The Glory of God the Creator and Redeemer (Revelation 4:1-5:14)

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:08.470 Revelation, Chapter Four, at Verse One. After this, I looked and 2 00:00:08.630 --> 00:00:13.550 behold a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had 3 00:00:13.630 --> 00:00:17.429 heard, speaking to me like a trumpet, said come up here and I 4 00:00:17.469 --> 00:00:22.579 will show you what must take place after this. At once I was in 5 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:26.739 the spirit and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on 6 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:32.140 the throne, and he who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. 7 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:36.929 And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 8 00:00:36.969 --> 00:00:41.890 Around the throne were twenty four thrones, and seated on the thrones were 9 00:00:41.969 --> 00:00:48.009 twenty four elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. From 10 00:00:48.049 --> 00:00:52.840 the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before 11 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:57.960 the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of 12 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.320 God. And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea 13 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:07.870 of glass like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the 14 00:01:07.989 --> 00:01:11.590 throne, are four living creatures full of eyes. In front and behind the 15 00:01:11.629 --> 00:01:15.950 first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, 16 00:01:17.109 --> 00:01:21.459 the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living 17 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:26.260 creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of 18 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:30.019 them with six wings, are full of eyes all the round and within and 19 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:34.290 day and night. They never cease to say, holy, Holy, Holy, 20 00:01:34.329 --> 00:01:38.049 is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. 21 00:01:38.730 --> 00:01:42.930 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who 22 00:01:44.049 --> 00:01:47.480 is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty four 23 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:52.719 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne, and worship him, 24 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:57.000 who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, 25 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:01.670 saying worthy are you, are Lord in God, to receive glory and honor 26 00:02:01.790 --> 00:02:07.270 and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and 27 00:02:07.349 --> 00:02:12.870 were created. Then I saw, on the right hand of him who was 28 00:02:12.990 --> 00:02:16.060 seated on the throne, of scroll written within and on the back, sealed 29 00:02:16.139 --> 00:02:21.979 with seven seals, and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice 30 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:29.139 who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. And no one 31 00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:31.650 in heaven or on Earth or under the Earth was able to open the scroll 32 00:02:31.729 --> 00:02:38.050 or look into it and I began to weep loudly because no one was found 33 00:02:38.129 --> 00:02:43.409 worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. One of the elder 34 00:02:43.530 --> 00:02:46.080 said to me, weep no more, behold the line of the tribe of 35 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:52.120 Judah, the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll 36 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:58.789 and it's seven seals. And between the throne and the four living creatures and 37 00:02:58.870 --> 00:03:01.789 among the elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain, 38 00:03:02.870 --> 00:03:07.389 with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of 39 00:03:07.509 --> 00:03:10.430 God, set out into all the earth, and he went and took the 40 00:03:10.509 --> 00:03:14.699 scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And 41 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:20.020 when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four 42 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:25.180 elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp and a golden and 43 00:03:25.379 --> 00:03:30.129 Golden Bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and 44 00:03:30.289 --> 00:03:35.169 they sang a new song, saying worthy are you to take the scroll and 45 00:03:35.370 --> 00:03:38.770 to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed 46 00:03:38.889 --> 00:03:46.120 people for God from every tribe and language and people in nation, and you 47 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:50.800 have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on 48 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:54.990 the Earth. Then I looked and I heard, around the throne the living 49 00:03:55.069 --> 00:04:00.870 creach and the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels numbered, 50 00:04:00.110 --> 00:04:06.789 numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice 51 00:04:08.349 --> 00:04:13.460 worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and 52 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:18.259 might and honor and glory and blessing. And I heard every creature in heaven 53 00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:24.220 and on Earth and under the Earth and in the sea and all that is 54 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:28.970 in them saying to him who sits on the throne into the land be blessing 55 00:04:29.170 --> 00:04:33.850 and honor and glory and might forever and ever. And the for living creatures 56 00:04:33.930 --> 00:04:41.279 said Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped. This is God's word 57 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.439 for us this morning, so let's pay heed to it. Please be seated 58 00:04:55.509 --> 00:05:01.709 as we begin. Let me just go back and and say a few words 59 00:05:01.790 --> 00:05:06.939 about the book of revelation. I think it would be helpful to put these 60 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:15.420 two chapters and their proper context. Keep your bibles open. If you turn 61 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:18.899 back to chapter one, want you to look very just quickly at verse one 62 00:05:25.089 --> 00:05:29.850 says. They're the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God sent him to show 63 00:05:29.930 --> 00:05:32.850 to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known 64 00:05:32.930 --> 00:05:36.680 by sending his angel to his servant John. Now that's a very, very 65 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:44.720 revealing verse. It's chalk full of indicators which I think help us understand what 66 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:49.470 this sometimes confusing book is all about. For example, we see here in 67 00:05:49.550 --> 00:05:55.230 this first verse that at this revelation from God it's for the benefit of the 68 00:05:55.389 --> 00:06:00.470 church, that that's the reference here at to servants. We see that it's 69 00:06:00.470 --> 00:06:05.699 a revelation of Jesus Christ. He's a central figure of the book of revelation 70 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:12.019 and it says there it's a revelation given by God, not directly to us, 71 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:16.300 to the church, but through a vision given to the Apostle John. 72 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:20.329 Now that's helpful information, I think, isn't it? Now that moves the 73 00:06:20.449 --> 00:06:27.850 curtain back just a little bit. But there's there's even more here. John 74 00:06:27.970 --> 00:06:33.120 Mentions three things in these opening verses that help clarify what sort of book he 75 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:39.120 was writing. First, in this opening verse he tells us is what he's 76 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:44.800 writing is a revelation. Now, revelation in Greek is the word apocalypse. 77 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:47.949 It's very it's a very first word of the book. In fact, there's 78 00:06:47.990 --> 00:06:53.790 no definite article in the text here. So the book Actually Begins Revelation of 79 00:06:53.910 --> 00:07:00.629 Jesus Christ, and by revelation is meant that in this book God is disclosing 80 00:07:00.910 --> 00:07:05.740 to the church through John, to us, something that we would not otherwise 81 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:15.410 know or be able to discover. But the word apocalypse also indicates a particular 82 00:07:15.649 --> 00:07:21.970 type of disclosure, a particular their form of prophetic writing that we find with 83 00:07:23.129 --> 00:07:27.810 many of the Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, 84 00:07:27.850 --> 00:07:36.959 Ezekiel Zachariah. Apocalyptic writing is marked by reports of visions, of the report 85 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.639 of the transporting of the seer or the writer, to heaven in his visions, 86 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:47.389 of the mediation of the revelation to the Prophet by angelic beings and by 87 00:07:47.430 --> 00:07:56.629 highly symbolic presentations of the truth being revealed. And what this apocalyptic form of 88 00:07:56.870 --> 00:08:05.699 writing was intended to provide was a transcendent perspective on the world and upon human 89 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:09.620 life in the world. Is See, the seer is is taken out of 90 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:15.170 the world to learn the secrets of God's purposes, as they're known in heaven 91 00:08:15.209 --> 00:08:20.569 and to see the world from the heavenly perspective, as God sees the world. 92 00:08:22.490 --> 00:08:24.089 So that's the first thing I think, to be said about the book 93 00:08:24.089 --> 00:08:28.920 of revelation. It's an apocalypse, it's a revelation, it's a disclosure of 94 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:35.559 a particular type made in a particular form. Second Revelation, John says here 95 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:41.830 in Chapter One, verse three, is a prophecy, and by prophecy is 96 00:08:41.990 --> 00:08:48.509 meant certainly the disclosure of the future. As verse one says, this vision 97 00:08:48.549 --> 00:08:52.190 is about the things that must soon take place. But prophecy is much, 98 00:08:52.190 --> 00:08:58.620 much more than that. Prophecy is not only the prediction of the future. 99 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:05.379 It's also the authoritative proclamation or declaration of the meaning of the present and of 100 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:09.769 the obligations of God's people in the present. In fact, the Prophets of 101 00:09:09.889 --> 00:09:15.610 the Old Testament were preachers even more than they were seers or predictors of the 102 00:09:15.730 --> 00:09:22.490 future, and John stands as a successor to the Old Testament prophets who were 103 00:09:22.529 --> 00:09:28.080 always, always addressing the immediate situation of their contemporaries as well as speaking of 104 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.559 things to come. They did both, and so does John. And then, 105 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:39.029 Third John tells us that revelation is a letter. You know, as 106 00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:43.309 we see in chapter one, verse four, the formal beginning of the book 107 00:09:43.429 --> 00:09:48.669 is in the form of a circular letter from John to the seven churches in 108 00:09:48.789 --> 00:09:54.220 the province of Asia. It's a form very familiar to readers of the New 109 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:58.700 Testament from the letters of the Apostle Paul. They begin the same way. 110 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:03.980 There's a greeting. We see that here versus one through four. Then there's 111 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:09.330 this long body of the letter, Verse Five of Chapter One through chapter twenty 112 00:10:09.409 --> 00:10:13.330 two, Verse Twenty, and then there's this closing or farewell one, Verse 113 00:10:13.730 --> 00:10:20.490 Twenty One of Chapter Twenty two. Now that's significant. The fact that revelation 114 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:28.759 is a letter indicates unmistakably that it addresses the situation of John's immediate contemporaries, 115 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:35.830 that it's a message for these seven churches in Asian it's for them, it's 116 00:10:35.950 --> 00:10:41.350 to them. It's not a it's not a codebook to be deciphered by some 117 00:10:41.549 --> 00:10:46.190 future generation of Christians. You know, a letter is meant to be read, 118 00:10:48.029 --> 00:10:52.779 it's meant to be understood. It had, it has a message that 119 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:58.820 John expected those who heard the letter read to understand and to take to heart 120 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:05.090 and to live accordingly. Now you put all that together and what do you 121 00:11:05.169 --> 00:11:13.889 have? What we have in revelation is a disclosure of an alternative reality and 122 00:11:15.049 --> 00:11:22.240 an exhortation to John's Christian friends to live their lives in keeping with that reality. 123 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:28.320 What revelation is designed to do is to give them and to give us 124 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:37.429 an alternative vision of the world in which we live. To John's contemporaries and 125 00:11:37.629 --> 00:11:43.230 to us, the world appears to be one thing. John tells us it 126 00:11:43.389 --> 00:11:50.460 is in fact something quite different from what it appears to be. But here's 127 00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:58.419 the thing. Only faith can see that alternative reality. See, the world 128 00:11:58.460 --> 00:12:07.210 looks very different from heaven. Things take on a very different meaning when seen 129 00:12:07.250 --> 00:12:13.450 from a heavenly, a divine, a transcendent, eternal perspective. And what 130 00:12:13.610 --> 00:12:20.320 John Exhorts us to do in this wonderful book is, by faith, to 131 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:26.279 have this eternal, transcendent perspective as we live on our days here on earth. 132 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.350 So, with that eternal perspective, that rather long introduction in view, 133 00:12:33.350 --> 00:12:37.629 let's take a look at these two chapters, chapters four and five. Now 134 00:12:37.710 --> 00:12:46.340 the book of revelation. After this brief introductory chapter, it opens with specific 135 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:52.379 letters of the risen Christ to seven churches located in Asia Minor. We read 136 00:12:52.460 --> 00:13:00.649 these letters to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, Sardis, 137 00:13:00.850 --> 00:13:03.289 Philadelphia and Leah. To See it, those letters are in chapters two 138 00:13:03.330 --> 00:13:09.049 and three and they're very, very revealing letters. I'm sure you've heard many 139 00:13:09.090 --> 00:13:13.440 sermons on that. They offer a Penetra trading, I think sometimes uncomfortable, 140 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:24.480 examination of life in these seven representative congregations. See, these were local congregations 141 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.990 struggling with some struggling with false teaching. For some, their first love for 142 00:13:33.070 --> 00:13:39.389 Christ had grown cold still. Others were, we're, dealing with moral failure, 143 00:13:39.429 --> 00:13:45.179 some were dealing with worldliness, with materialism, some are facing persecution, 144 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:50.580 cute suffering. But in every single situation, as we saw toward the end 145 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:54.460 of every single one of those letters, they were called upon by Christ to 146 00:13:54.620 --> 00:14:01.850 do what, to conquer, to overcome. Look at the end of Chapter 147 00:14:01.009 --> 00:14:07.850 Three, Verse Twenty One, and you'll see precisely that the one who conquers, 148 00:14:07.929 --> 00:14:11.440 I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I 149 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:16.240 also conquered and set down with my father on his throne. You see, 150 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:24.789 that's Jesus called to us. Conquer, persevere, don't get sidetracked, press 151 00:14:24.950 --> 00:14:28.309 on, keep on keeping on, don't be overcome. Cross the finish line, 152 00:14:28.389 --> 00:14:35.149 win the prize. And we hear that instruction, we hear that exhortation 153 00:14:37.190 --> 00:14:41.379 from our Lord. We serve our burdens, we survey our hurts. Our 154 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:46.179 wounds are trials. We look at the sin that still and dwells our hearts. 155 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:50.259 We see the opposition of the world to the Christian Gospel that we proclaim. 156 00:14:52.490 --> 00:14:58.169 We see a hostile and moral culture around us. We see a fickle, 157 00:14:58.289 --> 00:15:05.649 rebellious heart within US and the command to conquer and overcome. At least 158 00:15:05.649 --> 00:15:09.879 to me, it doesn't seem so easy. And just as we're about to 159 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:16.399 give up, just as we feel our knees begin to buckle under the weight 160 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:22.149 of Christ call, a door opens in heaven and the voice says, come 161 00:15:22.190 --> 00:15:28.710 up here and I will show you of what must take place after this revelation. 162 00:15:30.230 --> 00:15:37.220 Chapters four and five show us the throne in heaven and the one seated 163 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:43.740 upon it. See, in these two chapters we step into the command and 164 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:50.889 control center of the universe and we see the Lord who reigns over all and 165 00:15:50.009 --> 00:15:58.370 now suddenly, the sin, the sorrow, the hurt and the hostility that 166 00:15:58.490 --> 00:16:03.850 we endure that seemed a moment ago so all encompassing, has been put into 167 00:16:03.889 --> 00:16:10.399 a larger context, and we learn that the true measure of whether we will 168 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:17.279 overcome is not the strength of our own arm, it's not the wisdom of 169 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:22.070 our own judgment, it's not the conviction of our own belief after all, 170 00:16:22.389 --> 00:16:32.789 but the power of the infinite, eternal, unchangeable, sovereign God. What 171 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:40.259 we're being told here in the dramatic imagery of apocalyptic literature is that there is 172 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:45.340 a reality that one does not see on earth, and in the center of 173 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:52.330 that reality is the divine throne, symbolizing the divine sovereignty, the divine rule, 174 00:16:52.769 --> 00:17:00.049 the divine judgment, the divine will. Now we noted, as I 175 00:17:00.250 --> 00:17:07.720 read that that this throne is it's fully acknowledged in heaven, but it's not 176 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:11.200 yet acknowledge fully on earth. Many human beings are, in fact utterly, 177 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:18.990 utterly unaware of its existence. But what you see in Heaven, John Tells 178 00:17:19.069 --> 00:17:26.950 us here, is the true reality that must eventually be acknowledged on earth as 179 00:17:26.990 --> 00:17:33.700 well. Heaven is the sphere of ultimate reality. No matter the pretensions of 180 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:42.579 earthly power us, the divine purpose will prevail on earth. And what is 181 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:48.210 happening on earth, especially that which seems to be happening to the detriments of 182 00:17:48.250 --> 00:17:56.769 Christians and the Kingdom of God, that too is the outworking of God's eternal 183 00:17:56.250 --> 00:18:04.759 and ultimate purpose for mankind, for the world or his church. You See, 184 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:11.839 what John's vision here means is that when Christians find themselves in danger, 185 00:18:14.029 --> 00:18:19.630 they can be absolutely confident that their plight is so far from being a defeat 186 00:18:19.670 --> 00:18:25.869 for God's plan, it is itself the divine plan, the will of the 187 00:18:26.029 --> 00:18:34.299 throne of God. It's the considered decision of the Heavenly Council. However little 188 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:42.410 we can understand the purposes of God, however impossible it is for us to 189 00:18:42.609 --> 00:18:48.210 see how our troubles contribute to the inexorable progress of the divine plan for the 190 00:18:48.289 --> 00:18:55.529 world and the Kingdom of God, they're ones. The Majesty in Heaven is 191 00:18:55.609 --> 00:19:03.240 an absolute control over all that happens in the world and, with the assistance 192 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:10.349 of his holy angels, is working his purposes out. You know, I 193 00:19:10.430 --> 00:19:14.390 spent twenty five years in the army, and you might want to think about 194 00:19:14.430 --> 00:19:19.309 it this way, you know, in more movies and in document documentaries, 195 00:19:21.269 --> 00:19:25.460 you know, devoted to particularly the things like the history of the Second World 196 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:30.859 War, we often, we've often seen these large rooms and their lined with 197 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:36.259 maps, in the middle of which is this giant table which usually itself is 198 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:41.250 a map, and surrounding that table are men and women in uniform. They're 199 00:19:41.289 --> 00:19:47.849 moving these little flags or miniature tanks or planes or ships or other symbols that 200 00:19:48.730 --> 00:19:55.759 represent various military formations. It's called a situation room, it's called a command 201 00:19:55.839 --> 00:20:02.519 and control center, and that's a particular battle field that's represented on the great 202 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:06.880 map in the middle of that room, and the progress of the battle is 203 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:12.869 charted by the movement of these various symbols and pieces on that map. And 204 00:20:12.990 --> 00:20:18.589 when a symbol of some kind is moved from one place to another, it 205 00:20:18.789 --> 00:20:22.500 means either that a change has occurred on the battlefield and the map is being 206 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:27.299 adjusted to reflect the new reality, or that an order has been given to 207 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:32.740 a particular unit or formation to move to the place indicated on the map. 208 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:38.410 Well, it's is it's something like that that John Shows us here in these 209 00:20:38.529 --> 00:20:45.650 two chapters. See. What John was given to see was the control room, 210 00:20:48.289 --> 00:20:53.160 the operations center. He was shown the situation room of Supreme Headquarters, 211 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:03.240 and from that room the entire war being waged on earth between the forces of 212 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:07.029 light and those of darkness, between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of 213 00:21:07.069 --> 00:21:12.630 the devil, is not only being charted, but it's being controlled, movement 214 00:21:12.910 --> 00:21:22.140 by movement, by movement by movement. What's decided in heaven will have an 215 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:27.779 exact counterpart on earth, and events will unfold in human history precisely as they 216 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:36.289 have been ordered to unfold from the Control Room in heaven. So let's go 217 00:21:36.450 --> 00:21:40.890 with John into this control room, the situation room, the command and Control 218 00:21:41.009 --> 00:21:45.369 Center, and look at where he points us, or rather where the angelic 219 00:21:45.569 --> 00:21:52.759 voice points John. In Chapter Four, John Sees and we see this revelation 220 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:59.240 of the glory of God the Creator. And then in chapter five, which 221 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:03.509 par ells chapter four, we see a slightly different but it's an overlapping thing, 222 00:22:03.670 --> 00:22:08.910 this time the glory of Christ the Redeemer. So let's look at Chapter 223 00:22:10.029 --> 00:22:17.460 Four. John begins his account of this vision in verse two. At once 224 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:19.859 I was in the spirit and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with 225 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:26.740 one seated on the throne. Now we could stop right there. We could 226 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:30.809 meditate for the rest of our time on that phrase and not exhaust its relevance, 227 00:22:32.450 --> 00:22:37.130 not exhaust its importance. There is a throne in heaven and it's not 228 00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:44.799 empty, it's occupied. Now, don't we need to hang onto that truth? 229 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:52.440 And these crazy days of political turmoil, these days of moral decay in 230 00:22:52.519 --> 00:23:00.750 the culture, the chaos of Global Ghad behold a throne and one seated on 231 00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:08.230 it. You see, whatever the Pundan say and wish, and whatever our 232 00:23:08.430 --> 00:23:17.779 secret fears may insinuate, God has not abdicated his throne. Behold a throne 233 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:22.980 and one seated on it. That throne is a symbol of absolute sovereignty. 234 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:27.930 By the way, this throne is mentioned seventeen times in these two chapters. 235 00:23:29.569 --> 00:23:34.369 Now consider that just for a second now. The Christian churches of that time 236 00:23:34.529 --> 00:23:44.039 were small. They were threatened. The power of Rome seemed invincible. They 237 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:49.960 witness the Roman propaganda every day of their lives, just as we witness the 238 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:56.029 American propaganda at every turn, every day, every moment. You See, 239 00:23:56.069 --> 00:24:03.829 what these congregations needed most to know, and what you and I need most 240 00:24:03.910 --> 00:24:10.420 to know, was that there was a far greater throne than Rome the far 241 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:18.619 greater throne than American and it was occupied with our king. And I love 242 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:22.500 John's description of the one who seated on the throne. Don't you verse three? 243 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:26.769 He had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. I don't have a clue 244 00:24:26.890 --> 00:24:30.849 what Carnelian is, and there was a rainbow. Some of you will have 245 00:24:30.930 --> 00:24:33.809 to tell me after the worship service. I think it has something to do 246 00:24:33.890 --> 00:24:37.529 with a brown stone, but I'm not sure there was a rainbow around the 247 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:42.359 throne like a diamond or an emerald. I think we need to be careful 248 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:48.039 not to overread that, not to find hidden meaning in each precious stone. 249 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:53.509 John is simply trying to find some way to put into words something of the 250 00:24:53.630 --> 00:25:00.950 radiance, the beauty, the majesty and the glory shining directly from the one 251 00:25:02.029 --> 00:25:04.390 seated on the throne. And the fact of the matter is that words failed 252 00:25:04.390 --> 00:25:10.500 John here. He didn't have the vocabulary to tell us what he sees. 253 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:15.819 All he can say is that the one on the throne is like gemstones. 254 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:19.859 He's like a diamond turning in the sun, dazzling in his beauty. That's 255 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:25.730 the best he can do, but I think we get the idea and around 256 00:25:25.769 --> 00:25:29.130 the throne. Notice in verse, for it says there are twenty four elders. 257 00:25:29.170 --> 00:25:33.569 Now there's been some debate as to the identity of the twenty four elders. 258 00:25:33.690 --> 00:25:37.079 We don't have time to go into it all, but in my view 259 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:41.400 I think they represent the whole people of God, one church across both the 260 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:47.559 old and new testaments, the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles of 261 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:52.269 the Lord Jesus. And it's interesting. You know, like it Mount Sini, 262 00:25:53.589 --> 00:25:59.390 you know, is Israel gathered around the mountain and Exitus nineteen says you're 263 00:25:59.430 --> 00:26:04.259 there appeals of thunder, there are flashes of lightning that emanate from God's throne. 264 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:10.579 But there's a difference here, if you recall, whereas it Cyani, 265 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:17.019 no one was permitted to draw near the mountain, here the people of God 266 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:21.970 are right up close, they're surrounding the throne, and that's a beautiful thing. 267 00:26:22.130 --> 00:26:29.289 You know, if you're a child of God, however we however uncertain 268 00:26:29.450 --> 00:26:33.559 and unworthy you may feel yourself to be, this text sells us you have 269 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:41.480 a ringside seat, right up close to God. Notice also that before the 270 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:45.839 throne there are seven burning torches of fire. You know, their number seven 271 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.430 is always it's significant in the New Testament. That's particularly significant in the book 272 00:26:49.430 --> 00:26:57.269 of revelation. It represents fullness, represents completeness. And here John tells us 273 00:26:57.349 --> 00:27:02.140 these torches are the seven spirits of God. I think this is his way 274 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:08.059 of speaking of the fullness of God's spirit, speaking of the completeness of the 275 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:15.930 Holy Spirit. You recall there there are seven representative churches through which the book 276 00:27:15.930 --> 00:27:22.289 of revelation is written. So here's the Holy Spirit perfectly sufficient for the needs 277 00:27:22.329 --> 00:27:27.569 of the whole church, the seventh full spirit for the seven churches, so 278 00:27:27.730 --> 00:27:34.279 that in our God there is no lack for his people. Then there's something 279 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:40.720 before the throne. You see that something, John says, is like a 280 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:45.230 sea of glass, like crystal. You know, the sea and Jewish thought 281 00:27:45.390 --> 00:27:52.430 was always emblematic of chaos, always emblematic of evil. But here it's utterly 282 00:27:52.509 --> 00:28:00.500 calm, it's still, it's at rest before the throne of God. Now 283 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:06.619 there certainly remains evil in the world, to be sure, but this is 284 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:11.380 a picture that God reigns in Sovereign Majesty over it all. The Sea is 285 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:19.690 calm at his feet. Chaos comes to heal at his decree. Here is 286 00:28:19.730 --> 00:28:26.279 a safe harbor for US amidst the apparent uncertainties of life. You know, 287 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:33.000 the last couple of weeks there were three deaths at Rencon Mountain Presbyterian Church, 288 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:37.799 where I go. Two of them were sudden, unexpected, and I recall 289 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.240 distinctly one of the widow's commenty. I feel like I've been hit with a 290 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:48.150 ton of bricks. The Lord, our God, reigns even over the raging 291 00:28:48.269 --> 00:28:55.710 waves of chaos that surge at times surround us. The Lord is on his 292 00:28:55.819 --> 00:29:02.940 throne. Then there are these four strange living creatures we see in verses six 293 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:08.059 and seven. They're covered in eyes, is suggests to me eternal vigilance. 294 00:29:10.049 --> 00:29:11.730 One of them has the face of a lion, the second of an ox, 295 00:29:12.329 --> 00:29:15.009 the third of a man and the fourth of an eighth of an eagle. 296 00:29:15.529 --> 00:29:21.690 They have six wings, just like the angelics tariff him that Isaiah saw, 297 00:29:21.849 --> 00:29:23.720 and Isaiah chapter six, by the way, there is so much old 298 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:29.200 testament in the book of revelation it's amazing. It's on every single page, 299 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:34.640 but it's very similar to what Isaiah saw. And these they sang the praises 300 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:41.390 of God before His throne. Now the faces of these different creatures. They 301 00:29:41.589 --> 00:29:48.829 Mirror Ezekiel's description of the Angelic Cherubim that he saw in his vision of the 302 00:29:48.910 --> 00:29:52.420 heavenly throne and its glory. So I don't know, it appears that these 303 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:57.579 four figures represent a more exalted order of angels. Now think of the Line 304 00:29:57.740 --> 00:30:04.099 as the noblest of all creatures, think of the ox as the strongest, 305 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:10.650 man as the wisest and the Flying Eagle as the swiftest of all creatures. 306 00:30:10.690 --> 00:30:15.730 Here man is among the creatures before God, the creator of all things. 307 00:30:15.089 --> 00:30:22.440 So the image here's seems to be that all the powers of nature are available 308 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:26.839 for the use of God in ruling his world. You know, these four 309 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:32.319 creatures lead in the worship of God that's being offered in heaven. So the 310 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:37.150 picture here is that all of nature, all of creation, is bowing before 311 00:30:37.190 --> 00:30:42.150 him as well. Now it may be difficult to decipher each of these images. 312 00:30:44.109 --> 00:30:47.789 People disagree as what they mean, but I will tell you all of 313 00:30:47.869 --> 00:30:52.819 them taken together, the twenty four elders, the seven spirits, the sea 314 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:56.420 of glass, the four living creatures, all of them are intended to do 315 00:30:56.619 --> 00:31:03.460 one thing, and that is enhanced the glory of the throne. Everything here 316 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:10.009 concerns this throne and the one sitting on it. Look at verse eleven. 317 00:31:11.130 --> 00:31:15.769 Worthy are you are Lord in God to Receive Glory and honor and power, 318 00:31:15.849 --> 00:31:21.359 for you created all things and by your will they existed and they were created. 319 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:29.319 In other words, everything in the world, absolutely everything, even evil 320 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:36.549 spirits and evil men, are God's creatures and they are subject to his sovereign 321 00:31:36.589 --> 00:31:41.990 rule. He's in control. That's the bottom line. Here in this chapter, 322 00:31:42.430 --> 00:31:47.460 and then in chapter five, our attention turns from creation to redemption, 323 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:52.819 from the father to the son, from the glory of God the Creator to 324 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:56.180 the glory of God the Redeemer. You know, it's interesting, I think 325 00:31:56.259 --> 00:32:02.849 here, to note that there's nothing in chapter four that could not have been 326 00:32:02.890 --> 00:32:10.490 written by a Non Christian Jew. But here in chapter five the vision becomes 327 00:32:10.650 --> 00:32:17.759 specifically, it becomes obviously and emphatically Christian. The scene opens, this time 328 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:22.599 with a crisis. It's there in chapters in verses one through four. Look 329 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:28.039 at it. John sees this scroll in the hands of God. It's covered 330 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:34.670 in writing and it's but it's seals shut, and an angel ask for someone 331 00:32:34.789 --> 00:32:37.309 worthy to open the scroll and break its seals and there is not one. 332 00:32:38.509 --> 00:32:42.190 There's no one, not in heaven or earth or under the earth. No 333 00:32:42.309 --> 00:32:46.500 one can open the scroll. And John Loses it. He starts to weep 334 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:52.180 loudly. Why does he do that? Well, he knows the meaning of 335 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:59.369 the scroll. It's the script for the great drama of human history. It's 336 00:32:59.490 --> 00:33:05.490 God's Master Plan for the salvation of sinners and the overthrow of evil. It's 337 00:33:05.569 --> 00:33:08.450 the scroll of the divine decree. But you see, if the scripts ever 338 00:33:08.529 --> 00:33:14.480 read, the drama can't proceed. If the master plan is not revealed, 339 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:22.720 God's purposes surely have to fail. Chaos Wins, evil wins, Satan wins, 340 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:27.509 and so John is devastated because it looks like there's going to be no 341 00:33:27.670 --> 00:33:31.589 plot line for history, it's going to be no direction for our lives. 342 00:33:32.549 --> 00:33:37.470 And then one of the elders comes to John and does what good elders should 343 00:33:37.470 --> 00:33:44.980 always do. He comforts John by a pointing him to the line of the 344 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:49.579 tribe of Judah, the root of David, who has conquers, so that 345 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:53.099 he can open the scroll. And I think you recognize the imagery here. 346 00:33:54.500 --> 00:34:00.690 Judah's line comes from genesis forty nine, the root of David From Isaiah, 347 00:34:00.690 --> 00:34:05.930 Chapter One, Chapter Eleven, I'm sorry, and both are commonly understood to 348 00:34:06.089 --> 00:34:13.880 be prophecies of the coming Messiah. They emphasized his strength, his royal dignity. 349 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:17.679 He will be great King David's greater heir. And so John Turns with 350 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:25.309 I think, understandable excitement to see this triumphant missy, any conqueror. And 351 00:34:25.469 --> 00:34:30.030 look at what he sees. Look at verse six. John sees that the 352 00:34:30.150 --> 00:34:36.030 lion is actually the lamb. You see, that's what the Jews didn't grasp 353 00:34:37.110 --> 00:34:40.380 when Jesus was among them and one of his own free will he went to 354 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:45.260 the cross. They had a wrong view of the Messiah. It was the 355 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:52.260 Messiahs Primary Ministry and calling to offer himself a sacrifice for the sins of his 356 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:57.289 people. The lion is actually a slain lamb. The Jews missed that. 357 00:34:58.530 --> 00:35:04.610 The term lamb always carries with it the implied reference to a sacrificial death. 358 00:35:05.530 --> 00:35:09.440 So the lion, the king who is going to open the seals, is 359 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:15.880 the very one who gave his life to redeem his people. Here's the point. 360 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:22.789 There is no other way to accomplish the divine purpose for the world, 361 00:35:22.829 --> 00:35:29.030 and through the death of Jesus on the Cross. No other way. History 362 00:35:29.150 --> 00:35:32.909 is a complete enigma. In other words, apart from the redemptive Plan of 363 00:35:34.030 --> 00:35:39.659 God in Jesus Christ, here one's apart from that, history makes absolutely no 364 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:46.219 sense. Well, this horn mentioned here is a typical symbol of strength in 365 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:52.650 the Bible. So the seven horns would be the symbol for perfect power or 366 00:35:52.690 --> 00:35:58.530 omnipotence, seven eyes or as symbol of perfect knowledge or omniscions. You remember 367 00:35:58.650 --> 00:36:02.929 Paul's identification of Jesus back in First Corinthians, Chapter One, Verse Twenty Four. 368 00:36:02.929 --> 00:36:07.440 He said that Jesus was the power of God and he also said that 369 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:10.800 Jesus was the wisdom of God. That's what John sees here in this slain 370 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:17.670 lamb. You know, I said previously that the seven spirits are John's way 371 00:36:17.670 --> 00:36:21.829 of speaking of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the rest of the 372 00:36:21.909 --> 00:36:27.710 New Testament makes clear that it's that the Lord Christ behest that the Holy Spirit 373 00:36:27.750 --> 00:36:31.670 works in the world. And do you see where the lamb is standing? 374 00:36:31.789 --> 00:36:35.539 This, I think, is another significant point here. This thing is full 375 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:39.539 of points. My translation the ES V says but between the throne and the 376 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:45.260 four living creatures and among the elders. I think another, perhaps a better 377 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:50.650 translation, is in the midst of the throne. You know, that's where 378 00:36:50.690 --> 00:36:54.329 Jesus himself says he is at the end of chapter three. Look at Verse 379 00:36:54.409 --> 00:36:58.650 Twenty One. Again, the one who conquers, I will grant him to 380 00:36:58.730 --> 00:37:01.639 sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with 381 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:07.960 my father on his throne. Where on his throne, on the same throne, 382 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:12.840 occupying the same space, we might say, as the Creator God of 383 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:17.429 chapter four is the lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. And then, I 384 00:37:17.469 --> 00:37:22.070 think my favorite verse in this whole chapters is verse seven. Look at verse 385 00:37:22.150 --> 00:37:30.460 seven, what a wonderful, wonderful verse. Now, what's simpler or more 386 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:37.820 beautiful way could be found of making the point that history is under God's control 387 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:43.099 and that the father has appointed his son, Jesus Christ, to bring it 388 00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:47.570 to its proper conclusion? Then for the lamb to receive this scroll from the 389 00:37:47.650 --> 00:37:52.969 hand of God, the father sitting up on the heavenly for the hone. 390 00:37:52.329 --> 00:38:00.800 It's a it's a clear and beautiful picture of direct authority over the world and 391 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:07.000 its history being transferred from the father to the son. And then what happens? 392 00:38:07.800 --> 00:38:12.079 When the heaven saw the scroll being handed from the father to the son, 393 00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:15.510 it broke out with this great hymn of praise and it started like a 394 00:38:15.550 --> 00:38:19.949 rock thrown into a calm pool. There's this ripple effect. Actually it's more 395 00:38:19.989 --> 00:38:27.300 like a tsunami here, this erupting of praise that sweeps outward from the center 396 00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:32.500 in concentric circles. Jesus takes the Scroll and the twenty four elders and the 397 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:37.980 four living creatures. They fall down in worship. They offer up incense, 398 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:42.329 it says, a symbol of the church's prayers, and they sang an amazing 399 00:38:42.449 --> 00:38:46.289 hymn of praise, a new song. We see it in verses nine and 400 00:38:46.409 --> 00:38:52.090 ten. There and then this tidal wave pushes on, it expands to its 401 00:38:52.210 --> 00:38:57.760 widest possible reach. Every single creature in heaven and on Earth and under the 402 00:38:57.880 --> 00:39:02.960 Earth and in the sea joined in verse thirteen. To Him who sits on 403 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:07.800 the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever 404 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:14.150 and ever. And the living creatures shout Amen, the elders fall down in 405 00:39:14.269 --> 00:39:22.030 worship. What a scene, what a destiny waits for the people of God 406 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:27.780 and what has been the great theme of their hymn? This time, in 407 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:31.460 chapter five, it's not creation, it was chapter four. What is it 408 00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:37.300 this time? Its redemption, isn't it? Jesus has saved cinners from all 409 00:39:37.340 --> 00:39:43.170 over the world by his blood, and so he is worthy to be adored. 410 00:39:45.289 --> 00:39:51.690 It's a great book. You know, I think revelation is from first 411 00:39:51.690 --> 00:39:55.320 to last, it's a calling. It's a message addressed to God's people, 412 00:39:55.400 --> 00:40:00.480 to the church, to you and me. It's a call to faith. 413 00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:06.559 It's a call to the full exercise of that faith in the world in which 414 00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:10.989 we live and in the time in which we live. You know, let 415 00:40:10.989 --> 00:40:17.469 me just ask a rhetorical question of what's the great difficulty of being a Christian? 416 00:40:19.909 --> 00:40:23.099 Have you ever thought about that? What is the thing that makes being 417 00:40:23.179 --> 00:40:29.300 a faithful Christian the most difficult? You know, some of some people might 418 00:40:29.340 --> 00:40:34.219 say that that's the hard work of obedience. You know, God requires of 419 00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:37.170 US obedience to many commandments that are difficult to all. But it's hard to 420 00:40:37.250 --> 00:40:44.650 be pure, it's hard to be loving, it's hard to be humble, 421 00:40:45.050 --> 00:40:51.599 it's very hard to put the interests of others above our own. But as 422 00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:54.599 hard as obedience is. I don't think it's the real difficulty of the Christian 423 00:40:54.679 --> 00:41:01.719 life. The difficulty of obedience, I think, would disappear to a great 424 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:07.230 degree it weren't for a still an another, still greater difficulty, and that 425 00:41:07.469 --> 00:41:14.030 difficulty is that you and me, Christians, have to live by faith. 426 00:41:15.909 --> 00:41:21.699 Think about that. What a huge difference it makes to be able to see 427 00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:24.260 the things that were ordinarily required to believe. You know, just look at 428 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:30.420 John here in these two chapters. He sees the Lord seated on the throne 429 00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:35.329 of Heaven in all of his glory and majesty and sovereignty, and he's blown 430 00:41:35.369 --> 00:41:45.050 away. Same thing happened to Isaiah Paul Daniel. Now we believe that the 431 00:41:45.130 --> 00:41:52.000 glory of God is overwhelming. We believe that, but that's hardly the same 432 00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:58.079 thing as actually being overwhelmed by that glory. You know, John, I 433 00:41:58.239 --> 00:42:04.389 suspect, never thought about the world or his life in this world the same 434 00:42:04.429 --> 00:42:09.630 way again after having seen the Lord with The Majesty of God upon Him, 435 00:42:09.670 --> 00:42:15.940 as seen in this vision of Jesus in these two chapters. John was given 436 00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:20.820 by the Holy Spirit to see things, marvelous things that you and I must 437 00:42:20.820 --> 00:42:25.539 believe, and I suspect. Don't know, but I suspect that if he 438 00:42:25.699 --> 00:42:32.210 had ever been tempted to exaggerate the vaunted power and glory of Rome, He 439 00:42:32.329 --> 00:42:38.130 never made that same mistake again. Every time he heard someone speak of Rome's 440 00:42:38.210 --> 00:42:45.719 sovereign power, I just imagine that he would chuckle to himself remember what he 441 00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:51.679 saw and what happened to him when he saw Jesus, the rulers of the 442 00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:54.719 king, the ruler of the Kings of the Earth, exalted in Heaven, 443 00:42:55.400 --> 00:43:04.309 seated on the throne with his father, whenever he witness evil seeming to triumph 444 00:43:04.389 --> 00:43:08.949 in this world, whenever he saw the church suffering for her faith, I 445 00:43:10.269 --> 00:43:15.780 think he would catch himself and he would remember what he saw and what he 446 00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:21.659 recorded in these two chapters. But of course you and I haven't had John's 447 00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:27.530 experience or Paul's. Remember he was taken up in a vision to heaven and 448 00:43:27.690 --> 00:43:32.170 he was given to see things so suppressingly surpassingly wonderful that he wasn't allowed to 449 00:43:32.210 --> 00:43:37.369 try to describe them to others. We haven't had Isaiah's experience of seeing the 450 00:43:37.530 --> 00:43:44.000 Lord High and lifted up. We've never heard the voice. It sounds like 451 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:50.559 rushing waters we've not enjoyed those high privileges like John and Paul and Isaiah. 452 00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:54.039 See what we can see, what we have seen, is often quite different 453 00:43:54.079 --> 00:44:01.030 from that. We see the suffering of the church. We see believers struggling 454 00:44:01.150 --> 00:44:07.670 to believe that the Gospel really works, that God's power can be experienced in 455 00:44:07.750 --> 00:44:14.699 our lives when we pray that his promises are all yea and Amen. See 456 00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:22.539 we see a world that lives in utter indifference to its maker, it's great 457 00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:28.690 men, often denying outright that the world even has a maker. We see 458 00:44:28.769 --> 00:44:36.610 more unbelief and faith. We see more wickedness and goodness. That's what we 459 00:44:36.730 --> 00:44:42.480 see every day of our lives. Now we know that what John Describes to 460 00:44:42.519 --> 00:44:45.440 us in this book is true. We know that. We know that Christ 461 00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:50.920 is among the lamp stands his church. We know that he's on the throne 462 00:44:50.960 --> 00:44:52.909 of Heaven. We know that this is the actual reality of things. But 463 00:44:52.989 --> 00:44:59.909 I tell you, we have to hold very tight to that reality because unable 464 00:44:59.989 --> 00:45:06.309 to see it, forced every day to see a world that doesn't immediately appear 465 00:45:06.389 --> 00:45:12.900 appear to be as John Describes it here, that reality is often almost near 466 00:45:13.019 --> 00:45:16.980 to slipping from our grasp. You know the Great Church father, Tertullian, 467 00:45:17.340 --> 00:45:22.769 once said, among the reefs and inlets of life, the soul is safe 468 00:45:22.889 --> 00:45:27.250 only of faith, her sales, filled by the spirit of God navigated. 469 00:45:27.329 --> 00:45:30.730 It's the way, and that's true. But I say, it's no easy 470 00:45:30.849 --> 00:45:36.639 thing to keep faith hand upon the wheel of our lives. And that's why 471 00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:40.199 these chapters, you see, why the book of revelation is so important and 472 00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:45.760 timely and relevant for us who must live by faith and not by sight. 473 00:45:45.800 --> 00:45:51.989 John has given us a record of what he saw so that we, who 474 00:45:52.150 --> 00:45:58.710 cannot see, and be the more sure of what is real. You know, 475 00:46:00.630 --> 00:46:05.579 there are a lot of good reasons to be convinced of our Christian faith 476 00:46:06.780 --> 00:46:12.260 and the teachings of the Bible. The longer I live, the longer I 477 00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:15.659 experience this world, the more I study the Bible and compare its teachings to 478 00:46:16.739 --> 00:46:22.530 my observation of human life, the more sure I become of the truth of 479 00:46:22.610 --> 00:46:25.809 all of it. But I do accept that believing what I cannot see, 480 00:46:27.969 --> 00:46:31.449 I think, remains the hardest work and all the world. And you see, 481 00:46:31.489 --> 00:46:38.000 it's this difficulty that explains the vision that John was given and the report 482 00:46:38.199 --> 00:46:43.280 of which he had. He's recorded for us in this wonderful book. You 483 00:46:43.320 --> 00:46:49.909 know, it's to encourage us, who must believe and who cannot see that 484 00:46:50.030 --> 00:46:54.469 at least a few good men were given to see and then told a tell 485 00:46:54.510 --> 00:47:00.389 us what they saw. So let me return quickly, as I close here, 486 00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:06.139 to this original question. To those of us who remain on this earth, 487 00:47:06.260 --> 00:47:09.340 how shall we conquer in the face of all our trials and tribulations? 488 00:47:09.420 --> 00:47:15.380 Well, these two chapters give us the answers. We conquer by filling our 489 00:47:15.500 --> 00:47:21.130 eyes, the eyes of faith, with John's vision, with a sight of 490 00:47:21.250 --> 00:47:28.730 God who sits as sovereign Lord over all things, all creation. We conquer 491 00:47:28.889 --> 00:47:32.199 by looking for the line of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, 492 00:47:32.280 --> 00:47:36.199 the lamb, who was slain standing in the midst of that throne. 493 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:43.119 He's the one who opens the scroll of God's decree. He's the one who 494 00:47:43.239 --> 00:47:46.429 shed his blood to give us a place among the ransom church of God and 495 00:47:46.550 --> 00:47:51.829 saved us in no more. Here's God the Creator, Here's God the Redeemer. 496 00:47:52.909 --> 00:47:57.909 This God has conquered so that, by His grace, we too might 497 00:47:58.030 --> 00:48:00.820 conquer and sit with him on his throne, even now and one day in 498 00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:07.019 heaven, with him for all eternity. He has our back and every situation 499 00:48:07.219 --> 00:48:12.460 we experience here on Earth, and that's why we should be singing a new 500 00:48:12.539 --> 00:48:17.130 song this morning and every morning we wake up and as we look ahead into 501 00:48:17.170 --> 00:48:21.610 this new year and into the years to come until Jesus takes us home, 502 00:48:21.730 --> 00:48:22.289 let's pray