's some representation of um of a physical presence because he describes here uh a hand and he's even specific the right hand of him who sat on the throne and in the right hand of god almighty was a scroll written inside and on the back which was unusual in those days you know typically they would have a scroll a papyrus that would be unraveled and at both ends and scribes would write on one side of it and then roll it up and then right again roll it up this particular scroll has writing on both sides so there's a lot that is going on here there's a lot that is written on the inside and on the back rest of verse one sealed with seven seals so i want you to imagine like an ancient scroll rolled up and then the way that they would keep the scroll um preserved uh was to attach wax seals you know they would they would uh melt some wax drip it and then they would be sealed and so there are seven of these wax seals along this scroll now again there's been a lot of debate what is this scroll that god is holding in his hand and what we're going to end up seeing here is that in effect what it is is the title deed to the earth because god the father is about to give the title deed to the earth to jesus christ the son to begin to do with the earth as he needs to do in order to wake up the the final inhabitants of the earth that there might be one last opportunity for them to get saved look don't think that just because we are looking forward to the return of christ and being snatched from the earth that everybody left has no hope everybody left still has hope everybody left can still get saved in fact it's a unique thing that we're going to read later in the book of revelation where god actually to show you the lengths that he's going to go to to try to redeem the unbelievers on the earth he actually dispatches an angel who flies around the earth proclaiming the gospel so that people will will be able to hear it and understand it so that there nobody will be able to say i didn't hear i didn't know what about the guy on the island the guy on the island is going to get the angel declaring it from above so that everybody has an opportunity to hear and to believe so while we are kept safely in heaven and and all these things are going on on earth starting in chapter 6 there is still great hope for people who were on earth that said they will go through some horrific things in order to get there so i would rather be on the first flight out okay because the other flights are are devastating okay so he he goes on to say verse two here in chapter five then i saw and notice he talks a lot about things that he sees um and he's going to also mention things that he hears in this chapter as well then i saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals so this one angel is asking this question who is worthy to open this this scroll to undo the seals verse 3 and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it no one and so verse 4 john says so i wept much he weeps because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it nobody but one of the elders said to me that's one of the 24 elders do not weep behold the lion of the tribe of judah the root of david has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals praise god who is the line of the tribe of judah you can make a note in the margin of your bible genesis 49 verses 9 and 10. i will read it in genesis 49 this is a messianic prophecy concerning the line of judah judah was one of the twelve tribes of israel and in genesis chapter 49 verses 9 and 10 it says judah is a lion's whelp from the prey my son you have gone up he bows down he lies down as a lion and as a lion who shall rouse him the scepter shall not depart from judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet until shiloh comes and to him shall be the obedience of the people and so in genesis chapter 49 jacob was blessing his sons and when he comes to his son judah this is what he prophesies about judah and he says about judah that the the the the the tribe of judah is um symbolized by a lion and that out of the tribe of judah not any other tribe but out of the tribe of judah will come one who will be uh who's who uh from whom the scepter will never depart so he speaks here prophetically about how messiah will come from the tribe of judah well jesus came from the tribe of judah and then here also in in in our text in revelation 5 verse 6 uh rather verse 5 it's a mention of the root of david the root of david is out of isaiah chapter 11 and i'll read to you isaiah 11 verse 10 if you want to write that in the margin of your of your bible and here's what isaiah 11 10 says and in that day there shall be a root of jesse now remember jesse was the father of king david there shall be a root of jesse who shall stand as a banner to the people for the gentiles shall seek him and his resting place shall be glorious and so it was prophesied that messiah would not only be of the tribe of judah but he would also be a descendant of king david and this idea of the root of jesse is the idea of from the line of jesse will come one whom the gentiles shall seek so even not just jews but gentiles alike will seek the one who is known as the root of jesse or here in revelation 5 the root of david who was the son of jesse and john tells us that he has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals look still with me in revelation 5 verse 6 and i looked and behold in the midst of the thrones here's our last prepositional phrase in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as though it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of god sent out into all the earth then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne so here we are introduced to jesus he is the lion of the tribe of judah he is the root of david but he's also known now here as the lamb and please note this throughout the rest of the book of revelation that is the only title that will reference jesus the lamb 19 times jesus is referred to as the lamb in the book of revelation from this point forward it is very interesting to know because this is the most favorite title of his for himself when we first saw a glimpse in chapter one of revelation john first gives us a quick kind of just a cursory overview of a vision that he has of jesus and in chapter 1 verses 13 to 16 he is presented in a very majestic way very majestic but here he is presented as the lamb as though it had been slain so jesus prefers his redemptive description more than any other description he wants to be known as the lamb this is the one who died for the sins of the world why is it why is this important because remember the only way in the old testament for one to have his or her sins atoned for was the presentation of a lamb as a sacrifice and god made gracious provision because otherwise there was no way to atone for sin god basically said an innocent animal for a guilty human life if you present an innocent animal i will accept that innocent animal as atonement for your guilty life slaughter it and the blood of that animal that was shed would appease the wrath of god and make temporary atonement for the sins of the people until such time that a permanent savior could die for all the sins of all people for all time and thus no more animal sacrifice and that one is jesus and so as jesus then comes and his earthly ministry begins the first thing that jesus does to launch his public ministry is to be water baptized by john the baptist what was it that john the baptist said when he saw jesus coming to be baptized behold the lamb of god who takes away the sins of the world john was declaring that jesus is in fact the ultimate and perfect and eternal sacrifice once and all for the sins of the world he is in fact that lamb of god who will die for the sins of the world paul will write in his letter to the corinthians that jesus is our passover lamb and so it's interesting to me that in all the titles that jesus could have chosen to use to describe himself in the book of revelation the one he chooses is the lamb it has been said that the only man-made thing in heaven are the marks of the crucifixion that jesus will bear because in heaven jesus still retains those marks of his crucifixion remember he showed even in his glorified body the marks of his crucifixion to his disciples and then the next week to thomas who wasn't there with the first group and he bears those marks even to this day the only man-made thing in heaven were the marks that were done to jesus in his crucifixion he is the lamb of god and he now will use this word to describe himself because it describes the redemptive nature of our lord he died as a lamb and shed his blood for the sins of the world that's the beauty of the cross that's the beauty of salvation through faith in jesus now he sees a lamb and as though it had been slain so it's again it's this picture of of our lord as like a slain lamb but then it's kind of an odd description having seven horns and seven eyes so these again seven is a number for completion or perfection horns in the old testament were pictures of power they were items of power and eyes are descriptive of wisdom and knowledge so it's painting a picture here of jesus seven horns meaning he's all-powerful he's omnipotent seven eyes meaning he is omniscient he's all wise and all-knowing and he comes there in verse 7 and he took the scroll out of the right hand of him that is god the father god almighty who sat on the throne now verse 8 now when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints so here you know here there's this you know stereotypical thing about you know people in heaven you know angels with harps and stuff and it's probably actually like a zither more than than the kind of heart we would think of but it's a musical instrument nonetheless and so there will be musical instruments in heaven there is there's still this element of worship and um and so john sees here these these four living creatures 24 elders falling down before the lamb each having a harp but i love that what else verse 8 says and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints in psalm 141 verse 2 the psalmist writes this in psalm 141 2 let my prayer be set before you lord like incense the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice what is beautiful about verse 8 is a reminder to us that the prayers of the saints are preserved in heaven every prayer that we pray is registered and recorded it does not go unnoticed by our lord that the prayers of the saints are actually preserved here in golden bowls full of incense and in the old testament when the priests would light the incense and this aroma would rise it is a picture of the prayers of god's people rising up to heaven and here we find this description of this bowl full of incense which are the prayers of the saints if you have ever felt sometimes like your prayer's gone unanswered or your prayer doesn't seem you know god doesn't seem to really hear my prayers and i i don't know if i'm gonna get the answer to my prayers please be reminded that your prayers are noted they are heard they are recorded we don't always get the answer that we wish and won but god always knows best and we have to defer to his perfect will in loving us and caring for us you know i can look back at my life and i'm thankful that he didn't answer some of my prayers the way i wanted anybody else there are some things that you look back like you really prayed for you really prayed for it lord please please please and then it didn't come to pass and a few years later you're like i'm glad you didn't answer that one you know what i'm talking about and so they're recorded and god hears them verse 9 and they sang a new song so they have the harp going and they have the they're singing now saying you are worthy to take the scroll they're worshiping jesus saying you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain and have redeemed us to god by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation please note that every tribe and tongue and people and nation yes and amen everybody in heaven listen everybody in heaven is not just only going to look like you they're not only going to talk your language they're not going to just simply be your culture it's going to be a diverse body of believers around the throne of jesus from every tribe every tongue every people every nation at a time in our nation and it's not unique because sadly you know racism and the racial tension that our nation is facing and you know it's been said i didn't make this up you know differences over skin color it's really a sin issue not a skin issue and the church of jesus christ better be the people who set the example of what it's like to love one another and to exemplify the love of christ no matter what the tongue the tribe the nation the people because one day we're all going to be together in heaven and we better start practicing how to get along now right amen and he says in verse 10 and have made us he says about jesus you have made us kings some translations you might have a footnote that says kingdom a kingdom and priests to our god and we shall reign on the earth now you know when jesus returns and establishes his kingdom for a thousand years the millennial kingdom saints will rule and reign with him this is what the bible teaches us and when we will help discharge the responsibilities and duties of representing him as ambassadors and so in that way we are kings and priests to serve our god we will reign with him on the earth verse 11 and then i looked more visions and i heard more sounds the voice of many angels around the throne the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands okay now he's describing in addition to the 24 elders and the four living creatures he's describing here a multitude of angels this is probably not literal math although i actually got out my calculator and multiplied what's 10 thousand times ten thousand some of you math people can do that in your head i can't it's a hundred million ten thousand times ten thousand is a hundred million and thousands of thousands so even more than a hundred million is is he being literal here or is he just simply saying innumerable probably innumerable but probably even more than 100 million it's just like he is just awestruck by seeing millions and millions of angels and can you imagine now the sound they're singing they're saying in a loud voice worthy verse 12 worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing and every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them i heard saying now listen before i even read what they're saying did you catch what he said there every creature every not just every human being every creature every animal every everybody in the animal kingdom he says i'm hearing this on earth and in the sea and all they're in them i don't know i don't know if like you know porpoises are gonna come out and start saying hey hey blessed and honor and glory and power i don't know what this means porcupine squirrels that would be a little weird right squirrels singing and talking to god but i don't know exactly what this means but he says every creature everything that had breath he hears saying blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb forever and ever and then the four living creatures said amen and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped him who lives forever and ever amen and amen what a scene it is there in heaven this is what john writes as he sees this in chapters four and five now next week starts some really difficult passages i'll just be honest with you and we're heading now back to earth where john sees from kind of the the mezzanine in heaven he sees what is happening on earth and he's going to describe it starting in chapter 6 and it is devastating the stuff that's going to come upon the earth now we'll get through chapter 6 through 18 we're going to read all the devastation that god tells us in advance and then we're going to get to chapter 19 when jesus returns again and then there's a new heaven and a new earth so it gets better all right but there's a section starting next week in chapter six it starts to get heavy here and you're gonna grieve you're gonna mourn thinking about the loss of life the stubbornness of people refuse to believe stuff that's going to happen in the earth if you think the world is chaotic and messy now we ain't seen nothing it's going to get super super ugly and they're going to be cataclysmic events and natural disasters like we've never seen before and god describes it for us and he outlines it why so we'll be ready so be ready because remember jesus said when you see these things begin to happen even before events in chapter six you begin to see things that we see even now he says lift up your heads and look up because your redemption draws near amen and we're looking forward to the redemption of jesus christ coming again so we'll pick it up there next week i'm going to let you out five minutes early don't ever tell me i don't um be generous with you once in a while um but i'll make up i'll probably steal five minutes next week but anyway let's pray and then you can be on your way lord thank you for your word tonight we just praise you for your word and we thank you for john's description of heaven that reminds us of what our future home will be like and and just how we'll be at rest before you like a sea of glass how there will be worship and singing and there will there will be people declaring just your praises lord that you are worthy to receive power and glory and honor and praise from every language and tribe and tongue and people and nation thank you lord for loving us and saving us thank you that you are the lamb that takes away the sins of the world that you offered your life you shed your blood as a sacrifice for our sins that we might be saved we love you and we praise you as our glorious lamb who sits upon the throne we worship you in jesus name and all god's people said amen amen

Channel: Cornerstone Chapel - Leesburg, VA

Views: 97,505

Rating: 4.837357 out of 5

Keywords: Cornerstone Chapel, Calvary Chapel, Gary Hamrick, Biblical sermons, leesburg va, cornerstone chapel leesburg virginia, great sermons by great preachers, revelation 4 and 5 explained, the absence of the church, whats the trumpet call of God, when is the return of the saints, Midweek Bible Study

Id: UKn68uyT4A4

Length: 46min 26sec (2786 seconds)

Published: Thu Sep 03 2020