Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I'm glad to be back posting these messages on a regular basis.
I would once again like to ask those who read this blog to pray that I would be able to get enough funds to get the things that I need to get paid paid. This has been a hard last few weeks, and things haven't improved much. I am believing God to supply my needs.
Please pray this week for fellow believers in Jesus around this world who are suffering persecution for their obedience to the Lord. Just this week I heard of Christians facing persecution in China, Egypt, Syria and Pakistan. Pray that God would give these people the strength to remain faithful to Him in spite of difficulties.
Last week, we finished the section in Revelation that deals with the message of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia. We focused our attention last week on the church at Laodicea. This church was not hot or cold. It was lukewarm, and Jesus said it made Him want to spit them out of His mouth. So many churches today are lukewarm. We need churches and Christians who are on fire for the Lord trying to obey the Great Commission and being an example of the way of Jesus Christ.
Today, our focus shifts to Revelation Chapter 4. To me, Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are two of the most awe inspiring chapters in the entirety of the Bible.
In chapter 4, John is taken into the throne room of Heaven where He is given the blessed opportunity to see God upon His throne. In verse 3, John describes God upon His throne as being like a jasper and sardius stone in appearance. There was also a rainbow around the throne of God.
This is not the only account in Scripture of God upon His Heavenly throne. In Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet Isaiah is allowed to see God upon His throne. In chapter 6 verse 1 Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim with six wings each were around the throne saying in verse 3, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."
When Isaiah saw this magnificent sight, He was overwhelmed by the holiness and purity of God. Isaiah realized how sinful he was in comparison to a holy God and said in verse 5, "Woe is me, for I am undone. Because I am a man of unclean lips."
Another powerful description of God upon His throne occurs in the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel records in chapter 1 that four living creatures were around the throne of God. They are described somewhat differently than the ones that John saw. More about this in a minute.
Ezekiel describes God as having the appearance of amber with fire all around and within. Ezekiel also describes the rainbow around the throne of God just as John mentions in Revelation. When Ezekiel saw these things, He fell on His face before the Lord until God commanded Him to stand on his feet and listen to the message that would be given to him.
The prophet Daniel also saw a vision of the throne room of God. This is recorded for us in Daniel chapter 7. Daniel says in verse 9 that the throne was like a fiery flame. The one on the throne has a garment that was white like wool and hair that was like pure wool. This is similar to the description of Jesus found in Revelation chapter 1.
In the New Testament, just as he was facing death for his testimony about Jesus, the deacon Stephen was allowed to see into Heaven. Stephen said that he saw God, and Jesus was standing at the Father's right hand.
In Revelation 4, John goes on to describe what He saw. Twenty-four elders in white robes and wearing crowns are seated around the the throne of God. There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the identity of these twenty-four elders. The interpretation that I've heard the most is that 12 of the elders are the twelve patriarchs, and the other 12 are the 12 Apostles. Personally, I am not satisfied with this interpretation. I don't know who the 24 elders are. As far as I know, they may not even be human beings. They may be some type of Heavenly beings. No one really knows.
These four living creatures that are around the throne are very interesting to me. They are similar yet different from the ones seen by Ezekiel. In Ezekiel, the creatures do not have as many wings, and the one's in Revelation are described as being full of eyes.
Some more liberal Bible scholars point to this as a contradiction in the Bible. I don't believe that at all. I think that they are two different types of Heavenly creatures. We as human beings sometimes think that we have a lot of knowledge when in reality, we don't know that much at all. We don't even know all that there is to know about this planet. How can we even begin to fathom all that is in the spiritual realm.
I think that this is just fantastic. I really can't wait to see all of the glorious things that are in Heaven. The Apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
I can't wait to get to Heaven and see God the Father and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. It is going to be tremendously fantastic.
John goes on to say that these Heavenly creatures proclaim "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come." Just as the seraphim proclaimed the holiness of God in Isaiah 6, these living creatures proclaim continuously the holiness of the Almighty God.
When the living creatures cry their praise unto the Lord, the 24 elders fall down and worship God and cast their crowns before the throne and say as it is recorded in verse 11, "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."
What another powerful scene of Heavenly worship.
So what does all of this mean for us?
First of all, in all of these accounts, we see the magnificent, awesome power and glory of God. The Lord is worthy of all our praise, adoration and respect. Praise and adoration of the Living God should be part of our lives every day. The Almighty God has created everything that there is, and the only reason that the earth and life in it continues is because the Almighty God wills it to be so. God is the creator. Anytime that someone claims that life on earth arose apart from the hand of God, that person is trying to take glory away from the Almighty God.
These accounts demonstrate the holiness of God and the sinfulness of mankind. God is pure and holy. He is without sin. People on the other hand are great sinners. In light of God's holiness, all we can do is fall on our faces and ask the thrice Holy God to be merciful to us sinners.
Finally, these verses demonstrate to me that Heaven is a glorious place filled with the worship and praise of God. I don't know about you, but I want to be part of all of this. I want to fall on my face around the Heavenly throne in adoration and praise of the Holy, Holy, Holy God. May His name be praised both now and forevermore.
The only way that a person can be part of the worship of Heaven, is if they are clothed in the righteousness of God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Trusting in Jesus death and resurrection is the only way of atonement. No one can come to the Father except through the Son. If you have not placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today, I hope that you will repent of your sins and accept Jesus into your life as Lord, Master and Savior.
Next week, we will look at Revelation chapter 5 which reveals the glory of the Lamb who was slain. Praise be to God. I will publish another book review on Wednesday. May God bless you. Amen.
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